Anyone care to recommend a camera (or cameras) for me?

[onlooker]

<p>I'm a serious amateur, and have been taking photos for 30 years, but now I'm faced with a big decision. A long time ago, I made Canon my brand of choice, and currently have the god-awful T2i (which replaced my Canon 20d). The T2i is a flimsy piece of crap that after only a few years doesn't work well. I work 90% with a 50mm macro, and sometimes use a wide angle. Both lenses are dirty, and my wide angle no longer auto focuses. (I also have an 85mm, but never use it.) I also have an Olympus SP-350 point and shoot, which is quite old and has problems of its own. <br>

What I want most from a camera are large enough files and sharp enough images that I can use a 50mm or similar lens and crop away a lot as needed and print up to 13x19 (or larger when I buy a new printer). So, given that I'm disappointed in Canon and my lenses are crap, I think maybe it's time to seriously consider changing brands.<br>

I'm not too concerned about flash or fast shutter speed, since I do not take action shots as a rule and only do flash photography at family events and the like. I do want a viewfinder, but could be persuaded otherwise. Of course I want manual and RAW, and a reasonably sophisticated feature set. I never shoot video (though did shoot lots of super 8 years ago!). I might consider two cameras--a point and shoot and a more serious one such as a DSLR or a mirrorless one. I have looked at a variety of DSLRs, mirrorless cameras, and point and shoots in the store, but the more I look the more confused I get. <br>

My budget is at most $2000, and I'll spend days hemming and hawing and obsessing over prices before spending that, but that said, I'm hoping someone here has been through what I'm going through and can give me some good advice on a camera or cameras to seriously consider. <br>

<br />Thank you. </p>

[jcuknz]

<p>For $2T you can easilly get the GH3 and the 14-140 lens and learn a whole new ball game which can be exciting. I don't have the GH3 but the older GH2 which will probably leave you some change. I dissaprove of cropping unless it is necessary but with 16Mp you can probably afford to quarter crop ...I assume you use an good editor to prepare the files for the large prints. Some of the change could well be put to AVS Video Editor so you can have fun with the camera as a video camera.</p>

[parv]

"$2T" as in "$2 Trillion"? Man, US$ has slipped a lot!

[simon_hickie1]

<p>I'm on the cusp of bailing out of Nikon and getting into Olympus 4/3 (OM-D). I've just picked up a GH1 with 14-140mm, having previously had a G1. I'd consider a GH3 as JC suggests or an Olympus OM-D, the latter having in body image stabilisation. If you are OK with manual focus, I believe the old Olympus 50mm macro (you'll need an adapter) takes a lot of beating.</p>

[dthew]

<p>As you say you shoot 90% of the time with a 50mm macro (full frame equivalent 80mm), it might be worth starting with what is on offer as far as lenses go.</p>

<p>Sony NEX (APS-C) - 30mm f/3.5 macro about $300: NEX cameras use similar size sensor as in your T2i so this might be too wide for you.</p>

<p>Panasonic (Micro 4/3) - Leica 45mm/f2.8 macro about $700: this gives a full frame equivalent of 90mm which is close to what you're using at the moment and is a great lens, but doesn't come cheap.</p>

<p>Olympus (Micro 4/3) - 60mm/f2.8 macro about $500: also a great lens but may be too long for you as this is full frame equivalent of 120mm.</p>

<p>All three companies offer a range of mirrorless bodies, but the top offerings from each are the NEX 7 (about $1200), the Panasonic GH2 (about $700, but GH3 is just being released and can be pre-ordered for $1300) and the Olympus OM-D E-M5 (about $1000).</p>

<p>I would suggest the Leica 45mm and then go and handle the GH3 and E-M5 (the Leica lens can be used on both) in store and see which one suits you.</p>

[bill_bruner1]

<p>Larry - I sold my T2i and moved over to the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-DMC-GH2-Interchangeable-Free-Angle-Black/dp/B0043VE26U?tag=battleforthew-20">GH2</a> (and now a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-DMC-GH3K-Digital-Single-Mirrorless/dp/B009B0WREM?tag=battleforthew-20">GH3</a>) for similar reasons, and have never looked back. I think you would be very happy with the water-resistant, magnesium alloy <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-DMC-GH3K-Digital-Single-Mirrorless/dp/B009B0WREM?tag=battleforthew-20">GH3</a> (which is definitely <strong>not</strong> flimsy).<br>

With a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-DMC-GH3K-Digital-Single-Mirrorless/dp/B009B0WREM?tag=battleforthew-20">$1300 GH3</a> and a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-Lumix-Micro-SUMMILUX-Aspherical/dp/B0055N2L22?tag=battleforthew-20">$500 Panasonic Leica 25mm f1.4</a> (50mm equivalent), you will have a formidable fast-focusing, low light combination.<br>

The only caveat is that if you do crop extensively, you might be better off with full frame and a higher megapixel count than you can get with the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-DMC-GH3K-Digital-Single-Mirrorless/dp/B009B0WREM?tag=battleforthew-20">GH3</a>. There is an <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-FX-Format-Digital-24-85mm-3-5-4-5G/dp/B0099XHB4M?tag=battleforthew-20">unbelievable sale on right now of the 24MP Nikon D600 with the 24-85 VR lens for $1997</a>. This is great value for money for a brand new full frame camera and lens.<br>

Hope this is helpful. Good luck with your decision and best of the holidays,<br>

Bill<br>

<a href="http://hybridcamerarevolution.blogspot.com">Hybrid Camera Revolution</a></p>

[dthew]

<p>Bill - although the Pana Leica 25mm is a fantastic lens (this is what I use), its minimum focus distance is 30cm, so useless for macro. Therefore, if Larry is using his present 50mm for macro, then the Pana Leica 45mm would be the way to go.</p>

[john_tran14]

<p>Get a Canon G1X, very good choice for under $600 now</p>

[john_tran14]

<p>sorry double post</p>

[david_smith110]

<p>I can highly recommend the NEX 7. I shoot a lot of macro as well and I find the handling of the camera with my Minolta MD Macro Rokkor-X 50/3.5 to be superb. I used to shoot macro on my Canon 40D and I have to say that using the tilt screen on the NEX was a revelation and puts a lot less strain on my aging body when I am getting those hard to get critter shots. You dont really need an auto focus lens for macro and I find the focus peaking feature on the NEX to be invaluable when using legacy glass.<br>

The 24mp sensor is a treat to use as well and really lets you crop in close for lots of detail, although I usually try to avoid cropping purely from an artistic perspective. The EVF on this camera is great as well and really sold me on the fact that EVF's are the future and OVF's will most likely be relegated to back burner status soon.</p>

<p>Overall it is a solid package. Can be had for around a grand body only. The NEX 6 is also a stellar bargain around 850 body only. So some good money left over for glass. Especially if you buy old legacy lenses and put them on cheap adapters. Like I said, manual focusing is a pure joy on this camera. Heck, even when I mount up my old Minolta AF lenses using the Sony adapter I almost always turn them to manual focus anyway.</p>

<p>Here are some macro shots I made on my 7. All were taken on the wonderful Minolta Macro lens listed above. (If your interested, my NEX 7 flickr gallery can be seen here )</p>

<p>this was easy to get with the handy tilting screen<br>

<img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8037/8049076694_0ef69575b5_c.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="534" /></p>

<p>good, sharp detail. the sensor is just lovely<br>

<img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7133/7150213091_f8ce6fc726_c.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="534" /></p>

<p>straight out of the camera using the Toy Camera effect<br>

<img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7107/7435825030_5ab77cb535_c.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="534" /></p>

<p>and one shot from my lovely little Minolta MD 35/2.8 with a crop showing the detail. BTW, old Minolta lenses rock. :)<br>

<img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8342/8201904222_fe5e3944b4_c.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="534" /></p>

<p><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8058/8198925038_82cdb28ebb_c.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="800" /></p>

 

[Lou_Meluso]

<p>I like the Sony NEX system. I have a 5N and, like David, use legacy macro lenses by Nikon and Kiron and,yes, even Sears. The Sigma 30 and 19mm are fantastic, and inexpensive, if AF is desired and Sony has an AF macro as well. The OM-D is nice if you want a smaller sensor. Go over to DPReview and you can compare image quality between various cameras side-by-side at different ISO's.</p>

[james_turner6]

<p>Sony Nex or RX100. I have both and whilst I crave the Nex 7 (to use with FD glass - the Nex 5 is just a tad clunky for that, having no EVF), the RX100 is a great little camera - one you really can take with you everywhere without feeling that you might miss out on THAT shot 'cos you don't have your DSLR with you. Here's a shot from my holiday, ISO 80, 1 sec @ f 3.2 (on a GorillaPod using self-timer). There's a full-fat copy <a href="http://www.phiveas.co.uk/images/CeilingDetailFull.jpg">here</a>.<br>

<img src="http://www.phiveas.co.uk/images/CeilingDetail.jpg" alt="" /></p>

[Brad_]

Stunning photos, David!

[andylynn]

<p>That Rokkor macro is a heck of a good lens. I use a NEX 5n myself, with the kit lens and primes from Nikon, Minolta and Kiron and like it quite a bit. What it lacks, for me, is in controls - there are settings I use where I have to go into menus and such where on my Nikon I wouldn't have to. The better models fix some of this. Also, if you want native lenses with AF etc. the system is lagging behind Micro 4/3.</p>

[onlooker]

<p>Thank you all. You narrowed down my options to roughly 3. I knew about the nex 7 and it's awfully nice, but the choice of lenses isn't so hot. But, I never considered using manual lenses. So, that's something I'll research. Also both the Lumix and Olympus cameras are appealing because they are weather sealed, and I am the kind of person who often takes my camera for walks, with only a plastic bag in my pocket in case of unexpected rain! So, thanks again for simplifying my task. I'll focus on the three cameras you mentioned (GH3, OMD, and Nex 7). That makes my decision making so much easier.</p>

[david_smith110]

<p>Larry, glad to help out. Please keep us updated on which system you choose and I am sure we would all love to see photos as soon as you start clicking away.</p>

<p>Brad, thank you so much. :)</p>

[vinicius_correia]

Hey Larry,

 

I totally agree with David, I think you wouldn't regret buying a NEX. I myself have one(although it's the cheaper young

sister of David's, the F3) and I'm pretty amazed. I have two other friends that have NEX (one has a 5N and the other has

the F3 too) and The three of us are enjoying it a lot.

 

As David said, these cameras work great with old lenses even with cheap adapters (i just bought an adapter to use my

50mm 1.8 Pentacon lens, originally from my Praktica B200 (great camera from the late 70s)). Of course as you said you

wont be using your old lenses that might not help you a lot from the start, but sure helps to know that inspite of being a

new camera, it works with virtually any lens(trying to use some of canon's high tech lenses might get you into trouble

though).

 

If I were you I'd get the NEX-6 or the NEX-7, I think you wouldn't have any regrets.

 

But go on and dig in a bit more, I myself am like you, I don't spend this kind of money without some serious research...

[kendall helmstetter gelner]

<p>If you really like shooting with a 50mm prime, the camera for you given all of your other conditions is the Sigma DP-2M, which has a 45mm (in 35mm equiv FOV) f/2.8 lens.</p>

<p>The lens is as sharp or sharper than the prime you have now, and as sharp as anything you'll find in the NEX. The DP-2M also captures more detail than the NEX. At under $1k, you have enough money either to also buy the wider angle DP-1M (not quite as sharp but still pretty sharp), or a cheap DSLR for other general shots.</p>

<p>The DP-2M is also really compact, almost pocket sized (it fits in my jeans pockets but only just). You can crop the heck out of the images, I am doing 30x48" prints from it.</p>

<p>Some examples from the camera, you can view full size original images at the links:</p>

<p>

<img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8032/8003538481_1a24ac0875_c.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="600" /></p>

<p>

<img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8189/8110157722_ae96524876_c.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="534" /></p>

<p>

<img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8317/7919256328_b874c50cf8_c.jpg" alt="" width="534" height="800" /></p>

<p>

<img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8192/8110156126_edbf620867_c.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="534" /></p>