Recommend DSLR for PnS/Super-Zoom upgrader

[Tucksoon]

Hi guys,

Has been a while since I last login I have been considering upgrading to DSLR for a few years. My previous cameras are Canon A80 (2004-2008) and Canon S5 IS (2008-now). My brother's wedding is around the corner so I'm toying the idea of taking nicer photos during his wedding

I have been reading up on basics of DSLR, popular brands/model, lens and stuff to buy. So I roughly know a little and have plan a budget of $3000 to spend one go. I know it's a poisonous hobby so I'm trying my best not to upgrade frequently by maxing my budget. Any thoughts?

My usual photography and videography 'works' are taking portraits, group photos, kids in action, performances, short movies, simple macro, events and weddings (planning only haha!).

Please recommend DSLR systems and accessories I can consider with my budget. Many thanks bros!

 

[Rashkae]

1. Please read the "What DSLR to buy?" FAQ.
2. Have you shortlisted your desired feature set? Do you need fast AF in live view, fast AF in video, built-in image stabilizer?
3. "taking portraits, group photos, kids in action, performances, short movies, simple macro, events and weddings" can be handled by ANY DSLR system. The only thing is, do you need fast AF throughout?
4. Since I'm in a good mood, I'll help spoonfeed you a bit and recommend a system:

Sony A55 with 18-55 kit lens, 8GB card, spare battery
Tamron 90mm macro
Sony 50mm f/1.8
Sony 55-200mm lens or Sigm 75-300
Dry Cabinet
Cleaning kit
some filters

All of that will be about 2.5-2.7k at most.

 

[Tucksoon]

Thanks for the spoon feeding! Haha. Actually I have been lurking here for a long time liao. Registered in 2003! Hehe...

Yes I already read FAQ and stuff but I just want a some first hand expertise from bros here

I will check out the system you recommend. I don't have much knowledge on Sony DSLR but I read it's quite value for money

1. Please read the "What DSLR to buy?" FAQ.
2. Have you shortlisted your desired feature set? Do you need fast AF in live view, fast AF in video, built-in image stabilizer?
3. "taking portraits, group photos, kids in action, performances, short movies, simple macro, events and weddings" can be handled by ANY DSLR system. The only thing is, do you need fast AF throughout?
4. Since I'm in a good mood, I'll help spoonfeed you a bit and recommend a system:

Sony A55 with 18-55 kit lens, 8GB card, spare battery
Tamron 90mm macro
Sony 50mm f/1.8
Sony 55-200mm lens or Sigm 75-300
Dry Cabinet
Cleaning kit
some filters

All of that will be about 2.5-2.7k at most.

 

[rhino123]

Don't forget Canon's 7D too.

Body, Canon 7D (S$2100 - 2200)
Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 (S$6XX)
total will be S$28XX.

Of course other brands had very good offering too. I would advice TS to head down to the shops and test out different systems, then get the one he felt best.

 

[Tucksoon]

1. Do you need fast AF in live view, fast AF in video, built-in image stabilizer?
2. The only thing is, do you need fast AF throughout?

Thanks for the input again bro. I guess since my previous camera are from Canon, I would look at their offerings. As for desired feature set, I have little in mind but I would prefer a swivel screen and good low light performance.

I'm not sure I need fast AF throughout. I take photos and videos of kids performing and doing sports. Does that mean I need it? Or is it better if my system has it? Thanks

 

[Tucksoon]

Thanks for the recommendations bro! I heard a lot about 7D. It's a very capable DSLR. I will read up more about the lens. Thanks

Don't forget Canon's 7D too.

Body, Canon 7D (S$2100 - 2200)
Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 (S$6XX)
total will be S$28XX.

Of course other brands had very good offering too. I would advice TS to head down to the shops and test out different systems, then get the one he felt best.

 

[crystal1993]

Swivel screen?
600D - $1199
Portrait and kids in action: 50mm f/1.8 - $159 (Do note that on a cropped sensor it becomes closer to 85mm.)
Macro: Raynox 250 - $120 (Since you are doing simple macro so i don't think you would need a dedicated macro lens.)
Group photos and performances: 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 - $1369
Total: $2808 (Do note that the 600d and lens price are straight from canon's website so it would be cheaper if you get in cam stores.)
Remainder go for: Tripod, dry cab, cleaning kit and a nice bag.

However there are a lot of different lens combo you can choose from like for example 18-55 + 55-200 etc.
So it's really up to you. Get what you are comfortable with and more in sync with your shooting style.

 

[Tucksoon]

Thanks for your recommendations! I really need to read up more about lens as my knowledge is really limited. Maybe will watch some video tutorials about lens too. Thanks again

Swivel screen?
600D - $1199
Portrait and kids in action: 50mm f/1.8 - $159 (Do note that on a cropped sensor it becomes closer to 85mm.)
Macro: Raynox 250 - $120 (Since you are doing simple macro so i don't think you would need a dedicated macro lens.)
Group photos and performances: 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 - $1369
Total: $2808 (Do note that the 600d and lens price are straight from canon's website so it would be cheaper if you get in cam stores.)
Remainder go for: Tripod, dry cab, cleaning kit and a nice bag.

However there are a lot of different lens combo you can choose from like for example 18-55 + 55-200 etc.
So it's really up to you. Get what you are comfortable with and more in sync with your shooting style.

 

[kei1309]

As for desired feature set, I have little in mind but I would prefer a swivel screen and good low light performance.

I'm not sure I need fast AF throughout. I take photos and videos of kids performing and doing sports. Does that mean I need it? Or is it better if my system has it? Thanks

yes... yes and yes.

then it's the A55...

but for good low-light, go for the D7000. it's slightly better than the A55 in terms of noise handling. but loses out on the AF and the amount of lenses you can buy.

 

[Tucksoon]

Alrighty! Thanks for the tip. There is so much to learn

yes... yes and yes.

then it's the A55...

but for good low-light, go for the D7000. it's slightly better than the A55 in terms of noise handling. but loses out on the AF and the amount of lenses you can buy.

 

[intrance]

...
My brother's wedding is around the corner so I'm toying the idea of taking nicer photos during his wedding
...

Could you tell ur bro to postpone the wedding till Sony A77 released? LOL
Will be out ard the corner too..


have a look at Pentax K-5 too... no swivel screen tho..

 

[Rashkae]

but for good low-light, go for the D7000. it's slightly better than the A55 in terms of noise handling. but loses out on the AF and the amount of lenses you can buy.

No swivel screen though, and very slow AF in live view and video. And very ex. Same sensor as the A55 though.

 

[rhino123]

So gather from what I am reading, what you would want is basically,

1) Good IQ (all DSLR of any brand can give you tat)
2) Fast continuous shutter speed - great for capturing actions (7D, 60D, A55, D7000)
3) Video mode (a great many DSLR give you this function, but from what I can see that stands out more - D7000, 7D, 60D and A55)
4) Swivel screen (60D, A55)

And so there you have it... the winners - 60D and A55. Go down to the stores and have a play with these two excellent DSLR and see which one suits you best.

 

[Shahmatt]

Consider mirrorless options:

Pros:
DSLR (APS-C or micro 4/3rds sensor) quality
Smaller and less obtrusive cameras (lower weight and lower bulk especially with very nice pancake primes available)
The future of digital photography- DSLRs will get outdated soon.

Common misconceptions:
Slow contrast detect AF speeds. Not true. AF speeds are as fast as most entry level DSLRs.
Insufficient lens options. Not true. Lens options are more than sufficient with use of adapters. Native lens options are also always improving.
Poor IQ - Not true. IQ is just fine for everyone except the crazy pixel peepers.

Cons:
Electronic viewfinder may not be good enough for shooting extreme sports.
Some accessories such as external flash etc. may not be available (yet!).

@ Rashkae
The "What DSLR camera to buy?" needs updating to include the mirrorless options available. Samsung (the NX system) is not even mentioned. . Also change title to "What DSLR or mirrorless camera to buy?"

 

[kei1309]

No swivel screen though, and very slow AF in live view and video. And very ex. Same sensor as the A55 though.

Yup. The swivel screen on the A55 is ownage when it comes to overhead shots or below the waist shots.

And shahmatt... I think we'd all appreciate it if you don't try to start a dslr vs mirrorless war again. Handling wise, i've used mirrorless of almost all brands and i still would prefer the use of an slr over mirrorless due to the size and comfortable holding.

Your enthusiasm is commendable, but it's borderline fanaticism.

 

[Rashkae]

Yes, but in fairness, I'll try to update the FAQ to include mirrorless.

 

[Shahmatt]

Yup. The swivel screen on the A55 is ownage when it comes to overhead shots or below the waist shots.

And shahmatt... I think we'd all appreciate it if you don't try to start a dslr vs mirrorless war again. Handling wise, i've used mirrorless of almost all brands and i still would prefer the use of an slr over mirrorless due to the size and comfortable holding.

Your enthusiasm is commendable, but it's borderline fanaticism.

I don't want to start a war at all. But I think it is only fair that newbies understand that the option is available. Everytime I visit the forum it seems as though I am the only one who talks about this genre. This is kind of disappointing because if you go to dpreview and other international forums mirrorless cams are all the rage. I think SG photographers are being left behind with technology.

This is why I ask Rashkae respectfully to modify his very good thread to include the option so that I don't have to bring it up. If newbies see the option and do not ask the question then there is no problem at all.

 

[rhino123]

I don't want to start a war at all. But I think it is only fair that newbies understand that the option is available. Everytime I visit the forum it seems as though I am the only one who talks about this genre. This is kind of disappointing because if you go to dpreview and other international forums mirrorless cams are all the rage. I think SG photographers are being left behind with technology.

This is why I ask Rashkae respectfully to modify his very good thread to include the option so that I don't have to bring it up. If newbies see the option and do not ask the question then there is no problem at all.

Oh... come on. You are not the only one who had been updated with new technology. Our friends - Kei and Rashkae, as well as myself and many others had been stating this obvious developement too. I have been advising newcomers to look to mirrorless options too.

Plus I would believe A55, A33 are mirrorless options... as well as Panasonic's GH and G series, Olympus Pen series too.

So please, before you comment on SG photographers being left behind with technology, please read more threads first.

 

[rhino123]

Oh.. read the excellent article "What DSLR to buy (or something to that effect) by Rashkae again. What it stated was DSLR, which mean Digital SLR. Mirrorless format is also part of the SLR format (http://www.mirrorless-dslr-guide.com/mirrorless-vs-normal-dslr.html), so what was written by Rashkae did apply to mirrorless devices too... I seriously don't see what is the big hoohaa about that.

Or was it because Rashkae didn't put in Samsung that Shahmatt was so upset about rather than the rest of the mirrorless family?

 

[pinholecam]

Actually all DSLRs at this present point of time is good enough for general photography.
Its only a matter of what you prefer and how much feature/performance you get for the same amount of money.

Have a look at the Pentax Kr as well.
Very good set of features and low light performance. ~$900 with the 18-55mm kit lens.

Pentax Kr with 18-55mm kit lens $900
Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 (~S$600)
Save the rest of the money and build up your lens selection as your need requires.
A good performance DA*50-135mm for longer reach is ~$1300 btw.
Note that all lenses will benefit from Shake Reduction as the stabilizer is on the camera body.

I guess you are familiar enough with DPReview and ImagingResource to look over the reviews and sample images there
http://www.imaging-resource.com/IMCOMP/COMPS01.HTM
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/


If you want to stick to Canon, the thing not to assume is that the interface is the same. PnS interface will never be exactly the same as a DSLR.
The 550D or 600D is a good starting camera with good performance.