Need suggestions for beginner...

[M0710NM4N]

Let me first say that I want a full body camera and not interested in a point n shoot. With that in mind, I want whatever would have the best Auto Mode. I'll learn as I go, but looking to purchase right away and planning a trip to Disney World. Also interested in lenses for macro, telescopic and wide angle. A lot of pictures would be at night, so maybe something that was good at night and low light conditions.

And one final thought would be if there is anything that's waterproof or at least water resistant as rain can happen out of the blue as I've been caught in it on previous trips to Disney. Money isn't much of a concern, but of course I don't want to buy the top of the line, only to find out I could have spent 1/2 of that or less and gotten what I wanted/needed. Appriciate the help.

[Tronhard]

You have quite a shopping list for one camera...  Starting with the last issue, rain.  Your cheapest solution is to get a decent waterproof cover for whatever camera you decide to get.

What precisely do you mean by a "full body camera"?  Do  you mean a camera with full controls or a full-frame body camera?

What is your intention with regards photography: is this something you intend to invest time, effort and money in or do you just want to deal with the odd trip somewhere?  If you are going to take on photography seriously then you will be buying into a sytem and that has implications for you starting choices.

What is your intended output?  By which I mean what will you do with your images: make big prints, small prints, put on a digital device or publish on the web.   As you go from left to right on that list the performance requirement reduce for your camera and thus your investment.

What are you prepared to carry?   Your iist of things to capture is wide enough to justify several lenses, so do you have any issues taking (and looking after) a camera bag?

[M0710NM4N]

Full-frame body is what I meant.

I plan on taking some classes in the not so distant future, but that won't be till after my trip. I want to eventually start a small business like weddings, local sporting events that I could possible sell prints to the local news etc etc. My trip to Disney is going to be sooner than I can take classes, but figured I could at least get use to some of the basics. But don't want to take any chances with ruining and memorable shots, so want to be sure it has a decent Auto System to fall back on and can worry about learning all the bells and whistles down the road.

As for output... well pretty much anything and everything including video (4K would be a +).

And for sure plan on picking up a decent camera bag to lug everything around with lenses, spare batteries etc etc...

[Tronhard]

Since you are just beginning on your journey but have asperations for the future I would suggest going for Canon's new mirrorless system based on the Canon R series of bodies:

https://www.usa.canon.com/internet/portal/us/home/products/details/cameras/eos-dslr-and-mirrorless-c...

These cameras are full-frame, mirrorless, weather resistant and have a range of lenses that will be expanded with time.  The new RF lens mount will open new possibilities for performance and reducing the size of lenses.  In the meantime you can get an adaptor for the current line of EF lenses - i.e. those compatible with Full Frame DSLRs.

I recommend looking at the canon site and checking that out

[Waddizzle]

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@M0710NM4N wrote:

Let me first say that I want a full body camera and not interested in a point n shoot. With that in mind, I want whatever would have the best Auto Mode. I'll learn as I go, but looking to purchase right away and planning a trip to Disney World. Also interested in lenses for macro, telescopic and wide angle. A lot of pictures would be at night, so maybe something that was good at night and low light conditions.

And one final thought would be if there is anything that's waterproof or at least water resistant as rain can happen out of the blue as I've been caught in it on previous trips to Disney. Money isn't much of a concern, but of course I don't want to buy the top of the line, only to find out I could have spent 1/2 of that or less and gotten what I wanted/needed. Appriciate the help.

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I think the first thing you need to learn is that while cameras and lenses work together, they are separate products.  Cameras and lenses are not “waterproof”, only a special enclosure for underwater photography can do that.  High end gear is moisture and dust resistant, which means you still need to use a little common sense to protect your gear.

Do you have an initial budget for your trip to Disney World?  That is a significant shopping list of professional grade lenses.  A professional grade body will have a big price tag, too. 

I suggest a 1Dx Mark II camera body with a EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM for your trip to Disney World.  Your next problem is going to be how to carry it around.  You will need to take it on an airplane, and will want to carry it around the park.

[Tronhard]

I will stick with my suggestion.  The OP is starting with a blank canvas and the movement is going to be towards mirrorless and the RF lenses.  It is obvious that this system, based on the RF lens mount, is the way Canon is heading.

If he buys the Canon EOS RP:

1.  The pricepoint is good, and way cheaper than the high-end Pro DSLRS.  If he goes on to do things like weddings it will make a great back-up or second unit.

2.  It has all he asked for plus it takes 4k video

3.  If he gets the adaptor he can use the EF lenses...

There are several lens choices here, but the obvious one is to go for the RF 24-105 lens that can be bundled with the unit.

for longer work, if he can't wait for the equivalent RF unit to be released later this year, he could get the excellent EF 70-200MkII f4 lens that is lightweight and will have a high resale value or even the EF 70-300L unit that is also excellent and is very compact.

...  If he wants one lens to rule them all, with the adaptor he could get the EF 28-300L.   That should cover most of his range and give him a good workout as well!

[M0710NM4N]

Wow... decisions decisions.

Loving what I have been reading and watching on the 1Dx Mark II, but my biggest gripe would be no built in wifi. But the then the problem with the EOS R is that if I want a lens more suited for low light (f/2), it would cost me nearly $3000. Almost fell out of my chair when I saw the price and had to take a second look that I was reading it right.

This is what I was looking at with the EOS R...

https://www.amazon.com/Canon-Mirrorless-Digital-24-105mm-28-70mm/dp/B07H58PBVB/

[Tronhard]

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@M0710NM4N wrote:
Wow... decisions decisions.

Loving what I have been reading and watching on the 1Dx Mark II, but my biggest gripe would be no built in wifi. But the then the problem with the EOS R is that if I want a lens more suited for low light (f/2), it would cost me nearly $3000. Almost fell out of my chair when I saw the price and had to take a second look that I was reading it right.

This is what I was looking at with the EOS R...

https://www.amazon.com/Canon-Mirrorless-Digital-24-105mm-28-70mm/dp/B07H58PBVB/

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First, you never gave us a budget but you gave us a long list of high-end needs and you said you want to go pro - well, the suggetions we have offered will get you there.  The future of Canon is the R series body and the RF lens mount, as you are just starting your journey you are perfectly placed to connect to this system.

You need to look at the EOS RP not the R.  See this link:

https://www.usa.canon.com/internet/portal/us/home/products/details/cameras/eos-dslr-and-mirrorless-c...  in the USA the RP lists for around $1300.  The RF 24-105 is a good walk-around lens and you can tap into the cheaper EF market with the adaptor.

[M0710NM4N]

No budget constraints, I was just shocked at the amount for that lens. Is the R not better than the RP? And I would really prefer right now to stick with native lenses and once I get back from my trip I can look into picking up whatever else I think I will need in regards to lenses in the RF lineup.

[Waddizzle]

“I will stick with my suggestion.  The OP is starting with a blank canvas and the movement is going to be towards mirrorless and the RF lenses.  It is obvious that this system, based on the RF lens mount, is the way Canon is heading.”

He is right.  Mirrrorless cameras do appear to be the future of photography.  I do not think the R or the RP are for the photographer looking for professional grade performance.

The EOS RP is the perfect camera for a Rebel owner looking to upgrade to full frame photography.  The EOS R is a slightly better performance version of the EOS RP. I think either camera would great for shooting stills, and probably for HD video as well.  I think the frame rates are on the low side compared to the competition.

I think anyone looking to shoot 4K video should either look for a 4K camcorder or an actual video camera.  So far, every consumer DSLR or mirrorless camera I have seen that is capable of 4K video incorporates some sort of compromise as to how it gets the job done.  

If low light performance is a “must”, then a full frame camera is the best camera to buy.  Both the EOS R and EOS RP are full frame mirrorless cameras.  They also have full frame DSLR equivalents: the EOS 5D Mark IV and the EOS 6D Mark II.

If the price tag of the EOS 1D Mark II is too high, then the 5D Mark IV is a good alternative.  I would still recommend the EF 24-70mm f/2.8L, if only for its’ low light performance.  But, there are better lenses for low light.  For indoor shooting, you would want a wide angle, wide aperture lens, which are not inexpensive, either.