Need help deciding which camera to buy!

Hi there,

Long time lurker here (the forums have great information!) and finally decided I want to get more serious about my photography hobby.

But since I really cant make up my mind in what camera to buy, I tought I might ask for some help from you knowledgeable people.

Here´s some background: I´ve always been a P&S user - wouldnt dare to call me a photographer yet - but now that my wife is pregnant, I want to learn how to take better pictures, so I decided to get my first ILC system.

I´ll be mostly taking pictures of my family (my baby and my nephews - ages between 2 and 5) along with my dog, with some general shooting (landscapes and etc) when travelling.

I live in Brazil where camera selection is short and prices are really absurd, but I will be in the US for a few days next week, so I need to make a quick decision on what equipment to buy, knowing that I won´t an opportunity to buy lenses and whatnot in the near future (iust to giuve you an idea, in Brazil the SEL50f18 alone sells for around US$ 700 !!!).

My budget is around US$ 600 (plus shipping and taxes) for the whole equipment, but I could maybe stretch it to around US$ 700 (don´t tell the wife!) if that would make for a much better kit overall (more lenses anyone?).

So with all that in mind. In my situation, what deal would you get?

1) Sony NEX-6 + 16-50mm Lens + (Like new) SEL50f18 for family portraits

Total = US$ 725 (kit + prime)

2) Sony NEX5T +16-50mm Lens + 55-210mm Lens + 64GB Card + Backpack + Extra Battery + Shutter Remote + Tripod+ Tele/Wide Lens Kit

Total = US$ 699 (kit + tele w/ everything else)

3) Sony A6000 + 16-50mm lens

Total = US$ 799 (kit only)

4) Olympus PEN E-PM2 + 14-42mm Lens + 40-150mm Lens + Bag + 8GB Card + Refurbished 17mm f2.8 lens - 3 lenses! for all kinds of photos.

Total = US$ 539 (w/ kit zoom + tele + pancake lenses)

5) Olympus PEN E-PL5 + 14-42mm Lens + 40-150mm Lens + Refurbished 17mm f2.8 lens - 3 lenses! for all kinds of photos.

Total = US$ 639 (w/ kit zoom + tele + pancake lenses)

Dear Pedro

I do not have any experience with the Sony but have heard good things about the 6000, however I would go for EPL5 because of the lenses you are geting with it. That is some good glass and covers a lot of focal length. The camera is quite good as well.

pedrocalazans wrote:

Hi there,

Long time lurker here (the forums have great information!) and finally decided I want to get more serious about my photography hobby.

But since I really cant make up my mind in what camera to buy, I tought I might ask for some help from you knowledgeable people.

Here´s some background: I´ve always been a P&S user - wouldnt dare to call me a photographer yet - but now that my wife is pregnant, I want to learn how to take better pictures, so I decided to get my first ILC system.

I´ll be mostly taking pictures of my family (my baby and my nephews - ages between 2 and 5) along with my dog, with some general shooting (landscapes and etc) when travelling.

I live in Brazil where camera selection is short and prices are really absurd, but I will be in the US for a few days next week, so I need to make a quick decision on what equipment to buy, knowing that I won´t an opportunity to buy lenses and whatnot in the near future (iust to giuve you an idea, in Brazil the SEL50f18 alone sells for around US$ 700 !!!).

My budget is around US$ 600 (plus shipping and taxes) for the whole equipment, but I could maybe stretch it to around US$ 700 (don´t tell the wife!) if that would make for a much better kit overall (more lenses anyone?).

So with all that in mind. In my situation, what deal would you get?

1) Sony NEX-6 + 16-50mm Lens + (Like new) SEL50f18 for family portraits

Total = US$ 725 (kit + prime)

2) Sony NEX5T +16-50mm Lens + 55-210mm Lens + 64GB Card + Backpack + Extra Battery + Shutter Remote + Tripod+ Tele/Wide Lens Kit

Total = US$ 699 (kit + tele w/ everything else)

3) Sony A6000 + 16-50mm lens

Total = US$ 799 (kit only)

4) Olympus PEN E-PM2 + 14-42mm Lens + 40-150mm Lens + Bag + 8GB Card + Refurbished 17mm f2.8 lens - 3 lenses! for all kinds of photos.

Total = US$ 539 (w/ kit zoom + tele + pancake lenses)

5) Olympus PEN E-PL5 + 14-42mm Lens + 40-150mm Lens + Refurbished 17mm f2.8 lens - 3 lenses! for all kinds of photos.

Total = US$ 639 (w/ kit zoom + tele + pancake lenses)

Have you considered a DP1/2 or 3 (depending on your preferred focal length)?

Possibly the best IQ from a non medium format camera Ive ever seen - particularly the 2 and 3.

Fits your price range too.

One of those $200-$250 E-PM2 deals we've seen recently plus a couple of the Sigma primes might be more appealing for the kinda shooting you're alluding to... Unless you have another purpose for that tele. Even if you pay $300 for it you can get two Sigma primes (20 & 60 or 30 & 60) for $440, right around your budget altogether. OTOH the A6000 would probably be better for action shots.

Just putting this out there because the 17mm is generally pretty expensive, tho you seem to be getting a good deal on a refurb. Having that and the tele would definitely be more versatile than the Sony kits, although the Sony lens in the first kit would be the best portrait lens in the bunch.

That's the 17 2.8, not 1.8.

Impulses wrote:

Just putting this out there because the 17mm is generally pretty expensive, tho you seem to be getting a good deal on a refurb. Having that and the tele would definitely be more versatile than the Sony kits, although the Sony lens in the first kit would be the best portrait lens in the bunch.

Please note: he is getting the 17mm f 2.8 not f 1.8

I actually liked the images I got from the original 17mm f 2.8 pancake with my E-P1.  But, it is not a current design (i.e. not MSC), focuses pretty slowly, and is not worth very much on the used market.  The 17mm f 1.8 is a much better lens and is "pretty expensive".

Dollar for dollar, I think you would have the most fun with the E-PM2 kit and add-in 17mm lens.

I had a NEX7 with the 16-50 and 55-200 lenses you mentioned. It was a very classy looking outfit, but it was mildly disappointing. Sure, I could mount my Pentax manual lenses to it and get better shots, but that sort of defeated the small and light criteria I was interested in. I believe the Sonys display less noise in low light but, let's face it, any modern camera is no slouch when it comes to higher ISO shooting.

All in all, and I've owned several Sony mirrorless cameras, I prefer m4/3.

Impulses wrote:

Just putting this out there because the 17mm is generally pretty expensive, tho you seem to be getting a good deal on a refurb. Having that and the tele would definitely be more versatile than the Sony kits, although the Sony lens in the first kit would be the best portrait lens in the bunch.

Please note: he is getting the 17mm f 2.8 not f 1.8

I actually liked the images I got from the original 17mm f 2.8 pancake with my E-P1.  But, it is not a current design (i.e. not MSC), focuses pretty slowly, and is not worth very much on the used market.  The 17mm f 1.8 is a much better lens and is "pretty expensive".

Duh, reading comprehension fail, I'd be even more inclined towards what I suggested then, or the Sony kit with the 50...