What is the best Mid Range DSLR Camera for your money?

Active Ink Slinger

0 likes 11 Jun 2015

Quote by overmykneenow

Mirrorless does seem to be where the next big things are going to come from. For me they are an obvious step forward with the technology but you still can't stop people wanting to have an SLR to look like a "proper" photographer. That said, who's going to argue with someone carrying one of those gorgeous Leicas?

True. "Size matters" is a be-all, end-all concept for a lot of photographers. I'd love a Leica M camera, but ever since I started shooting with Fuji's X cameras I've lost a lot of my curiosity about others. Not that I wouldn't love to have a good full frame camera in the arsenal.

Wilful

Devil's Advocate

0 likes 22 Jun 2015

We're in the market for a bridging camera ourselves for around the same money. After spending far too many hours researching the shit out of it on Choice, Australia's leading consumer advocacy group, we're circling the drain on the 'recommended' Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ 1000. While it's a fixed lens camera, it has a 16 times zoom (25-400mm), and 20 megapixels (8 is enough for printing upto A4). It also performs well on video, and has all the Wi-Fi bells and whistles. The retail price is just over $1,000, but you should be able to get it on sale or haggle within your budget.

As for DSLRs, the Nikon D3300 comes highly recommended by professional photographers, and is 'worth considering' by Choice. While it is stripped back from the more serious DSLRs, all the features you'll never use are still available in the menus if you want to play. A 35mm 1.8 DX lens is all you should really need, but a 50-200/300mm zoom would make a handy addition for the longer shots. The flash is a bit pissweak, so if heavy duty indoor work is your thing, it might be worth upgrading to the D5300. Again, a good haggle and a bit of eyelid fluttering should get you away under budget.

The retro-styled Samsung NX500 appears to be a pretty good mirrorless option for the money. Smaller than the DSLRs, it has plenty of high tech features crammed in and is also 'worth considering'. However, Choice testing reveals very poor video performance in low light. But like I've tried to point out to my wife, without success, the whole point is to take stills. dontknow

Good luck, Boss. Let us know how you get on.

My latest story is a racy little piece about what happens when someone cute from work invites you over to watch Netflix and Chill.

sundancer2004

Active Ink Slinger

0 likes 22 Jun 2015

oh boy, your getting opinionated territory. It boils down to use, needs, price and preference. Personally I use a Pentax D10. Nikon is by far more prevalent, and ahead of Pentax, which is no slouch. Nikon spent time in RandD when Pentax was on the market selling, subsequently they are ahead.

Enough chatter. Check the web site, Ugly Hedgehog, it has a lot of info that is useful from real users from pros to amateurs.
http://news.uglyhedgehog.com/

B&H photo

Adorama photo Check both these out, I have purchased from themin the past at more than competitive prices
Sigma has great lenses.
good luck and happy shooting.
Steve

Wilful

Devil's Advocate

0 likes 26 Jun 2015

We went ahead with the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ 1000, and it's awesome. We love it! We've had it right in our son's face in low light to sniper stalking birds on distant rooftops into the sun, and it nails it every time. I'd post some photos, but I can't wrestle it off my wife.

The camera, along with a high speed 32G memory card, camera bag, a filter and a lens cleaning kit came to just under $1,100 in the local, or $820 US or 510 pounds.

My latest story is a racy little piece about what happens when someone cute from work invites you over to watch Netflix and Chill.

Unknown User

0 likes 27 Jun 2015

Quote by Wilful
We went ahead with the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ 1000, and it's awesome. We love it! We've had it right in our son's face in low light to sniper stalking birds on distant rooftops into the sun, and it nails it every time. I'd post some photos, but I can't wrestle it off my wife.

The camera, along with a high speed 32G memory card, camera bag, a filter and a lens cleaning kit came to just under $1,100 in the local, or $820 US or 510 pounds.

We had a Lumix (forget the exact model) and it was a fantastic camera. Alas, it got lost on a trip (I wasn't along so it wasn't my fault). We now use a Nikon Coolpix S9100. Not as fancy as the name sounds, just a really good 18MP pocket camera with a good optical zoom for its size. Back in the film days, we had a decent SLR but we've so far resisted buying a DSLR. Too much gear to hump along and neither of us are really pros or prosumers at this photography thing. I'm interested enough that it's a possible hobby down the road, but not right now.