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akaphotography

akaphotography

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Looking into getting my first DSLR and I was wondering if I should get a cheaper camera with better lenses or a nicer camera with (kit) not as nice of lenses?
 
akaphotography said:
Looking into getting my first DSLR and I was wondering if I should get a cheaper camera with better lenses or a nicer camera with (kit) not as nice of lenses?
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Depends on what and how you shoot--and what types of cameras & budget you're looking into. For example, a Nikon D750 actually has a pretty decent kit lens. But it could be outside of the realm of what you're looking for.

"Nice cameras" usually have more & better controls. Sometimes they don't even have better inherent image quality. If you shoot manual a lot or want full control of your camera, then it can be worth it. On the other hand, if you're learning, some cameras can be too complicated and not as user friendly. Here's a great example of this.

Good lenses are always important. But this will depend on what you need too. Some people get away with 1 inexpensive (but very high quality) lens and an inexpensive camera.


My advice? Figure out what you're looking for first--why do you want a DSLR? What are you hoping to get out of it? Then, buy an older used camera that gets you what you need. Look through this thread as an example of this.
 
Cheap everything or if you have the budget gear that will hold it's value.
 
akaphotography said:
Looking into getting my first DSLR and I was wondering if I should get a cheaper camera with better lenses or a nicer camera with (kit) not as nice of lenses?
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In general t's best to get gear that matches quality - but that's not necessarily true for a beginner. Today's cheap cameras give much the same quality as expensive ones; it's just that the cheap ones tend to have poorer viewfinders and controls. With lenses, however, high quality costs more.

A more expensive camera with cheap lenses will give relatively poor quality; a cheap camera with expensive lenses will give relatively better quality ...

But until you've mastered your gear the main factor will be your knowledge and experience. Also, there are many different lenses - how can you know which will suit you best until you've learned and developed a style?

Regardless of relative quality in the middle-to-long term you'll be better advised to buy whatever kit lens is offered with the camera you choose and stick with that for several months before deciding just which better lenses you'll need.
 
Folks frequently say "marry the lens and date the camera."

Consider that lots of us are using lenses that work fine in auto modes that are maybe a decade old, and have gone through several bodies. Indeed, many of us are usiing legacy manual lenses from several decades ago that work great on today's bodies. But you can't say the same about old digital DSLRs or mirrorless bodies.

So I'd say look used for both bodies and lenses. Because of the changes in tech enthusiasts are always trading up and people tend to take care of cameras; I've bought tons of used stuff and never ever been even close to burned.

My fave starter scenario is a used Pentax. That's cuz they tend to give more bang for the buck over the entry Canons and Nikons at the same price point. And they have tons of older lenses that work great; you can have a nice set of primes for very little on top of say a kit zoom. And even if you decide to go say mirrorless later, those Pentax lenses can work on say an Oly or Panny with a cheap adapter.

Or Canon refurbs if you live in the US.

Check the forums where the Pentax, or Canon, or Sony or whatever fans hang out; that's often the best place to get very good deals on used stuff. Like www.pentaxforums.com for Pentax's.
 
akaphotography said:
Looking into getting my first DSLR and I was wondering if I should get a cheaper camera with better lenses or a nicer camera with (kit) not as nice of lenses?
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DSLR is all about lenses. No point in getting a 18-55, since lots of compacts with good glass optics can beat this plastic lens. No reason to buy dlsr and not be ready to invest in good lenses in future. Buy a decent camera body of at least xxxD (in terms of canon), just not the cheapest one and build up your lenses park.

As someone said, there are two big WOWs in photography gear-related - when you switch to a full-frame and when you get a lens which can provide shallow DOF. Why should you delay one of them?!
 
In general all cameras can take a good picture if you use a good lens.

But without more information it is hard to give any advice. If you are on a tight budget the online canon store has good values on refurbs.

Some of the kit lenses from all the brands are quite good.

So you need to give us some more information. Budget...brand preference...what will be your main type of photography?

Fill in some blanks and we will try to help our

whvick
 
I've been using a friends Canon Rebel SL1 for awhile so I know my way around a camera and know how to set my own manual settings and adjust them as needed. I've heard good things about the Nikon D5300 and found it on Costco with 2 kit lenses for $600. Part of the reason I chose Nikon initially is because I have a Nikon film camera with some lenses that work on the D5300, primarily a 50mm. I also was looking at some of the Canon refurbished cameras such as the rebel T5, 5i, and 6 and would only buy the body or with one kit lens and make up the difference in price with a nicer lens, maybe the Rokinon 14mm for astrophotography. As of now those are the options I've come up with, but am still looking around. Comments?
 
akaphotography said:
I've been using a friends Canon Rebel SL1 for awhile so I know my way around a camera and know how to set my own manual settings and adjust them as needed. I've heard good things about the Nikon D5300 and found it on Costco with 2 kit lenses for $600. Part of the reason I chose Nikon initially is because I have a Nikon film camera with some lenses that work on the D5300, primarily a 50mm. I also was looking at some of the Canon refurbished cameras such as the rebel T5, 5i, and 6 and would only buy the body or with one kit lens and make up the difference in price with a nicer lens, maybe the Rokinon 14mm for astrophotography. As of now those are the options I've come up with, but am still looking around. Comments?
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This is a good example of what I was referring to.

The Nikon D5300 has pretty much the same image quality as the D3#00, D5#00, D7#00 (as well as pretty much every modern 24 megapixel APS-C Nikon). The main difference is in controls & features. For example, if your older 50mm lens is an AF or AF-D autofocus lens, it will not autofocus on the D3#00 or D5#00 cameras, but it will with the D7#00 cameras.

I'm not a fan of the kit lenses for these level of cameras, unless you plan on using a normal & slow zoom. Which lenses do you need (what do you plan on shooting)?

The 'better' lens is the one that fits what you need & what you'll use it for, not what it costs or its specs. If you're interested in just astro + portraits, keep your 50mm Nikon and add the 14mm Rokinon. Or if you want a more versatile autofocus ultrawide, there's the Tokina 11-16. You can't just say "which lenses and camera's should I get?" Because the follow-up is: "for what?"
 
The main two types of photography I plan on doing are portraits and astrophotography and maybe some street photography and/or landscapes occassionally.
 
What lenses do you have?

You might be able to get just a refurbished Nikon D7000, D7100, or D7200 body which will autofocus your lenses if they have that capability.

Or you can get a used or refurbished D600 or D610 full frame from a reputable dealer that offers a good return policy. Then the camera will capture the same angle of view off of your old lenses as your old film camera.
 
I would get the cheapest non consumer body and better lenses to start for you.

some of the cheap bodies may not be able to drive your old lenses.

talk to your camera store about what you want to mount to your new body.
 
Tim Reidy Productions said:
I would get the cheapest non consumer body and better lenses to start for you.

some of the cheap bodies may not be able to drive your old lenses.

talk to your camera store about what you want to mount to your new body.
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I'd agree with this. Look at used 'prosumer' bodies. For Nikon, this is the D7#00 series. Try to see if you can score a good condition, used D7000 for cheap. Skip the kit lenses. Should be roughly $350 used, more or less.

For portraits, use your 50mm lens you already have. I assume it's a F/1.8 or F/1.4?

For astro & landscapes, I'd consider the Tokina 11-16mm F/2.8 and the Samyang/Rokinon 14mm F/2.8. I'd recommend the Tokina over the Samyang.

For street, look around and get something 'fast' (at least F/2.8) between 20 and 35mm. For example, a Nikon 35mm F/1.8G (DX) should be inexpensive. If you really want to, this is where you could do a cheaper kit lens like an 18-55mm--but these will be much 'slower'. Skip this for now if you don't need it.
 
akaphotography said:
Is ebay an ok place to buy from? And how high of shutter count is too high?
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I'd rather get one from a reputable dealer that sells cameras that have guaranteed quality ratings, especially those that sell manufacturer refurbished items.
 
beatboxa said:
I'd agree with this. Look at used 'prosumer' bodies. For Nikon, this is the D7#00 series. Try to see if you can score a good condition, used D7000 for cheap.
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Doesn't the D7000 use the multi-cam 4800 AF that's known for focusing issues? As a D5500 owner, that's the one thing that disappoints me about the camera, otherwise I'd fully recommend it.
 
notpc said:
beatboxa said:
I'd agree with this. Look at used 'prosumer' bodies. For Nikon, this is the D7#00 series. Try to see if you can score a good condition, used D7000 for cheap.
Click to expand...
Doesn't the D7000 use the multi-cam 4800 AF that's known for focusing issues? As a D5500 owner, that's the one thing that disappoints me about the camera, otherwise I'd fully recommend it.
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There are different implementations of this AF system--it's definitely not the best, but also not the worst--we've also got to consider budget. Really depends on shooting scenarios.

Since this was for portraits & astro, I don't think it will be an issue at all.
 
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