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Advice for buying a new camera


3 years 6 months ago #698249 by Ira
Hello!
For years, I have been shooting on a simple point and shoot camera. Now I think it's time to get a better camera, but I need advice from more experienced photographers.

What I'm looking for:
1. Full manual controls
2. 1-inch sensor preferably
3. Small size preferably
4. Optical viewfinder is good to have

A camera like Canon G9 X is within my budget, but I cannot afford anything more expensive, and would prefer something even cheaper, if possible (maybe something with fewer features)

One other thing:

I'm interested in doing film photography too. Buying only a film camera is scary for me, cause I never did film photography before. I would like to have a smother transition. So I thought about practising photography with something like G9X + my mother's film point and shoot, and after I get comfortable with both of these, I want to get a film SLR.

1. Do you think this is a good plan?
2. What film cameras can you recommend?
3. What is the difference between an SLR and a rangefinder?
4. What old film cameras are compatible with modern lenses? I think it's important to have a good selection of lenses?
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3 years 6 months ago #698252 by Nikon Shooter

Ira wrote: 3. What is the difference between an SLR and a rangefinder?


 
Light is free… capturing it is not!
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3 years 6 months ago #698269 by fmw
The problem with your plan is the plan to use film.  There are only two good reasons to use film.  The first is you have a film camera already and want to use it.  The second is a love of old technologies.  Something like playing vinyl records instead of digital media.  Anything film can do, digital can do better and with far more flexibility. 

I used film cameras for half a century.  I owned some very good ones.  I don't have a single one any longer and don't miss them.  Plan on staying with digital.
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3 years 6 months ago #698271 by Ozzie_Traveller
G'day Ira

As a 'newbie' here ..... Welcome to the PT Forum, and I trust that you will receive heaps of good advice along the way

Offering suggestions re- a camera is never easy when one does not know what type of photos you wish to take with that new camera - but if I interpret your post a bit ......

I would suggest a second-hand / pre-loved digital camera using the m4/3 sensor. I am a Panasonic user and find the 10-yr old mirrorless G2 fits your 4 points perfectly, and you can see plenty of them on ebay, along with a selection of lenses. I have a G2 with the standard lens of 14-42mm and the next 45-200mm lens and each is excellent in sharpness and colour rendition

As to film stuff - I would suggest you try any local flea market for a $20 film camera with maybe a 3x to 6x zoom lens and shoot several rolls of film along with the processing afterwards. The costs of processing may deter you, but for an exploratory time at least, it is something that you will need to accept

Hope this helps
Phil from the great land Downunder
www.flickr.com/photos/ozzie_traveller/sets/
Phil from the great land Downunder
www.flickr.com/photos/ozzie_traveller/sets/
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3 years 5 months ago #700040 by Ira
What about Nikon D700?
I see I can buy it cheaply and it's full-frame.
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3 years 5 months ago - 3 years 5 months ago #700064 by Ozzie_Traveller
G'day mate

It does not matter as to whether it is a nikon or canon or sony or panasonic full-frame body .... with a dSLR it is the lenses that follow that will determine a) the cost of the package and b) where your photography ends up

I suggest that you add together the price of a 24-70mm plus a 100 to 400mm as a starter to the cost of the body and use this as your absolute minimum spend. Then after 12-months use, you will better know what you want and will then no doubt, buy additional lenses ~ if you can afford them

ps- back in my SLR days I ended up with 3 primes and 3 zooms covering the 20 to 1000mm range, and needed two carry bags to go anywhere. I'm glad that it no longer applies to my photo style.

Hope this helps
Phil from the great land Downunder
www.flickr.com/photos/ozzie_traveller/sets/
Phil from the great land Downunder
www.flickr.com/photos/ozzie_traveller/sets/
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3 years 5 months ago #701823 by xiafanmao
Nikon D700 is ok
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3 years 4 months ago #702858 by JFarber

Ira wrote: What about Nikon D700?
I see I can buy it cheaply and it's full-frame.


Very good camera!  D700 was a workhorse and still is!  You should be able to get a very good deal on used pricing.  
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3 years 3 months ago #707486 by Pilotshark
Thanks for that. hope I can download the image and put it with my other pieces of information as I learn more and more about cameras and photography.
So after so many years of doing this or that and life itself getting in my way, I am now at the point where just slowing down and doing things I have put off I have concluded that its time to become creative and do what I want.
Thanks for giving me a place to get started. :-)
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2 years 4 months ago #728827 by Ira
So, I'm back here. Had some other problems, so stopped thinking about photography for a while.

Now that I think about it, used cameras are the best for me, considering my budget.

I want both a DSLR and a compact, for different situations.

Options I am choosing between (DSLR, full frame):
1. Nikon D700
2. Canon EOS 5D
3. Canon EOS 5D mark ii
4. any other options in this price range?

As for a compact, I'm looking for:
1. manual mode
2. larger sensor
3. optical viewfinder

Choosing between:
1. Canon G1X
2. Canon G15 / G12
3. Fujifilm X10 / X20/ and maybe X30
4. any other options?

The majority of compact cameras seem to have electronic viewfinders, but I would really prefer optical.
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2 years 4 months ago #728832 by Ozzie_Traveller
G'day Ira

As with so many things - I/we cannot answer your question without some idea as to what the heck you are planning to do with the camera/s once you have them. Cameras have many commonalities, yes, but when you are getting down to asking about specific cameras, it implies you have some sort of image in your mind as to what you plan to do with them .... and you need to give us some idea so that we can offer a decent response

Phil from the great land Downunder
www.flickr.com/photos/ozzie_traveller/sets/
Phil from the great land Downunder
www.flickr.com/photos/ozzie_traveller/sets/
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2 years 3 months ago #730338 by Happy Hour
What did you end up getting?
Photo Comments
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1 year 10 months ago #739186 by jacksonpro709
I have a Canon Mark 3 5D with 2 lens 2 battery charger fairly used I'm trying to sell .
(pics below -a good setup for anyone just getting going) for more information contact me thanks .
Whatsapps : +1(859)813-5681
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1 year 10 months ago #739192 by lightcapture
Nikon D700 is a very good camera. (I'm still loving the next generation D750) It's much better than than the Canon G9x but also much bigger.

Something along the lines of the Canon but better is the...
www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1223211-R...rshot_g7_x_mark.html
www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1391011-R...irrorless_micro.html
www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1444716-R...irrorless_micro.html
www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1049537-R...100_iii_digital.html
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