Looking to buy a new camera....

Canada
January 9, 2011 12:27am CST
To all of you that are professional photographers or who are really intrested in taking professional looking pictures can help me with deciding what is a good camera to get. I am partial to the Nikons or looking into the Canons. Can you tell me which one is the best to go with and why you choose that brand. Any feedback would be much appreciated.
3 responses
• Australia
10 Jan 11
As a professional photographer I would advise you to try any camera you are interested in in the shop - Canon, Nikon, Sony, Panasonic and others make fibne cameras. Canon and Nikon between them account for about 90% of the cameras used by pros with the full frame SLRs being the preferred cameras. That comes down to about 6 cameras - The Canon 1D series, the Nikon 3 series, the Nikon 700 and the Canon 5. Of these, probably the very best is the Nikon D3x, but it costs about the same as a small car. The absolute bargain is the Canon 5D MkII which costs little more than a top range amateur camera but performs superbly. The difference between Very Best and Very Least in this range is not worth talking about for even the pros - everyone has their favourites and the Nikon vs Canon debate is endless. The truth is, there is nothing to choose between the companies, but each camera in the range of both companies have their strengths and weaknesses. If you are new to this level of photography, decide your budget first. Then pick a few representative cameras you can afford, read reviews about them. You will find plenty of on-line comparisons of one against another... When you have a short list, get hold of them, literally. A GREAT CAMERA ON PAPER MIGHT JUST NOT SUIT YOU. The controls might be too big/small for you, or the menu and control systems might not be easy to use (they were designed by someone who doesn't think the way you do). If you want professional results, you need a camera with a large sensor. They only come on cameras with interchangeable lenses, most of which (but not all)are single lens reflex cameras (SLRs). But pro results are more a result of professional skills, so if you expect to get professional pictures from your new camera, you will need to think about learning not just how to use it, but also about the art of photography, about light, composition...
2 people like this
• Philippines
10 Feb 11
I'm confused whether I'll buy a Nikon D3100 or Nikon D5000. Although I really want to have a D90, but it's way too expensive for me. My budget only suits for D3100 or D5000.
@zralte (4178)
• India
29 Jan 11
That is really great info. I am thinking of getting SLR camera for my husband. I am only looking for beginner range even in the price point. I am debating between Canon EOS 1000D and Nikon D60. Nikon D60 is slightly higher priced, but I have seen it working and I like it a lot. The Canon EOS 1000D, however, I haven't seen it. Though I have used my brother-in-law's EOS 550D and my cousin's EOS 450D. I have read that 1000D is the slightly less features but almost same but way cheaper than 450D. Could you just compare those two cameras for me? I should probably do that on private messaging, but as I am short on time these days, I don't want to forget it.
9 Jan 11
I would personally stick with the Nikon D-SLRs because of the fact that their lenses are backward compatible with their non-digital predecessors and their image processors are generally higher quality (in my opinion). If one was looking to become a professional photographer, then I would suggest that they go Canon, as they are cheaper, but if you already know what you want to do, then Nikon is the brand of choice.
• Australia
10 Jan 11
That compatibility depends on whether the camera has the focus motor in the body or not. Old Canon lenses are also compatible with current bodies and there are more of them. The greatest compatibility is found in the Pentax line. The image processing question is interesting. The Nikons at the top of the range are top class, but camera by camera comparisons give a different picture, with some Canon and other Nikon offerings better than their competition. Of course,sensor and image processing are only part of what makes a camera "best": layout, ergonomics, feature sets, menu design, weight, sealing, manufacturing tolerance.... and the list is a lot longer than that.
11 Jan 11
Ahh, I did not see that about the Canons...my mistake. However, you seem to know where you are going, and what you want from your camera, so I can understand that a cam-by-cam comparison will work out best for you. I wish you the best of luck with choosing your camera :)
• United States
9 Jan 11
I love taking photos, but only on an amateur basis. I have thought about taking photos to sell professionally online at stock photo sites once I finally upgrade my camera and get a better one. I have my eye on the Kodak EasyShare Z981, which is 14 megapixels, HD photos and HD video. The photos are really amazing. Very comparable to a much more expensive camera. It has a very impressive lens unlike some of the cheaper point and shoot cameras. And, it's just around $250, from Walmart.com, but less if you buy it off amazon.com.
• Australia
10 Jan 11
I do not want to denigrate your selection of cameras, but if you want to sell stock this camera will not meet the minimum standard for any stock site. It is a superzoom and looks good on paper, but image quality is below par, and viewed at any more than screen resolution the pictures are far from amazing. he photo quality from the Kodak EasyShare Z981 is mediocre to poor. Even at its lowest ISO settings, photos are soft and salt-and-pepper noise is noticeable when images are viewed at 100 per cent. At ISO 400, detail is pretty much gone due to noise reduction, leaving indoor photos looking mushy; using the zoom lens destroys detail even further. Basically, the results look more like stills grabbed from video than photos. The Z981 has a wide-angle 26mm-equivalent lens that gives too much barrel distortion. the Z981 produces even more purple/blue fringing around subjects in high-contrast areas than most super zooms, none of which are terribly good in this respect. If you're going to sell photos they have to be good enough to enlarge. The best you will get out of this camera is a postcard print about 4x6 inches. If you want a snapshot camera with a long lens this will do, but the reason it is so cheap is tat it can't compete with other cameras on quality.