Please Help Me!


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Ah Keong

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Dec 3, 2014
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Hi Everybody! Newbie here.
Currently wondering which camera to get after trying to learn photography.

Previously I was using my friend's (Friend A) Olympus E-PL5 which I felt quite cool for normal snapshots.

Then recently I was using my another friend's (Friend B) Canon EOS 70D at a wedding where he used for video recording. The snapshot using eyeview was very snappy but the snapshot using the LCD was a little bit slow compared to E-PL5.

Currently I am thinking which camera would be good for street shooting and night shooting. Maybe also travel shooting too.

Friend A recommend me Olympus OMD EM10 (she mention Live Bulb Timing for fireworks, etc for night shooting) while Friend B recommend me Canon EOS 70D (photo + video).

May I ask which is the one would you get?

Thanks in advance!! :lovegrin:
 

I am given a budget of $2014.00.

Thank you!
 

I am given a budget of $2014.00.

Thank you!

Generally speaking, both the Canon and Olympus can do what you mentioned. Perhaps some differences in in-body image stabilization, weight, dimension, battery life, and available lenses.

May i suggest to read reviews from reputable websites such as dpreview.com, they have spec database of many camera models you can compare.

(Masters please correct me if I am wrong, not really an Oly user).
 

Generally speaking, both the Canon and Olympus can do what you mentioned. Perhaps some differences in in-body image stabilization, weight, dimension, battery life, and available lenses.

May i suggest to read reviews from reputable websites such as dpreview.com, they have spec database of many camera models you can compare.

(Masters please correct me if I am wrong, not really an Oly user).

Thanks SilentSeth, I was told that Olympus have this in-body image stabilisation technology (maybe thats why the lens is lighter?) and can balance any lens while Canon depend on the lens to stabilise itself (think some lens do not have in-lens image stabilisation).

I watched this youtube video where Canon have more lens available while Olympus eat battery very fast.
Please correct me if I am wrong. Thanks!

www-youtube.com/watch?v=Jva08HY6uLE

www-thephoblographer.com/2014/10/14/conserve-battery-life-mirrorless-camera/
 

Thanks SilentSeth, I was told that Olympus have this in-body image stabilisation technology (maybe thats why the lens is lighter?) and can balance any lens while Canon depend on the lens to stabilise itself (think some lens do not have in-lens image stabilisation).

I watched this youtube video where Canon have more lens available while Olympus eat battery very fast.
Please correct me if I am wrong. Thanks!

www-youtube.com/watch?v=Jva08HY6uLE

www-thephoblographer.com/2014/10/14/conserve-battery-life-mirrorless-camera/

Oly lens is lighter because it's also smaller

In general mirrorless camera eats battery faster than traditional dslr because of the lcd display.

But dslr batteries won't last too, if you on the live view all the way.


Lens selections, you don't need all the lens in the world... just the ones that you need.
 

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Thanks SilentSeth, I was told that Olympus have this in-body image stabilisation technology (maybe thats why the lens is lighter?) and can balance any lens while Canon depend on the lens to stabilise itself (think some lens do not have in-lens image stabilisation).

I watched this youtube video where Canon have more lens available while Olympus eat battery very fast.
Please correct me if I am wrong. Thanks!

www-youtube.com/watch?v=Jva08HY6uLE

www-thephoblographer.com/2014/10/14/conserve-battery-life-mirrorless-camera/

All you mentioned is correct. Take note of what SkyStrike mentioned as well. Btw have you tried checking other brands such as Sony, Pentax etc? Perhaps you can find other interesting models :)

For around $2014 I guess you can get a good combo. On Canon perhaps EOS 70D + EF 17-55 f2.8, or 3rd party lenses + save the money for something else. For other systems I don't really understand, better wait for other masters and see what they have to say :)

Also take note that a dry cabinet is important to keep your gears. SG is humid (I assume you live in SG), you don't want fungus to grow on your camera gears. And since you mentioned fireworks, bulb timings etc, do invest in a good tripod as well. Do search for threads in the forum about dry cabinets & tripods.
 

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for a beginner, i would suggest the Olympus EM10, its size, weight and price would not bog down the interest and its easy and fun to use, produces great photos, which would help one to grow. its also a good system with many lens available, both from Olympus & Panasonic, as well as other brands.

with the cash back promotion and your budget, you can get the EM10 with 14-42mm kit lens, 25 & 45mm prime lenses for around 1.5k or less. which should leave you with enough to get a billigham hadley bag to carry your gears in style, a dry cabinet, a tripod, some small accessories like a blower...etc, and you are on your way.
 

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Hi Everybody! Newbie here.
Currently wondering which camera to get after trying to learn photography.

Previously I was using my friend's (Friend A) Olympus E-PL5 which I felt quite cool for normal snapshots.

Then recently I was using my another friend's (Friend B) Canon EOS 70D at a wedding where he used for video recording. The snapshot using eyeview was very snappy but the snapshot using the LCD was a little bit slow compared to E-PL5.

Currently I am thinking which camera would be good for street shooting and night shooting. Maybe also travel shooting too.

Friend A recommend me Olympus OMD EM10 (she mention Live Bulb Timing for fireworks, etc for night shooting) while Friend B recommend me Canon EOS 70D (photo + video).

May I ask which is the one would you get?

Thanks in advance!! :lovegrin:

Apart from street shooting and night shooting, are you going to take video with your camera?
 

Regardless of what system you choose, I would recommend starting out with the kit lens (and only the kit lens) first. It's a cheap lens and it does a lot. More importantly, it covers a wide range of focal lengths. This is going to allow you to play around and figure out what is it you really want. It could be fast aperture, wider focal length, longer focal length. The problem is, we don't know what you want, and you as a beginner, don't know either. I recommend starting with a kit lens (14-42 for the E-M10 and 18-55 or 18-135 for 70D) and after shooting for a while, you'll naturally know what you want.
 

Oly lens is lighter because it's also smaller

In general mirrorless camera eats battery faster than traditional dslr because of the lcd display.

But dslr batteries won't last too, if you on the live view all the way.


Lens selections, you don't need all the lens in the world... just the ones that you need.

I see. Seems like live view LCD eats battery for EOS 70D. Was told that for street shooting usually require 35mm or 50mm lens.
 

All you mentioned is correct. Take note of what SkyStrike mentioned as well. Btw have you tried checking other brands such as Sony, Pentax etc? Perhaps you can find other interesting models :)

For around $2014 I guess you can get a good combo. On Canon perhaps EOS 70D + EF 17-55 f2.8, or 3rd party lenses + save the money for something else. For other systems I don't really understand, better wait for other masters and see what they have to say :)

Also take note that a dry cabinet is important to keep your gears. SG is humid (I assume you live in SG), you don't want fungus to grow on your camera gears. And since you mentioned fireworks, bulb timings etc, do invest in a good tripod as well. Do search for threads in the forum about dry cabinets & tripods.

Thanks SkyStrike and SilentSeth for the advice.

I have tried my friend's (Friend C) Nikon 7100D but the liveview LCD feels slower than Canon EOS 70D.

Thanks SilenthSeth, looks like I need to read more also on Dry cabinets and tripods.
 

for a beginner, i would suggest the Olympus EM10, its size, weight and price would not bog down the interest and its easy and fun to use, produces great photos, which would help one to grow. its also a good system with many lens available, both from Olympus & Panasonic, as well as other brands.

with the cash back promotion and your budget, you can get the EM10 with 14-42mm kit lens, 25 & 45mm prime lenses for around 1.5k or less. which should leave you with enough to get a billigham hadley bag to carry your gears in style, a dry cabinet, a tripod, some small accessories like a blower...etc, and you are on your way.

btw, for M43 systems, the focal length of lenses are approx 1/2 of full frame, therefore, the above lenses are 28-84mm, 50mm and 90mm equilavent of FF DSLRs.
 

Thanks SkyStrike and SilentSeth for the advice.

I have tried my friend's (Friend C) Nikon 7100D but the liveview LCD feels slower than Canon EOS 70D.

Thanks SilenthSeth, looks like I need to read more also on Dry cabinets and tripods.

It's seems like shooting in live view is one of the main criteria when choosing a camera?

I could be wrong but if that's the case, you wouldn't go wrong with either the m43, Sony and Fuji range of mirrorless cameras.
 

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Thanks SkyStrike and SilentSeth for the advice.

I have tried my friend's (Friend C) Nikon 7100D but the liveview LCD feels slower than Canon EOS 70D.

Thanks SilenthSeth, looks like I need to read more also on Dry cabinets and tripods.

DSLRs are generally designed to be used with the viewfinder mainly. If using the LCD is important to you, I think mirrorless will be the way to go.
 

Thanks SkyStrike and SilentSeth for the advice.

I have tried my friend's (Friend C) Nikon 7100D but the liveview LCD feels slower than Canon EOS 70D.

That may be so, but imo, both are turtle slow compared to mirrorless..

btw, for M43 systems, the focal length of lenses are approx 1/2 of full frame, therefore, the above lenses are 28-84mm, 50mm and 90mm equilavent of FF DSLRs.

I believe you are talking about crop factor.
M43: 2x
Nikon dx: 1.5
Canon crop: 1.6x
FF: 1x

So the focal length number you see on the lens, just times the crop factor and you will get the effective focal length.

So, a 14-42 on a m43 is about 28-84mm.
 

That may be so, but imo, both are turtle slow compared to mirrorless..



I believe you are talking about crop factor.
M43: 2x
Nikon dx: 1.5
Canon crop: 1.6x
FF: 1x

So the focal length number you see on the lens, just times the crop factor and you will get the effective focal length.

So, a 14-42 on a m43 is about 28-84mm.

yup, should be effective focal length, thanks for the clarification.
 

I see. Seems like live view LCD eats battery for EOS 70D. Was told that for street shooting usually require 35mm or 50mm lens.

There is no hard and fast rules on what focal length for what genre of photography. Just a matter of perspective.

Generally some of then prefer wide angle like 35 or 24mm to get near to the subjects. While some are like snipers that shoot from far (200 mm). But I won't go into details about whether "sniping" is considered street photography or not... there's always 2 camp arguing over this.
 

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