Digital SLR Recommendations?

[T'Baio]

I'm finally taking the plunge and going to get involved in some amateur photography, something I've wanted to do for some time. I was wondering if people here could recommend some digital SLR's that might be good for a semi-beginner.

Now, I'm not someone who has no idea what they're doing. As a director, I know quite a bit about photography and composition and technology and so forth. However, most of my experience is in motion photography. But as a still photographer, I don't have a massive amount of experience. So what kind of camera would you guys recommend to someone who has artistic experience, but probably wouldn't be much more than a talented amateur in terms of still photography?

Also, what kind of features should I be looking for? Storage capacities, lenses it comes with, upload/download capabilities, megapixel size and so forth?

Thanks for your help!

 

[Shazam!]

Budget?

 

[T'Baio]

Ah, yes, budget. Forgot. Thanks.

Under $1000 for sure. Preferably in the $600-$800 range.

Canadian.

 

[Mr. B]

Buy a used body and spend as much as possible where it counts, the lenses. How many lenses do you think you'll eventually want? You're budget is a grand now but if you're buying into an SLR system you should be interested in spending more later... not much point getting an interchangeable lens camera if the kit lens never comes off.

 

[T'Baio]

I have no idea how many lenses I'll eventually want, as I have such little experience. But I definitely want room to grow when I know what I'm doing and want to.

 

[Danoz]

D90 is pretty sick.

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikond90/

 

[Arrqh]

Really you'll do fine with any of the entry level cameras from any of the notable camera brands. Every system has their fans but they're all quite capable. Each has their own little quirks which may or may not matter to you. If you want to record HD video then that could pull you towards a particular brand.

Going for an older, used body can be good but by doing so you may be sacrificing on features such as video, autofocus systems, metering, ISO performance, etc which may or may not be important. Unfortunately, there's no easy answer!

 

[T'Baio]

If you want to record HD video then that could pull you towards a particular brand.

Any recommendations on that end? As a filmmaker, that feature would be nice. Unfortunately I can't afford the 5D Mark II.

 

[Mr Awe]

Canon 7D has quite good HD video. I've heard that it's often used for commercials and by independent filmmakers. It's not so good for tracking moving objects in HD video mode. I got this camera for still pictures and the quality is stellar all around.

Mr Awe

 

[Arrqh]

I don't know about any of the other brands, but the entry level Canon T2i can do 1080p video at 30/25/24fps. The older T1i, which I have, can do 1080p at 20fps and 720p at 30.

I'm not particularly in to shooting video myself so I haven't used it a whole lot, but there's quite a few sample videos shot with the T1i and T2i floating around on Youtube and Vimeo if you want to take a look. Of course a lot of the really nice stuff is probably shot using lenses that are more expensive then the 5Dm2

EDIT: Almost forgot, the biggest drawback of shooting video on the T1i is that the camera is forced into auto mode and you don't have any control over the aperture size. There's a workaround but it's clunky and annoying. The T2i and 7D don't have that issue. Also the quality of video on the 7D and the T2i are the same... they have the same image sensor and processor. The advantages of the 7D are things like the weather sealing, easier controls, much better autofocus system, wireless flash control, etc. Of course it's pricier!

 

[Mr. B]

I have no idea how many lenses I'll eventually want, as I have such little experience. But I definitely want room to grow when I know what I'm doing and want to.

That's cool. I know a lot of people buy a DSLR and never upgrade the kit lens. It's depressing. I was at a music festival last week and lent someone the telephoto lens I had for a few shots and I had to show the woman how to remove her lens... I could have cried.

It would help if we knew what you were planning on shooting with your new gear and what features are important to you. Obviously there is something you want that a good point and shoot can't provide.

 

[Guartho]

I'm drooling over the T2i right now. If a certain board approves a project tomorrow, I'll buy one tomorrow.

I can't wait. I know I'll want to replace the kit lens with a faster one with a focal distance indicator, but for now I'll have to make do.

 

[T'Baio]

It would help if we knew what you were planning on shooting with your new gear and what features are important to you.

Well, being a filmmaker, the ability to switch to high quality video at a moments notice is enticing...though I realize that will increase the price.

As for what I'll be shooting? Off the top of my head; production stills and location photos, photo journalistic stuff for the university paper, nature stuff while hiking and camping, photographs of my girlfriend painting and other semi-portraiture, and art. What I mean by "art" I have no idea. I just want to explore.

And Arrgh, The T2i looks enticing, if not almost out of my price range. It barely sneaks in under a grand in Canada.

 

[Guartho]

Oh, Canada, gotchya. Here the T2i is $850 and the T1i is $800, so I'd say the extra $50 for the T2i is a no-brainer for a filmmaker.

 

[Arrqh]

And Arrgh, The T2i looks enticing, if not almost out of my price range. It barely sneaks in under a grand in Canada.

You might want to check Photoprice for the best prices in Canada; not so much for the bodies, but lenses are frequently noticeably cheaper if you import from the US.

 

[Small White Car]

And Arrgh, The T2i looks enticing, if not almost out of my price range. It barely sneaks in under a grand in Canada.

Gah...I love love LOVE my D7 (the bigger brother of the T2i) and have to assume that the T2i is equally awesome.

Seriously, start buying those $3 TV dinners for a month to save money. Stop going to the movies and buying DVDs...whatever it takes...just save some money to get that camera!

ESPECIALLY if you want to do video. The advances in these new models on that front are super fantastic. I'm shooting video on my D7 and mixing it in with footage from my work's $8,500 Sony HD camera and I can't tell the difference between the two!

Oh, wait...I take that back. I'm getting better shots with the D7 because of the different lenses I can use!

(Just remember...no auto-focus on DSLR video...you've got to know what you're doing! There are other idiosyncrasies...you end up using ISO to control brightness more than you use aperture. It's kind of like re-learning video all over again. Everything's just a little bit different. But it's worth it...look at this photo. I can get video that has that kind of depth of field. You are NOT gonna get that on any video camera that you can afford!)

EDIT: Here, I uploaded another sample clip. It was shot in 1080p, it's been sized down to 720p here. (You should probably right-click and save it instead of playing it your browser unless you have a big monitor!) You just can not get that shot with most regular video cameras. Not gonna happen.

 

[Mr. B]

SLRs are redefining HD video on the cheap, but their audio capabilities are sorely lacking. Professional use of dSLR cameras generally requires a completely independent audio recording system... and of course all that other stuff you mentioned. Still, if it makes the big boys up their game... only a good thing.

 

[Guartho]

I think you can get autofocus while shooting video, it's just not as responsive as as we're accustomed to on our video cameras.

I've been reading the manual yesterday. Today I find out if I get to buy one or not.

 

[Danoz]

SLRs are redefining HD video on the cheap, but their audio capabilities are sorely lacking. Professional use of dSLR cameras generally requires a completely independent audio recording system... and of course all that other stuff you mentioned. Still, if it makes the big boys up their game... only a good thing.

I'm finding that the HD video is especially good for capturing some really nice B-Roll while you are getting photos (particularly if you need to do a highlight video for something)... very useful at my job.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

It would help if we knew what you were planning on shooting with your new gear and what features are important to you.

Well, being a filmmaker, the ability to switch to high quality video at a moments notice is enticing...though I realize that will increase the price.

We've had an excellent experience with the Canon 7P on Polaris. Sound is not so hot, and needs to be recorded separately for any real quality.