topic Re: My next camera in EOS DSLR & Mirrorless Cameras

My next camera

idanidan123 — Sun, 14 Aug 2016 14:08:49 GMT

So I've been using my 1100D since February 2015, and now I'm looking for my next DSLR. I only use Manual Mode, so is there a camera similar to the 5D Mark III, but at a much lower price ?

Any suggestions will be helpful 🙂

Re: My next camera

ScottyP — Sun, 14 Aug 2016 15:22:52 GMT

When you say "like a 5d3", do you mean you want a full frame camera, or are you OK with another crop sensor camera?

What kind of shooting do you do? Portraits, landscapes, serious sports or wildlife, etc..?

Which is more important to you: 1.) good performance in low light, or 2.) quick tracking and focus on a lot of serious fast sports or fast moving animals?

What is your budget?

What lenses do you already have?

Re: My next camera

ScottyP — Sun, 14 Aug 2016 15:23:39 GMT

Also, if I may ask, why do you use Manual so much?

Re: My next camera

TCampbell — Sun, 14 Aug 2016 18:16:24 GMT

Most of the time I'm shooting with a 5D III, but the 6D has the same size sensor with similar sensor performance (actually the 6D is just fractionally better) but at a lower price.

Incidentally, if you switch to any full-frame body (e.g. a 6D, 5D series, etc.) then you cannot use "EF-S" lenses -- those lenses are smaller, project a smaller image circle, and are designed to work with crop-frame bodies like your 1100D. Full frame sensor bodies require "EF" (without the "-S" suffix) lenses.

Incidentally, the reason Scotty is asking about your needs is because for somewhat similar prices there are camera bodies optimized for different uses. For example, the 7D II is an APS-C sensor body (the same as your 1100D) but is heavily optimized for action photography -- having an exceptionally good focusing system (63 point AF which is highly adaptable and tuneable to the situation) and has an extremely fast continuous burst speed. It's fantatic for fast-action rapid-shooting photography.

The 6D has a focus system similar to (but a little better) than your 1100D, but a better sensor, better at low light, but not optimized for fast-action photography. It's better for situations where fast-action isn't needed -- such as portrait, landscape, or most low-light situations.

BTW, there's nothing about "manual" mode that makes it better and sometimes it can be a detriment (if I'm shooting in a situation with rapidly changing lighting -- such as a concert situation -- and you wouldn't likely be able to keep up with the adjustments.

I'd encourage you to use all the "creative zone" modes -- Tv, Av, and M. I don't usually use Program mode but if I hand my camera to someone else I usually slip it into Program mode for them so they don't need to worry about exposure settings.

If you use Manual, but trust the light meter in the camera, then you set some aspect of exposure, meter, and set the other settings to bring the light meter indicator to the 0 mark -- indicating that the camera believes this would be a good exposure. But if you use Av mode or Tv mode, you're getting the identical shot in less time -- there is literally no advantage to using Manual -- not even a tiny advantage (even things like exposure compensation can be dialed in).

I do use manual in any situation where the light meter would not likely be effective. For example there's no point in using anything but manual mode for astrophotography since the camera can't effectively meter for the night sky objects (there's also no point in using auto-focus on the lens since it can't focus accurately on stars.)

If you're using any "manual" controlled flash (not a Canon E-TTL II flash) then the camera isn't going to know about these external flashes or how much light they'll provide -- that's another situation where the internal meter wont be effective and you should use manual mode.

But for most shooting situations, go ahead and use Av or Tv mode -- you'll likely find it's much faster and the camera is actually less likely to make a mistake setting exposure than you are.

Re: My next camera

RobertTheFat — Sun, 14 Aug 2016 17:38:15 GMT

@TCampbell wrote:
Most of the time I'm shooting with a 5D III, but the 6D has the same size sensor with similar sensor performance (actually the 6D is just fractionally better) but at a lower price.

Incidentally, if you switch to any full-frame body (e.g. a 6D, 5D series, etc.) then you cannot use "EF-S" lenses -- those lenses are smaller, project a smaller image circle, and are designed to work with crop-frame bodies like your 1100D. Full frame sensor bodies require "EF" (with the "-S" suffix) lenses. ...

You mean, of course, "without the '-S' suffix".

Re: My next camera

TCampbell — Sun, 14 Aug 2016 18:15:25 GMT

@RobertTheFat wrote:
@TCampbell wrote:
Most of the time I'm shooting with a 5D III, but the 6D has the same size sensor with similar sensor performance (actually the 6D is just fractionally better) but at a lower price.

Incidentally, if you switch to any full-frame body (e.g. a 6D, 5D series, etc.) then you cannot use "EF-S" lenses -- those lenses are smaller, project a smaller image circle, and are designed to work with crop-frame bodies like your 1100D. Full frame sensor bodies require "EF" (with the "-S" suffix) lenses. ...

You mean, of course, "without the '-S' suffix".

Yes -- good catch, Bob! Definitely "without" the '-S' suffix.

With more coffee perhaps my brain and my typing fingers will agree on these things.

Re: My next camera

idanidan123 — Mon, 15 Aug 2016 08:27:37 GMT

Full frame camera.
I do landscapes.
I think Good performance in low light is more important, because I don't do fast sports photography nor do I do fast moving animals.
My budget is pretty big.
I have 25-105mm, and 90-300mm

Re: My next camera

idanidan123 — Mon, 15 Aug 2016 08:28:47 GMT

I prefer it over all the other modes.

Re: My next camera

idanidan123 — Mon, 15 Aug 2016 08:35:41 GMT

Would you recommend the 50D ?

Re: My next camera

Waddizzle — Mon, 15 Aug 2016 08:50:19 GMT

@idanidan123 wrote:
Would you recommend the 50D ?

Only for my 12 year old nephew, if I had one. I'm not sure if Canon still repairs that model. If not, you don't want it.

It seems the 6D could be the camera you want. I suggest that you look at Canon Online Store's Refurbished Department.

http://shop.usa.canon.com/shop/en/catalog/eos-6d-body-refurbished

Re: My next camera

idanidan123 — Mon, 15 Aug 2016 10:17:50 GMT

OK, thank you. If there are any more suggestions for my next camera, feel free to let me know

Re: My next camera

idanidan123 — Mon, 15 Aug 2016 10:22:30 GMT

One more question- Would you consider the 70D a suitable camera for me ? How's it compare to the 6D ?

Re: My next camera

RobertTheFat — Mon, 15 Aug 2016 12:07:17 GMT

@idanidan123 wrote:
One more question- Would you consider the 70D a suitable camera for me ? How's it compare to the 6D ?

It doesn't, really. Apples vs oranges. The 6D is a full-frame camera; the 70D is not. Both are good cameras, but neither is of professional quality.

Re: My next camera

RobertTheFat — Mon, 15 Aug 2016 12:16:12 GMT

@idanidan123 wrote:
Would you recommend the 50D ?

The 50D was a fine camera in its day but is long out of production and somewhat primitive by today's standards. I have one and have gotten many good pictures with it, but I rarely use it now. The only reason I can think of for you to buy one would be as a spare that you wouldn't be afraid to take to the beach.

Good and bad: Unlike its successor, the 60D, the 50D has autofocus microadjustment. But it lacks an IR sensor, a nice feature that facilitates remote shooting.

Re: My next camera

idanidan123 — Mon, 15 Aug 2016 13:01:39 GMT

Is there another camera, similar to the 6D but more affordable ?
I know I said money isn't really the issue here, but still. Any suggestions will be helpful !

Re: My next camera

Waddizzle — Mon, 15 Aug 2016 13:43:32 GMT

@idanidan123 wrote:
Is there another camera, similar to the 6D but more affordable ?
I know I said money isn't really the issue here, but still. Any suggestions will be helpful !

Similar to the 6D, as in full frame sensor? No, not unless you start exploring the used market, which is always risky. The EOS 6D is the least expensive full frame DSLR body that Canon offers.

It is not a bad deal for the asking price in the Refurbished Store. You're not going to get much better than the current sale price for a 6D with a full one year warranty.

You will have to decide what your priorities are, performance or price.

Re: My next camera

RobertTheFat — Mon, 15 Aug 2016 16:50:57 GMT

@idanidan123 wrote:
Is there another camera, similar to the 6D but more affordable ?
I know I said money isn't really the issue here, but still. Any suggestions will be helpful !

To paraphrase a well-known American politician, it depends on what the meaning of the word "similar" is. The 6D is sort of a transitional camera, the one you buy if your objective is to "go full frame". It has a full-frame sensor and excellent low-light performance, but in virtually every other respect there are are APS-C ("crop frame") cameras that are better and/or cheaper. So if you'd be satisfied indefinitely with a crop-frame camera (of which there are many, ranging from entry-level to professional quality), the 6D is probably not the camera for you.

If you don't entertain full-frame ambitions, the nearest crop-frame equivalent in features and quality is probably the 80D. If its price is beyond your budget, there are several members of the Rebel series, priced pretty much according to what features are included. Just do a side-by-side comparison and pick the one that most closely meets your functionality and budget constraints. It's hard to go very far wrong.

Lenses are a similar story. Canon's full-frame lenses are generally excellent (and will work on any Canon DSLR), but can be very expensive. Their crop-frame lenses range downward from very good to rather crappy, the crappier ones usually being the cheapest. Again, pick what you can afford from the available types (standard, telephoto, wide-angle, etc.). If you have no clear idea what you want, a cheaper lens is a way of keeping your options open, since you're putting less money at risk.

Re: My next camera

TCampbell — Mon, 15 Aug 2016 13:50:29 GMT

If the 6D is basically what you want, but beyond your budget, then look for a used 5D II (hopefully with a reasonably low shutter count.)

A 5D Mark II sold as a "body only" would typically include the camera body (& dust cap), neck strap, battery charger, battery, and the USB and video cable. It will typically not include the memory card (CF card).

This would typically sell (used) for anywhere from roughly $800 to roughly $1200 depending on the condition of the gear and the type of seller (private seller vs. a commercial re-seller such as a camera store).

Re: My next camera

idanidan123 — Mon, 15 Aug 2016 14:09:14 GMT

The full-frame sensor is not a must for me. I'm currently thinking about getting the 7D, I just saw a review by DigitalRevTV and now I'm considering it. I'm just looking for a solid upgrade over my 1100D, but don't wanna spend too much money.

Re: My next camera

Waddizzle — Mon, 15 Aug 2016 14:18:35 GMT

@idanidan123 wrote:
The full-frame sensor is not a must for me. I'm currently thinking about getting the 7D, I just saw a review by DigitalRevTV and now I'm considering it. I'm just looking for a solid upgrade over my 1100D, but don't wanna spend too much money.

If that'a the case, then you're not ready for an upgrade. Spend your money on a new lens. A new lens can make an even bigger difference in picture quality than a slightly more expensive Rebel.

What lenses do you currently own? What do you like to shoot? What is your favorite range of focal lengths, or zoom lens?