How to Choose Your Next Camera

Stepping up from a point ‘n shoot to a DSLR really makes a difference. I started with a Canon S1 IS with an underwater housing utilizing natural light only. The next camera I owned was the Olympus E-410. What a difference in image quality! At the same time, I started using off-camera strobes which had even more impact than changing camera’s. Currently I own a Nikon D7000, and the big difference (while pixel peeping, i must admit) is: less noise! However – the Zuiko lenses are extremely good and I don’t feel that Nikkors have an advantage over Zuiko. The real reason why I abandoned Olympus was that they kind of stopped developing DSLR’s. (I could have switched to the E-5, but the price of the body is outrageous, and you can’t get affordable underwater housings for the E-5). Bottom line: first game changer is the DSLR, but the biggest game changer is using off-camera strobes.

Totally agree with you on this one Aaron. I sold my D90 for the D7000, just for the video and a bit more pixel and also because D700 is out of stock and D800 is no where in sight. So for now I’ll stick with the D7000 and will get a D700 used if D800 is over priced when it will show up. This way I’ll have 2 cam. 1 for video and the other for pictures. However I am second guessing myself and might switch over to Canon 5DM2.

The glass. OMG. I originally shot with Olympus and stuck with them because of the lens quality. When it came time to upgrade I was really disappointed with the different mounts that Canon was using it was so confusing. Nikon is what I decided on and it was because of the lens selection and standard mounts. I have been able to find some great deals on 20 year old Nikon lenses and they still work great on my new camera.

Awesome commentary, I actually think, the pricing is ridiculous. But it even more insane with the lense pricing.crazy.

Yes, Aaron is on the money when he says to step up your game and move from the point and shoot to an entry level(or more if you can afford it) digital SLR. Your creativity suddenly has wings. (particularly when off camera light becomes a significant part of the creative process)

correction, they are a bit less…

But, he is shooting at 48 fps which is also AWESOME

What are peoples views on buying gear off eBay?

I know cameras have “shutter counts” that might put you off buying second hand but what about lens? Do people buy lenses off ebay with success? Do they go wrong?

I have a friend who bought his whole gear off ebay and owns a Canon 40d, Battery grip, 3 lenses (1 kit, 1 wide, 1 tele) and a remote trigger he paid just under £600 for it all and I paid £450 for my a200 and kit lens when my Sony was released.

I am considering swapping from Sony > Canon/Nikon and I know you elitists might say “It’s not the camera it’s the photographer” but my argument is that Sony have horrendous Lenses, I don’t wish to pay for their overpriced crappy lenses when I can switch brands early for a Canon/Nikon and get a respected camera with a field of knowledge in lenses. I know Canon use Sony sensors but the lenses Sony produce are aweful they truly are! I don’t wish to invest further in Sony and I believe making my switch early will help in the long run. Feel free to disagree!

I passed from a Nikon D60 to a D7000 the step is huge. Also if they have the same format (DX), the CMOS technology makes the D7000 so near to the fullframes. But, of course, this is a generational step. I’m sure that D3100 (the actual entry level nikon) has more or less the same quality.

http://www.dpreview.com/products/compare/side-by-side?products=nikon_d3100&products=nikon_d5100&products=nikon_d90&products=nikon_d7000&products=nikon_d300s&products=nikon_d60&products=nikon_d3000&sortDir=ascending

Totally Ben, I am gonna talk about LENSESSSSSS

I think its very easy to get sucked into getting a camera with higher megapixel count and ISO, Shutter Speed and so on. I bought a basic DSLR a couple of years ago after a lengthy research into prices and features. I saw the difference straight away, but after a year of very light use I was tempted to upgrade because I felt the camera was not producing good enough quality images. So there I was again researching features and megapixels. long story short, I noticed that every pro photographer kept saying that its not the camera its the photographer that makes the images so I set on the course to improve my photography instead of my camera. 
I decided to shoot more, got a second used lense for cheap and shortly after bought a speedlight and then I discovered off -camera lighting (WOW) this changed the game for me to a whole other level. I still have the same basic DSLR but my pictures have improved a long way, just goes to show I make the pictures not my camera. The point is this I take pictures for fun and knowing that when I push myself to improve I see the results and until I decide I wanna get paid for doing it and my skills can pay for an upgrade am good.

Thanks Kevin, props to Pentax!

Would you really switch between Canon and Nikon Anthony.  I was thinking about it recently as most of my favourite flickr contacts (and fav images) seem to be on Canon 5DMk2′s but when I quizzed some of them, it appeared there was no one answer why.  Either they just started with Canon, but one of them did say they found the Nikon camera too heavy to hold all the time.

I still wonder how different it would be on a Canon camera as opposed to Nikon.

Completely agree! Decide the sensor size you want, and buy the least expensive model that has it. Image quality won’t be much different. One reason to think otherwise is if you absolutely needed a certain feature like high frames per second. 
I just wanted to mention for people looking at camera bodies, if they’re ready to upgrade, to also check out Sony outside of Canon and Nikon. I’m a long time Canon user, and I love my 5d, but I’ve been really impressed with Sony lately. Really impressed. They’re being very creative and shaking up the DSLR market in my opinion. Their cameras are also less expensive than the equivalent Canon and Nikon. And they have some neat unique features. Image Quality is excellent. (Nikon buys sensors from Sony, as well as Apple) Anyway, make your own choice, but I think for many people this might be a great, and less expensive alternative to Canon and Nikon.

Love it! thank’s for the knowledge Aaron. 

Aaron,
You might be right about the image quality that is the same in the models with same sensor size, but there are other important differences. Here’s my experience. At first I had Canon 400D and then I switched to Canon 40D. One of the most important reasons was the way I could focus. In canon 400D to change the focus point I had to press multiple buttons and look at the back screen. In 40D there is a joystick which you can move with your thumb and with it I can change focus point instantly without taking my eye off the viewfinder. I think this is very important feature in terms of “getting that shot in the right moment and in focus”

I love de 5d mark II but I don’t have it. At my school we have 1 5D mark II we also have 3 7d’s I use the 7d a lot (a stupid student dropped the 5d) I do see a big difference between pictures I take with my own eos 450d and the 7d. I really want a 5D mark II but I’m only 17 and I DON’T HAVE THAT MONEY so sad mehh. Anyway I think I’m going to save for the 5d mark II instead of the 7d.. Takes me like 10000 years longer before I have it but yeah I want a full frame. Thanks for sharing this Aaron!!