Want to buy a camera, any recommendations

[Richard Peche]

Should have posted this originally...

The final point I wanted to mention is that you should not underestimate the entry level DSLRs. I have found that they can perform perfectly well once you have become more familiar with the gear. If you have seen any of the fish images that I have posted on this forum you may be surprised to know that I use a Sony A230 (an outdated entry level DSLR) with its stock standard 18-55mm kit lens.

[Skizzo]

I currently use and recommend a sony rx100 mkii. It captures pictures just as good as any prosumer dslr in a compact size. I rarely lug around my Nikon D90 with a 24-70 lens. It was just too bulky and heavy when trying to take pictures of my little boys (ages 3 and 4) as well as carrying it around when taking trips to Disneyland, Seaworld, etc...

Here is a picture taken with my sony rx100:
image.jpg

[Aeonflame]

Pentax shooter here. Image quality/price is the best value you can get. Also, there are a lot of excellent vintage lenses that can be acquired very inexpensively.

[talldutchie]

I currently use and recommend a sony rx100 mkii. It captures pictures just as good as any prosumer dslr in a compact size. I rarely lug around my Nikon D90 with a 24-70 lens. It was just too bulky and heavy when trying to take pictures of my little boys (ages 3 and 4) as well as carrying it around when taking trips to Disneyland, Seaworld, etc...

That's an interesting option if you can actually stand an electronic viewfinder. I know I can't and many DSLR shooters I know also hate the things.
Additionally... is size and weight an issue for aquarium photography?

Pentax shooter here. Image quality/price is the best value you can get. Also, there are a lot of excellent vintage lenses that can be acquired very inexpensively.

To me pentax feels a bit like olympus. Lovely kit but for how much longer are they going to be in the DSLR market? Of course that's only a concern if the ability to buy and especially sell used equipment is relevant to you.

When it comes to old lens compatibility it's definitely Pentax and Nikon that are way above the rest. Oldest I ever used with my Nikon was a 135mm f2.8 of about 1970.

Problem for anyone buying a camera right now is that there's a load of good ones on the market. On DSLR there's no bad cameras left, on the smaller interchangeable lens stuff the current generation is very capable indeed and there's bargains to be had in the 2013 models. In the compact camera market it's still difficult. Despite the pressure of the camera phone there are still plenty of mediocre models being pumped out.

[Richard Peche]

When it comes to old lens compatibility it's definitely Pentax and Nikon that are way above the rest. Oldest I ever used with my Nikon was a 135mm f2.8 of about 1970

Have to disagree with you here Talldutchie. Have a look at the Sony A-mount...all autofocus lenses which were compatible with the Minolta and Konica Minolta A-mount will fit and work perfectly.

Additionally adapters can be purchased now-a-days that mean the whole range of manual focus lenses become available. Witness the fact that I still use a Rokkor 50mm F1.2 or a Vivitar 135mm F2.8 when I am looking to do portraits.

Ever looked at the Nex series? Again an electronic viewfinder but the range of lenses is almost unlimited as many many companies now make adapters. Some of those adapters mean that an autofocus lens will autofocus. Not to mention the fact that being a mirrorless design the lenses are physically smaller to produce the same magnification

[Richard Peche]

At the moment the database on Dyxum lists 402 A-mount compatible lenses. Starting with lenses in 1985.

With reviews on almost every single one.

End of the day though each system is better in some small way over the others. Just have to choose the attributes you want I guess.:-)

[talldutchie]

Have to disagree with you here Talldutchie. Have a look at the Sony A-mount...all autofocus lenses which were compatible with the Minolta and Konica Minolta A-mount will fit and work perfectly.

Any Nikon will take all lenses since 1976. Simpler ones like the venerable D40 will take anything ever made in F-mount. This includes a ton of manual focus lenses.

Additionally adapters can be purchased now-a-days that mean the whole range of manual focus lenses become available. Witness the fact that I still use a Rokkor 50mm F1.2 or a Vivitar 135mm F2.8 when I am looking to do portraits.

And I don''t need an adapter, just an Ai mount lens :wink

Ever looked at the Nex series? Again an electronic viewfinder but the range of lenses is almost unlimited as many many companies now make adapters. Some of those adapters mean that an autofocus lens will autofocus. Not to mention the fact that being a mirrorless design the lenses are physically smaller to produce the same magnification

Looked at those briefly. Tiny camera with that annoying lack of a viewfinder and a control layout that's baffling. Combined with the fact that even a 16-85 is already heavy enough to unbalance the combo and I've decided it's not a camera for me.

[Richard Peche]

Interesting. No issues with exposure readings etc on the very old lenses?

I agree with that view on the Nex. I think it is a love or hate system. Give me my old Konica Minolta 7D and it's buttons anyday or a confusing digital menu.

Out of interest, did you know that Sony supplies Nikon with sensors? Or used to at least.

[talldutchie]

Interesting. No issues with exposure readings etc on the very old lenses?

Well, you need an enthousiast amateur body like the D300 or better to get a working meter. Otherwise it's just trial and error or a handheld meter.

I agree with that view on the Nex. I think it is a love or hate system. Give me my old Konica Minolta 7D and it's buttons anyday or a confusing digital menu.

Out of interest, did you know that Sony supplies Nikon with sensors? Or used to at least.

Sensor wise there's nothing wrong with the NEX series, or most of Sony's DSLR cameras. It's just the ergonomics don't work for me.

Yes, Nikon buys some sensors from Sony but they also still design some sensors and have another factory make them

[Richard Peche]

Well, you need an enthousiast amateur body like the D300 or better to get a working meter. Otherwise it's just trial and error or a handheld meter

That is kinda of what I was getting at. I know any of the Sony bodies, from the cheapest to the flagship, will work with any of those lenses with full metering etc.

The only thing some of them won't do is TTL (for flash work). But that was much newer technology that requires extra pins to transfer the information to the camera. So that is to be expected with any of the much older lenses.

With regards to ergonomics, it is the same story for me with the Nikon and Cannon bodies. I just don't find them comfortable to work with. Very much a personal preference.