Looking for a perfect Full Frame Camera for the budget

hi all..

i have been using canon 600d for past 5 years.. right now i'm looking for a step improvement in camera since my 600d is way outdated.. i'm only looking for a full frame sensor..

i have US$2000-$2500 for camera + lenses..

likely, ill shoot portrait, landscape, & astrography most of the time + a bit of video footage.

Back to my main question. I've been very confused about 'what should i buy'

it's either

1.Canon 5d mark 3(+af point, - no WiFi)

2. Sony a7s (+hi ISO, - not quite sure about the adapter)

3.Canon 6d(probably towards this, +WiFi GPS 3EV, - AF point)

or should i wait for 6d mark 2, then buy the newest one

right now, i only have 2 lens which is EF lens..

1. EF 50mm 1.8(not so great as it's not stm version)

2. EF 85mm 1.2 mki

i've been thinking to buy several lens.

My future plan is to save some money for

1. EF 70-200 f4 non IS

2. EF 24-70 f4 mkii

3. EF 8-15 F4

oh yeah, i'm not professional, i'm just some college student.. so it'll take years to buy another lens.. maybe if there's another alternative for lenses/ camera that im not listed on the top, would appreciate it very much.

anyway, thanks

adriankusnadi said:

hi all..

i have been using canon 600d for past 5 years.. right now i'm looking for a step improvement in camera since my 600d is way outdated.. i'm only looking for a full frame sensor..

i have US$2000-$2500 for camera + lenses..

likely, ill shoot portrait, landscape, & astrography most of the time + a bit of video footage.

Back to my main question. I've been very confused about 'what should i buy'

it's either

1.Canon 5d mark 3(+af point, - no WiFi)

Click to expand...

WiFi is convenient but unless you have very specific criteria there are many other ways to remote fire or transfer

adriankusnadi said:

2. Sony a7s (+hi ISO, - not quite sure about the adapter)

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Yeah I would switCH this for the a7ii. This one works ok with adapted lenses. The a7s not so much.

adriankusnadi said:

3.Canon 6d(probably towards this, +WiFi GPS 3EV, - AF point)

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adriankusnadi said:

or should i wait for 6d mark 2, then buy the newest one

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No idea. There have been rumors on this for at least a year or two........could come out tomorrow.........could come out in two years......

adriankusnadi said:

right now, i only have 2 lens which is EF lens..

1. EF 50mm 1.8(not so great as it's not stm version)

2. EF 85mm 1.2 mki

i've been thinking to buy several lens.

My future plan is to save some money for

1. EF 70-200 f4 non IS

Click to expand...

Non IS.......Unless you know you will be keeping the speeds high IS is pretty helpful on longer lenses. The IS version and the sony fe 70-200 f4 are close in price

adriankusnadi said:

2. EF 24-70 f4 mkii

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This is also availabe in a Sony mount for only slightly more money

adriankusnadi said:

3. EF 8-15 F4

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?????? Is this a new lens

adriankusnadi said:

oh yeah, i'm not professional, i'm just some college student.. so it'll take years to buy another lens..

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Well a7ii is 1255 in USA if you have something to trade in at bhphoto or adorama. That leaves 800-1250 for adapters, lenses, flash

adriankusnadi said:

maybe if there's another alternative for lenses/ camera that im not listed on the top, would appreciate it very much.

Click to expand...

Many........you could use cheaper lenses but you get what you pay for.

adriankusnadi said:

anyway, thanks

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I would go to a store and handle all three if you can. My guess is 6d will probably be best for you. You need to keep an eye out for a sale or a refurbished model. The price is high right now. I would hold out for the stabilized zoom or maybe get the 70-300 non L. Not as fast or sharp but pretty good and can be found cheap occasionally. If you shake loose a good bit of money there is a new Tamron 70-200 2.8 that may be good (but BIG)

The 5diii is an awesome camera but since you are a student and cannot afford glass I say go for the 6d

Just on the case of the 6D/6D II.

I think it'll be 6 months before the 6D II hits the shelves, then at least another 6 months before it drops down to a respectable price.

I personally find the 6D's AF to be excellent once you know how to work with it. I also think it's at an excellent price right now. Pair it with the 16-35 f4 L IS, and you have a cracking landscape setup.

For portrait, landscape, and astrophotography, the main thing that matters is the sensor. You probably wouldn't really need any other bells and whistles as they tend to be types of photography where you can take your time.

Any full frame camera from the past 5ish years should do well in those genres. Your lenses would probably lean you towards Canon, however, they're not very expensive so I wouldn't let that hinder you from switching if you want.

In my opinion, for budget's sake, I would stick with Canon as they do have (subjectively) good colours for portraits. Sony and Nikon tend to have better sensors for landscapes, but then you'd have to get new lenses. I prefer mirrorless cameras, so I would choose Sony, but everyone has different preferences.

Stick with Canon since you have some lenses. Buy used.

adriankusnadi said:

hi all..

i have been using canon 600d for past 5 years.. right now i'm looking for a step improvement in camera since my 600d is way outdated.. i'm only looking for a full frame sensor..

i have US$2000-$2500 for camera + lenses..

likely, ill shoot portrait, landscape, & astrography most of the time + a bit of video footage.

Back to my main question. I've been very confused about 'what should i buy'

it's either

1.Canon 5d mark 3(+af point, - no WiFi)

2. Sony a7s (+hi ISO, - not quite sure about the adapter)

3.Canon 6d(probably towards this, +WiFi GPS 3EV, - AF point)

or should i wait for 6d mark 2, then buy the newest one

right now, i only have 2 lens which is EF lens..

1. EF 50mm 1.8(not so great as it's not stm version)

2. EF 85mm 1.2 mki

i've been thinking to buy several lens.

My future plan is to save some money for

1. EF 70-200 f4 non IS

2. EF 24-70 f4 mkii

3. EF 8-15 F4

oh yeah, i'm not professional, i'm just some college student.. so it'll take years to buy another lens.. maybe if there's another alternative for lenses/ camera that im not listed on the top, would appreciate it very much.

anyway, thanks

Click to expand...

the "perfect" full frame camera may be beyond your budget

for portraits a refurbished 6D and "L" lenses is good, some prefer more megapixels for astrophotophy

If you don't need to photograph any moving subjects, the 6D should be fine, but its AF system is definitely lacking in terms of modern cameras and is the main reason I got rid of mine. It's accurate if you have a little time to compose your shot, but otherwise my keeper rate was maybe 50/50 on subjects with more motion.

Considering that you want to shoot video, unless you are skilled enough to use it all manually (exposure and focus), I'd avoid a DSLR and rather get a mirrorless.

So it would be Sony A7 series.

I strongly recommend A7II over A7s unless you want to shoot mostly video. A7II may non be perfect but it's excellent in portrait, landscape, astro... Better than you other alternatives... Plus good video...

MatrixClaw said:

If you don't need to photograph any moving subjects, the 6D should be fine, but its AF system is definitely lacking in terms of modern cameras and is the main reason I got rid of mine.

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In all fairness getting full frame and good tracking (I know relative term......) is impossible at this price point. For a little bit more you can get the D750 or k1 but both of them are still kinda meh. Just depends on how important it is

MatrixClaw said:

It's accurate if you have a little time to compose your shot,

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Generally yes. Especially the center point

MatrixClaw said:

but otherwise my keeper rate was maybe 50/50 on subjects with more motion.

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Motion and focus and recompense with shallow DOF gave me fits with it. Still liked the camera. You just have to know AF is very simple

If the OP has a priority on AF then the d500 is a little past him but awesome.

The a7ii struggles with speed and really low light sometimes but it is flexible and generally very accurate

adriankusnadi said:

hi all..

i have been using canon 600d for past 5 years.. right now i'm looking for a step improvement in camera since my 600d is way outdated.. i'm only looking for a full frame sensor..

i have US$2000-$2500 for camera + lenses..

likely, ill shoot portrait, landscape, & astrography most of the time + a bit of video footage.

Back to my main question. I've been very confused about 'what should i buy'

it's either

1.Canon 5d mark 3(+af point, - no WiFi)

2. Sony a7s (+hi ISO, - not quite sure about the adapter)

3.Canon 6d(probably towards this, +WiFi GPS 3EV, - AF point)

or should i wait for 6d mark 2, then buy the newest one

right now, i only have 2 lens which is EF lens..

1. EF 50mm 1.8(not so great as it's not stm version)

2. EF 85mm 1.2 mki

i've been thinking to buy several lens.

My future plan is to save some money for

1. EF 70-200 f4 non IS

2. EF 24-70 f4 mkii

3. EF 8-15 F4

oh yeah, i'm not professional, i'm just some college student.. so it'll take years to buy another lens.. maybe if there's another alternative for lenses/ camera that im not listed on the top, would appreciate it very much.

anyway, thanks

Click to expand...

The Pentax K-1 is a fabulous landscape and Astrophotography camera and a fine portrait camera. A K-1 for stills and a camcorder for video would make a lot of sense.

I wish you given me a bigger budget.

the low priced options in your budget are canon 6d and sony a7

now you have some lens money with those bodies perhaps.

Pentax K1 (36 megapixel fully weathersealed, in body stabilised, pixel shift, astro tracking, on board illumination for night shooting, GPS, in built wi-fi and the third best sensor performance ever tested by DXO labs)



Add some Pentax legacy glass secondhand or some modern Tamron full frame glass (70-200mm F2.8 and 28-75mm f2.8 for it) and you have a fully weatherproofed top grade professional system capable of tackling anything you want to shoot and delivering world class results.

Job done,

Birdseed

I would buy the k1 if I was in my boat, but the OP did not give me enough budget and I would have been only stuck with one lens.

should i wait for the 6d mark 2? since the 6d will hit another depreciation? for sony.. i've watch a lot youtuber says that i cant use various mode on their mirrorless because of using adaptor?

noggin2k1 said:

Just on the case of the 6D/6D II.

I think it'll be 6 months before the 6D II hits the shelves, then at least another 6 months before it drops down to a respectable price.

I personally find the 6D's AF to be excellent once you know how to work with it. I also think it's at an excellent price right now. Pair it with the 16-35 f4 L IS, and you have a cracking landscape setup.

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is it worth to wait for the new 6d mk2 ? the rumor say that it'll be around $2000 range.. the other thing that i'm thinking that whether the 6d price will depreciate a lot or not?

adriankusnadi said:

should i wait for the 6d mark 2?

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I cannot answer that. It could come out tomorrow as easily as it comes out in 2018...................I am also curious about the specs

adriankusnadi said:

since the 6d will hit another depreciation?

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Who knows. Body only specials and refurbs where getting close to 1k . They currently are up at 1200 so they may drop again with a sale........hard to predict

adriankusnadi said:

for sony.. i've watch a lot youtuber says that i cant use various mode on their mirrorless because of using adaptor?

Click to expand...

with adapted lenses you run into all sorts of things. Some adapters do allow the extra modes with certain lenses..............these modes do not even exist on the 6d. I wish I had a link to a good article.........Look native is preferred. If you are on a budget and working with slower subjects you may find the a7ii acceptable. If af speed and reliability with canon lenses is important you should just buy the 6d and not bother with adapters

adriankusnadi said:

noggin2k1 said:

Just on the case of the 6D/6D II.

I think it'll be 6 months before the 6D II hits the shelves, then at least another 6 months before it drops down to a respectable price.

I personally find the 6D's AF to be excellent once you know how to work with it. I also think it's at an excellent price right now. Pair it with the 16-35 f4 L IS, and you have a cracking landscape setup.

Click to expand...

is it worth to wait for the new 6d mk2 ? the rumor say that it'll be around $2000 range.. the other thing that i'm thinking that whether the 6d price will depreciate a lot or not?

Click to expand...

I personally, think the 6D has had it's final price drop. Over in the UK, I've seen it at £1,049 (we do have inflated prices remember..).

My thoughts being the 6D II will launch at $2500, and then drop after 6 months - it tends to be the case with all Canon FF's. At that point, I'd expect the last of the 6D's to drop also.

So either way, it'll be the best part of a year in my books.

Just one other point to note but in the age of internet shopping people blithely discuss moving between a conventional SLR like a Canon 6D or Pentax K1 and a mirrorless option like a Sony or OLympus OM-D as if there's no difference. IN truth they are vastly different beasts to shoot with. As others have highlighted many mirrorless cameras have noticeable lag in terms of the viewfinder display, the delay between the shutter firing and the shutter button being pressed and just seeing an electronic viewfinder rather than a conventional optical one. My advice is that you really need to go into a big camera store to physically handle all the various options - Canon, Sony, Pentax etc? Are you anywhere near Wex Photographic, Park Cameras etc???

Birdseed

if i can sell both my old camera + lenses and wait around 6 months. i should've $4-5k budget to spend..

thanks for the answer !

i think i'll buy a 6d if the price went down.. and ill be keeping an eye for secondhand lenses like 24-70.. and 50 1.2 )