What’s Your Preference?

kellogs · #1 (**permalink**) 09-10-2011, 03:50 AM

I currently have the Nikon D5000 and am looking to buy a new camera that's a step up. I'm thinking a Canon this time. Can anyone recommend a good one?

Also, can anyone recommend any lenses best for portrait photography?

RichardTaylor · #2 (**permalink**) 09-10-2011, 07:32 AM

What's your budget?
Keeping in mind moving away fro Nikon means purchasing new lenses as well as a body.
In addition to may need to familiarise you self with different camera controls etc.

I am a Canon shooter.

kellogs · #3 (**permalink**) 09-10-2011, 12:35 PM

i'm looking to spend upto $1000 on a body. I accept I'm going to have to get used to some new changes

G'Hopper · #4 (**permalink**) 09-10-2011, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kellogs

I currently have the Nikon D5000 and am looking to buy a new camera that's a step up. I'm thinking a Canon this time. Can anyone recommend a good one?

Also, can anyone recommend any lenses best for portrait photography?

Canon shooter here.

Stay with Nikon. Canon/Nikon, much of a muchness, really. I think Nikon might have a slight edge over Canon. Instead of getting yourself a new camera, spend the money on some decent glass. The improvement is immediate.

kellogs · #5 (**permalink**) 09-10-2011, 01:06 PM

ghopper, my main motivation is i cant get the lenses i want with my nikon d5000. I want a prime 50mm. I have also wanted to switch and try canon for a long time. Right now I'm at a point where I'm focusing soley on photography for money and really need to up my game.

RichardTaylor · #6 (**permalink**) 09-10-2011, 01:32 PM

I'm a Canon shooter also so I can't comment too much on the Nikon range..

In the Nikon line up the next step up looks like a D7000 and that is $US1200 or so (Adorama prices).

In the Canon line up I wouldn't go below a 60D ($950)
After that it is a 7D or a 5DII

As far as portraits go it all depends on your style of photography.
Canon make a huge range of lenses (like Nikon) from very cheap to very expensive..

I am just a hobbyist and shoot portraits with every thing from a 12-24 (environmental portraits) through to a 135mm F2 (my favourite lens) and max out at with a 100-400 for portraits at "sporting events).

If you are into primes I would consider the 50mm F1.4 or the 85mm F1.8. For zooms the 24-70 F2.8 and the 70-200 F2.8 would be a good way to go.

inkista · #7 (**permalink**) 09-10-2011, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kellogs

ghopper, my main motivation is i cant get the lenses i want with my nikon d5000. I want a prime 50mm.

Ok, you're kidding, right? Of all the lenses you can get in ANY mount in a variety of flavors, a 50mm prime is THE one, where you are spoiled for choice. Nikon has the manual focus 50mm f/1.2, the AF-S 50mm f/1.4, the AF 50mm f/1.8D, and the new AF-S 50mm f/1.8G. And that's not taking into account all the old manual-focus 50/58/55mm primes in F-mount you can still use.

If you mean you can't get an autofocusing 50mm prime for $100, ok. But then, most of us Canon shooters end up ditching the all-plastic EF 50/1.8 II for a better lens at some point. And we only wish we had a $200 EF-S 35mm f/1.8 USM lens.

Quote:

I have also wanted to switch and try canon for a long time. Right now I'm at a point where I'm focusing soley on photography for money and really need to up my game.

Hate to say it, but this is not a reason, either, to switch systems. Plenty of pros use Nikon gear.

If you desperately feel the need to switch, go ahead and do so. Feeling good about your gear is a personal thing. But there isn't that much difference between the two in terms of final delivery quality (despite all the wrangling and hairsplitting on boards). The differences are in ergonomics and system offerings. And if you are going to jump, jump now before your glass locks you in. People who tend to jump systems without any specific solid reasons to do so, tend to want to jump back and forth all the time, and that gets expensive. Running after shiny new purchases all the time is counter-productive to any business. And (has to be said), with most newbies, the tendency is to blame the gear, when really, it's technique that should be blamed.

Don't fall into the trap of GAS (gear-acquisition syndrome) unless you have a lot more than $1000 in your budget. That's my personal opinion. Blowing that same $1000 on good Nikon lenses and adding 1000 hours of practice would go a helluva lot farther than swapping for a T3i. And I'd say that even if you had a D40.

kellogs · #8 (**permalink**) 09-10-2011, 09:37 PM

thanks inkista for the lengthy reply. It was very helpful. I did actually mean that I cannot find a prime 50mm with autofocus. I wanted to choose canon when i set out with photography but my husband bought me a nikon and I made it work. I have heard so many good things about it. I have heard people from both sides of the argument and I have heard people, like you, who believe it to be little or no difference. Just out of curiosity more than anything, I'd like to give it a try now that we can afford to.

3bayjunkie · #9 (**permalink**) 09-10-2011, 11:01 PM

You could get a Canon EOS-1. It is film but it is 35mm which is equivilent to about 24mpx and also shoots 10fps on burst. This way you will have a film camera and digital, also having a nikon and a canon. the Canon EOS-1 is top of the line and only about $1700...

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...mera_Body.html

Again im no help since thats out of your budget... Umm yeah try the 60D haha...

btw if all you want is a 50mm f/1.4 go on ebay and pick up an Ai lens for $50 or $60 bucks and you can use it on your D5000. they are manual focus anyway but well built with a metal case instead of plastic.