CatMarley Loc: North Carolina

So the sensor has no effect on the end result? I think the electronic engineers would disagree. The lens is merely bending and focusing the light. The sensor is receiving and recording the picture, and the quality of that data is very dependent on the sensitivity, accuracy and processing by that sensor.

Tet68survivor Loc: Pomfret Center CT

The "BEST" camera would have every Bell and whistle known to the Photographic World, but it would be so big and heavy you'd need a truck and 6 body builder to hold it for you! At my skill level, my Nikon D5200 with Tamron 16-300mm f3.5-6.3 lens and 800mm f8 mirror lens are the best for my skill level, maybe someday I will be worthy to handle a 6D, 9A or D810, or D750!

Acountry330 Loc: Dothan,Ala USA

Who makes the best will never be answered. You need to put all of the features affable into two different camera manufacturers, then just maybe you would be able to come up with a best camera.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

And yes, the D7000 would do nicely for the Zeiss manual focusing lenses. They are full frame lenses, so my 18 would still be an 18mm on my D810 but would become a 27mm on your D7000 or the D500. My comment was more about the lens than the body. Again, my point is that the lens makes the difference, not the camera, especially with manual focusing Zeiss lenses.

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

My point has been that there are lots of different uses for a camera.

But this discussion has been using the term "best camera" without defining the term. A sports photographer might feel that the D500's 10 fps makes it better than the D810 with its 5 fps. Not everyone looks just at IQ at base ISO.

Mike1017

Well said, its all about skill level and what works for you.

Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga

Actually, it's not about skill level so much as it is about camera features & the type of photography you do...

Edia Loc: Central New Jersey

All camera manufacturers are in the business of making money. Why put certain features on an entry level camera when you can charge more when included on a high end camera? Probably, an entry level DSLR costs a little less than a high end camera to manufacture but the retail price is about half that of a high end camera. Profits are higher on high end cameras but smaller profits on entry level cameras are made up by volume of sales. As for what is the Best camera, it is almost like asking who makes the best hammer? The camera is a major part of the photographic system but the final photo is effect by the quality of the lens, the lighting and most importantly by the person taking the photo. The subject of the photo and the story you are trying to convey, is also part of the photographic system. Also, Post Processing software keeps getting better and can fix some of the defects made by the other components of the photographic system to create a satisfying final photo.

When I was in college, my professor told me that I should not bother solving equations that I could solve exactly because they had already been solved by others. I feel that photographers can learn from this. In this forum, I see many photos that look similar to those already published in magazines or on line. We should be looking at nature and the world for unusual subjects and try to capture them.

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

It is about choosing the right tool for the job. To do that you need to understand both tools and the job.

Quinn 4

Best Camera? That is the human eye. There is no camera build today that can equal it. In the future maybe. So the question become what camera does person use the most and why. What is best to one person could be junk to another person. I like SLR film cameras, I would not give you the time for a DSLR camera. Now Am I right or wrong. No answer, because best is what I think it is for me.

whitewolfowner

The answer, Jerry, is simple. One person's junk is another's treasure. Depending on the person; how the camera fits in their hands (not all cameras feel good to everyone), what the person feels is important in the camera,what the person needs in the camera; it's different for everyone. What I consider the best camera for what I do, may not have key features another person needs for their shooting styles. Spice is what keeps the world interesting.

mjbrock2012 Loc: Grants Pass,Oregon

JBK says it best!

Tracyv Loc: Del Mar, Ca

On the Nikon D750

fetzler Loc: North West PA

There is no best camera. I have used a lot of different cameras and made very nice photos. Many years ago a made some very nice prints from 116 film negatives from a folding role film camera. I have used 4x5 and 8x10 view cameras. There lots of situations where a view camera really shines. I remember an old Leica M3 -what a great camera in low light. Of course, I have used SLR and DSLR cameras. These are necessary for macros. Pinhole cameras are fun too. The best camera depends on what you want to photograph and your vision on how the photograph should look.

sirlensalot Loc: Arizona

The "best" is only a category used by the photographer or manufacturer beyond its intended purpose. I may think a particular brand or model is "best" for weddings or portraits, but far less than "best" for fast action sports. "Best" can be both fact and myth depending on the application. For now, I will stick with "good enough", or "this really sucks". lol.