(Part 2) Reddit mentions: The best digital cameras

First post here, I've basicly spent the last couple of days researching/buying gear around your price point. I already possessed a Zoom H1, but since you can use your phone for that purpose, I'd say we're about in the same boat.

I'd personally recommend you to check out four primary options. If the newest model is too pricey, it might be worthwhile to check out the older versions.

1. Panasonic FZ300: Great Zoom, 4k video at the lowest possible price point afaik, great usability, decent stabilization, external mic input, flipable screen in all directions, decent built in mic, DSLR.
   Downside: Bulky.
   Honestly, I'm confident that this is probably the best camera out there for video right now, at least at its price point. However, if portability is a must, this one simply doesn't cut it.
   
2. Panasonic G7: Similar deal to the FZ300. I didn't find too many differences overall though. 4K, external mic, decent stabilization etc. Less zoom capabilities though. Also, it is more compact than the FZ300. It's a mirrorless camera, but it's also a bit more pricey than the FZ300. If size is a factor, this is a better choice. Also stills will be better with this one.
   
3. Sony RX100 ii: Great camera which does everything you wouldn't expect from this size. Very good image and video quality for its price point and unbeatable portability. However, no interchangeable lenses and due to its size, lacking duration on video due to overheating hazards. If you're looking to shoot for extended periods, the larger the better and panasonic is definitely your go-to. However if you prefer ease of use and a compact feel. This is the way to go.
   
4. Sony A5100: My personal choice at the end of the day. It's a very similar story to the RX100ii, but as opposed to the RX, this one has all the latest from sony. Massive sensor which means great low light performance and overall very high quality footage. New XAVC S codec for higher quality video. Both of these at a reasonable price point while enabling the use of interchangable lenses. Also, I just think this baby is way more charming than the RX series. However, it's definitely known to overheat over longer duration video shooting, it has no external mic input, no in built stabilization, no EVF and no shoe to mount stuff on. I didn't find these to be capable of weighing up to its potential though, especially with a pancake lens. I've got great portability, one of the best low light and video cameras at the price point. I actually figured out that I can bypass all of the problems it faces by buying myself an external recording device. Sure, this costs as much as the camera itself, but the benefits the camera offers are unbeatable at the price point, and if I enjoy myself enough up to a point where I want to invest more, I can just remove all the negatives and stay at the top in terms of quality AND portability, since the external recorder is equally portable.
   
   I haven't gone over the full details for all of them, but if any of them interest you in particular, just find some reviews and you'll get a good idea of what they're all about. Also, some are a bit over your budget, but I don't know how tight your finances are so I figured I'd just give you my take.
   
   Lastly, definitely don't forget audio as mentioned in the thread already. A lav mic will get your far since you can use it with the panasonics or your phone.
   
   Hope this has been more than just a rant. Good luck!
   

no, an iphone can not do this.
There is obviously some background defocus (also called shallow depth of field or "bokeh") and some editing going on (lifted shadows to give it a faded look, also some color correction done). The app VSCO can give you these kinds of effects for free, but you can pretty much do this with any free and easy to use image editor on any device.

You should probably get a small mirrorless camera that is easy to use.

Depending on how much you want to spend and how serious you are about photography, here are some choices.

Fixed Lens Cameras (no interchangeable lenses):

• Sony RX100 (no matter what Generation, they all have similar image quality, they are small and easy to use, Zoom Lens gives you some flexibility and decent bachground defocus)
  
  
• Canon G1 X (dont know too much about this one)
  
  
• Panasonic LX100 (more expensive and new, but has a great zoom lens and a big sensor, should result in shallower depth of field than the two previous cameras)
  
  
• Fuji X100S (even more expensive and no zoom, but amazing image quality and even bigger sensor, should give you even more background defocus)
  
  
  Now some interchangeable lens cameras:
  
  
• Sony Alpha 5000 (very cheap and small, but big sensor and decent kit lens, no Viewfinder though, only the display)
  
  
• Panasonic GM1 (even smaller than the Sony, but also a slighy smaller sensor, again: no viewfinder)
  
  
• Olympus E-PL7 (same lenses as the Panasonic!)
  
  
• Sony Alpha 5100 or 6000 (both a bit better than the 5000, but also quite a bit more expensive, the 6000 has a viewfinder and is considered to be a really great camera, even for more professional shooters. In any way, it would be a good idea to get at least one additional lens, something like the Sony SEL50F18, a 50mm F1.8 lens that gives you fantastic portrait images and beautiful background defocus.)
  
  
  
  As you can tell: there are a lot of choices.
  
  If you are new to photography and not interested in buying lenses, go with a fixed lens camera like the RX100. You can get the first or second gen version for less than 400$ and its very compact! It should give you similar photos, especially if you zoom all the way in (results in more background defocus, its used to separate the background and the subject).
  
  Here is a link to amazon:
  http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B00DM8R866/ref=olp_tab_all
  
  and here are some nice sample images of the RX100:
  https://www.flickr.com/search/?sort=interestingness-desc&text=rx100%20portrait
  
  
  hope this helps!
  
  
  
  

Way back when I first started, my fingers liked Canons more too - which is why I have them now. This is the biggest decision really, you can easily get a new body, but switching systems is tough. That said, there is really no wrong choice here. Certainly, I have no regrets.

The 70D is seriously sweet. It's a little cheaper on Amazon but not by much. If you want to go with a cheaper body that is also awesome try looking at a 7D - it's about half the price on Amazon. You go back a generation in sensor tech (not a huge deal at all imo) and lose the fold out screen - but you keep the great AF system and get a magnesium and weather sealed body with a bigger viewfinder. If your hands liked the 70D, they just might like 7D even more, and you'd save enough money to get a couple of primes.

https://www.amazon.com/Canon-Digital-Camera-discontinued-manufacturer/dp/B002NEGTTW/

I am a little hesitant about the superzoom. It's an enormous range, and not especially fast. But that seems like a decent price, and certainly a good way to test out a lot of focal lengths. A whole lot of focal lengths. It's not a good lens for someone like me who likes a lot of bokeh and tends to shoot indoors - for boudoir, portraiture, etc I'd recommend something faster without the super-tele end, perhaps like my Tamron. But if you're shooting outdoors in strong light, I suspect it would do really well with obviously enormous focal flexibility. And hell, you're buying it used, can always resell for roughly the same.

An awesome EF-S lens is the pancake 35mm equivalent, turns your DSLR into a great portable X100-sorta :) Awesome for street photography, shooting people indoors, hiking, etc. This one's a Canon luxury, Nikon doesn't seem to have any good pancakes available.

https://www.amazon.com/Canon-EF-S-24mm-2-8-Lens/dp/B00NI3BZ5K/

It's so cheap you actually don't save any money buying it used - one of the only times I'll say that :)

In general, I'd get EF lenses where possible over EF-S, in case you want to jump to full frame later - but the cheap superzoom and the pancake are good EF-S lenses to have.

Hi /u/Noray - I shoot with the GH4 and the BMPCC and they are both great doc cameras - but neither is very good in low light - nor do they have IBIS. For documentary cameras below $2000, the two best options are:

Option One

if budget permits, the [new Panasonic GH5 ($1997.99 - shipping in March)] (https://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-DC-GH5KBODY-Mirrorless-Camera-Bluetooth/dp/B01MZ3LQQ5//ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&linkCode=ll1&tag=battleforthew-20) may be what you're looking for. It would be a better travel, interview and documentary camera than any of the alternatives on your list.

This camera outperforms the GH4 (or the G85) in low light - plus it has IBIS (a feature the GH4 lacks).

The GH5 also records internally to a highly gradable 10-bit 4:2:2 codec that will give you more freedom in post than the other cameras on your list (except the BMPCC) - and it has manual controls for ISO, white balance, +/- exposure and 5 programmable function buttons for aperture, shutter or any other function you would like.

With a [$94.99 Nikon G to micro 4/3 focal/reducer adapter] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CDBZ7AW//ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&linkCode=ll1&tag=battleforthew-20), you can use your 18-55 kit lens while you save up for better glass.

Here are a few examples of what it can do from pre-production cameras:

• [Panasonic LUMIX GH5 4K 60P Video "HAND-CUT" by Griffin Hammond] (https://youtu.be/BoYbqSxPWrA) (2160p)
  
  
• [Lumix Gh5 Test Film - The Winter Balance by Leftcoast Media House] (https://youtu.be/T81cdoYJyEw) (2160p)
  
  
• [Panasonic GH5 Test: Wooden Niccolls with DDG by TheCameraStoreTV] (https://youtu.be/gPTCrXbIbh4) (2160p)
  
  Slow Motion
  
  
• [Panasonic GH5 Slow Motion 4K Video First Look (No Colour Grading) by HundredFold Productions] (https://youtu.be/tXFAc6Kufsg) (2160p)
  
  
• [Panasonic Lumix GH5 180fps 1080p Test by Steven Clarey] (https://youtu.be/AKjXBxXfR0o) (1080p)
  
  
• [180fps | Panasonic Lumix GH5: "Bored" by Neumannfilms] (https://youtu.be/tB2o6H-AfjM) (1080p - suggest you turn the annoying soundtrack off)
  
  
• [180fps slow motion on the Panasonic GH5 by Griffin Hammond] (https://youtu.be/5b5Nvm12-NI) (1080p)
  
  Here are a few examples of 20MP still image quality from this camera: https://www.flickr.com/photos/camerajabber/albums/72157677373675970
  
  In my view, the GH5 will be the best filmmaking/videography/still camera you can buy below $2000.
  
  Option Two
  
  Although it is an 8-bit camera and lacks the GH5's external controls, the second best still/video camera below $2000 is the [$1398 4K/24.2MP Sony A6500] (https://www.amazon.com/Sony-Alpha-Digital-Camera-2-95-Inch/dp/B01M586Y9R//ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&linkCode=ll1&tag=battleforthew-20).
  
  With its APS-C sized sensor (similar to your Nikon's), 5-axis internal image stabilization and 1080/120p slow motion, it will give you image quality that looks like this:
  
  
• [[Tập 6] Việt Nam trong mắt tôi | Cảnh đẹp sông nước Miền Tây qua góc máy ảnh Sony Alpha A6500 [4K] by Sony Vietnam] (https://youtu.be/hIdZpJUXBnY) (2160p)
  
  
• [Pottery - Sony a6500 Sample Footage by JR Videos] (https://youtu.be/pvOEcZCQjbk) (2160p)
  
  
• [Someone To Stay by Into The Mountain Productions] (https://vimeo.com/195120183) (1080p)
  
  Slow Motion
  
  
• [STARVED ROCK| Sony A6500 at 120fps by Manny Ortiz] (https://youtu.be/4RK8QGtK9Ls?t=26s)
  
  
• [Sony a6500 Slow Motion 120fps with Ronin m3 gimbal in Oahu, Hawaii by BadPanda Pictures] (https://youtu.be/8QQy9LC42p4)
  
  
• [SONY A6500 | SIGMA 18-35 | SLOW MOTION | TEST by Patryk Feler] (https://youtu.be/qKNqXRRbUAk)
  
  
• [sony a6500 + ronin m gimbal and zeiss 55 f1.8 AF tracking test at 120fps by Jakob Brenk] (https://vimeo.com/196231893) (1080p)
  
  It's a pretty good 24.2MP still camera too: https://www.flickr.com/groups/3081335@N25/pool
  
  The GH5 can't match the resolution of the A6500's still images - nor the bokeh from the A6500's larger sensor (at equivalent apertures and focal lengths).
  
  The [A6500 is also lighter and more compact than the GH5] (http://camerasize.com/compare/#698,691), if that is important to you. Plus, it is available now.
  
  Both the GH5 and the A6500 are terrific, in-body stabilized video cameras - and either would be a significant upgrade over your D3300.
  
  Hope this is helpful and good luck finding the right camera for your needs!
  
  
  
  
  

I'm looking for a camera that would be decent for starting to capture my life.

My husband and I are going on our honeymoon and I figured this would be a great time to think about investing in a good camera so I can start capturing memories. Here are some things I am looking for :

• A point and shoot camera that isn't complicated to use and is very simple for a beginner
  
• Under 700$ Budget
  
• A camera that is going to still be good x amount of years later, I want a camera that isn't going to be obsolete next year and is going to be good for awhile (like 5+ years), I don't know anything about cameras but if it's like any other technology a company will find a way to make it obsolete.
  
• A camera that I can take videos in, in good quality and have the ability to make videos from it to share if I wish. (think vlogging?)
  
• Up-gradable, for example, a camera that can put an extra memory card in, or purchase lenses for (if that's even possible, I know nothing about cameras)
  
• A Camera that's easy to use in terms of transferring data (pictures put on the computer)
  
• A Camera that I can do fun stuff with besides just taking pictures of my family. Like if I ever decide I like taking photos and I want to start looking into photography.
  
• A Camera that has the ability to be used underwater (this just seems like a little bonus to me, not needed)
  
  I was taking a look at this after reading a little bit of the buyers guide. I would read it further but it just seems a little too technical for me. Thanks in advance for any replies :)

I'm a bit late, but I would go with The [Canon T5] (http://www.amazon.com/Canon-Rebel-EF-S-18-55mm-Digital/dp/B00IB1BTWI/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1459307464&sr=8-12&keywords=canon) as recommended by a few others in the comments. It's just the best deal for your price range, you'll also need to pick up a decent sized SD card. If she is new to DSLRs I would recommend sticking with the kit lens for now. Save whatever is left in your budget, and use it later down the road when she has a better feel for the camera. People often think buying great glass is the key to great photos. While it is part of the equation later on, a big portion of taking better photos in the beginning is having a good working knowledge of photography along with the camera you are shooting on. Youtube has a ton of reviews, and tutorials on the Canon T5, I would recommend checking some of those out before purchasing.

1. My channel/business is called Scrapyard Films. I primarily create video editing tutorials for Magix Vegas Pro but also sprinkle in other tutorials for various other programs. I also have sub categories for my channel including my Let's Play series called Scrapyard Plays which I'm just starting to take more seriously and I'm also going to be doing more game reviews in a category called Scrapyard Reviews (Only reviews 1 game so far). I've had this YouTube account since YouTube was created so I have a bunch of other random videos on there that I created over the past 10 years that don't fit in the niche I'm now focusing towards.
   
   
   
2. Gear and stuff:
   

• 2 Blue Snowball Mic's (For when I need to record multiple voices at once)
  
• 1 Shure SM58 Microphone (For when I record my voice overs for my tutorials)
  
• Aokeo Adjustable Arm Stand (Attached to a BLue Snowball or Shure Mic)
  
• Lumix G7 DSLR (For recording 4k or 1080p videos)
  
• Elgato HD60 Pro (For capturing game footage)
  
• Magix Vegas Pro 16 (Video editing software. I am sponsored by them)
  
• OBS Studio (Ror recording my screen and streaming)
  
• Very powerful video editing computer
  
• And I'm constantly trying to upgrade to newer, higher quality equipment to make my videos and audio more professional
  
  
  

3. I'm uploading consistent videos to a schedule (every Tuesday and Friday). I'm interactive with all my subscribers. I'm providing the highest quality Vegas Pro tutorials on YouTube. I'm hosting easily winnable, monthly giveaways. I'm trying my best to make you laugh when watching video game videos.
   
   
   YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/scrapyardfilms
   
   
   Thanks for doing this and sparking interest in people, allowing them to share their content!

I've worked at a theater for a number of years, and still do occasionally.

I wouldn't go with the A6300. Theater lighting is generally pretty bright so you don't need a good low light camera. Additionally, you want something with longer battery life if you filming long plays. I think you'll be happier with a GH5 or a GH4.

For years, I've been using the the GH4 with this metabones speedbooster and the Canon 24-105 for stage plays. I usually throw a gopro up in the rafters for my wideshot. I actually was able to get away with one camera shoots for awhile now as long as I operated it safely, but lately I've been using the GH5 with the 24-105 as my A-Cam and the GH4 with the 12-35 as my B-Cam.

The 24-105 is an absolute joy to use when filming plays. It's par-focal which is incredibly handy, and you don't really need something faster than f/4 with stage lighting.

As far as audio, I have two cheap condensor mics like these mounted above the stage with cables running into the booth. When I come in to record, I plug in a tascam recorder like this one.

I wouldn't get the NTG-2. It's only useful if you can get it really close to your subjects. If you want a shotgun mic I would really reccomend getting the MKE 600

The theater I have a client has numerous fresnels laying all over the place, so I have ample lighting if needed. I usually just use whatever is installed currently.

This Tripod has been my #1 choice for a long time now, and has filmed many plays. I prefer it to ones that cost 4 times as much. I upgraded the fluid head to a Manfrotto 502 which is a huge improvement.

Hope this helps, feel free to message me about anything in particular.

you should check the canon S100: http://www.amazon.com/Canon-PowerShot-S100-Wide-Angle-Stabilized/dp/B005MTME3U, but it might be over your budget.

I used a couple of sony digital cameras too, one of them on the cheap end (around 100 pounds I think), the other is around 200 pounds. (I'm not from Europe so these are just rough numbers)

I like the more expensive one (my parents'), and I sometimes borrow it even though I have a Canon 40D. I was amazed by the picture quality of the cheaper one as well, it wasn't the greatest, but for the price it was really good and much better than any other equally priced camera.


I recommend doing your own research on these, and maybe going to the shop and trying some... here is what you should look for:

• Big sensor: some will have 1/2.3" , others 1/1.7", etc... since the number is inverted, the lower the number on the bottom the better (in this case the 1/1,7")
  
  
• High ISO with low noise: the big sensor contribute to this, as does some other technologies, like using CMOS instead of CCD, or backlighted sensor.. I'm not an expert in this, but that's where camera reviewing sites like dpreview come in handy.
  
  
• Stabilizer: optical stabilizer is a must for taking photos at low light conditions or while zooming.
  
  Maybe I missed some points, but these should be good indicators.
  
  Good luck :)

Just to compare, here is a selection from the Canon side of things with Amazon used prices:
Canon 7d - $990
Tamron 17-50 2.8 - $340
These two are a great basis to work off off and get you to $1330.

If you want to spend some more you could add the following:
Canon 50mm f/1.8 - 100
Canon Speedlite 430EX - 235

But to be honest, if your wife is just starting out and money is a bit tight, don't go out spending $900 or more on a body. As most people will tell you, picture quality is mostly due to lenses. Canon t3i, Canon t4i or 60D as well as Nikon 3200 and 5100 are all excellent bodies and have more than enough features to keep her happy. If you get either of those bodies and a decent 17-50mm lens as well as a 50mm prime she will have great tools to learn on with space to grow.

Just like daegon I would recommend to buy used. Most Photographers look out for their things quite well and most of these lenses and bodies are made at quite good quality levels. I hope this helps.

some say the sony a7sii "makes light", rather it is just great at low light capture and has amazingly clean images/video at a high iso. That combined with a lens with a wide aperture and you get great performance. I would recommend you get a sony a7s mk1 or mk2 or a sony a6300 or a6500, depending on your budgets as all have fairly good low-light performance with the a7sii being the best of them. As for a lens, you could go for an adapter to use your canon lenses but if you do not have a canon lens with a nice wide aperture like f/1.8 or better, it would be good to pick up a lens like that. If you choose to move entirely to sony as so many people have recently, you will want a good all around lens too. Let me know if you need more help!

I own an Olympus PEN EP-1, a Lumix GH2 (hacked for awesome video), a Nikon D7000 (among the best of the cropped frame cameras) and a Nikon D800 (amazing for detail and also video.)

But I'm not going to recommend any of them, because it sounds like the following might be a better camera for you. It's a superzoom with a constant aperture of f2.8. It's a 12 MPx sensor with pretty good low light performance, and it shoots up to 1080p60, so the video is fine (although nowhere near as good as the hacked GH2.)

What makes this camera different? It's not a point and shoot, and neither is it a removable lens camera. The glass is very interesting -- it's a superzoom, going from 25-600mm equivalent with a Leica-badged lens.

This is a great compromise for someone who is still an amateur, and who doesn't want to go too deeply into the differences between primes and zooms, but who wants a quality camera that you can just go out and shoot, without too many compromises.

Here's a preview: http://www.dpreview.com/previews/panasonic-lumix-dmc-fz200

And the Amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-DMC-FZ200-Digital-Camera-Optical/dp/B008MB6ZX0

And some reviews and comments from a top-flight community of Panasonic camera hackers (who will certainly find a way to lift the 29 minute video recording limit): http://www.personal-view.com/talks/discussion/comment/77540

Now add a decent flash, a stable tripod, some memory cards, and a couple of ND filters (one graduated and one variable), and you've got a pretty good starting point. And I want to reinforce one point which is pretty important -- the f2.8 aperture is constant through the range of the zoom. You just won't see that with most other zooms out there in its class, and it's kind of a big deal. Plus the power-zoom makes using that zoom capability quite useful in ENG type work.

1. For a camera get a Panasonic Lumix GH5 body, that way you get super good video quality at 4k. Couple this with a 12-35mm f2.8 constant aperture lens for sharp video and good lower light performance.
   
   
2. For your audio, you can do a lav kit like this. It comes with a Zoom h4n and a lav. You can stick this in a pocket and record the lav, or you can put it with the camera and use the built in microphones to record the audio. If you want an on camera mic, the Rode Video Mic Pro gives good quality audio, but keep your expectations realistic if you try and record something far away (not the best solution).
   
   
3. You could use a gimbal like this. They're easier to use than the glidecams and they perform better. That camera and lens is fairly light so it shouldn't be a problem.
   
   
4. I use a Davis & Sanford provista tripod. The build quality is fantastic, and it has a standard 75mm bowl mount that you can change the head on in the future.
   
   
5. You'll probably want a fairly high powered light system to light a large area. Aputure kits are good quality and I would go with those.

> will the AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G work on my Nikon D5200 flawlessly?

Yes. I'm mostly shooting on a DX camera with this lens as well :) It get's even better in this case, since the DX camera only uses the "inner part" (remember the crop) of the FX-lens, it only uses the sharpest part. Most lenses are sharper in the middle and get a bit less sharp on the outside. In this case, the smaller sensor actually becomes an advantage!

The 50mm 1.8g is a great lens. Really very good for portraits and everyday photography. Very sharp and the bokeh is delicious. Just keep in mind it will get a little bit tight for indoor scenes. Outdoor is no problem, because you can always move further back, but inside, -for example a group shot - can get a bit difficult.

> can also be applied on small sensors like the ones on mobile phones and digital compact (who always are showing off with their g2 aperture ) at this rate it will become f1000 hahaha

Yes, totally! Actually, with the compact point-and-shoot cameras this is sometimes kinda regarded as a "scam". They are using the physical aperture as an advertisement (f2.8) as well as the crop factor when it comes to focal length (a maximum 2,000 mm), but they don't mention that the crop factor has to be applied to the aperture as well for the bokeh and iso performance. They basically only mention the positive sides of the sensor...

Of course there is no 24-2000mm F2.8 - F6.5 lens with a minimum focussing distance of 1cm like they are suggesting. That is simply physically impossible with a 35mm sensor size. Those numbers only apply to a very tiny sensor and are therefore worthless

> would it be a good lens for videos too

To be honest i'm not into video. I can tell you the autofocus is fairly silent, I can barely hear it at all. If you want reliable information on the video side of things, I recommend asking over at https://www.reddit.com/r/videography/ . They will probably tell you to manually focus but just ignore that and read what they say about the lens lol.

Some you might want to look into. All are probably available for less if you shop around, especially the superceded advanced compacts.

1. Advanced Compacts

Both of these offer a reasonable amount of zoom and puts out images that gets fairly close to a DSLR, but are more portable - and in the case of the Sony, actually pocketable. Both of these are last year's model since the current machines go for around $800.

Smallest, not DSLR quality but very good, near-miraculous for the size: Sony RX100 Mark II

Quite big actually but definitely smaller than a DSLR, DSLR-like handling characteristics and pretty close image quality: Canon G1X


2. Compact interchangeable lens

Offers DSLR-class image quality in a much more compact package, but with the loss of optical viewfinder and easy manual controllability. The Sony has a DSLR sensor so offers better image quality, but is a larger package all around. The Panasonic delivers slightly inferior images but with much better portability, since the lenses are a lot smaller as well - not just the body. Micro 4/3rds also has a very healthy lens ecosystem. The Sony, adequate.

Small: Sony A5000

Smaller: Panasonic DMC-GF6


3. DSLR / DSLR-class

You'd be looking at a DSLR for full manual control over the camera, and to this end because they have more physical controls, bigger batteries and are designed to mount bigger lenses etc - they are bigger. It may not be what you want slung around your neck all the time, but these are probably the best class of cameras to learn 'serious' photography on due to the accessibility of the controls.

The Olympus is actually more of an overgrown compact interchangeable-lens given advanced features & controls - think of it as a mini-DSLR. The T5i is a pretty standard low-intermediate DSLR with all the features you'd normally expect a DSLR to have.

Regular: Canon Rebel T5i

Small: Olympus E-M10

If you never intend to buy / change lenses out quite a lot, categories 2 & 3 will probably be a waste of time.

The camera that fits your needs best is the Canon 70D
It has best Video functionality and best Video and image auto focus system of DSLRs in its price range. With CANONs STM lenses it has the quietest autofucos motor, ideal video.
Canon 70D vs Nikon D7100 Epic Shootout Comparison…: http://youtu.be/bOM4r1gxsbs
http://www.amazon.com/Canon-Digital-Camera-Body-Only/dp/B00DMS0GTC

Canon EOS 70D Hands-on Review (filmed with a 70D): http://youtu.be/btaesOmA_ro
I personally have owned the 70D since it launched last year and can testify to the cameras spectacular image quality and ease of use for everything from casual shooting to serious photography. And have shot dozens of hours of video using both Canon STM and traditional USM motor and the difference in the noise level between the two type is not huge but noticeable.
The next best option on a budget would be the Nikon D5300
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00FY3T3TM/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?qid=1419056374&sr=8-2&pi=AC_SX200_QL40
I'd recommend getting a 35mm or 50mm Prime lenses for either camera its a cheap lense that produces amazing pictures.
Hope this helps Good luck

Here's some options that I like, if you don't mind buying used you'll have more room to buy more lenses and any other gear you'll like, but these are all new and all kits which includes the body and a lens. 

If you want to stick with Nikon the D5600 is an amazing camera, the image quality and usability are awesome. 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07VW3KC9X/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_M-GNDb4BPTVEJ

If your willing to spend a little more the D7100 is a great camera I can only find the body and not a kit but you could just get a lens separately.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/927106-GREY

You could also buy a Used D600 for around $600-$650 with a low shutter count if you are interested in full frame, then spend the rest on a lens.

For Canon If your on a budget I'd recommend something like the rebel 7ti 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07P15K8Q7/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_IgHNDb2YN44GR

If you're willing to spend more the 77D is a great option, the first link the the 77D with a 18-55 and the second is a 18-55mm + 55-250mm

 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07KVS93ZF/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_KhHNDbV4SY44F
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06Y1YVWLH/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_vFHNDbWGFF6GX

As for mirrorless I recommend these cameras.

Canon EOS M50

 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07TWB61Z2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_kxHNDb2NM14RY

Sony a6300

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007GK50X4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_xAHNDbN04X71G

Fujifilm X-T20 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01NCVN74T/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_pCHNDb74CQ8X6

In your opinion, what does "professional quality" mean?

"Professional quality" is a very subjective description.

If you want to know what the industry says about it, it is not actually the quality of the images that is what makes the 5D a "professional" camera. It is the fact that it is supported by Canon's Professional Services. If you're a professional photographer, and your camera breaks when you're on the job, Canon will give you a camera to use. They will give you lenses to use. They will make sure your needs are taken care of.

That is what owning a professional camera is about.

Being able to guarantee that you can do your job when it is crunch time.

Also, $2500 will not get you the 5D with a lens. It isn't even enough to buy you the 5D with the standard lens.


The 5D mark II will be about $2000, and a good lens would be $2200 by itself.

I might be using the wrong adjectives here.. sorry, like I said, it's subjective. The 24-70 is an excellent lens. Probably the best lens for normal usage. And the standard lens is a very good lens. I don't think canon will sell you a bad lens to use on the 5D.

As for the "bonus features" here are a few the differences between the 5D and the Rebel:

Advantages of the 5D:

• Larger sensor (this leads to an increase in quality, but you have to buy larger lenses, which are more expensive, and they will be heavier. You also get better control of depth of field thanks to the larger sensor.)
  
  
• Quality - it has better noise, dynamic range, and colours.
  
  
• Resolution - more megapixels
  
  
• Larger viewfinder - easier to see through
  
  
• Weather sealed - you can shoot in the rain, and it will be fine.
  
  
• Bigger battery - take double the photos before charging
  
  
• Less start up time - flick the switch to "ON" and start taking photos a second faster.
  
  
• Extra card slot - use two memory cards at the same time, so you don't lose your photos from an accident.
  
  The Rebel:
  
  
• Cheaper
  
  
• Lighter and smaller
  
  
• shoots just as fast (3.7 photos per second)
  
  
• A lot cheaper. Equivalent lenses are cheaper and smaller.
  
  
• Has a built in flash (The 5D assumes you're a pro who owns external flashguns)
  
  As for the quality of the images being "professional"... well, all of these were taken with the T3i

A Canon 6D.

http://www.amazon.com/Canon-20-2-Digital-Camera-3-0-Inch/dp/B009B0MZ8U

When I was getting started, I started with a DSLR that was not a full-frame camera. A year later, and being someone who's very into portraiture as you will be, I had to upgrade to a full-frame sensor. I wish I had started with something higher-level that I could grow into, instead of something entry-level, that I grew out of. Now I have two cameras...but one of them doesn't get much use at all.

The 6D has most of the features that the 5d Mark iii has, but costs less. It's pro-sumer camera. It's a tiny bit more expensive than what you're looking to spend. But it'll be worth it.

If sensor size isn't a major concern, you could, however, take a completely different tack. Photography isn't much about the camera. You're going to need to learn about many things before you'll really know what you want in a camera. Since you're doing still photography, you could learn with an older, used DSLR, for about $100. Then, once you have a better idea for what it is you need, functionally, you can spend that big wad of cash burning a hole in your pocket.

The guys at DigitalRev did a good video about this.

http://youtu.be/T4ZvAFCt5Sk

The temptation, at the beginning, is to think that a better camera will get you better pictures (I was under that misconception myself for a very long time). While this is sort of the case, what's actually true is that knowing how to take good photos is what really matters, and you can do that with some VERY inexpensive gear.

Honestly, if you have a budget that low and REALLY can't borrow or rent from anyone or anywhere in your area, PLEASE don't get a flip camera with that money. You can get a decent point and shoot that shoots basic HD video (no manual focus though) but good quality otherwise. Look into this for now, I just bought this for my friend's birthday and she absolutely loves it.

Canon Powershot ELPH 300
http://www.amazon.com/Canon-PowerShot-ELPH-300-HS/dp/B004J41T7Q

Some nice features for video...

Shoots in 1080p
24 frames per second, which gives it that "film" look.
Pretty good wide lens for a point and shoot

Let me know if you have any other questions about the camera! In my experience Panasonic and Canon seem to be the best for video in these point and shoots.

No problem! I understand you have a tight budget, but I shoot with a Rebel T6 and got it for $300 with a basic lens and it gets the job done. If you're taking pictures you like with an iphone then keep with that but DSLRs are a lot more affordable nowadays and there are some good deals on starter bundles at places like Target and Best Buy (especially on Black Friday).

A camera body will allow you a lot more flexibility with your photos as well since you can adjust every setting.

Overall I like your pictures and they can only get better, keep it up!

Amazon(+ grip)has them for cheaper, but if you know this one is of superior quality and has been taken care it may be worth it. Seems a slightly overpriced for a camera made in 2008, unless they throw in a lens. (and TBH the 4gb card is not worth much and sync cables, charger, battery are standard).

Unless you need the weather sealing of the 50D (i.e. heavy rain/snow/sand) you can go with something like a NEW T6 and get a lens or a NEW Nikon D3400 with lens

edit: I also want to point out while the stock lenses are good for most environments you might also want to save/get some additional lenses (used lenses are a great option).

Yes, go for the full frame. I wish I had begun this way. Full-frames have various advantages. For example, you will have more flexibility with the lenses you can use. I love my 85mm 1.8 for portraits, but with a crop sensor, I would have to back up too far from my subject. Same for the 50mm 1.4, which I use for live performances. Full frames are also better in low light.

Canon and Nikon both have excellent full frames. I'm curious about the new Canon 6D, which looks like a great deal: http://www.amazon.com/Canon-20-2-Digital-Camera-3-0-Inch/dp/B009B0MZ8U/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1368909139&sr=1-1&keywords=canon+6d

Hi Joel - whatever you get, it has to have fast autofocus. My first video capable DSLR was a Canon T2i, which, like the Canon T3i and 7D, loses its autofocus capability when you switch to Live View (video) mode.

Here is what happened when I tried to shoot model trains with it:

http://youtu.be/Yl0Kgm7UGlU?t=40s

In the video, I say, "...my autofocus is misbehaving", when, in fact, it was nonexistent.

Canon has fixed this problem, and has given the 70D very fast autofocus - but it [costs over $1000 body-only] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DMS0GTC/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00DMS0GTC&linkCode=as2&tag=battleforthew-20).

I recommend you do what I did - get a Panasonic camera with fast autofocus and a camcorder-like viewfinder that continues working while you're shooting video (DSLR viewfinders all blank out when you use them to shoot video). The [Panasonic G6 is on sale right now] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CFCTDD6/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00CFCTDD6&linkCode=as2&tag=battleforthew-20), it is in your price range - and it will follow trains just like a camcorder.

On the other hand, if you use a traditional camcorder, you will get nice sharp images, but you won't get the nice, cinematic shallow depth of field you get with a large sensor interchangeable lens camera like the G6.

I have a 2010-era Panasonic TM900 traditional camcorder, and I like it a lot - but I use my Panasonic G cameras more.

Personally, I prefer the large-sensor "look" - but your mileage may vary :)


Hope this is helpful!

Bill

I snuck it in there, she was looking at either the T6 or D3300 because they were in her budget and liked what she saw. My budget is around 2.5x that (which means I could get either of those bodies and a few good lenses, or "invest" for a nicer body with better/more features), basically $800-$999 for a body and a nice lens or 2 to start, then get her another lens in a few months. I was looking at this kit, which falls in line with the D3300, here, or the T6i set here, but was thinking maybe getting the body and a nice lens separately. I was looking into the 70D with a nice lens because 2 of my coworkers highly recommended it (they do a lot of photography). I believe the D5500 is also pretty good for video though, and seems like a nice option to have, but not a primary concern, and I'm leaning towards it. I've exhausted my coworkers with my indecisiveness. She likes the Nikon because it has a slightly lower crop factor, but the Canon for it's sensor from what I understand.

Not at all.

http://www.amazon.com/Canon-Compact-Systems-3-0-Inch-EF-M18-55mm/dp/B00A2BVCO0/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1375304495&sr=8-3&keywords=canon+eos+m+22mm

That isn't a DSLR, it's mirrorless, but it seems very cool. $350 for the camera with 18-55 lens

or $399

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/883304-REG/Canon_6609b033_EOS_M_Digital_Camera_with.html

for the camera with the 22mm f/2 lens. I would get the 22mm f/2 lens. My friend just bought this camera and he hasn't got it out yet to use it but being that it's from canon and looking at the specs of it I'm sure it'll take very very quality photos. Again, it's DSLR and I realize that we're in the DSLR subreddit, but mirrorless does have some cool advantages over DSLR. The size of this is pretty awesome as well since you'd be way more likely to carry this thing with you than lug around a clunky DSLR (at least I know I would be)

Idk, that's just what I would get if I was looking in the 300 to 400 price range. I don't think you'll find a new APS-C size sensor body + lens for less than that.

• You aren't going to be able to buy all of this gear with $2000-3000.
  
  
• Watch this video. This is the mother of all travel videos.
  
  • This video was shot with a Lumix GH3, a 12-35 f/2.8, a cheap telephoto zoom (14-140 I think?) and a Nocticron 42.5mm. No Ronin, no drone, no IBIS, etc.
    
    
• A Ronin is a hassle to set up, really cumbersome, and not suitable for the run and gun type of style that Kolder and Alveraz make. The closest thing that I can think of which would be run and gun-ish (but you still don't need) is the Zhiyun Crane which goes for around $600.
  
  
• Personally: I see that you have $3000 available, so my first inclination is to say get the GH5 with a 12-35 f/2.8 I (the $600 version). The dual-IS doesn't make a huge difference, the GH5's IBIS is good enough. Then buy a nice Tiffen variable ND filter, step-up ring, maybe one of those Tascam audio recorders for nat sound, and save up for the 35-100 f/2.8.
  
  Broken down:
  
  
• GH5 - $1997.99
  
  
• Lumix 12-35 f/2.8 I - $699
  
  
• Tiffen ND filter - $129.99
  
  
• Step up ring - $9.95
  
  
• Tascam portable audio recorder - $99
  
  
• Total: $2935.93
  
  I will end on this note: You like these videos because they are well shot, well composed, and well edited. I could hand you the best camera system in the world and you're going to make a shitty video if you don't know how to use it. Whereas I could hand a great cinematographer a crappy camera and he'd make something awesome. It's more about what you shoot than what you shoot with. With that in mind, the GH5 is fucking awesome (I just got mine) and it's a great tool to learn on and grow with.

Is your moon criteria because you want to be able to zoom really far or that you feel only decent cameras can do that? I ask because if you don't need a long reach you could put more money toward a better camera/lens that's shorter.

If you don't need long reach and want a small camera a used RX100 will give you great quality for stills and video for under $400. You mention travel so I think for walking around it's great. It's a fixed lens though so you can't get more out of it down the line.

If you're thinking of it more like an investment and you'll grow into it over time you'll probably want to go with an ILC (interchangeable lens camera). Mirrorless will be smaller DSLR will be bigger. Just know that you're buying into a whole ecosystem because because lenses aren't swapable between brands. There are adapters but generally you lose things like auto focus unless you pay big bucks for an adapter.

For DSLR a used Nikon D3300 or Canon T6 is under $400. For mirrorless a used Sony a5000. There's also the micro 4/3's mirrorless systems but someone else would have to chime in for recommendations as I have no experience w/ them.

I should note that all my specific recommendations don't have a ton of reach (can't get far subjects). But what you save on that gets you incredible quality if you take the time to learn. Also w/ the ILC cameras you could get a telephoto lens in the future. You could get a cheaper body and get a kit that has 2 lenses one of which is a telephoto - used Nikon D3100 Kit or used Canon T5 kit for right at $400. You have to swap lens to go long. If you really want that zoom for cheaper or smaller overall size probably look at choices in this article.

That said if you're going to stay on auto mode all the time my recommendations are probably not worth the price premium since you won't get the most out of it. Save some bucks and get a point and shoot that's easier to travel with and you're more likely to take out and use. I will say the quality gap between camera phones and point and shoots is pretty minimal these days. You probably need to spend $300-$400 for the significant jump in quality.

I always worry when recommending equipment because there are so many options and honestly recommending the right one based on your needs is difficult. That being said there are several great deals on the camera market right now.

Canon is offering the
T5 with two lenses for 599.99

(http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00V73JZY6/ref=mp_s_a_1_sc_3?qid=1458226791&sr=8-3-spell&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=t5+canera)

If you're a Nikon guy, Nikon is offering there fun little D3300 with two lenses for about the same price range. I personally recommend this because I think this is the better option in terms of specs.

(http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00T8LQ8VW/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?qid=1458227047&sr=8-2&pi=SX200_QL40&keywords=nikon+d3300&dpPl=1&dpID=41G8D-4CF3L&ref=plSrch)

And just as an outsider here is a body that I own and absolutely love that is great for filming and time lapse.

(http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00NEWZDRG/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1458227297&sr=8-1&pi=SX200_QL40&keywords=7d+mark+ii&dpPl=1&dpID=41Wd4GbZ-HL&ref=plSrch)

Also a time lapse controller will be needed so here is one I recommend

(http://www.mindarin.com)

Honestly, for the price, look into mirrorless cameras like the current Sony alpha series or Panasonic lumix. They’re great cameras, I’ll link a few in a minute here.

Brands like Rokinon make fairly affordable lenses too.

Edit:

$500

$650

$1000

$1050

Seconding what the other commenter said about buying used. I have a Sony A7s ii that I picked up used for just under a grand and it’s been a great camera for both video and photo purposes. Saving up for a Panasonic GH5s next.

Just make sure you research the the camera best suited for what you’d like to do (video, photography) and make sure the lenses you get fit your camera body or you have an adapter (Sony uses E mount lenses and the Lumix cameras take G or micro 4/3s, for example). Get the right speed SD card (if you get a 4k camera - the write speed should preferably be higher than 95mbps) and figure out the kind of lenses best suited to you (zoom lenses are versatile, but prime lenses tend to have better aperture ranges and depth of field).

There are also tons of blogs and videos that can explain everything you need to know.

I would probably suggest the Nikon D3400 for ~$500, you can save some cash and buy used through Amazon though. Eventually you'll want to get a better lens for low light photos, but it will still blow you iPhone away because of the larger sensor.

If you end up going with the D3400, Tony Northrup has a one hour YouTube tutorial. If you go with something else, he has tutorials for most cameras on his channel.

Once you have a camera with manual controls, for a good general overview of how to control exposure using light, aperture, shutter speed, and ISO; take a gander at this 14 minute YouTube tutorial.

I also wholeheartedly recommend Tony Northrup's book, Stunning Digital Photography. Starting at $10 for the ebook, available on his website or Amazon. Some of the videos from the book are available for free on their YouTube channel, such as the ones I posted above.

The book eases into the technical knowledge while teaching about composition and lighting, which apply to all types of photography. Then they have genre specific chapters for landscapes, night, portraits, and more.

Hello Everyone! I need advice on buying a camera. Please and Thank you in advance! I am going to Thailand for my honeymoon in April. I have a 7 year old Samsung Point & Shoot that is very slow. And I don't want to rely on my phone to take pictures. So therefore I want to buy a new camera. I want something that takes good quality pictures, Zoom really is not THAT important to me IF it takes a lot away from the quality of the image. I also want to take HD video as well. I have looked at the Buyers Guide and it seems a lot of the cameras that I am interested in fall into the "Super Zoom" Category, (such as the SX-700) which seem to be limited in picture quality if I understand it correctly (Correct me if i am wrong). I am looking to spend about $299. Is there anything in between the S-100 and S-120? I don't need to stick with Canon, if someone has some good recommendations i would love to hear them.


Canon S-100

Canon S-120

Canon SX-700 HS

The GH1 is a great camera (I have one), and $199 is a great price - but buying used on eBay is a bit of a crapshoot.

I certainly hope you didn't send $199 to that seller in Thailand with 8 feedback ratings.

For [$320, you can buy a brand new Canon EOS M with an 18-55mm lens] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B008NENG1A/?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&condition=new&creative=390957&keywords=Canon%20EOS%20M%2018-55mm&linkCode=ur2&qid=1416823941&sr=8-12&tag=battleforthew-20).

Here is what this camera can do:

Fashion (shot in RAW): http://vimeo.com/72938179

Live music (shot in RAW): http://vimeo.com/75122636#t=38s

Skate: http://vimeo.com/80326419

Travel: http://vimeo.com/55604121

Travel: http://vimeo.com/61150313

Good luck!

I definitely don't mind a refurbished camera and don't mind an older camera model. I do agree that that kit seems to have a lot of things that I probably won't need. Is the best website the Canon website for refurbished/used items? Perhaps this?:

https://shop.usa.canon.com/shop/en/catalog/eos-rebel-t6-ef-s-18-55mm-f-35-56-is-ii-kit-refurbished

I also can't believe I could purchase this one with just a little more money refurbished:

https://www.amazon.com/Canon-Mark-Frame-Camera-MODEL/dp/B001G5ZTLS/ref=sr_1_1?s=photo&ie=UTF8&qid=1491945066&sr=1-1&th=1

I hope to do night sky photography, but in the beginning, I will probably just take photos of things in everyday life. I might like something that is more environment resistant though. Not too many photos that will require macro lens. It will mostly be photos of buildings, landscapes, and everyday life.

Do you think a refurbished camera in the same price range as that bundle with the plastic fantastic will be a good start? Just those two items?

I would buy the PANASONIC GH5 or the PANASONIC GH5S (referral links). You'll find the panasonics deliver a much better experience filming in 4k and have much friendlier filesizes than the canon. the autofocus is also perfectly fine in my opinion for youtube use despite what some people say. the only questions i'd ask are will you take and use pictures often, and will you use the camera in low light (indoors/at night often)? if you're filming handheld a lot and selfie style you might find the GH5 with ibis is a better option.

To be honest I have the GH5 and was filming indoors today at f2.8 ISO 1600 on the 12-35mm f2.8 mk2 (refferal link) and imo it is still very usable for youtube. any of the cameras will work rather well though :)

I'm guessing amazon decided to be a creeper after I was searching for this camera for you...so I figured I'd share what they emailed me with. best deal ive seen on the s95 (so far at least...I'm not looking too hard lol). And this one might be the newest model in that series. I stand by the canon power shots because they've always been better than the nikon point and shoot cameras (even though I'm bred to be a Nikon DSLR kid)...and I assume having HD video is great. I'd go into a store to experience the audio quality first hand though.

Edit: typos

EditEDIT: Basically what you want are manual controls so you can handle low light situations (that 2fstop option is NICE) and a lot of flexibility with exposure while still maintaining a quality image. I know jack shit about sound but from what I understand the video capabilities on DSLRs and possibly point and shoots (esp like this one) are getting better and better as time goes on. Plus its a tiny, lightweight model...safer and easier to bring to events without breaking it.

I'll try not to write twenty pages but I usually look up or contact the venue just to double check their rules. Some venues, usually smaller ones, don't even require a pass and you can just bring a camera. In my experience tho the venue relies on the artist for a guest/press list.

I usually contact the artist's manager/tour manager - you can usually find that info on their website, facebook or just google it - and I do this 1-3 weeks out from the show. Also good to mention that if they're not the person to contact, if they could point you in the right direction that's great. Usually people will ignore you but I've accidentally contacted a marketing guy or an old manager that put me in touch with the right guy because of that.

You really don't need to say much. A basic template, and it can be even less, would be like:

> hi my name is eirtep. I am a [city]-based [music journalist/photographer whatever]. I am requesting a basic photo pass to [band's] [date] show at the [venue] in [city]. I've shot a number of shows at this location and I'm familiar with the layout and rules. I do not use a flash or lights and only seek access to the photo pit for photo/video.

> [optional sentence or about other relevant bands shot (related to band asking about or the venue or whatever you have + links to these examples, if possible, that they won't bother to look at]

> More examples of my work can be found at [website that they wont look at]

> [optional sentence asking if anyone would like a copy of the finished work in return for the press pass and proper credit - had a few IG and FB posts from this]

> Please let me know if I am contacting the wrong people.

as for #2, it's highly dependent on your budget. Youtube and subs like /r/videography and /r/filmmaking are helpful to learn. considering I shot my first show on a shitty old Canon T2i I think you'll be ok as long as you don't go too cheap. A fast lens, like f1.8 or ideally f1.4 is more important than the camera since it's probably dark in the venue. Plus lenses (usually) stay with you, I've been through multiple camera bodies but I've kept my lenses. I currently shoot on a Pansonic GH5 which is fairly cheap as far as cameras go. It's more of a video camera than a stills one, but I'm a more video-guy so that's fine for me. The Sony A7sii is a low light beast so I could see that being good.

No one's gonna judge you for your shitty camera, you have the pass so ppl assume you're supposed to be there, because you are.

All that being said you can also just shoot at more low key/local act venues to get a feel for shit and to have "examples." Also, once you should like 1 show you can automatically say you've shot like 4 bands because of the openers and shit. It helps you have a blog to say you're working for. Though maybe it's in my head, but I feel i've had better luck just using the word "photo" pass instead of "press." it's the same thing, but maybe they're worried about a bad review/write up? I dno.

hope that helps a bit.

I have the Canon 80d and like it. It’s a good well rounder and my only complaint is the low light performance (however the lens could have something to do with this). However I will mention this is $1000. An option I see often (never have used myself) and is cheaper ($500-$900) is the Sony A6000 or the Sony A6300 (or a newer model). These are mirrorless and when you look at the viewfinder and make changes, that is what the image will look like. The A6300 might be more future proof with its 4K video if video is of interest. These would be good photo options from what I can tell (but again take that with a grain of salt since I’ve only used the 80d). If you are interested in more video vs photography another cheaper option would be the Panasonic G7 and is 4K. I cannot speak for Nikon, but they seem like good budget cameras, but may be lacking video wise. But overall the glass will make more of a difference than the camera! Any of these options would be a step up from your smartphone!

Camera links (Amazon)
Sony Alpha a6000
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00I8BICB2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_7eQkDbQD2A5PY

Sony Alpha a6300
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007GK50X4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_5gQkDbYD1ET6T

Panasonic G7
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00X409PQS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_aiQkDbKSNBTTR

Canon 77D (80D alternative)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06VSTCWJ9/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_4kQkDbJGAEWNA

Canon 80D
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01BUYK04A/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_ZjQkDbTAJB668

If you're looking to buy new, you can take long exposure photos with any entry level DSLR. The Nikon D3400 or Canon EOS Rebel T6 are both great starting points (I pesonally like the Nikon a bit more). They usually run $450 - $600 dollars depending on the lenses they come with. They both have good ISO ranges (ISO is the sensitivity of the sensor to light) which means you would be able to take long exposures of things like stars or see detail in very dark places.

If those are out of your price range than I would look at used DSLR's like the Nikon D3300 or D3200. They aren't gonna handle low light quite as well as the newer cameras, and high ISO images will be noisier, but they will still easily take long exposures. And really any DSLR made in the last 8 years will be able to take long exposures. If you are trying to take long exposures of things like car trails one of those would work fine. If you are trying to take photos of things like stars I would try to get a newer DSLR.

forgot to add, what're you using now?

maybe a 7d ii? it's a crop but has decent low light, good autofocus, and good weathersealing
new 1500
used 1100

https://www.amazon.com/Canon-Mark-Digital-Camera-Body/dp/B00NEWZDRG/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1474601271&sr=8-2&keywords=7d+ii


you can try to find a used 5d iii around $1500 these days

https://www.amazon.com/Canon-Frame-Full-HD-Digital-Camera/dp/B007FGYZFI/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1474601317&sr=8-2&keywords=5d+iii


if you're rich get a 1dx haha, maybe a 1d iii?

for nikon no clue.. but i might go nikon if i started over haha

Y'all have so many subreddits and a question thread that I wasn't sure where this would go. I'll delete anything that's in the wrong place!

I'm looking at buying a camera in the next couple of days (actually have been for a few months now, but I'm very indecisive) and am currently looking at the Canon ELPH 300 HS and the Olympus PEN E-Pl1. I'm wondering what you more experienced folks would recommend.

DPreview comparison

Snapsort comparison

Canon on Amazon

Olympus on Amazon (shoot, they were both $10 less last week)

I'm being told to spring for the Olympus for the bigger sensor and the ability to change lenses (a friend has offered to loan me lenses for it), but I'm not sure if it's what I need or overkill. I've photographed a bit, but want to learn and practice more.

If I get the Canon I'll definitely be putting CHDK on it. Would that put it a bit more on par with the Olympus? I'm a little concerned about the stated shutter lag on the Olympus.

Ideally I'd like to order in the next few days so that it can arrive before spring break.

If you want something a bit "time-proof" that won't become irrelevant and last you years right now I'd say the new Lumix GH5 that shoots 4k in camera, a good zoom lens for video, a Rode fuzzy mic, and spend the rest in extra batteries and the biggest, fastest SD cards you can find for cheap. Honestly right now I don't think you could find anything better in budget. You might look into the Sony A7sII but a good lens will run you more than it would for the lumix, battery life is worse. I'd check both setups locally and see what you like best and whatever leaves you some spare budget for the mic/batteries/SDs. And if you manage a cheap chinese LED video light might come in handy too. Hope this helps. :)

Thank you for this information!! This is awesome! My only other questions would be:

• Does the 32 GB SD Card need to be a specific "class"? Like Class 10 vs Class 4 or whatever.
  
  
• Will this tripod work fine?
  
  
• And will this camera on its own do what I need? I'm looking to keep it simple I shouldn't need to buy any specific lenses or anything right?
  
  Thanks again for all the help. Once I get those questions answered I should be able to order it all up and get going!

In that case, you have a few options you could play with. As 2013orBust mentioned, you could conceivably purchase the Blackmagic Cinema Camera (2.5k RAW). You could also pick up a 5dMkII, a Panasonic GH3, or even a Sony a99. However, I would highly recommend investing in a mid-priced DSLR (maybe a 6D, 7D, GH3, something along those lines) and save up the rest for some good primes.

As for audio equipment, the Rhode VideoMic Pro shotgun mic can be attached in the hot shoe and works well. You could also invest in a Zoom H4N, or Tascam DR-100mkII, or Tascam DR-40 (those are just some of the more popular, but there are some other options; my personal favorite is the DR-100mkII).

Head over here and look through the comments to see some awesome recommendations about some other gear you could potentially invest in at different price levels.

EDIT: Mistakenly thought the Blackmagic could only record RAW at 2k, changed that to 2.5k.

I have a Canon Eos-M which is Canon's mirrorless camera. It has similar specs to the Canon Rebel T3i (for about half the price), but it looks like it might have been discontinued, which sucks, cause I really like mine. Since it's mirrorless it uses it's own line of lenses, a 22mm and an 18mm-55mm zoom from Canon (Tamron has a telephoto lens for it, and there were some lenses released for it outside everywhere but the US), but it has an adaptor that allows it to use an of the lenses designed for the regular Eos line.

I think it's a pretty good camera for a student since you can get good quality pictures with out breaking the bank.

Oh, to expand on that, it was a Canon 5D Mark II with a 24-105 f/f L-series lens. I was shooting at around f/9, I believe, and I white balance on the camera before shooting using white balance cards. I often use a reflector as well to fill in the front, but this time I didn't.

Post processing was in Photoshop. I did just a tiny bit more white balancing using a curves layer, then I punch up the highlights and bring down the darks (a standard S-curve). I also use the shadows/highlights tool to bring up the darkest darks so they aren't just straight up black.

I then make a mask around the parts that I really want to feature (in this case the beef and the folded towel on the right), the do a minor Gaussian blur on everything else to just slightly blur it, which makes the meat and texture on the towel pop a little more. Too much and it ends up looking like an Instagram photo.

Similarly, I use that same mask to blow out the lights and darks in the un-masked sections slightly so that the beef and towel pop even more. The key is really being subtle about it though. I probably did a quick sharpen on the whole image as well.

Actually, the REAL key is good lighting. You get good lighting and you're 99% of the way towards a good photograph.

Christ, that's an expensive camera. The quality didn't blow me away, either. Well, the high framerate stuff was really cool. Colors and clarity, less so. Guess it takes some tweaking to get the most out of.

Love the new mic, though. That was great.

Video
>12X optical point and shoot with amazing low-light performance.

That pretty much disqualifies zooming on every P & S camera. Typically zoom lenses have a max aperture of f5.6 or greater at the longest end. This problem is made worse by the tiny sensor built into p&s cameras.

Also...

Audio
>the mic was crap and you couldn't hear anything over the amazing bass (I heard a paper tape over the mic can help in these cases!).

Sound pressure at concerts is way too high for clear audio on the built in mic of any p&s or even a DSLR camera. To record clear audio during a show you'd could try getting an external digital recorder (like a Zoom H1 audio recorder), record the audio and video separately, then re-sync them in your video editing software. See what I'm talking about >HERE<

I figure you want a p&s to keep your setup small, discreet, and allowable at a concert venue, so all DSLRs are out in this reccomendation.

So, what you'll need to do is this:

• Get p&s camera with a fast lens (f2.0 - f2.8) Try the Canon 500 HS for $200 or the Canon S95-s100 for $400ish
  
• Get digital audio recorder (Zoom H1 for $86)
  
• Get good seats
  
• Forget about zooming so you can get a decent image
  
• Record video and audio seperately
  
• Combine video and audio in your video editing software
  
• Be happy?
  
  Note* - If you must zoom, you need to stabilize the camera (preferably a tripod or monopod). If you cant use either cause of the venue, then tuck your arms against your body tight, and hold the camera with two hands. In any case, your video is still gonna look like crap if it's zoomed, grainy (cause the camera will raise the ISO to try get a decent exposure), and jerky (cause your holding the camera with one arm above the crowd).
  
  

So ive always wanted to get into photography since i was like, 9. 7 years, 2 jobs later, and ive decided its time to purchase my first "camera."

My budget is 600$(maybe 10-50$+) ive looked at two cameras so far but i dont know which is better, what to look for, ect. If someone could help me and give me a few more cameras to choose from(with some explanation) it would be very appreciated!

cameras i was looking at:
https://www.amazon.com/Canon-Rebel-Digital-Camera-18-55mm/dp/B00IB1BTWI/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_pdt_img_sims?ie=UTF8

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01CO2JPYS/ref=s9_acsd_bw_wf_a_samsungu_mdi?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=merchandised-search-6&pf_rd_r=00Z9QT022HA512HQ191F&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=8afab454-36e6-4b02-aaa4-2e52dcb0c416&pf_rd_i=14725218011

Not cheap but I highly recommend the rx100 m2.

I travel full time and when my big camera met the ocean I got one of these and I've been more then impressed. Great low light shots, very versatile and the nfc feature lets you easily take pictures of yourself using a smart phone as a remote (use a gorillapod)

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DM8R866/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00DM8R866&linkCode=as2&tag=redditdiscount-20

It is - There is a bit of a paradigm shift going on right now with videography. DSLRs are about to become (IMO) a very disruptive force in the market.

From FreddieW's (the guy who made the video you linked) FAQ (emphasis mine):

>What camera should I buy?

>Rule 1: If you can borrow a camera, just borrow it! Otherwise, get the nicest camera you can afford. I’m super jealous of all you guys nowadays because almost any camera you can buy is about a thousand times better than what I used to use. Otherwise, look for a camera that shoots HD, and a camera that ideally doesn’t record to tape – that way you don’t have to deal with capturing from tapes, which can be a pain.

>DSLR cameras are currently the best blend of being affordable while still providing a professional quality image. If you don’t take a lot of still photos, I recommend the Canon T3i or the Canon 60D (T3i is slightly cheaper). If you do take a lot of still photos, look at the Canon 7D or 5D. Alternately, the Lumix GH2 is another really good DSLR camera.

Just copying and pasting the reply - glad you enjoyed them! I'm going back for more so I might post again.

I used a 7D with the kit lens because I didn't have time to rent a nicer one. I don't remember my shutter speed but for a lot of these it was really bright so I mixed a fast shutter speed with a slightly more sensitive iso. Photography is just a hobby as I pretty much just picked it up again.