What camera should I buy?

sounds like you need a Panasonic pv-gs 500. It turns out I'm currently selling one hmu if you're interested

I currently own a t2i. It does the job for videos and pictures. Also, if you have ever owned a camera that has let you adjust settings manually it is not very hard to learn. Alot of learning just comes from trial and error as well once you know what all of the settings do. I previously owned a nikon and have to say I enjoy working with a canon much more.

if you are going to want to be shooting sequences the 60d or 7d is the way to go. 60d does 6fps and the 7d does 8.

however if video is your priority, id honestly say a magic lanterned t2i.

I think I'm mainly going to be taking pictures, and I don't think I'll feel comfortable putting magic lantern on anything because I'd be too scared to mess anything up. I don't think the 7d is in my price range.

Oops! Didn't pay attention to the stickied threads before posting this. Here are my answers to all of the questions in the thread that 1337 made.

1) What is your budget? How much money can you spend right away, and do you think you can get more money to invest in the future? 

The initial budget is around $900, but I can probably spend as much as $1,200 initially. I probably won't be investing more money in my camera for quite a while, as I'm heading off to college soon and will have a lot of expenses to worry about.

2) What experience do you already have with cameras? Have you ever even used one before? Have you helped your friend out with his camera? Have you owned your own?

I have essentially no experience with DSLR cameras, besides for shooting on auto. I've used my friend's cameras before to take some pictures, but like I said I only used auto.

2) What gear, if any, do you currently have? (tripod, old camera lenses, mics, etc)

I have no gear.

4) What are you planning to shoot and how do you want to use your camera? Are you going to use this with the sole purpose of shooting skiing? or do you think you might try other stuff as well (movies, documentaries, short films, etc)

I'm probably going to shoot skiing less than I shoot anything else. For the project I'm purchasing the camera for I'm taking portraits, and I also plan on taking landscapes and experimenting with other types of shots. I'd also like to make some tramp edits with it.

5) Do you want a camera that you can hand to your friends, that could or could not have film experience, and let them shoot you? or will you be doing all the filming?

I'll be doing most of the photography/filming, but I would like a camera with an auto setting that I can let my friends use when I want to be filmed/photographed.

6) When filming skiing, how do you tend to shoot? (follow cams, leave it on record on a tripod and hike, film from a tripod, etc)

I probably won't be using it to film skiing for a while, but a tripod would be ideal. I assume I'll get follow shots as well though.

7) What computer do you currently have/use to edit (if not currently editing, what would you most likely use)? If you can provide specifics, such as hard drive space, RAM, processor size, that would be great.

I have a fairly old Macbook, but unfortunately I don't know many of the specifics. For my senior project I'm going to be using Photoshop and Adobe Premier to edit, though.

7) What program do you currently edit on? How familiar are you with it (1- just learning; 10- I can make tutorials and know the keyboard layout)

I have no current experience, but I'll be learning how to use Photoshop and Adobe Premier

---------------------------Optional Section, for those seeking a more intensive upgrade/purchase------------------------
1) Do you think you might consider using a DSLR?

I plan on purchasing a DSLR

2) Do you have any knowledge about the HDSLRS?

Very limited knowledge.

3) Do you know the limitations to using HDSLRS?

I have no idea.

4) Are you willing to take the time to learn about a DSLR, and how to shoot with manual lenses?

I'm buying the camera because I am learning how to use it for my senior project. I have 4 weeks to learn how to use the camera, Photoshop, and Adobe Premier. I will be required to spend at least 100 hours learning how to use these programs, so yes, I'm willing to take the time to learn about a DSLR and how to shoot with manual lenses. 

5) Again, do you want a camera that you can hand to your friends, that could or could not have film experience, and let them shoot you? or will you be doing all the filming?

I'll still be doing most of the photography/filming, but I would like to have a camera that my friends will be able to use on occasion if I give them a little help.

Well strictly photo speaking, the 60d has slightly better AF.

It also will communicate with Canon flash's, if off camera flash is going to be part of your project.

It will also blast off sequences at almost twice the rate of the t2i, which is fantastic for action stuff.


As far as video, id say a dead tie, especially if you are willing to magic lantern it. the 60d has the swivel screen, but its not worth several hundred for that alone.

It also has a slightly better button layout in my opinion, but some people complain that the buttons feel weird, and are too mushy to the touch.

overall, if photos are your priority, id lean towards the 60d. it will also have some rebates coming out on the 20th, so wait to purchase till then.

The 60d is sick for sure, and I still have to do a lot of research on it, but right now I'm leaning towards a t2i. I think the 60d may be a little bit out of my ability/price range. Another one of the main reasons is that I'm under the impression that its price will be reduced after the t3i comes out in March. With the reduction in price I may be able to buy a decent portrait/wide-angle lens instead of sticking with the kit lens. Does this seem logical? The t2i really seems like a nice camera from the research that I've done, but there's still a lot left to be discovered.

the t2i is definitely nice, i have one myself. if you think that will meet your needs than by all means go for it. and spend the money you saved on nice glass. t2i is a nice camera, the 60d is just a step up.

I'd go with a used Nikon D300S or D7000 if you're mainly doing pictures. If you want video, go Canon.

What do you suggest if I plan on doing equal amounts of both? I'll research the D3000S but I think the D7000 is a little out of my price/ability range.

No Pentax love???
Check out the K-5. It's a pretty solid camera. And since you're in high school, and have a low budget, you'll be able to find hella cheap lenses because pentax cameras are backwards compatible with all lenses pentax has ever made.

For equal amounts of both, I'd go with a t2i or another Canon mentioned above. If you want manual control over shutter speed and aperture for video you can't go with Nikon. I also think that Sony A55 might be a good option for you. Has real AF for video and has a great burst FPS compared to anything else for the same price. I don't know too much about the Sony, so don't quote me on this haha.

I may be finding some prices that are out of whack, but I'm coming up with the body only for around $1,500. That by itself is out of my price range, so I dunno if I can do it. The a55 could be a good option for sure! I started researching it tonight and it's very comparable to the t2i, but I think I may still prefer the t2i over the a55. I'm gonna do more research on both of them, but from what I've read the a55 is still a little bit unrefined in its technology because I guess Sony made SLT (single lens translucent) technology instead of SLR technology. Because it's so new there are kinks that still need to be worked out, and I fee like the t2i may be a bit more reliable? I don't know how reasonable that is, and I still have more research to do! Thanks to everybody for the help, I really appreciate it!

60D is better for stills. The mechanics of navigating the T2i are pretty week. If you are in it for stills I would go 60D. Video I would go T2i with magic lantern.

What do you mean when you say that the mechanics of navigating the T2i are pretty weak? I would go for the 60D but it's out of my price range, when the T3i comes out I believe that I'll be able to purchase the T2i with the stock lens, the Canon EF 50 mm f/ 1.8, and a nice wide angle lens. Seeing as the glass is much more important than the body, I think it makes more sense to buy the T2i with some fun lenses than buy the nicer body with glass that isn't as nice. Yadadamean?

he means navigating and controlling the 60D is a lot faster than on the t2i due to the scroll wheel/joystick thing on the 60D. Saving time like that is super important and thats a big reason the 60D is way better then the t2i for photos.

As for the last part, just save up more and still get those lenses and the 60D, its better in the long run to save more at the beginning, don't try to get away with spending as little as possible. Photography is not a budget friendly hobby.

I'm pretty committed to the t2i at this point. I won't really have time to save up for more lenses during/before my project starts. Even though it probably would be better to save more in the beginning, I think I doubt I'll be able to upgrade my equipment for a while, so it may be better for me to spend more at the beginning and be able to save over time.

In other news, I found an old Minolta Maxxum 5000 at my house today, but I'm not really sure what to make of it. It has a 50 mm lens, a wide angle and a zoom lens. Do you guys know anything about this camera? All I know i that it uses film, and I don't think it was ever Minolta's top of the line camera.

Chris, I'll talk to you at school tomorrow, but I think a T2i would be where it's at for budget+quality.

If you got a T2i, with the stock lens, 50mm f/1.8 and a wide angle, you'd essentially have the lens' you'd need to learn how to shoot good photos minus a telephoto. I think it's gonna be a pretty dope senior project, and you really can't go wrong with the T2i.

pretty sure you can do that on nikons

There may be higher level Nikon's that have more manual options for video, but the cameras in my price range don't offer too many functions while shooting video.I may not have done enough research on Nikons cameras, though, so I may be wrong.