Looking for a recommendation to a digital slr camera?
Recent answers from a few PeerPong Experts. Check it out:
We own a Nikon D90 and for the bang for the bucks, it’s a good balance between price and quality. It’s easy enough for a beginner yet support most of the features of a professional photographer. (It was even used in our wedding by our wedding photographer!) If this is your first DSLR, be aware you will be spending a lot more on getting good lenses than the camera itself.
We own a Nikon D90 and for the bang for the bucks, it’s a good balance between price and quality. It’s easy enough for a beginner yet support most of the features of a professional photographer. (It was even used in our wedding by our wedding photographer!) If this is your first DSLR, be aware you will be spending a lot more on getting good lenses than the camera itself.
3 people recommended this
the new canon T2 is incredible and shoots 1080p 24/25 ( $850)… has most of the features of it big brother the d7 ($1800) which was just used to shoot the final episode of “house”….. to have a dslr tht can take great pictures and double as a great video camera is very nice
the new canon T2 is incredible and shoots 1080p 24/25 ( $850)… has most of the features of it big brother the d7 ($1800) which was just used to shoot the final episode of “house”….. to have a dslr tht can take great pictures and double as a great video camera is very nice
3 people recommended this
I posed the same question to my friend Eugene P. recently, and his response was awesome. Basically, there are two contending camps (Nikon vs. Canon). Both are great, but Eugene just happens to prefer Nikon. I’m going to post his email reply here:
Bodies:
Amateur to Semi Pro status -
D90
http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d90.htm
This is the one I would recommend. It’s about $800 body only. Can be a good starter camera if you’re serious about it and will let you grow and learn and allow you to use the “pro” lenses. Any of the entry level Nikons D40, D60, etc, will not allow you to use the “pro” lenses (we’ll get to those later).
Serious Amateur to Pro status -
D700
http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d700.htm
This is a lot more expensive, but it has what photographers call a “full frame” sensor. Basically a sensor that is equivalent to 35mm film. (Also what the Canon 5D mark 3 that you were talking about the other time) More expensive ($2,300 body only), bulkier and heavier, but without a doubt a better camera than the D90. If you want to make us all drool, get this camera. But in my opinion, overkill.
read about full frame here: http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/full-frame-advantage.htm
Uber Pro status -
D3
http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d3.htm
Basically for pros only. $5k
Lenses:
As I mentioned before, you want to spend your money on lenses instead of body if you have to decide on one. All the lenses I’m going to recommend are FX (full frame senor) lenses. They will work with the DX (non full frame sensor i.e. D90). You want to get the FX lenses because those are the ones that will be around still when the industry slowly becomes more FX oriented, but that is probably a long way down the road. Again though, I see lenses as an investment, but only the good lenses.
The Nikon trinity… if you have these three lenses, you will never need any other lenses ever again. (Although they are bulky and very very expensive)
Nikon 14-24mm AFS f/2.8 G ED
Your wide angle
http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/14-24mm.htm
Nikon AF-S 24-70mm f/2.8 G ED
The standard lens (this is the one I would get first… a must!)
http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/24-70mm.htm
Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 VR II
Longer zoom
http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/70-200mm-ii.htm
For cheaper lenses, they are prime (non-zoom), but fast and super sharp at a fraction of the cost
Nikon 50mm 1.4 (a must!)
http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/50mm-f14-afs.htm
I have the older version http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/5014af.htm
but anyone who has an slr has to have this
Nikon 85mm 1.4 D AF
Awesome portrait lens. Pros use this all the time.
http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/8514AF.htm
I posed the same question to my friend Eugene P. recently, and his response was awesome. Basically, there are two contending camps (Nikon vs. Canon). Both are great, but Eugene just happens to prefer Nikon. I’m going to post his email reply here: Bodies: Amateur to Semi Pro status - D90 http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d90.htm This is the one I would recommend. It’s about $800 body only. Can be a good starter camera if you’re serious about it and will let you grow and learn and allow you to use the “pro” lenses. Any of the entry level Nikons D40, D60, etc, will not allow you to use the “pro” lenses (we’ll get to those later). Serious Amateur to Pro status - D700 http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d700.htm This is a lot more expensive, but it has what photographers call a “full frame” sensor. Basically a sensor that is equivalent to 35mm film. (Also what the Canon 5D mark 3 that you were talking about the other time) More expensive ($2,300 body only), bulkier and heavier, but without a doubt a better camera than the D90. If you want to make us all drool, get this camera. But in my opinion, overkill. read about full frame here: http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/full-frame-advantage.htm Uber Pro status - D3 http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d3.htm Basically for pros only. $5k Lenses: As I mentioned before, you want to spend your money on lenses instead of body if you have to decide on one. All the lenses I’m going to recommend are FX (full frame senor) lenses. They will work with the DX (non full frame sensor i.e. D90). You want to get the FX lenses because those are the ones that will be around still when the industry slowly becomes more FX oriented, but that is probably a long way down the road. Again though, I see lenses as an investment, but only the good lenses. The Nikon trinity… if you have these three lenses, you will never need any other lenses ever again. (Although they are bulky and very very expensive) Nikon 14-24mm AFS f/2.8 G ED Your wide angle http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/14-24mm.htm Nikon AF-S 24-70mm f/2.8 G ED The standard lens (this is the one I would get first… a must!) http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/24-70mm.htm Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 VR II Longer zoom http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/70-200mm-ii.htm For cheaper lenses, they are prime (non-zoom), but fast and super sharp at a fraction of the cost Nikon 50mm 1.4 (a must!) http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/50mm-f14-afs.htm I have the older version http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/5014af.htm but anyone who has an slr has to have this Nikon 85mm 1.4 D AF Awesome portrait lens. Pros use this all the time. http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/8514AF.htm
4 people recommended this
