Camera Suggestions?

[Dayze]

Ok;

so the wife and I are in the market for a camera. We previously had a Sony digital camera for about 10 years but the wife dropped it and now it won't hold any settings etc.

So, it's time for another one. I'm by no means a professional photographer; but I also don't want some little $100 POS either. I'd like to have one that I could 'grow' into if I wanted to so to speak.

I think My budget is about $400-$600. I was looking at the Nikon D3200 DSLR....though, admittedly, I'm not 100% what "DSLR" is.
I like the design of it; I've held a few like it and they're much easier to hold IMO.

Suggestions?

[kepp]

Originally Posted by Dayze

off topic, but what gym does your daughter go to? ....not so I can show up to watch while wearing a trench coat etc....
I was a gymnast for about 6 years and competed in USGA all around a 5 state region.

Just curious.

Not sure I want to post that online. She goes to one north of the river though. She's in level 5 right now, and her little sister is level 2. We think the younger one is going to be pretty good...probably will wind up being a good bit better than her big sister.

It's odd this year though. The USGA is changing the requirements for the different levels. So if you were level 5 last season and are ready to move up a level, you'll technically still be called level 5 this next season because of the reqs change.

[Dayze]

Originally Posted by kepp

Not sure I want to post that online. She goes to one north of the river though. She's in level 5 right now, and her little sister is level 2. We think the younger one is going to be pretty good...probably will wind up being a good bit better than her big sister.

It's odd this year though. The USGA is changing the requirements for the different levels. So if you were level 5 last season and are ready to move up a level, you'll technically still be called level 5 this next season because of the reqs change.

no worries. I was at a gym called Great Plains Gymnastics. Smaller gym, no longer there in Lenexa. I competed in class 4, 3, and about a year in 2. That year in 2 was a PITA. Had to do compulsory and optional routines. I could hange with the compulsory routines, but I couldn't man up against others in the optionals. I could only hang in optionals on Pommel Horse and H-Bar. Rings was a no-go; dudes pulling off multiple crosses and giants. Floor I was so-so. same with vault. P-bars was a torture device.

I did take KS 1s/champ in Vault, and placed top 3 in all other events including all around in Class 3. and Placed 3rd in pommels at Regionals.

Went to Bart Connor's camp in Norman once; I remember him showing up in a white Ferrair 380 GTB .
It got WAY to hard to keep up with 5 practice nights a week 4-8m and keep up in High School. Some of the best times of my life during my 'career'.

[Fire Me Boy!]

Originally Posted by kepp

This seems like a decent deal, no?

http://www.keh.com/camera/Canon-Digi...991024110?r=FE

Then again, here's a 20D for $149 - http://www.adorama.com/US%20%20%20%2...FelAMgodxDcAgQ

The 40D is a better camera, but I don't think it's twice the 20D. I've thought about picking up one of the 20Ds recently myself. It'd be slightly better than the Rebel I have now, and I really enjoyed the years I shot with my 20. It would also leave you some extra cash to pick up a couple lenses.

Either way, for you gymnastics shooting, I'd look for something that can go down to f/2.8 or lower.

[kepp]

Originally Posted by Fire Me Boy!

The 40D is a better camera, but I don't think it's twice the 20D. I've thought about picking up one of the 20Ds recently myself. It'd be slightly better than the Rebel I have now, and I really enjoyed the years I shot with my 20. It would also leave you some extra cash to pick up a couple lenses.

Either way, for you gymnastics shooting, I'd look for something that can go down to f/2.8 or lower.

What does that mean?

[Chief_For_Life58]

the 1080i camera on your smart phone

[Fire Me Boy!]

Originally Posted by kepp

What does that mean?

That's the f-stop. The smaller the f-stop number = the wider the aperture = more available light in the lens.

For the indoor sports shooting (without a flash), you'll need a "fast" lens, one that can open to a wider aperture. I'd shoot for f/2.8, f/2.4, or f/1.8.

Most of your kit lenses will maybe go to f/4.5 or thereabouts - that's not wide enough to get a decent shutter speed indoors, and you'll need that shutter speed to stop the action.

[kepp]

Originally Posted by Fire Me Boy!

That's the f-stop. The smaller the f-stop number = the wider the aperture = more available light in the lens.

For the indoor sports shooting (without a flash), you'll need a "fast" lens, one that can open to a wider aperture. I'd shoot for f/2.8, f/2.4, or f/1.8.

Most of your kit lenses will maybe go to f/4.5 or thereabouts - that's not wide enough to get a decent shutter speed indoors, and you'll need that shutter speed to stop the action.

So the f-stop is lens-specific? It seems like all these camera bodies (20D, 30D, 40D, etc.) all say "aperture values F1.0 - F91"

[Fire Me Boy!]

Originally Posted by kepp

So the f-stop is lens-specific? It seems like all these camera bodies (20D, 30D, 40D, etc.) all say "aperture values F1.0 - F91"

That's the camera's capability. It'll be specific to the lens. Every lens you buy will have a specific f-stop range, and it'll say it on the lens. See the 1:1.8 on this one. So that's the lowest it'll go:

[Dayze]

so I went to a small camera shop over lunch.
they didn't have any DSLRs, but they did have the mirrorless cameras. ?

Any pros or cons on this. The particular one I was looking at (they didn't have a large selection at all) was the same price as the Nikon 3200 etc. only mirrorless....and "Panasonic" (not sure if that should concern me or not).

[ghak99]

Originally Posted by RedandGold

With the release of the D600 and D7100, you might be able to catch a good deal on a used D7000 body. It's much more enjoyable to shoot than the D3100, and you don't have to worry about swapping glass.

Right now, I wouldn't say that Canon or Nikon is ahead of the other. The D800 and 5D MkIII are both very nice at their point, and either would be a good choice if you're heavily-invested in a system. With that being said, one isn't enough better than the other to justify switching systems.

One of my main problems is the video. I DSLR a bunch of quick and easy b-roll as filler footage. It could be in my head, but it just seems Canon is a step ahead of Nikon with it. I have a 5200 I borrow on a regular basis, and it has the capabilities I need, but the video is still not quite where I want it.

I also absolutely hate the small frame of my 3100. It's uncomfortable capturing images and is horrible for free handing video when things are tight. I was going to add a pack to it to see if it helped much, but after using the camera a while I knew I wasn't keeping it so I didn't bother.

I've been watching the used market, but being on the fence has kept me from snagging anything. I'm going to be able to get my hands on just about every camera in the range I'm looking at during a trip to Colorado this summer, so hopefully I'll be able to sort it out.

[ghak99]

Originally Posted by RedandGold

One thing that Canon has in its favor is video capability. If you have any intention of dabbling in videography, Canon is ahead of Nikon in that area. Nikon's D5xxx series was geared to compete with Canon's T3i and T4i, and at this particular price point, Canon is a better choice.

If you're sticking with traditional photography, I'd go with the Nikon D3200 for entry-level or the D7xxx series if you're willing to stretch your budget for something that you can grow into. I've played with the Canon 60d, which is essentially a step between the T4i and the Nikon D7xxx series in terms of market strategy, and I preferred the Nikon.

I should have kept reading before posting.

You confirmed my problem/situation.

[Dayze]

Wonder if the refurbished cameras are good; in that they won't go tits up in a year.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Nikon-D3200-...416#vi-content

[Dave Lane]

Originally Posted by Fire Me Boy!

That's the f-stop. The smaller the f-stop number = the wider the aperture = more available light in the lens.

For the indoor sports shooting (without a flash), you'll need a "fast" lens, one that can open to a wider aperture. I'd shoot for f/2.8, f/2.4, or f/1.8.

Most of your kit lenses will maybe go to f/4.5 or thereabouts - that's not wide enough to get a decent shutter speed indoors, and you'll need that shutter speed to stop the action.

Canon has its "nifty fifty" lens on sale for $100 great glass for no money. 50mm f1.8 brand new its a bargain.

[Dave Lane]

Originally Posted by Dayze

Wonder if the refurbished cameras are good; in that they won't go tits up in a year.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Nikon-D3200-...416#vi-content

I know you are kinda a "astro" guy and on the off chance that you might use it for some astrophotography work get a Canon just trust me.

IMHO

[Fire Me Boy!]

Originally Posted by Dave Lane

Canon has its "nifty fifty" lens on sale for $100 great glass for no money. 50mm f1.8 brand new its a bargain.

That's a good lens. If you can find a Mark I, it's got a metal mount (Mark II is plastic). I grabbed the f/1.4 USM a couple months ago, and I don't think I've taken it off the body since.