Equipment question

Originally Posted by bjohnson0311

Thank you all for all of the input. This is a nice forum. Truly thought out answers.

You haven't been here long enough, new fish.



Seriously though, drop the Sony crap and get a Nikon or Canon, both make great camera stuff. You can't go wrong with either.

[mosgood]

I think due to the fact that most pros use either Canon or Nikon is a big deciding factor. Potential clients have brand recognition. Going with either Canon or Nikon is like choosing between Coke & Pepsi. Sony makes decent cameras, but if they don't offer the necessary support, I'd rather bank on a company that will.

We just switched from Minolta to Nikon a couple of years ago. I'm very happy with our choice.

Good luck with your decision!

[ishootRAW]

Originally Posted by mosgood

I think due to the fact that most pros use either Canon or Nikon is a big deciding factor.

+ 0.5. Yes it can be good. But just having a big white lens does not make you a better photographer.

If you go canon, look for a used 50 or 40d, use the extra money for good glass.

BTW, if the teacher is not Canon biased dont take the class. If he likes nikon, then he dosent know anything.

[SwissJon]

One thing I can guarantee.. Your teacher won't know the Sony System.. If you're lucky, you might get taught Nikon one day, Canon the next, but the likelyhood of being taught Sony or Pentax is about the same as my getting a Hasselblad in the next few days!

[amy_bb]

Hey, wait, did I write this question??!! Perhaps I did and just don't remember b/c I am facing almost the exact same dilemma.

I've been shooting w/a Sony a330 for about 2years andI *think* I've outgrown it. It's a great entry level camera and I've found the system very intuitive and easy to use. Over the past 2yrs I've supplemented my kit lenses w/a Tamron 70-200mm, Sony 70-300mm, Tamron 18-200mm and an old Minolta "nifty 50". All in all I've invested about $2500 in my equipment including the body. I know this doesn't sound like a lot but I am a hobbyist only. I need a better sensor for low light and a higher FPS for the sports I like to shoot.

Unlike BJohhnson, I do not plan to earn a degree or certificate in photography although I have taken and will take additional workshop and/or community college courses.I don't plan to become professional in the sense that I will shoot weddings or portraits in a for hire situation. I might pursue some freelance work if a situation arises that I think I can handle and I where see a need locally. Right now I've created my own volunteer "job" of shooting and submitting local kid's sports and getting them published in the local paper.

I agree that when I see a professional photographer I expect and normally do see them w/a Canon or Nikon and NOT a Sony. I can see that if you want to hold yourself out to a client base as professional you need to look/act/smell/feel the part and your gear does make a statement.

However, in my situation I'm not sure I need to make a full switch. I'm torn between selling my whole kit and lenses on eBay and using the money for a Nikon D7000 and at least one additional lens. My other option is to upgrade to a Sony a580 body and keep all of my lenses while selling my A330 body and one kit lens on eBay.

Pros: Investment for the future, professional potential, more gear available
Cons: Time consuming/complicated to package and sell my old stuff, may not get as much money as I want, lose familiartity of product family (learning curve).

Do you think there is a niche for Sony for the hobbyist?

[Biomech]

I had/have an a200, I upgraded to an a580 - great decision, a lot of reusable kit my 2 share the same batteries, cards and lenses.

I also have a canon 500D, it's plasticy and light and flimsy, I never shoot with it at events.

Just saying...

[SwissJon]

When I did my first photoshoot with a model earlier this year, and couldn't get the shot I wanted because I was not experienced enough, she asked me why I was using a toy camera.. It was a Sony A55 and cost as much as a Nikon D300, and the photographs were just as good (or bad, it was me using the camera after all!) but the "Professional" feel wasn't with the camera... On the flip side of that, when I was in Venice last month, I over heard someone point at my camera set up and say "Now THAT's a serious camera".. value of my D7000.. not far different to the Sony.. Quite simply, Canon and Nikon have cornered the cliche market, Sony is just a brand of camcorder or laptop that also make cameras..

Not saying you should dump your Sony just because of its reputation, but perhaps you should consider why the vast majority of pros use one of the big two, even though Sony has 15% of the Market share.

[Biomech]

I agree that Canon and Nikon have definitely cornered the cliche of the market - much like Macs and graphic design or ipods and mp3. I looked at the a33 when I bought my 580. I put it down straight away because of its size (amongst other things).

On the flip side, I've had people comment on how expensive my kit must have been because it is Sony and they saw Sony as a very expensive brand. Don't forget a lot of people have never heard of Hasalblad, that doesn't mean you shouldn't use them or they are no good.

Saying that, I will consider the 5D equiv next time around but I will have to spend an absolute fortune and change all of my kit.