Advice needed for amid range dslr camera - Orchid Board

veekay · #1 03-24-2010, 07:34 PM

Hi Guy's
I am going to visit Red land orchid show during the month of May.
As I am planning to buy a mid range dslr,need advice on selection.Presently have a Nikon f-100 slr with 60 m.m. macro and Nikon 50 m.m.1.2 f/l and mostly do photographs of birds.insects and flowers.
I would like to have a G.P.S.attachment with it.Any advice
is appreciated.
regards
veekay

ChasWG · #2 04-02-2010, 12:57 PM

Well, it seems that you are into Nikon stuff and that's cool. I've always been into Canon gear. As far as Canon bodies with the GPS port I think that is only found on the 1D series bodies and maybe on the 5DMkII body. Both at the upper end of the price range. So not cheap and both not mid-ranged at all. More Pro end.

Good luck with your search and have fun at the Orchid show!

lambelkip · #3 04-02-2010, 09:45 PM

I would stick with Nikon, so you can use your old lenses. there's also a reasonably cheap gps attachment for them.

veekay · #4 04-03-2010, 05:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lambelkip

I would stick with Nikon, so you can use your old lenses. there's also a reasonably cheap gps attachment for them.

Thank you all,
Still I have not decided about selection of the camera.Canon 7 D dslr looks interesting except for over heating in video mode.
However much excited about the show because never seen
a big orchid show.
veekay

tcrane · #5 04-19-2010, 02:34 AM

I've not yet encountered this issue with mine, and I've shot for several hours, on and off, in a room with relatively warm lights.

Not sure the 7d counts as a 'mid range' camera - it may for you. ; )

If you are looking to switch to Canon, the new Rebel xt1 has video capabilities, and while the sensor isn't as big as the 7d, it's a great camera with terrific optics as well as being smaller and lighter - really easy to carry and use.

However, since you're already invested in Nikon lenses, your best bet may be to stay with that company - the optics on the older Nikon lenses are notoriously sharper than the old canon ones.

Nic100 · #6 04-19-2010, 03:33 PM

I've got the Nikon D40 with an 18-55mm lense. I have the 35-300mm lense from my old SLR which wasn't digital, so I can use the lense but have to manually focus. Not ideal but ok. I checked out the next model up when I was buying it (D60 I think?) and it didn't seem worth it. The D40 is light and super easy and I've always been pleased with the photos (although my skills could be improved)! Most of the pics in my albums on my profile page were taken with this camera. I love it!

jkofferdahl · #7 04-19-2010, 05:27 PM

I'm certainly not sure what "mid-range" means; I suspect that one person's definition of the term could be dramatically different from another's. However, I can speak highly of my own Nikon DSLR, which is the D60 model. I suppose that, as DSLRs go, it's possibly toward the low end of "mid-range". And it doesn't have a GPS feature (though for the life of me I can figure out why I'd need that on a camera anyway, since it's already on just about every other electronic device I own). The D60 will use any of the Nikkor lenses and other attachments. I don't know how battery life compares to that of other DSLRs (only other one I've owned is a Sony), but I can say that I can't remember the last time I had to charge the battery and I use the camera several times a week. I'm as happy as I could imagine ever being with the camera.

Connie Star · #8 04-19-2010, 05:32 PM

I have Canon equipment but I'll weigh in.
Definitely stick with the brand that you have lenses for. My own approach is to buy the lowest end camera and spend the money on quality lenses and accessories. I haven't yet bought a lens that cost more than the camera but almost. Right now I am using a Canon Xti which I love. Like you, I do a lot of macro and bird photography, and some of the macro is extreme- like arachnids 1/4" of so in size. I have some of my pictures on my album here.
http://www.orchidboard.com/community...mysteries.html
http://www.orchidboard.com/community...ave-known.html

ChasWG · #9 04-30-2010, 12:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tcrane

...
If you are looking to switch to Canon, the new Rebel xt1 has video capabilities, and while the sensor isn't as big as the 7d, it's a great camera with terrific optics as well as being smaller and lighter - really easy to carry and use.

However, since you're already invested in Nikon lenses, your best bet may be to stay with that company - the optics on the older Nikon lenses are notoriously sharper than the old canon ones.

The APS-C sensor in your 7D is exactly the same dementions as the Canon T1i (you mistakenly called it the xt1). All Canon APS-C sensors have the same size and produce the same "cropped" (a 1.6 conversion factor) field of view with any given lens. The only other variations to the Canon line up are the APS-H sensor (a 1.3 conversion factor) found in the 1D series bodies ( and then there's the Full Frame sensor (same as a 35mm film frame) found in the 5D and 5D Mk II.

The 7D is a truely nice "mid-level" camera. Probably the top end of the mid-level price structure, but still considered mid-level when compaired to the new 1D Mk IV which retails right around $5000 or the 5D MkII which goes for around $2500. These prices are for the bodies only. The 7D body can be had for just under $1700 new.

Personally I'm still trying to decide which will be my next body, the 5Dc, the 5D II or the 7D. There are alot of things to wiegh in my choice, price being a big one.

I too will tell you to stick with what you have lenses for, but if you really want to change to Canon and the 7D then you will be getting a great camera!

Swamper · #10 05-02-2010, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jkofferdahl

I'm certainly not sure what "mid-range" means; I suspect that one person's definition of the term could be dramatically different from another's. However, I can speak highly of my own Nikon DSLR, which is the D60 model. I suppose that, as DSLRs go, it's possibly toward the low end of "mid-range". And it doesn't have a GPS feature (though for the life of me I can figure out why I'd need that on a camera anyway, since it's already on just about every other electronic device I own). The D60 will use any of the Nikkor lenses and other attachments. I don't know how battery life compares to that of other DSLRs (only other one I've owned is a Sony), but I can say that I can't remember the last time I had to charge the battery and I use the camera several times a week. I'm as happy as I could imagine ever being with the camera.

I have a D-60 also which I love and agree with all the above except I do have to recharge the battery about once a week but it's no big deal. If anything I could/should buy an extra backup battery.

PS... see you at the Redland show.