New camera for budding photojournalist

[as9934]

I was recently given the award for the North Carolina High School Journalist of the Year. Along with this award comes a $3000 scholarship to be used for whatever I like. With this money I would like to invest in some journalistic tools to help further my career. I definitely first would like to buy a good computer, probably a 13" Macbook Pro with Retina Display, which will be $1000-2000. After the computer I would like to invest in some more camera equipment. Currently I have a Sony a6000, which is really wonderful but I feel like it does lack in some areas. Currently I have 5 lenses to go with the a6000: the Sony 50 1.8, the Sony 55-210, a Nikon AIS 50mm 2, a Nikon AI 28mm 2.8 and a Nikon AI 135mm F3.5. I am considering a second body and right now my options are a new a6300, a used A7r, an A7II or a used Nikon D800E. I am not considering Cannon because I only have glass for Sony and Nikon. Initially I am leaning towards the a7r or the D800E because it is a very substantial improvement in megapixels over my a6000.

Which of these cameras would be most appropriate for a budding photojournalist and videographer, as a supplement to my a6000?

 

[chuxter]

I was recently given the award for the North Carolina High School Journalist of the Year. Along with this award comes a $3000 scholarship to be used for whatever I like.

CONGRATULATIONS!

With this money I would like to invest in some journalistic tools to help further my career.

Tell us more about what you want your career to be. Like what type of Photojournalist do you want to be?

I definitely first would like to buy a good computer, probably a 13" Macbook Pro with Retina Display, which will be $1000-2000. After the computer I would like to invest in some more camera equipment. Currently I have a Sony a6000, which is really wonderful but I feel like it does lack in some areas. Currently I have 5 lenses to go with the a6000: the Sony 50 1.8, the Sony 55-210, a Nikon AIS 50mm 2, a Nikon AI 28mm 2.8 and a Nikon AI 135mm F3.5. I am considering a second body and right now my options are a new a6300, a used A7r, an A7II or a used Nikon D800E. I am not considering Cannon because I only have glass for Sony and Nikon. Initially I am leaning towards the a7r or the D800E because it is a very substantial improvement in megapixels over my a6000.

Does a photojournalist need more MP? I think either of those cameras is too much, but then I don't yet know exactly what you plan to photograph and where you will publish.

Which of these cameras would be most appropriate for a budding photojournalist and videographer, as a supplement to my a6000?

Perhaps the a6300 will be what you need? Tell us more...

 

[j_photo]

Where does your current gear fall short (low light, fps, focus, something else...)?

I can't say for sure, but I think I'm hearing a bit of gear lust in your purchase ideas. The D800E doesn't come to my mind as an obvious camera for photojournalist needs. For example, the D750 is less expensive and arguably more versatile.

And just for arguments sake, rather than spend all your prize money on gear, how about spending half of it on a trip to somewhere special where you can see something new and explore your passion?

I would encourage you to first develop a plan of what you want to accomplish over the next several years and then from that, work backward to what gear you need. New experiences will last you a lifetime. Most gear, not so long. Maybe you've thought some of this through, but it doesn't come through in your post.

Congratulations and good luck.

 

[as9934]

Where does your current gear fall short (low light, fps, focus, something else...)?

I can't say for sure, but I think I'm hearing a bit of gear lust in your purchase ideas. The D800E doesn't come to my mind as an obvious camera for photojournalist needs. For example, the D750 is less expensive and arguably more versatile.

And just for arguments sake, rather than spend all your prize money on gear, how about spending half of it on a trip to somewhere special where you can see something new and explore your passion?

I would encourage you to first develop a plan of what you want to accomplish over the next several years and then from that, work backward to what gear you need. New experiences will last you a lifetime. Most gear, not so long. Maybe you've thought some of this through, but it doesn't come through in your post.

Congratulations and good luck.

I won't lie there is some gear lust...

But I have definitely thought this through. I plan to attend college next spring with a major in journalism and take some photojournalism and videography classes. Wherever I decide to go (right now I'm leaning towards UNC- Chapel Hill --- Go Heels!) I will also take advantage of study abroad programs that will allow to take some fantastic trips without spending a dime. I particularly would like to travel to India and do some photojournalism there and I expect that I will be able to do so. I also plan to work for the school newspaper staff so I want to be able to fulfill any and all duties they could ever ask for.

To your point on the D750- my only problem with it is that it doesn't feel like much of an upgrade from my current camera (a Sony a6000) whereas the A7r, A7II and D800E all unquestionably are.

 

[greenmanphoto]

Where does your current gear fall short (low light, fps, focus, something else...)?

I can't say for sure, but I think I'm hearing a bit of gear lust in your purchase ideas. The D800E doesn't come to my mind as an obvious camera for photojournalist needs. For example, the D750 is less expensive and arguably more versatile.

And just for arguments sake, rather than spend all your prize money on gear, how about spending half of it on a trip to somewhere special where you can see something new and explore your passion?

I would encourage you to first develop a plan of what you want to accomplish over the next several years and then from that, work backward to what gear you need. New experiences will last you a lifetime. Most gear, not so long. Maybe you've thought some of this through, but it doesn't come through in your post.

Congratulations and good luck.

I won't lie there is some gear lust...

But I have definitely thought this through. I plan to attend college next spring with a major in journalism and take some photojournalism and videography classes. Wherever I decide to go (right now I'm leaning towards UNC- Chapel Hill --- Go Heels!) I will also take advantage of study abroad programs that will allow to take some fantastic trips without spending a dime. I particularly would like to travel to India and do some photojournalism there and I expect that I will be able to do so. I also plan to work for the school newspaper staff so I want to be able to fulfill any and all duties they could ever ask for.

To your point on the D750- my only problem with it is that it doesn't feel like much of an upgrade from my current camera (a Sony a6000) whereas the A7r, A7II and D800E all unquestionably are.

as9934,

As others have stated, Congratulations on a great achievement!

Also, as others have said, a D8x0 or an A7 is really overkill for a journalism student. The files are massive, taking up scads of room on your computer gear (particularly a laptop, which is already hampered in HD space due to a smaller, slower drive!), and requiring more time to send to a publisher. There are reasons most PJs use something like a D4 or a 1D! Not only are they built to take the workload, but also have smaller files overall for faster work! As someone else already stated, for a new Nikon camera that's currently available, go for the D750. Also, SERIOUSLY consider waiting for the D500 to come out. It will be built well, and have many of the same features as Nikon's D5. It should be out in April, and if you order now, you could possibly have it by the fall semester. IMHO, either of these are a MUCH better choice from Nikon than the D8x0 for a PJ.

Like it or not, if you're serious about PJ, and it sounds like you are, then you'd probably be better off with something like the D750 from Nikon, or one of Sony's other offerings, IMHO. You need to seriously look at the long-term durability of the camera you're going to purchase, as well as long-term goals of your own (what sort of PJ work you want to do, what subjects you want to focus on, what environments you think you'll be doing the work you want to do, etc.), and go from there. Will Sony, over the long run, have the equipment that meets that criteria? Will Nikon? (To me, the answer for Nikon is Yes, as they've done so for decades!) Do you foresee yourself possibly being somewhere hostile, such as a war zone, or even just a rough environment, in your future work? If so, do you think Sony and their gear will work well there and support you in that environment? If not, then don't invest in Sony gear now.

On another note, regarding the computer, if you're going with an Apple computer, as a student, you would qualify for a student price, which would save you some money. If you're looking at another computer brand, then some of them also have student rates. Consider that, as mentioned above, particularly for video and photographic files, you'll need a FAST processor and more storage space, particularly if you go through with buying a large-MP camera like an A7 or a D8x0.

Again, congratulations, and good luck!

Sam

 

[j_photo]

Where does your current gear fall short (low light, fps, focus, something else...)?

I can't say for sure, but I think I'm hearing a bit of gear lust in your purchase ideas. The D800E doesn't come to my mind as an obvious camera for photojournalist needs. For example, the D750 is less expensive and arguably more versatile.

And just for arguments sake, rather than spend all your prize money on gear, how about spending half of it on a trip to somewhere special where you can see something new and explore your passion?

I would encourage you to first develop a plan of what you want to accomplish over the next several years and then from that, work backward to what gear you need. New experiences will last you a lifetime. Most gear, not so long. Maybe you've thought some of this through, but it doesn't come through in your post.

Congratulations and good luck.

I won't lie there is some gear lust...

But I have definitely thought this through. I plan to attend college next spring with a major in journalism and take some photojournalism and videography classes. Wherever I decide to go (right now I'm leaning towards UNC- Chapel Hill --- Go Heels!) I will also take advantage of study abroad programs that will allow to take some fantastic trips without spending a dime. I particularly would like to travel to India and do some photojournalism there and I expect that I will be able to do so. I also plan to work for the school newspaper staff so I want to be able to fulfill any and all duties they could ever ask for.

To your point on the D750- my only problem with it is that it doesn't feel like much of an upgrade from my current camera (a Sony a6000) whereas the A7r, A7II and D800E all unquestionably are.

I'm not familiar with Sony's cameras. I shoot with the D800 and like it a lot. If I was purchasing now, I would prefer the D810, especially for the quieter shutter (I shoot live performances). It's nice to have high high resolution when it's needed, though that's not all the time.

 

[as9934]

Where does your current gear fall short (low light, fps, focus, something else...)?

I can't say for sure, but I think I'm hearing a bit of gear lust in your purchase ideas. The D800E doesn't come to my mind as an obvious camera for photojournalist needs. For example, the D750 is less expensive and arguably more versatile.

And just for arguments sake, rather than spend all your prize money on gear, how about spending half of it on a trip to somewhere special where you can see something new and explore your passion?

I would encourage you to first develop a plan of what you want to accomplish over the next several years and then from that, work backward to what gear you need. New experiences will last you a lifetime. Most gear, not so long. Maybe you've thought some of this through, but it doesn't come through in your post.

Congratulations and good luck.

I won't lie there is some gear lust...

But I have definitely thought this through. I plan to attend college next spring with a major in journalism and take some photojournalism and videography classes. Wherever I decide to go (right now I'm leaning towards UNC- Chapel Hill --- Go Heels!) I will also take advantage of study abroad programs that will allow to take some fantastic trips without spending a dime. I particularly would like to travel to India and do some photojournalism there and I expect that I will be able to do so. I also plan to work for the school newspaper staff so I want to be able to fulfill any and all duties they could ever ask for.

To your point on the D750- my only problem with it is that it doesn't feel like much of an upgrade from my current camera (a Sony a6000) whereas the A7r, A7II and D800E all unquestionably are.

as9934,

As others have stated, Congratulations on a great achievement!

Also, as others have said, a D8x0 or an A7 is really overkill for a journalism student. The files are massive, taking up scads of room on your computer gear (particularly a laptop, which is already hampered in HD space due to a smaller, slower drive!), and requiring more time to send to a publisher. There are reasons most PJs use something like a D4 or a 1D! Not only are they built to take the workload, but also have smaller files overall for faster work! As someone else already stated, for a new Nikon camera that's currently available, go for the D750. Also, SERIOUSLY consider waiting for the D500 to come out. It will be built well, and have many of the same features as Nikon's D5. It should be out in April, and if you order now, you could possibly have it by the fall semester. IMHO, either of these are a MUCH better choice from Nikon than the D8x0 for a PJ.

Like it or not, if you're serious about PJ, and it sounds like you are, then you'd probably be better off with something like the D750 from Nikon, or one of Sony's other offerings, IMHO. You need to seriously look at the long-term durability of the camera you're going to purchase, as well as long-term goals of your own (what sort of PJ work you want to do, what subjects you want to focus on, what environments you think you'll be doing the work you want to do, etc.), and go from there. Will Sony, over the long run, have the equipment that meets that criteria? Will Nikon? (To me, the answer for Nikon is Yes, as they've done so for decades!) Do you foresee yourself possibly being somewhere hostile, such as a war zone, or even just a rough environment, in your future work? If so, do you think Sony and their gear will work well there and support you in that environment? If not, then don't invest in Sony gear now.

On another note, regarding the computer, if you're going with an Apple computer, as a student, you would qualify for a student price, which would save you some money. If you're looking at another computer brand, then some of them also have student rates. Consider that, as mentioned above, particularly for video and photographic files, you'll need a FAST processor and more storage space, particularly if you go through with buying a large-MP camera like an A7 or a D8x0.

Again, congratulations, and good luck!

Sam

--
Sam B.
D200, 16-85mm, 35-135mm, Sigma 10-20 f3.5 N8008s, Gitzo 2531, Induro DM-01 ballhead
Certified Texas Master Naturalist
Proud WSSA Member #260!
www.flickr.com/photos/sibeardjr
www.doormouse-editions.com

I would very much like to one day shoot in some pretty rough conditions but I also want a camera that doesn't weigh to much- other people can lug around a D4 and 200+ mm lens but I'm not about that life. I am also very ok with large files because they allow more detail and cropping space. My only concern with the D750 is that it doesn't feel like a significant step up in terms of quality from my a6000 except in low light performance and battery life. Plus I would also probably have to invest in another 50mm 1.8 that autofocuses for the D750. It is a fabulous camera, but I 'm not sure it how much of an improvement it would be. At least with the used D800E I know I'm getting pretty good bang for the buck as far as IQ and detail go, although the Sony's are probably the best for the money. Can anyone speak to using the D750, especially in regards to upgrading from an a6000?

As far as the computer goes I probably will be able to purchase a 2015 13" Retina Macbook Pro with an i5 from the college I plan on attending for as little as $850.

 

[cdrross]

Where does your current gear fall short (low light, fps, focus, something else...)?

I can't say for sure, but I think I'm hearing a bit of gear lust in your purchase ideas. The D800E doesn't come to my mind as an obvious camera for photojournalist needs. For example, the D750 is less expensive and arguably more versatile.

And just for arguments sake, rather than spend all your prize money on gear, how about spending half of it on a trip to somewhere special where you can see something new and explore your passion?

I would encourage you to first develop a plan of what you want to accomplish over the next several years and then from that, work backward to what gear you need. New experiences will last you a lifetime. Most gear, not so long. Maybe you've thought some of this through, but it doesn't come through in your post.

Congratulations and good luck.

I won't lie there is some gear lust...

But I have definitely thought this through. I plan to attend college next spring with a major in journalism and take some photojournalism and videography classes. Wherever I decide to go (right now I'm leaning towards UNC- Chapel Hill --- Go Heels!) I will also take advantage of study abroad programs that will allow to take some fantastic trips without spending a dime. I particularly would like to travel to India and do some photojournalism there and I expect that I will be able to do so. I also plan to work for the school newspaper staff so I want to be able to fulfill any and all duties they could ever ask for.

To your point on the D750- my only problem with it is that it doesn't feel like much of an upgrade from my current camera (a Sony a6000) whereas the A7r, A7II and D800E all unquestionably are.

Hi. As others have said congrats on your award.

I guess I am not sure why you feel the D750 (as opposed to the D800E) is not much of an upgrade. It has better FPS, low light capabilities, more manageable files, better AF and better video. It would also be lighter to carry.

Here is DPR's scene comparison of of the D750, A6000, D800e (I chose RAW 1600 as an initial comparison): http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/ima...=1&x=0.6644176706827309&y=-0.7874680742380386

 

[John Gellings]

To your point on the D750- my only problem with it is that it doesn't feel like much of an upgrade from my current camera (a Sony a6000) whereas the A7r, A7II and D800E all unquestionably are.

If the D750 isn't a major upgrade, then the A7II isn't either. I think people are steering you in the right direction with the D750. It'll focus is very low light which will come in handy as well. Lower than all of the other cameras you have mentioned. As far as buying a 50mm 1.8 for the D750... it's a $200 lens. And it is really good, so that's no big deal. That said, the Sony A7 series will be a lot lighter generally speaking.

 

[TAM63]

I have a D810 and love it. Chose it over the D750. But I like at times to shoot macro and things that require a lot of detail.

From just a photojournalist perspective, I'd agree with the others and think a D750 would be better. You may hit a lot of low light situations, and that camera is better.

D500 is very interesting too.

 

[John Gellings]

I have a D810 and love it. Chose it over the D750.

I would too, but I'm not sure the OP should.

 

[TAM63]

I have a D810 and love it. Chose it over the D750.

I would too, but I'm not sure the OP should.

I agree.

 

[TOR8472]

Ari,

Congrats again on your award - well earned. I have to put in another vote for the D750 for your needs. I own a D810, so I'm not biased toward the D750 by ownership, but since you value smaller/lighter and video also for photojournalism, I think you'd love the D750 more. I expect you'll appreciate the flip out screen too. I wouldn't recommend full frame necessarily for everyone, but since you love bokeh, I know you'll love the D750 with a nice fast prime. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised as to how much better it is than some the shots you have on your Wordpress site citing the fact that you like the shot partly because of the good bokeh. I think it would also benefit you in some of your action shots like the swimmer, which appears to be partly limited by your camera due to low light (both in focus speed and high ISO capability).

I checked out your Wordpress site and enjoyed your articles, especially the one on the PC Virus - it will be interesting for you to bring your writing to your Chapel Hill experience next year. As an NC State grad, I won't say "Go Heels", but I did spend a fair amount of time on the UNC campus as I had a lot of friends that went there and know you'll love it. Good luck!

 

[calson]

Buy a used computer and used camera and a couple of used lenses and your money will go twice as far.

Helps to have a "modern camera" that autofocuses more readily in low light situations and has a 24MP image area so cropping an image does not cause problems.

A good starter outfit would be a used D7100 and a used 17-55mm f2.8 zoom lens. Later add a f1.8 prime in 35mm focal length or a 24-120mm f4 lens. --

Talk to local photographers (freelance) for the newspapers and as them what focal lengths they use 90% of the time and forget about the other 10%.


George Carlin “The reason they call it the American Dream is because you have to be asleep to believe it."

 

[as9934]

Ari,

Congrats again on your award - well earned. I have to put in another vote for the D750 for your needs. I own a D810, so I'm not biased toward the D750 by ownership, but since you value smaller/lighter and video also for photojournalism, I think you'd love the D750 more. I expect you'll appreciate the flip out screen too. I wouldn't recommend full frame necessarily for everyone, but since you love bokeh, I know you'll love the D750 with a nice fast prime. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised as to how much better it is than some the shots you have on your Wordpress site citing the fact that you like the shot partly because of the good bokeh. I think it would also benefit you in some of your action shots like the swimmer, which appears to be partly limited by your camera due to low light (both in focus speed and high ISO capability).

I checked out your Wordpress site and enjoyed your articles, especially the one on the PC Virus - it will be interesting for you to bring your writing to your Chapel Hill experience next year. As an NC State grad, I won't say "Go Heels", but I did spend a fair amount of time on the UNC campus as I had a lot of friends that went there and know you'll love it. Good luck!

Alright I'll bite.

To everyone who is expounding the benefits of the D750, I will admit it is great in low light. And whoever said that if the D750 isn't upgrade than neither is the Sony A7II makes a fair point. The main advantage of the A7II is that I can use my Sony 50mm 1.8 and 55-210mm with it and use autofocus, which I will need if I get into any sort of sports photography, although I could probably replace these with the Nikon 50mm 1.8 and 70-210mm 4 for about $150 if I bought used. Whoever said the AF is better than the a6000 if not sure that is the case. If we are talking strictly about AF points the the a6000 has 179 points while the d750 only has 51, so in theory in good light the a6000 has it beat. It also outperforms the D750 in FPS- having 11 compared to the D750's 6.5. It also has the exact same number of megapixels as my a6000. It is also significantly heavier, which can be both both a pro and a con. I have also heard that Nikon is notoriously bad on the video front which could be an issue in the future. So you can see why I think it isn't much of an upgrade.

But on the other hand I have seen the results that the d700 and d800's produce and they are stunning. I recently looked at some portraits taken on a D700 from Carolina graduate and college and newspaper photographer of the year. Carolyn Van Houten and was completely blown away by the results. Also, in low light the D750 is unequivocally amazing and it has some great features that I love- mainly wi-fi and the tilt screen. I also like that the camera is full frame and that the sensor is big and fast. I am also sure that it is tough enough to take a beating, which will be good for travel and daily use. Cost is roughly $1300 with lenses which is very reasonable.

The same positives and negatives can be said for the A7 II for many of these things too. Good dynamic range, though granted not as good as the D750. Both have a 24.3 full frame sensor (I believe it is basically the same one as the D750 although Nikon has added a flappy mirror and some low light voodoo magic to theirs). The A7 II also features wi-fi and a tilt screen. The main advantages to the A7II are the in-body stabilization, which allows me to use any legacy lens with good results. That combined with the EVF with peaking, which insures my exposure is perfect my manual focus lenses are sharp and on target, really is a huge plus. Cost is about $1300 for the body by itself which isn't as good as the D750 as far as value for money.

Does anyone here have an personal experience with using the D750 or A7II for photojournalistic type work- ie. portraits and sports? Can you address my specific concerns listed above?

 

[Photography201]

I was recently given the award for the North Carolina High School Journalist of the Year. Along with this award comes a $3000 scholarship to be used for whatever I like. With this money I would like to invest in some journalistic tools to help further my career. I definitely first would like to buy a good computer, probably a 13" Macbook Pro with Retina Display, which will be $1000-2000. After the computer I would like to invest in some more camera equipment. Currently I have a Sony a6000, which is really wonderful but I feel like it does lack in some areas. Currently I have 5 lenses to go with the a6000: the Sony 50 1.8, the Sony 55-210, a Nikon AIS 50mm 2, a Nikon AI 28mm 2.8 and a Nikon AI 135mm F3.5. I am considering a second body and right now my options are a new a6300, a used A7r, an A7II or a used Nikon D800E. I am not considering Cannon because I only have glass for Sony and Nikon. Initially I am leaning towards the a7r or the D800E because it is a very substantial improvement in megapixels over my a6000.

Which of these cameras would be most appropriate for a budding photojournalist and videographer, as a supplement to my a6000?

My take is this. On the computer side I would make sure you have all the editing software you need to process the video and still files, external hard drives for back up, i.e. redundancy. Final Cut pro or Red Giant software for certain things. Maybe you need more training so you can see what the Creative Live site has and of course YouTube.

With video comes audio, so you should be able to use a quality microphone with a camera that can use XLR inputs or the 3.5 mm connection is fine. I stay away from the small 2.5 mm that you have to adapt to a 3.5mm just something else to get in the way.

Next, depending on the still camera you may not have image stabilization and need a rig to get smooth and steady images. Be aware of the 180 degree shutter rule for video. The camera really needs to be used in manual exposure for optimum use especially on the video side. Think how are you going to use a zoom lens on a still camera vs a video camera with that ergonomic rocker switch. Maybe you will have an assistant for the video stuff. Depending how involved you get I think a dedicated video camera is the best for video. Basically I think in some cases two different cameras are still good.

Next for video is lighting you will use hot lights or LED for video vs flash, but LED can be used for still use. Next, tripod and head for video you need a fluid head not a 3 way or ball head used for still work. A video head could be backwards compatible for still camera use not the other way as effectively.

I have two tripods one for video and one for still, my video tripod has a crank center column so If I need to raise up it is fluid and I am not supporting all the weight of the camera rig in one had slowly raising or lowering to avoid camera shake next to impossible to do during a take.

***

For the still side you have to figure out what you are specializing in if anything in photography and only start with lenses for that. IF you are doubling a still camera with video then you need constant aperture lenses for the zooms for optimal use. When you zoom with a variable aperture lens you change exposure and it can ruin the shot (just one thing)

I would take a look at the Gary Fong site he is a Sony shooter for stills and video. The Panasonic GH-3 or GH-4 are also options

***

If we are talking photojournalism for stills with a Full Frame camera or like APS-C equivalent the Nikon 17-35 mm 2.8, 50 mm 1.4 and 85 mm 1.4 is what I would do.

**

Another idea would be to consider the X100T, Fuji Xpro-2 or XT-1 APS-C mirrorless system which is smaller excellent quality for photojournalism. For video, Fuji X is a failure. it is very strong on the still side.

Last, you have to look at the accessories for the camera system to be sure you get all the support you need from TTL flash options to external battery power if it even matters.

I have and am sure others have considered starting fresh when needed and selling current gear.

Don't be brand loyal, buy what gets the job done.

Don't over spend if you do not have to especially on a computer that will get better 6 months later and be worth less than half of what you spent.

Buy a computer you can upgrade, a laptop is very limited. A laptop IMO is a second computer to a desktop, like a iMac etc...

Give B&H Photo & Video a call if you reside in the USA, they are very helpful.

 

[j_photo]

Buy a used computer and used camera and a couple of used lenses and your money will go twice as far.

Helps to have a "modern camera" that autofocuses more readily in low light situations and has a 24MP image area so cropping an image does not cause problems.

A good starter outfit would be a used D7100 and a used 17-55mm f2.8 zoom lens. Later add a f1.8 prime in 35mm focal length or a 24-120mm f4 lens. --

Talk to local photographers (freelance) for the newspapers and as them what focal lengths they use 90% of the time and forget about the other 10%.

George Carlin “The reason they call it the American Dream is because you have to be asleep to believe it."

+1. Stop focusing on the newest greatest gear and invest your money and time in skills and experience.

 

[Dyun27]

Alright I'll bite.

To everyone who is expounding the benefits of the D750, I will admit it is great in low light. And whoever said that if the D750 isn't upgrade than neither is the Sony A7II makes a fair point. The main advantage of the A7II is that I can use my Sony 50mm 1.8 and 55-210mm with it and use autofocus, which I will need if I get into any sort of sports photography, although I could probably replace these with the Nikon 50mm 1.8 and 70-210mm 4 for about $150 if I bought used.

You came to this forum for help, assuming that most people here will know what they're talking about. Right? Everyone is advising you to pick up a D750 or D500, but you're fighting it tooth and nail. There are a few members here who own or have owned both cameras and I've seen it said many times... the a6000 does not compare in image quality or AF to most Nikon DSLRs, let alone the D750.

Whoever said the AF is better than the a6000 if not sure that is the case. If we are talking strictly about AF points the the a6000 has 179 points while the d750 only has 51, so in theory in good light the a6000 has it beat.

The D750 has one of Nikon's best AF systems and it will probably only be overshadowed by the new Nikon AF system in the soon-to-be-available D500 and D5. The number of AF points doesn't necessarily mean that the camera has better AF. For the most part it's a marketing gimmick.

It also outperforms the D750 in FPS- having 11 compared to the D750's 6.5.

And how many of those 11 frames are actually in focus, every time?

It also has the exact same number of megapixels as my a6000.

Same number of megapixels of lesser quality. http://www.dxomark.com/Cameras/Compare/Side-by-side/Nikon-D750-versus-Sony-A6000___975_942

Less dynamic range, worse high-ISO performance, worse tonal range, worse color sensitivity.

It is also significantly heavier, which can be both both a pro and a con.

Yes, it's heavier, but it's more ergonomic and has great battery life. Whatever weight you save carrying it around, you'll gain back by having to carry extra batteries. 250 shots vs over 1000 per charge.. that's an upgrade.

I have also heard that Nikon is notoriously bad on the video front which could be an issue in the future. So you can see why I think it isn't much of an upgrade.

For video, Sony is great... but Nikon is no slouch either. The D750 offers some great video features and the tilting screen is a blessing.

The same positives and negatives can be said for the A7 II for many of these things too.

Definitely sounds like you want a Sony. If that's what you would feel most comfortable with, get what you really want.

Does anyone here have an personal experience with using the D750 or A7II for photojournalistic type work- ie. portraits and sports? Can you address my specific concerns listed above?

I've shot sports and portraits with my D750, as have many others around here. It can handle anything you throw at it and it will do it well.

Check out all these D750 sports photos: https://www.flickr.com/search/?group_id=2682619@N24&view_all=1&text=sports

Now have a look at portraits: https://www.flickr.com/search/?group_id=2682619@N24&view_all=1&text=portrait

I think you should spend your money on the system that will make YOU happy. You've heard what most people said and now it's time to listen to yourself. I would suggest that you rent a D750 and try it out for a couple of days, or even a week. If you don't like it, don't buy it. That's what I do when I wonder if some camera would be right for me.

 

[capanikon]

I was recently given the award for the North Carolina High School Journalist of the Year. Along with this award comes a $3000 scholarship to be used for whatever I like. With this money I would like to invest in some journalistic tools to help further my career. I definitely first would like to buy a good computer, probably a 13" Macbook Pro with Retina Display, which will be $1000-2000. After the computer I would like to invest in some more camera equipment. Currently I have a Sony a6000, which is really wonderful but I feel like it does lack in some areas. Currently I have 5 lenses to go with the a6000: the Sony 50 1.8, the Sony 55-210, a Nikon AIS 50mm 2, a Nikon AI 28mm 2.8 and a Nikon AI 135mm F3.5. I am considering a second body and right now my options are a new a6300, a used A7r, an A7II or a used Nikon D800E. I am not considering Cannon because I only have glass for Sony and Nikon. Initially I am leaning towards the a7r or the D800E because it is a very substantial improvement in megapixels over my a6000.

Which of these cameras would be most appropriate for a budding photojournalist and videographer, as a supplement to my a6000?

Most PJs these days are shooting Canon/Nikon DSLRs.

Megapixels don't matter too much for PJ work as even 2,000px images (on the long end) are more than sufficient for both print and web use.

Here's a great book on photojournalism: http://www.amazon.com/Truth-Needs-No-Ally-Photojournalism/dp/0826209556

Here's Dave Labelle's book on feature photography: http://www.amazon.com/Great-Picture-Hunt-Feature-Hunting/dp/0976489201/

also look at nppa.org and journalismjobs.com.

I recommend majoring in something that pays well (computer science, law) and then minoring in journalism. Journalism as you may have noticed is not exactly a high-paying growth industry these days, and PJs are the first to get canned.

 

[Gareth Bourne]

Firstly, you don't say what sort of "photojournalism" you'll be doing. There's a big difference between general reporting around town and what is generally called "hostile environments" (war zones, civil disturbances, crime / crime scenes, etc.). You should pick your kit based on where you're going to be and what you're going to be taking pictures of.

That said, I would definitely look at the D500, and you could even use some nice FX lenses with it - a 28mm would give you a 42mm perfect standard lens, or the 85mm would give you ~127mm, perfect for portraits, etc.

If you're concerned about weight then another option is the Df. I know it has a tough rap (don't really know why) but you're essentially getting a D4 sensor and processing in a much smaller body.