Recommendations for a new professional grade camera

[MJP]

These debates are very interesting, thank you, snapshots from various angles, close ups, over views...perfect

Above all else keep it light weight. Nothing will put you off more than lugging heavy gear around.

[FracturedRabbit]

 

 

 

Many people who want a "good" camera buy a Canon or Nikon because that is what their friends tell them they should get. They are not that interested in photography and the majority of people I see with Canon and Nikon cameras have them on Auto! Meet someone with something less common like a Fuji or an Olympus and they are more likely to be using them with some degree of control.

 

 

The statement about fuji and olympus is a bit strange, most professional photographers that I know (people that make their money taking photographs) are using Canon or Nikon.

I am not talking about the people that buy a camera just to show that they can afford a D4x or 1DmarkVII

I own a number of cameras but imho learning about photography is a lot easier with a DSLR than with for example the Fuji x100. 

Also you can start building a collection of lenses and for both Canon and Nikon there are lots available, also 2nd hand. 

 

 

I was not referring to most professional photographers, it was an observation on most people who own DSLRs (who are not professionals).  I shot with a 1D professionally for many years, but would not recommend it to a beginner. Too many options, most of which are irrelevant for learning, too heavy, and, very importantly, not fun to shoot with. I have also owned a Fuji X100 and I seem to recall it had all the basic controls to hand; and what a delightful, sexy little machine to shoot with. 

 

Keep it simple (but with full manual controls available), keep it light; and make sure it is fun to use.
 

[fimgirl]

The OP is a beginner anxious to learn. As we all well remember achieving correct exposure was the biggest hurdle in our early days. This is where the mirrorless system has the upper hand by metering directly from the sensor and the user being able to see, either on screen or via the EVF, exactly the effects of adjusting exposure. Sure, live view on DSLR's provide it, but clunky to use.

WYSIWYG is a Godsend. Look through the viewfinder, adjust the exposure to taste and shoot.

It really could not be easier.

[StefanBBK]

I would suggest a prosumer type like Nikon D7100.
Get a prime lense and a multi purpose 18-105.
There is a D7100 for Dummies book that should be great to introduce you to most of the features.

[neverdie]

 
 



Many people who want a "good" camera buy a Canon or Nikon because that is what their friends tell them they should get. They are not that interested in photography and the majority of people I see with Canon and Nikon cameras have them on Auto! Meet someone with something less common like a Fuji or an Olympus and they are more likely to be using them with some degree of control.
 

 
The statement about fuji and olympus is a bit strange, most professional photographers that I know (people that make their money taking photographs) are using Canon or Nikon.
I am not talking about the people that buy a camera just to show that they can afford a D4x or 1DmarkVII
I own a number of cameras but imho learning about photography is a lot easier with a DSLR than with for example the Fuji x100. 
Also you can start building a collection of lenses and for both Canon and Nikon there are lots available, also 2nd hand. 

Verbalkint.

There is a real anti DSLR movement in this forum ATM, which is a pity. People asking questions about DSLR's are met with a barrage of statements about how great other cameras are. Even threads about a particular model of DSLR are attacked with the too big too heavy buy this mirrorless and that whatever.

Anyway, you are absolutely correct about the range and availability of both new and good condition second hand Can & Niks lenses. There's plenty of other reasons someone, including a beginner might want a DSLR.

As for the majority of NOn Professional Photogs using a DSLR on full auto setting being a majority, I would rather suggest that there's two main types of people that go for a DSLR. Firstly the enthusiast, who rarely places the camera into the auto setting & then everyone else who often have the camera on auto. The two groups are easily spotted in crowds as the second group often have problems with their flashes popping at in all those situations where an enthusiast wouldn't consider using a flash......for example when trying to take a shot of a large canyon or gorge where no single flash could possibly penetrate. It's amusing to watch.

The suggestion that nearly all Non professional DSLR owners have their cameras on auto is laughable. (see further in the thread) I know a large group of Thai Photography enthusiasts who would kick the end of their beds out laughing at that suggestion, all of them shoot with DSLR's and some of them have newer Mirrorless systems, as well as other smaller cameras. Many of the other systems and options have limitations in relation to lense selections.

Anyway, each to their own I say, there's cameras and then there's other cameras, each have weaknesses and strengths. Each user is the same. Time for the 'other' crowd to live and let live, if they can.

You are 100% right about the range ability and selection for Canon And Nikons, both in the new and second hand market.

The whole movement of anti DSLR people reminds me of one of those religious gangs that belts on your door, trying to sell you something and convincing you there's a better way, irregardless of what you may or may not know or believe.

[fimgirl]

IMO I believe that there's actually an element of folk on this forum who are both naive and resistant to the attributes of the mirrorless system. As a shooter of both DSLR (Canon 5DMK3) and numerous mirrorless cameras I feel I can argue the case for both rather than being a fanboy of one. My recommendations to the OP stem from a knowledge and an extensive use of both formats. Considering his subsequent identification of his photographic interests, the small mirrorless cameras seemed to meet his needs.

Now, the point is, do the DSLR advocates actually have, or have ever used, any other format? This would add some credibility to their recommendations of course.

Btw, I'm not religious. (LOL)

Over to you OP - let us know what you get.

Edited August 15, 2014 by fimgirl

[sunshine51]

These debates are very interesting, thank you, snapshots from various angles, close ups, over views...perfect

 

Green....

There have been good replies to your initial question and from other info

you have passed to us I reckon the best thing you can do now is go to

a good camera shop and have a look at the options other posters

have listed here and hopefully you may have some ideas inside yer

own head by now. Have a look, have a play & bring your laptop so

you can have a look at the pix you should take...just inside the shop

will be fine...especially if the girl doing the sales is cute. If it's a guy

no big deal either...take some pix before you buy the camera, that's

important. Your budget of around 60K Baht will get you a very good

kit to start with....just make sure you are buying what you want and not

what someone else insists you buy.

Good luck & post some pix on the photo thread so we can see...don't be

shy. Cheers.
 

[Goompa]

Just remember Green , it is confusing !

 

Only you will know what is right for you when , after all the priceless information you have gained from many enlightened professionals here , and sound advice as well , what feels good for your individual style.

 

And on a second note , whatever you purchase , be happy with it !    Find websites applicable to the camera to let others show you how good a unit it is .

 

I personally have gained much experience from viewing the great hearted folk on TVF photography forums , and their appraisals . They really do know their stuff !

 

Thanks to all members for me being able to " stalk " silently , and to those whom I have personally asked for help .

 

Cheers

 

Goompa

[neverdie]

IMO I believe that there's actually an element of folk on this forum who are both naive and resistant to the attributes of the mirrorless system. As a shooter of both DSLR (Canon 5DMK3) and numerous mirrorless cameras I feel I can argue the case for both rather than being a fanboy of one. My recommendations to the OP stem from a knowledge and an extensive use of both formats. Considering his subsequent identification of his photographic interests, the small mirrorless cameras seemed to meet his needs.

Now, the point is, do the DSLR advocates actually have, or have ever used, any other format? This would add some credibility to their recommendations of course.

Btw, I'm not religious. (LOL)

Over to you OP - let us know what you get.

Actually fimgirl and fans, I have only ever posted information on the last thread where a request for help with a DSLR was made, this one where something similar has happened and in the D810 (800S) thread. On each of those occassions the threads were raided by people pushing a different agenda. The threads stand for themselves. Take a look at the D810 thread and try to tell me different.

Go take a look at those threads and examine the remarks made by the people posting.

Now please show me the thread where I did that in one of the threads about the other cameras be it mirrorless or whatever.

It's a closed shop, that gang of yours but my mind remains very open to getting a mirrorless camera in the future, some time down the track, in the meantime I will occasionally point out what is occurring, something which no doubt I would be pulled into line for if I was doing that to the various mirrorless threads or whatever.

I hope the OP gets what makes him happy, there's literally hundreds of options out there and each if them comes with advantages and disadvantages and that includes everything from the cameras we use to the bags we carry them in.

[FracturedRabbit]

Hi Green

In your original post you not only asked about a camera, but also how to learn how to use it. I wrote a little guide a couple of years ago which covers the basics in hopefully easy to understand language; has helped quite a few people.

 

You can download it from here: http://www.pattayadays.com/photography-guide/

[MJP]

 
 



Many people who want a "good" camera buy a Canon or Nikon because that is what their friends tell them they should get. They are not that interested in photography and the majority of people I see with Canon and Nikon cameras have them on Auto! Meet someone with something less common like a Fuji or an Olympus and they are more likely to be using them with some degree of control.
 

 
The statement about fuji and olympus is a bit strange, most professional photographers that I know (people that make their money taking photographs) are using Canon or Nikon.
I am not talking about the people that buy a camera just to show that they can afford a D4x or 1DmarkVII
I own a number of cameras but imho learning about photography is a lot easier with a DSLR than with for example the Fuji x100. 
Also you can start building a collection of lenses and for both Canon and Nikon there are lots available, also 2nd hand. 

Verbalkint.

There is a real anti DSLR movement in this forum ATM, which is a pity. People asking questions about DSLR's are met with a barrage of statements about how great other cameras are. Even threads about a particular model of DSLR are attacked with the too big too heavy buy this mirrorless and that whatever.

Anyway, you are absolutely correct about the range and availability of both new and good condition second hand Can & Niks lenses. There's plenty of other reasons someone, including a beginner might want a DSLR.

As for the majority of NOn Professional Photogs using a DSLR on full auto setting being a majority, I would rather suggest that there's two main types of people that go for a DSLR. Firstly the enthusiast, who rarely places the camera into the auto setting & then everyone else who often have the camera on auto. The two groups are easily spotted in crowds as the second group often have problems with their flashes popping at in all those situations where an enthusiast wouldn't consider using a flash......for example when trying to take a shot of a large canyon or gorge where no single flash could possibly penetrate. It's amusing to watch.

The suggestion that nearly all Non professional DSLR owners have their cameras on auto is laughable. (see further in the thread) I know a large group of Thai Photography enthusiasts who would kick the end of their beds out laughing at that suggestion, all of them shoot with DSLR's and some of them have newer Mirrorless systems, as well as other smaller cameras. Many of the other systems and options have limitations in relation to lense selections.

Anyway, each to their own I say, there's cameras and then there's other cameras, each have weaknesses and strengths. Each user is the same. Time for the 'other' crowd to live and let live, if they can.

You are 100% right about the range ability and selection for Canon And Nikons, both in the new and second hand market.

The whole movement of anti DSLR people reminds me of one of those religious gangs that belts on your door, trying to sell you something and convincing you there's a better way, irregardless of what you may or may not know or believe.

You are wrong.

[Guest]

I have purchased my last two cameras based on the advices given by the members of this forum. I have not been disappointed. There is plenty of experience as well as understanding of the situation where you are and what might be good for you, based what you say. 

 

Even on this thread the original need of having a professional grade camera was, for good reasons redefined to more realistic view. While the pro cameras might be good for the people who use those professionally, those would not likely to be best fit for a person who is trying to learn photography. To put this in another way. Even if using Linux OS and doing things on the shell would be best for the professionals, I still recommend Apple laptops for my friends who are not Unix professionals. 

 

FactureRabbit mentioned one, maybe the most important point which is often forgotten. Have a camera which is fun to use. The more experienced photographers will get the fun from using all the tweaks on the camera as they have already gone through of huge amount of other stuff to learn. For beginners the fun comes from other things, like getting the perfect composition while camera is on auto mode. Finding the fun way to see the world and get that to the picture. There is nothing wrong with that. 

 

My recommendation for you is to get something simple and fun to use for the first. After some time, maybe months, maybe years after, you'll eventually know when to upgrade the camera to something better. Many times already mentioned RX100 would likely be good for you. Another, which I'm very fond of, is Canon HS50SX, which I'm still using every now and then even if I have a camera which can produce far better image quality. Why? - Because it's the most fun camera I have ever owned. 

 

 

[rhythmworx]

Here are 2 images 1 was shot with a Canon S95 point and shoot the other was shot with a Canon 5d mk2 DSLR with a Sigma 24mm lens.

 

The cost difference between the 2 camera systems is a huge one.

 

 

 

 

 

The article and source of the photos is here  https://fstoppers.com/post-production/why-your-gear-might-be-holding-you-back-being-better-photographer-2907

Edited August 16, 2014 by rhythmworx

[StefanBBK]

Huge difference to me.

[MJP]

Huge difference to me.

 

But not several thousands of Pounds difference when you're starting out.

 

It's a farily steep and long learning curve all this. I started with a Panasonic Lumix LX5 and Silkypix for post-processing. This was a fanastic camera for anything from 1cm macro to landscape to moderate low light . . . I miss it.

 

Then I made an error. I went for APS-C crop format (Pentax) and lots of lenses when I should have gone full frame and fewer more expensive lenses. That said, I still manage to crank out decent work from the K-5IIs and K-3 and only bought full frame lenses (apart from two) in anticipation of a Pentax full frame camera. Which never happened. However, the Sony A7r has stepped in, wonderful bit of kit and I now have Zeiss AF lenses to boot . . . .

 

I'll stand by my advice and recommend either a Fuji X20, a Sony RX100 Mk2 or Mk3 or a Panasonic Lumix LX7. I think the Fuiji is the best option because it has a proper viewfinder although you can get hotshoe viewfinders for the others but they're expensive.

 

Fuji X20's can be had for around £300 now. I mean that's about a quarter of the price of a decent DSLR lens alone! I recommend shooting that for a year at least and in the meantime figuring out what you like to shoot and the vast array of equipment available to specialise in that field. Also go and have a look at the big DSLR's with these monster lenses and really consider the implications for comfortable and convenient travel and shooting. Then look at mirrorless and consider that. Because that's where it's all going in my opinion.

[rhythmworx]

As I once posted in another thread take a look at this guys work all shot on an RX100 mk1 or 2, yes some are post processed but you'll be doing that no matter what camera your shooting with.

 

http://www.flickriver.com/photos/fredmin/popular-interesting/

 

 

[BuddhistVirus]

Wow! Lots of excellent advice in here. That's why I love thai visa forum!

Cheers!