Another "please suggest a camera" thread! 7D or similar..

[AshNZ]

Hi,

I’ve sold my beloved dSLR – it was my first ever dSLR and that camera introduced me to the world of photography. It was Sony a300 and reasons for selling were two fold:

- The camera was 4+ years old, so the shutter count was getting up there.
- The “Processing” time just got too much. A 30 sec exposure usually had “processing” time of 20 – 30seconds. I do a lot of long exposure shooting so it was really starting to bug me.

Now I’m in the market for a new camera. I do a lot of landscape (beaches, sunset, sunrise, cityscape etc) photography so I wish I could buy a full frame camera but I’m afraid that’s out of my budget at the moment.

I’ve read a lot about Canon 7D and seem like a great camera but the fact that it doesn’t have the ability to twist and turn the LCD screen is a shame. I used that feature a lot on my previous camera and I can’t imagine living without it. As much as I love its weatherproof housing, I think I’ll pass on it just because of the LCD screen.

This leaves me with 600D which I’m sure is a great camera. Being a Sony owner in past 4-5 years, I’m unsure of the range available in Nikon or Canon. Ideally I would love to have 7D’s processor (or equivalent) along with 7D’s weatherproof housing but LCD screen that I can twist or turn. I don’t care about video quality of the camera.

So do you guys have any other suggestions?

[RichardTaylor]

Have you looked at the Canon 60D?

[AshNZ]

Originally Posted by RichardTaylor

Have you looked at the Canon 60D?

Actually, I'm looking at it right now. Just came across it.

[dakwegmo]

Not sure specifically about the Sony, but on Nikons there's a long exposure noise reduction setting where, after a long exposure the camera then charges the sensor without opening the shutter for the same amount of time as the actual photo. It then uses the data from the sensor to determine where the color noise would be in the photo and fixes it in the final jpg. If you shoot RAW, it's useless, but the setting is easily turned off in the menus. I wonder if that's why you were getting long processing times with your images.

[veritasimagery]

Originally Posted by RichardTaylor

Have you looked at the Canon 60D?

++1. The 60D does not have the weather-sealing like the 7D, though. Unfortunately non of Canon's weather-sealed bodies provide the articulated LCD. At this point the only two bodies Canon offers that articulated screen on are the 600D and the 60D. Of the two, the 60D is probably closer to functioning like your old DSLR, as both have the "dual-wheel" controls, where the 600D only has the top wheel and a four button layout on the back. The 60D also adds a top LCD screen that neither the Sony a300 nor Canon 600D have.

[AshNZ]

Originally Posted by dakwegmo

Not sure specifically about the Sony, but on Nikons there's a long exposure noise reduction setting where, after a long exposure the camera then charges the sensor without opening the shutter for the same amount of time as the actual photo. It then uses the data from the sensor to determine where the color noise would be in the photo and fixes it in the final jpg. If you shoot RAW, it's useless, but the setting is easily turned off in the menus. I wonder if that's why you were getting long processing times with your images.

I doubt that is the case cos I've played with my camera a lot and never came across that feature. I get the feeling that the processing time got longer with time. I'm not sure if that's expected or not.

[AshNZ]

Originally Posted by veritasimagery

++1. The 60D does not have the weather-sealing like the 7D, though. Unfortunately non of Canon's weather-sealed bodies provide the articulated LCD. At this point the only two bodies Canon offers that articulated screen on are the 600D and the 60D. Of the two, the 60D is probably closer to functioning like your old DSLR, as both have the "dual-wheel" controls, where the 600D only has the top wheel and a four button layout on the back. The 60D also adds a top LCD screen that neither the Sony a300 nor Canon 600D have.

Thanks, I think it's probably between 600D and 60D now. I haven't compared prices yet but that's what this will probably come down to.

[dakwegmo]

Originally Posted by AshNZ

I doubt that is the case cos I've played with my camera a lot and never came across that feature. I get the feeling that the processing time got longer with time. I'm not sure if that's expected or not.

Not that it matters now, but: Sony A300/A350: Focal Digital Camera Guides - Long Exposure NR. Just be aware that many cameras have this feature, and plenty have it enabled automatically, including both of the Canons you're considering.

[AshNZ]

Originally Posted by dakwegmo

Not that it matters now, but: Sony A300/A350: Focal Digital Camera Guides - Long Exposure NR. Just be aware that many cameras have this feature, and plenty have it enabled automatically, including both of the Canons you're considering.

Haha, thanks mate. Guess I didn't read the manual properly!

[Preeb]

Originally Posted by dakwegmo

Not that it matters now, but: Sony A300/A350: Focal Digital Camera Guides - Long Exposure NR. Just be aware that many cameras have this feature, and plenty have it enabled automatically, including both of the Canons you're considering.

Actually the Canon 60D has an "Auto" level of NR by default. There is a setting for additional NR for long exposures and also an option to turn it off completely. I have it off on my 60D at the moment. It's in the custom functions menu.