Recommended Camera

[shane87]

I am looking to get my first semi-serious camera. My mom has always had Canon SLR and DSLR and all my point and shoots are Cannon. I am at this time looking at the Canon T2i or Nikon D5000. I have read reviews on both and my mind is not completely made up. I am leaning to the Canon do to being more familiar. Any advice would be great. Thanks


I did do some searching and could not find an answer.

[KenJulio]

One aspect of shopping is doing research which you've done and narrowed down to a couple of models. Another thing of it since you're doing it online is to visit a store which has both models so you can handle it and see how it functions in your hands. I was talking to a couple of folks this weekend and they mentioned they didnt like how some buttons/wheels are placed. Others find it well thought out, to each its own.

If you havent checked out, check out dpreview, they usually do a unbias review of body and lenses. I'm sure there are others who will chime in with suggestions.

[KenJulio]

I'll add, the kit lens, ie 18-55 or 55-200, arent the sharpest lenses around, for either canon or nikon. If you have the budget, the 24-105L f4 would be quite useful.

[shane87]

dpreview is were I have do the most research. Also if I were to want to get into doing seniors and semi-profesional work what maybe my best choice to where I do not feel under gunned in the camera side. I am planning on getting only top of the line lens but feel it may be a waist of money to get a 7D when there on paper few difference that at this time may not benefit me.

[ggeen]

I will not tell you which camera to buy since that is a personal choice. I will say that learning a new camera is easier if you know someone with the same brand who is willing to share experiences.

That said, I put several friends into Canon cameras even though I am a Nikon shooter, myself.

I like the two choices you have chosen. Go to the store and handle them. Note how they feel in you hands. Do you reach the controls easily. Does it seem well laid out for you. Then, to through the menu system. Does the menu system make sense to you.

As an amateur radio operator, I messed about with many different radio systems. I found that I prefer the menu systems of Icom and Kenwood over Yeasu and Alinco. It is a very personal thing. There is nothing wrong with the latter, but I prefer the former.

[Jim Victory]

Personally the camera is secondary to me. The more important aspect of a system is the lenses. What you shoot and what kind of lenses you need determines the best system to use.

You will have much more invested in your lenses than cameras and 5 years from now your lenses will still be as capable as they were when you bought them but your camera will be sorely outdated and worth a fraction of its present cost.

You can get use to any camera controls if you spend time with them but the lenses make the system not the camera.

[Flea77]

I tend to think the opposite of Jim, although I respect his opinion. I started with a Canon AE-1 Program about a billion years ago (it was used but only about a year old) and I never wanted to take it anywhere with me, I instead carried an old Argus around. Then I walked into a store and held the brand new model from Nikon, the FG, it was love at first shutter release. Since then, I have owned no other primary work cameras than Nikon, and they go everywhere with me.

I find the Canon bodies uncomfortable, difficult to control, and things are not where I think they should be. I would rather shoot with a D40 than a 1Dmk4 any day of the week and twice on Sundays.

Now keep in mind there are those that think the complete opposite, and that is fine. The moral here is not that Nikon is superior to Canon, but that each person relates to things differently and if you do not get the one that fits YOU then you quite possibly will never be the photographer you could be. Your perfect camera might be Pentax, Sony, or Holga, who knows!

Try them all out, find the one that YOU like, go with it. Every manufacturer (well, except Holga, heh) makes a wide array of lenses that will do most any job just as well as the competition so to me the glass is secondary to the body.

Allan

[garykohs]

Originally Posted by shane87

dpreview is were I have do the most research. Also if I were to want to get into doing seniors and semi-profesional work what maybe my best choice to where I do not feel under gunned in the camera side. I am planning on getting only top of the line lens but feel it may be a waist of money to get a 7D when there on paper few difference that at this time may not benefit me.

Both of your choices are well more than capable for your uses. The 7D has many advantages but not really related to your intended uses. Spend the extra money on good lenses.

Hold both cameras in your hands, look through the viewfinder, fire off a few shots. You'll know which one is for you.

[humminboid]

Be practical about this: If Mom has Canon cameras and equipment, and you are a responsible young tad, a range of lenses that you couldn't begin to afford will be at your disposal.

You could then take your time about any purchases. Even the "kit" lenses are marvelous pieces of engineering and wizardry, better than we are, so one of those might be a good first choice.