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1982mako224
Posts: 412 Deckhand
Canon or Nikon?
1982mako224
Posts: 412 Deckhand
Looking to get my first DSLR. Considering Nikon and Canon. The plan is to buy a new body and take advantage of eBay for a used lens or two. I want a 300 or 400mm zoom. My primary mission will be shooting stills of sports and surfing occasionally birds and landscapes. My budget is $1500. Looking to get the most professional results for my money. Thoughts?
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My thoughts are to get the best camera and glass you can if you are looking to make a living with photography. Then there is the school of thought regarding convenience. My stuff takes nice pictures, however, a DSLR is a PIA to lug around.
I am not making claim the photo below is some fantastic technical work, it's not. It was however taken with, cropped and enlarged with my iPhone. Just sayin.
I am pretty much retired now, but still plink around at the local High School games. Look forward to using the D500 on our 3 time (in a row) state champs Softball team this season.
Also, do not discount ReFurbs when it comes to camera bodies. All my cameras have been Refurbs bar the D500 and they have served me quite well. Saves money that can then go towards great glass.
As to a 300 or 400 mm zoom, you just blew most of your $1500 budget right there.
Never seem more learned than the people you are with. Wear your learning like a pocket watch and keep it hidden. Do not pull it out to count the hours, but give the time when you are asked. --- Lord Chesterfield
currently have a D7100....
honestly, if i did it all over again (i'm sure i will again...this is my 4th DSLR in as many years) I will get a used 5dMK2, 17-40L, 24-70L, and a 70-200 f/2.8L IS.....those would cover 90% of what i shoot.....maybe would spring for a 100-400L plunger...they;re cheap enough and plentiful enough on the used market.
Some of my sharks pics are taken with the iphone6s in an underwater housing. I usually always bring it with me but shooting with the 1D s mark II and 7d mark II always produces better photos.
The D7100 is my other Camera and what took the shot above of the gal sliding into second base. BUT the issue with that camera and it was a refurb by the way ( $450 with brand new shutter) is that its buffer is really too small for sports. The D7200 would be much better.
Never seem more learned than the people you are with. Wear your learning like a pocket watch and keep it hidden. Do not pull it out to count the hours, but give the time when you are asked. --- Lord Chesterfield
With all the fancy 20 to 24 meg cameras out there, this was shot with my first DSLR, also a refurb, the D50. A 6 meg camera.
Never seem more learned than the people you are with. Wear your learning like a pocket watch and keep it hidden. Do not pull it out to count the hours, but give the time when you are asked. --- Lord Chesterfield
I have been looking at that exact option. I have seen conflicting reviews on that lens though. There is so much info it is hard to sift through. My biggest concern is being to capture high speed action of surfing which is my main goal.
Well the $$$$ come with the Fast lenses, the 2.8's. Being it will be used mainly in good sunshine, you should be fine with F4-5.6
Of course getting a camera that will handle high ISO's will help also. Thus the reason I got the D500.
These were done just before 9 PM (DST) at 6400 ISO
Never seem more learned than the people you are with. Wear your learning like a pocket watch and keep it hidden. Do not pull it out to count the hours, but give the time when you are asked. --- Lord Chesterfield
I bought a EF-L 100-400 IS USM used (+EX condition) from KEH about 10 years ago to use with my 40D's...
it is an excellent lens and bullet proof. I use it in a salt water environment all the time (up to my chest in water, trying not to spook birds).
it rides in my bay boat all the time and has taken a beating...
you can't beat the IS and the optics are awesome, and I really mean awesome...
don't be afraid of the "push-pull", you get used to it quickly...
now I use it with my 6D...
I use my sigma 150-600 C on my7D Mk II which allows me to get a lot of reach with the crop sensor....
The 7D shoots 10fps on high speed and with a real fast card, you'll never overload the buffer....
tim.......
The Real White Dog
if you can't catch a fish...catch a buzz....
#12976, joined 8-17-2002
all of my cameras get "boat duty"....
they do ride in a very cushioned and water tight space (my front live well that has never been used to hold water)...
both of m 40D's are still clicking away, however my wife uses one, and the other is a back-up if I have a failure with 7D or the 6D...
do not be afraid...the force is with you....
tim
The Real White Dog
if you can't catch a fish...catch a buzz....
#12976, joined 8-17-2002
i agree - i got them to use them, not to sit on a shelf! the 7D will fit in my boat bag & goes with me most days. i rarely bring the Sigma on the boat. shooting from a boat with that kind of reach is hard to hold steady...... besides- if i am on the boat, photography is rarely the main mission
I shot surfing for many years, and would agree that you need a reach of 400mm or equivalent, at a minimum. Depending on some breaks, 600mm might be needed.
If I were doing it all over again, I would seriously consider looking at the Olympus E-M5 Mk II or the E-M1 Mk II. The focus and stabilization performance is outstanding and both cameras are weather sealed, something that would come in very handy for surf photography.
Pair it up with the 50mm-200mm F2.8-3.5 and you have a 100 to 400mm equivalent fast, hand-holdable lens that you can still reasonably put on a 1.4x extender for longer length.
www.teamthreebuoys.com
www.threebuoys.shutterfly.com
I carry my long teles with me in the boat as i'm always going to end up on an island just to wade fish...
I often come up on all kinds of surprises when out at our islands, and i'd hate myself if I hadn't brought at least my 100-400 ef-l is...
by the way, I have shot a lot of very good images from a moving around bay boat with my 100-400....
the canon IS system is light years ahead of the competition...when you depress the shutter, it's like the image is locked, dead solid...
The Real White Dog
if you can't catch a fish...catch a buzz....
#12976, joined 8-17-2002
and you need that at your advanced age. :wink
Never seem more learned than the people you are with. Wear your learning like a pocket watch and keep it hidden. Do not pull it out to count the hours, but give the time when you are asked. --- Lord Chesterfield
Indeed I do...
if you're lucky, you too will come to appreciate IS.....
The Real White Dog
if you can't catch a fish...catch a buzz....
#12976, joined 8-17-2002
Well still roughing it with no IS and my monopod. Shots from the SB game the other night. Small town lights, D500, 6400 ISO shot in RAW.
Never seem more learned than the people you are with. Wear your learning like a pocket watch and keep it hidden. Do not pull it out to count the hours, but give the time when you are asked. --- Lord Chesterfield
I would think if you have enough $$$ on the card, you should have no issue. All my cameras came off eBay via Paypal.
Never seem more learned than the people you are with. Wear your learning like a pocket watch and keep it hidden. Do not pull it out to count the hours, but give the time when you are asked. --- Lord Chesterfield
Camera arrived yesterday and it is pristine and only has a little over 2,000 clicks on it. It was a good score. The 100-400 lens I ordered should arrive tomorrow.
Never seem more learned than the people you are with. Wear your learning like a pocket watch and keep it hidden. Do not pull it out to count the hours, but give the time when you are asked. --- Lord Chesterfield
you won't be disappointed in the 100-400 IS...
it is a fantastic piece of glass...
The Real White Dog
if you can't catch a fish...catch a buzz....
#12976, joined 8-17-2002