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Is this a good camera???

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Rusticles
Posts: 2180 - Karma: 1,337
Need an all round good camera, I have $600 in bestbuy gift cards from work, will pitch in some extra if necessary.
A friend told me to get a good lens, something 18mm to 270mm? he also is learning and said the manual focus on aftermarket made it easier to get good shots (he has a T3 with a sigma)?

Is this decent?
http://www.bestbuy.ca/en-CA/product/nikon-nikon-d5100-16-2mp-digital-slr-camera-body-only-d5100/10201672.aspx?path=233045b37ec89704690c823b1610cda7en02

With this lens? will they even work together? need answers by saturday.


or can I get this with the lens?

Jan 23 2014 4:32PM
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PacificRimJob
Posts: 24730 - Karma: 29,998
https://www.newschoolers.com/ns/forums/readthread/thread_id/552650/

and on that note, don't get an 18-270. ever. Would be a terrible lens. The best Nikon kit lens is the 17-70 f3.5-f4.5. I'd actually say it's a step up from what other kit lenses are - since it's way sharper, and doesn't have as variable of aperture. Get one of these for starters if you're not going to just go with the 18-55 basic lens - but never, and I mean, NEVER go for a 'super zoom' (basically any lens that goes from a wide end of 18ish, all the way to 135mm or more) because they are all basically a waste of space and weight.

also, what are you shooting? if it's just video, you don't need a dslr. You have plenty of other options that you can look into. If you want at least 50/50 between shooting photos and video, then you're in the right area.

Honestly, I don't like Nikon's cameras for video at all - but that's just me. I just never have felt they are as tailored to video use as that of Canon's stuff (basically, there are some annoying things, like having to stop recording just to change a simple setting - I can't waste my time with that shit - the quality is just as good, though) You also can't adapt old lenses very well to nikon cameras. Even old Nikon lenses work better on a 4 year old T2i using an adapter than they would a lot of the Nikons.

for just photography, it doesn't matter which way you go - canon or nikon or sony or pentax - they're all awesome systems.
Jan 23 2014 4:47PM
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Rusticles
Posts: 2180 - Karma: 1,337
Sorry for the lack of following the threads haha, I'm looking for 50/50 filming/photo. Filming will be done by a few different people at times with a tripod mostly in a fixed position. Budget is $600 at BB will spend more if needed.

Maybe the kit T3i or something like that? no need for an aftermarket lens? what would be the best canon lens for filming skiing? low light conditions?

Thanks for the heads up on the Nikon.
Jan 23 2014 5:59PM
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Rusticles
Posts: 2180 - Karma: 1,337
Also is the SL1 that much better?
Jan 23 2014 6:09PM
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PacificRimJob
Posts: 24730 - Karma: 29,998
The SL1, for all intensive purposes is the same as the T2i from years past, only in a smaller body, with slightly better auto focus shit and different image processor.

honestly, a T3i, 18-55 kit lens, the 50 1.8, and assorted vintage primes (a 28, a 135, and maybe a 24-50 F4 vintage zoom like from sigma or pentax or vivitar) is all you'd need. throw on a cheap hotshoe mic like the shenggu and you're doing alright, and for pretty cheap. That's honestly not far off of where I was about a year ago, before I started investing in the more pricy stuff.

From there, it's just focusing on technique, as you'd have plenty of tools to play with.
Jan 23 2014 6:20PM
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brighton__
Posts: 68 - Karma: 99
IMO if your budget is $600 you should try to snatch a cheap hacked gh1 and some vintage lenses. But then again if you want your photography to be as good as your video maybe go for a t2i. I would not recommend a Nikon for video. I used a d3100 for a while and hated it.
Jan 23 2014 6:41PM
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Rusticles
Posts: 2180 - Karma: 1,337
Cool thanks for the info, it's gotta be from best buy as I have $600 in gift cards, might pitch in a couple $100
Jan 23 2014 7:17PM
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erikK
Posts: 3245 - Karma: 2,329
How so?
Jan 23 2014 7:27PM
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Realist
Posts: 90 - Karma: 91
EF mount is easier to adapt to.
Jan 23 2014 9:13PM
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erikK
Posts: 3245 - Karma: 2,329
How is adapting Nikon F mount to Canon EF mount easier than using a Nikon lens on a Nikon body with the same mount?
Jan 23 2014 11:36PM
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PacificRimJob
Posts: 24730 - Karma: 29,998
Most Nikons won't meter with old lenses (IE, 3000 series, 5000 series, and most of the other consumer/prosumer level Nikons), and even the ones that do (7000 series and FX bodies), you have to input the lens info to make it work right. You also can't get AF confirm if I'm not mistaken - something that helps immensely in the tiny viewfinder of crop bodies..

Meanwhile, slap a 10 dollar chipped adapter on the back of your Nikkor glass, plug it into a Canon DSLR, throw it into P mode and boom, instant Aperture priority with AF confirm and perfect metering - just like any other vintage lens that easily adapts a Canon.


Jan 24 2014 4:26AM
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erikK
Posts: 3245 - Karma: 2,329
Ah, I wasn't aware that Canon's would meter with those lenses. My D7000 definitely does and I thought the 5000 series had it as well but maybe not. I think most people buying the low end cameras that want to use manual lenses will be shooting video anyway

I agree that Nikon's aren't as well tailored for video use but they're way better than a couple of years ago. The D5300 and D3300 both have 1080/60P and handle moire much better than Canons.
Jan 24 2014 9:09PM
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Rusticles
Posts: 2180 - Karma: 1,337
Do one of you too want to pick out a camera for me on best-buy Canada's site for $600ish? Your knowledge would be appreciated. Bestbuy.ca
Jan 25 2014 12:25AM
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PacificRimJob
Posts: 24730 - Karma: 29,998
Yeah, that's great. Still can't meter. ;)


Jan 26 2014 3:36AM
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raymondcabral
Posts: 747 - Karma: 1,094
http://www.bestbuy.ca/en-CA/product/canon-canon-eos-rebel-t3i-18mp-digital-slr-with-ef-s-18-55mm-ef-75-300mm-lens-kit-and-dslr-bag-5169b086/10277587.aspx?path=b46ce17966d8284b1787ae5025c1e7fcen02&SearchPageIndex=1
Jan 26 2014 7:09PM
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Rusticles
Posts: 2180 - Karma: 1,337
Thanks,
Think I'm going to go for the SL1
Jan 27 2014 4:07PM
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