Need Camera Suggestions and Advice

[KaVla]

Hello all,

I currently have a Nikon D70 and wanted to get an upgrade. I was looking at Canons and wanted to get some suggestions from the pros. I was comparing Rebel T3i, EOS 60D and EOS 7D. I noticed that Rebel's fastest shutter speed is 1/4000 and the other two go up to 1/8000. Rebel does not have M-Raw and S-Raw formats. I am still new to the whole field of photography and I don't know how important those features are. Any recommendations on which one to get? Or any other model from Canon or Nikon. Currently I take mostly pictures of my kids and my friends and family. I love photography and hoping to improve and maybe do it professionally down the road and wanted a Camera that I can "grow into". Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Have a wonderful holiday season,

Kate.

[veritasimagery]

So, if you have a Nikon, why are looking at Canons? Changing over to a Canon will mean replacing most everything you may already have, from lenses to flash. If you don't have much equipment and don't mind the out lay of money to change systems, then any of those cameras you listed will do great. The T3i and 60D both have the same sensors, articulated screens and wireless flash ability. The 60D adds a top LCD screen, better weather-sealing, and some other detail features. The 7D is larger, but also older and about ready for an updating. But a lot of the decision will be based upon your budget. If it comes down to picking the 60D, or 7D, with kit lenses or the T3i and spend the difference on nicer glass, then that's the way I'd go. Again, though, since your new, even the T3i with kit lens will work fine.

Otherwise, if you look at the Nikon line, you could start with the D5100. Definitely an upgrade to your current body, and still able to use all the Nikon equipment you may have.

[Nicole]

Originally Posted by veritasimagery

Otherwise, if you look at the Nikon line, you could start with the D5100. Definitely an upgrade to your current body, and still able to use all the Nikon equipment you may have.

I wouldn't really consider the D5100 an upgrade to the D70 because of some of the features that get left out of the body that the D70 has and the D5100 doesn't (yes, it would have better image processing, but still). For example, your D70 has a commander mode for off camera flash and it allows you to auto-focus with any auto-focus lens. In contrast, the D5100 requires G lenses for auto-focus. So if you have any D lenses, your better option is a D7000 or a D300. Plus if you like the size of your D70, you'll find the D5100 way too small IMHO.

In any case, I would look at what you already have and if you have some Nikon stuff, you're probably better off staying with it unless you're keen to replace everything.

[KaVla]

I really don't have a lot of equipment for my Nikon and was curious to c what Canon has to offer. You brought up a great point about Nikon D7000, I'll look into it. Thank you very much!!!