OzVMX Forum
Clubroom => General Discussion => Topic started by: EML on December 31, 2012, 12:01:10 pm
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Question from left field,
We are currently in the market for a new camera.
It needs to be great for portrait/still shots so we can post on the web.
Also handy for some short video/movie stuff.
Has to be reasonably compact.
And is it more to do with the camera and/or the lens these days.
oh and not be a million bucks......
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I was about to ask the same question.
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you really can't go wrong with a Canon or Nikon DSLR - or I am hearing rave reviews about the new compact Sony RX100. Sony aroud the $500 mark. Really depends on whether you want to play with the elnses or go compact and integral.
regards
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Currently scoping for a deal on the Nikon D7000 at just over 1400 but will need an extra lens (+300+/-) It has a magnisium body and I asked the kid if it would catch fire ( had NFI what I was talking about :D :D :D)
Stop press. have found one @ $1099 here in Bris.
Any one have good/bad reports re this model?
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I can't really offer any other advice other than be wary of 'grey imports'.
The market is flooded with them and Canon and Nikon here will not do any warranty claims nor will they even service them at your expence. You have to send them back to the country of origin for service or repair.
That said, some sellers are offering their own warranty in Australia, but be very, very careful.......... ;)
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Thanks for the tip Tony...good on you.
We have already discussed the difference between a hundred bucks and local warranty.
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bump
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but on the othere hand be aware of sellers that won't honour warranties here - if you get an international warranty such as is usually offerred with name brands such as Canon or Nikon - then they are in default if they don't help.
I bought my wife a small PHD camera in Dubai - very much specced up - and Canon had no drams here in Aus with where it came from - it was a Canon.
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This bloke has been reviewing cameras for years and seems to know his stuff.
www.steves-digicams.com (http://www.steves-digicams.com)
Might be of some help?
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I bought my wife a small PHD camera in Dubai - very much specced up - and Canon had no drams here in Aus with where it came from - it was a Canon.
Now that's interesting!
How long ago was that? I was actually talking to my local Canon rep yesterday and he tells a very different story. ???
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Have a look at the Cannon Powershot G series camera's. I was reading on another bike forum were a couple of photographers were prefering to use them for anything outside their studio over their high end digital SLR's.
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I want Tony T's cameras.
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I want Tony T's cameras.
No you don't. Too expensive and too heavy to be any fun. ;)
The G series are good, but not as good as a decent SLR if you want to shoot moving bikes. But they are much smaller and lighter.
I've got an older G9 that still produces excellent results and is great thing to have in your pocket all the time.
You can pick one of these up secondhand for under 200 bucks these days. ;D
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Compared to Tony T and Billy F I'm a pretty ordinary photographer. However after working with some of the best throughout my time in this industry I've learned that if you want good, professional quality photos, avoid the little silver fixed lens cameras and get a good digital SLR. 99% of the pro's use either Canon or Nikon equipment so if you want quality, they're the names to ask for. In the end it comes down to what you can afford....both brands offer good cameras all through the range. I've used Canon EOS cameras since 1995 still occasionally use my first Canon EOS 350D which I've had for 6 or 7 years with no major problems. I recently bought a three year old top of the range Canon EOS 1d mK II and it's a whole new ball game to the little 350d, a shitload more bells and whistles and probably a bit much for a beginner. I'm still using it on the Auto settings myself.
I've been told by friends who know such stuff that the new Canon EOS 650D is a really great entry level digi SLR camera for the money (around $800 with two lenses) that with its 18 megapixels can produce professional quality shots.
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Firko - I still have my EOS 300 "Rebel" - other than a clean (not surprising being used at motocross) hasn't missed a beat - something like over 12000 shots. But don't rule out the happy snap cameras the professionals keep in their pockets either - like the RX100 - 20 MP as well. Depends on whether people are after a DSLR or a PHD camera. Tony - 2 years ago I bought my wife a mid range Canon point and shoot in Dubai.
Also - don't hesitate to look at second hand - some of the Nikon and Canon deals are so good as most get looked after really well that you could save bucket loads buying a camera through a dealer second hand.
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Tony - 2 years ago I bought my wife a mid range Canon point and shoot in Dubai.
I am spending some time with Canon again today, so I'll quiz them more on this one. It could make a big difference.
Also - don't hesitate to look at second hand - some of the Nikon and Canon deals are so good as most get looked after really well that you could save bucket loads buying a camera through a dealer second hand.
That's a good thought too. Most cameras are rated to about 150,000 shutter actuations, so unless it's had really heavy use, it should have many years of life left. My old 5D MkII has done over 60,000 and is still fine.
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But don't rule out the happy snap cameras the professionals keep in their pockets either
I've got a 12 Megapixel Kodak pocket camera I got at Aldi a couple of years ago. It works a treat but now Kodak's gone out of business they're probably not available any more.
Also - don't hesitate to look at second hand - some of the Nikon and Canon deals are so good as most get looked after really well that you could save bucket loads buying a camera through a dealer second hand.
Good point....I got my EOS 1 body second hand from the USA eBay for $300. I didn't think I'd win the auction with my bid but lo and behold it came up a winner. I figured something would be wrong with it but so far it works like a new one.
(http://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/k495/firko2/canon-eos-1ds-mark-ii_1_zps66180af6.jpg)
(http://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/k495/firko2/kodak_zpsfe46eb9e.jpg)
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Thanks guys, more good info.
We have an on-line store too so we need to get excellent shots for that to post up and don't want to spend lots of time editing.....
As well as the odd motocross shot. :D
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My old 5D MkII has done over 60,000 and is still fine
Billy Forsyth takes that many shots just at Classic Dirt ;D.
Boots off today.
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Thanks Mark. ;)
If they weren't so heavy, I'd get an old 1D of some sort just for fun.
They're built like a brick, last forever and have excellent weather and dust sealing.
They're not big on megapixels, but most of us don't need more than 8 or so anyway.
Just on my way out to pick up a whole new kit for myself today. ;D
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They're built like a brick, last forever and have excellent weather and dust sealing.
Yeah they're as heavy as shit alright Tony...they're supposed to have a magnesium case but I reckon it's Russian mild steel ;D. When Barry Ashenhurst edited Dirt Action he had a couple of EOS 1 film cameras and when he got his first 1D he let me use it for a shoot. Compared to my EOS 650 film camera it was a brave new world of the best photos I'd ever taken. Being so expensive when new I never thought I'd own one but with todays eBay driven prices I finally got one. Sure it's a bit down on Pixels (my Kodak pocket camera has more) but all of the other stuff makes it worth the dough I paid.
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There's a bit of a trick with pixels too. ;)
An 18 megapixel camera won't necessarily have better resolution than a 10 megapixel one.
Long story short, the physical size of the sensor has a lot to do with it as well.
Just to confuse things even more............... ::)
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yes - if you can afford full size makes a big difference.
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yes - if you can afford full size makes a big difference.
I wouldn't know about that...... :'(
And just to prove I am a complete wanker, here's what I lugged home from Ted's today..........
(http://i467.photobucket.com/albums/rr37/Tony_T12/stuff.jpg)
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an EOS 1D and an EOS 50 8). The Santa photo season must have been a boomer ;D.
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Christine uses and swear by her Sony A77 uses it for all her stuff from landscapes to MX, reckons it leaves the Canon's and Nikons for dead
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Nikon.. easy to use
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an EOS 1D and an EOS 50 8). The Santa photo season must have been a boomer ;D.
Not really. I just got offered a really good deal, so it was a good time to renew everything.
Is your camera a 1D or 1Ds? Either way, that's a bloody bargain but especially so if it's a 1Ds MkII. ;D
As for the original question, you won't go far wrong with pretty much any current name brand camera.
I'm glad I'm not the one who has to choose which camera to buy! Good luck! ;D
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I'm lucky I choose the motorbike and she chooses the camera, problem solved!!!
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I have and use a Canon EOS 60D and I love it.. come to think of it, so do all the guys in the Heaven VMX Club.
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I have and use a Canon EOS 60D and I love it.. come to think of it, so do all the guys in the Heaven VMX Club.
Don't hear any complaints from the VMXWA or Pre85MXWA clubs either about Christines shots!!!!
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I have and use a Canon EOS 60D and I love it.. come to think of it, so do all the guys in the Heaven VMX Club.
Don't hear any complaints from the VMXWA or Pre85MXWA clubs either about Christines shots!!!!
I like your quote about "you chose the bike and she chose the camera".. Dave and I did the same. Great partnership :)
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Anything I take is for the web so I don't worry too much about how many megazillion pixels it is. I run an old D50 Nikon that has the motor drive in the body - that way I have far more lenses to chose from. Just bought a Sigma 150-500 that I will play around with and see how I like the longer lens. Have been using a 300 fixed for years but want just a little more reach.
I look at cameras for moto photography as needing to be reasonably inexpensive as over the years I have had a couple fail and both times the photo shop reported to the insurance company that as they had dust in places there should not be dust it must be considered that they were not being used in an appropriate manner ???