Hi all. I have been researching on getting a decent camera while on a $1000 budget, totally out the door, not just a body. What I plan on using this for is sports (hockey, ice and field), nature and landscape, theater and lastly portrait. I want this to be a camera to be something we, as a family, can grow with. so not only is the camera is the main focus, so is lens. Some of the models I have been thinking about is the Nikon D5600, Canon EOS 6Ti. I'm not throwing out the Sony's either. The Nikon D7200 might be a reach if is significantly better.

So what say you photographic gurus?

Just a quick share that might be of help to Fuji X-T2 users. I have this camera and love it but I must confess that I was not using this camera to its potential so I purchased a copy of Dan Bailey's book from his blog. I am only about 1/3 through it but it has been so helpful. You all may know this but 3 very helpful functions that I did not know are:

Setting up My Menu- you can put almost any menu item in here and when you go to menu this category comes up first- what a timesaver if you have to go into menus. And it is not difficult to set up. Go under the Set Up menu to start.

"T" on the speed knob on top of the camera- if you set your speed to "T" then you can control your speed from your front or rear dial quickly up to a 15 minute exposure. It eliminates setting the speed on the camera.

Action Shots- It only takes 3 quick steps to set up the focus for birding, sports, etc.

Now I don't want to sound like an advertisement for Dan Bailey but if I don't learn anything else, I feel I got my moneys worth! The book is about 300 pages.

My situation:

I am a Nikon shooter (D4, D 610) and do extended vacation travel overseas. In 2017, that came out to about 5 months in New Zealand, Australia, and Thailand. Weight is an issue, but trying to keep track of too much photo gear moving from location to location every 3-4 days is proving a challenge. It is easy to loose stuff and I have! So, I consider weight vs. gear count of equal importance. About 60-65% of my shots end up falling into #1 50-120 and #2 at/above 300 mm focal lengths. My historical practice has been to take 3 lenses, with a TC. This is not working AND not crazy about TC s anyway. So 2 lenses will be the limit: 1 prime and 1 zoom. My trusty Nikon 24 mm 1.4 G is the prime. We are leaving for 6-8 weeks in Italy in April. So what do you think? Ken Rockwell liked this Sigma, and so do many of bloggers. All input is sincerely appreciated but a YES or a NO, with real world experience on this Sigma would really help. Thanks everyone.

So, I go and buy a Sony a6000 just to have something small and light to do family snaps. Liking that, the next thing comes to renting an A7ii to go on vacation vs. bringing my D610. Liking that even better, comes to reading and researching Sony and Fuji mirrorless. What put me over the edge was going on a landscape shoot with my friend with my D800 and his using his new Christmas gift, A7Riii. Without making comparisons between my D800 and his Sony, to try and keep this post short, I've acquired severe mirrorless (proverbial jumping-ship) GAS. But, the dilemma lingers. The angel appears on the right shoulder and says, "Be satisfied with what you have!!" The devil on the left is shouting, "Sell everything...GAS, GAS, GAS." I have a lot invested in Nikon gear, and I'm not related to Warren Buffet to just buy (even slowly) into a new system. Anyone have/had this feeling?

I newly purchased a D850. I have looked online and have found a list of way too many lenses that are recommended for this camera. I am looking specifically to do two things: 1) photograph my dogs at rest in my great room with somewhat low light (yes, I can use a flash but also have a lot of natural lighting but not vibrant sunshine most of the time). 2) I like to photograph my dogs as they play outside in the yard while I am sitting on my patio watching them. I'm thinking I would need two different lenses. Also, what can you tell me about the Sigma Art 135 lens and would it work for this situation?