Photography and Cameras

What camera did MrP end up buying?
Daughter has a Canon EOS 5D and is very happy with it but it is a full DLSR and pretty heavy with the big lens on.
It was indeed a Canon EOS - M50. Not very expensive. He is really happy with it after just a day. As expected because he likes design stuff, he is taking really great artistic photos of perfectly normal mundane things. For example a photo of the barb in a wire fence. He just sees things that I don’t/can’t see. He purchased a workhorse lens the other day - 50-200 from my poor memory.

I dropped the camera I took on QM2 yesterday on a photography venture, only on to a dirt road but it took out a cosmetic chunk on the corner. Nothing else damaged. Annoying. I’ve never dropped a camera before. Am getting a waterproof tough one for Alaska.
 
With so many reports of the Sony going wrong, I have decided to go with the Panasonic Lumix TZ90. Will buy it when I get back to Sydney in a couole of weeks. Price is good at around $410 and also piece of mind of local warranty.
Thanks to all for their inputs.
Cheers,
Ric
 
I was on the top of Ben Lomond,elevation 1575 metres,temp 17C,humidity 40%.
Still not turning on this morning.The first hint of trouble was just below the summit when it wanted to be reprogrammed.Fortunately all pics were present when I reviewed before trying to downlod them.Just have to wait until home on Sayurday to put card into new camera.

But it brings up the real problem with Sony in Australia.Until a few years ago they had repair agents Australia wide.One in Maroochydore where I got an older Sony repaired under warranty.Now you have to send them to Sony.

I don't think it's even Sony now - they refer you to someone else and you have to pay before you even get a quote to get it fixed. Mine was a warranty claim otherwise I'm not sure I would have bothered
 
Well I have loved my SonyHX90V.Today it performed well up to the summit of Ben Lomond.But when I got back to the hotel it wouldn't download and now won't turn on.Definitely not the humidity.More likely age.
Turns out it wasn't the camera just my travel computer not recognising it so wouldn't download or recharge connected to the computer.Recharged on my phone recharger so began working again and just now downloading to my home computer.
 
This keeps popping up in my feed, hubby went to one of these last year.

Get to know the Z Series
This hands on experience will help you explore the new Nikon Mirrorless camera features and controls. You will walk away with an increased understanding and confidence when using the Z series, allowing you to take control of your picture taking and help you turn interesting photo opportunities into outstanding images.

A Nikon Z Series camera will be available for each attendee to use for the duration of this class, feel free to also bring your own DSLR or Mirrorless camera. Drinks and nibbles will also be provided.

Hmmm, it was free last year but now seems to have a $10 fee
 
This (free seminar) keeps popping up in my feed, hubby went to one of these last year.

Get to know the Z Series
This hands on experience will help you explore the new Nikon Mirrorless camera features and controls. You will walk away with an increased understanding and confidence when using the Z series, allowing you to take control of your picture taking and help you turn interesting photo opportunities into outstanding images.

A Nikon Z Series camera will be available for each attendee to use for the duration of this class, feel free to also bring your own DSLR or Mirrorless camera. Drinks and nibbles will also be provided.
I booked one for Adelaide but they cancelled it the week before. I did get into a Diamonds seminar in late February that is normally around $100 but it was a free offer to people who hold a seniors card :eek::p
 
I booked one for Adelaide but they cancelled it the week before. I did get into a Diamonds seminar in late February that is normally around $100 but it was a free offer to people who hold a seniors card :eek::p

How was the Diamond's one - I'm planning to go to one this week
 
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When hubby went to his workshop, he got there about 15mins early and was able to wander outside with the camera/use it before the next group (his group) of people showed up.
 
ah sorry I didn't read that properly. Well I'm going on Saturday so will let you know what it's like - I've just got the Sony HX90V
I did just get a rugged itough camera for Alaska. And all the bits. Need an extra battery though. And they cost a motza. I decided not to take it down to Clayton Bay last week but the usual one. Can you believe I dropped the non tough one and smashed in the corner? I’ve never dropped a camera before, and I had just bought one that could handle a fall, didn’t take that one and damaged the other one. Murphy’s law and all that.
 
Looks like its time to get a DSLR and I am seeking people's suggestions on a few current models and whether the extra cost for the slightly higher spec models is worth the extra. While I understand the concepts of DSLR camera operations and have a reasonable understanding of the different settings work, I have little real practical experience with it beyond using 35mm SLR cameras back in the 1980s.

I am leaning towards either Cannon or Nikon, although have considers some of the mirror-less options from Sony and Panasonic.

Considering these models, so any relevant comments around reliability, easy of use, functionality, limitations, must-have features/lenses or gotchas would be appreciated:

Entry level: Cannon EOS 200D MkII or Nikon D3500
Mid level: Cannon EOS 80D or Nikon D5600
Higher level: Cannon EOS 90D or Nikon D7500
 
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Looks like its time to get a DSLR and I am seeking people's suggestions on a few current models and whether the extra cost for the slightly higher spec models is worth the extra. While I understand the concepts of DSLR camera operations and have a reasonable understanding of the different settings work, I have little real practical experience with it beyond using 35mm SLR cameras back in the 1980s.

I am leaning towards either Cannon or Nikon, although have considers some of the mirror-less options from Sony and Panasonic.

Considering these models, so any relevant comments around reliability, easy of use, functionality, limitations, must-have features/lenses or gotchas would be appreciated:

Entry level: Cannon EOS 200D MkII or Nikon D3500
Mid level: Cannon EOS 80D or Nikon D5600
Higher level: Cannon EOS 90D or Nikon D7500

I have a Canon 70D, earlier model to the 80D in the mid range. They are all very similar, you need good lenses to get good pictures. I have a bit of a mix in lenses, a Canon 10-22 mm for the wide shots, a Tamron 24-70 for the portrait shots, as well as a Canon 50 mm, and for the long shots a Tamron 70-200 gen2. If you are confident in photography anything from mid range up, if you couple with good glass, you will get good results.
 
Canon vs Nikon = Holden vs Ford.

Either family will exceed your abilities for many years. And I say that as a Nikon man of 45 years standing.
I used to have a bag full of prime lenses but my current inventory is
* Nikon 7300
* 18-200mm lens (a one- lens-does-all)
* 10-14mm ultrawide lens for interior shots
(But often the camera I carry most when I'm OS and just walking around especially at night is a Sony RX-100m4 - eminently pocketable and awesome quality.)
 
Looks like its time to get a DSLR and I am seeking people's suggestions on a few current models and whether the extra cost for the slightly higher spec models is worth the extra. While I understand the concepts of DSLR camera operations and have a reasonable understanding of the different settings work, I have little real practical experience with it beyond using 35mm SLR cameras back in the 1980s.

I am leaning towards either Cannon or Nikon, although have considers some of the mirror-less options from Sony and Panasonic.

Considering these models, so any relevant comments around reliability, easy of use, functionality, limitations, must-have features/lenses or gotchas would be appreciated:

Entry level: Cannon EOS 200D MkII or Nikon D3500
Mid level: Cannon EOS 80D or Nikon D5600
Higher level: Cannon EOS 90D or Nikon D7500
I have been very happy with my mirrorless Sony A6300. It is small-ish but featured enough for my needs.
 
Canon vs Nikon = Holden vs Ford.
Yep, that seems to be the case. And I have owned 2 Holdens (HJ and VS) and 1 Ford (XE) over the years, so not bigoted for or against either.

One of my maim reasons for primary consideration of Cannon and Nikon is the availability and potential future re-use of lenses, preferably without the need for adapters. But I do note that the newer Cannon mirrorless range now have a different lens attachment.
Either family will exceed your abilities for many years. And I say that as a Nikon man of 45 years standing.
I used to have a bag full of prime lenses but my current inventory is
* Nikon 7300
* 18-200mm lens (a one- lens-does-all)
* 10-14mm ultrawide lens for interior shots
(But often the camera I carry most when I'm OS and just walking around especially at night is a Sony RX-100m4 - eminently pocketable and awesome quality.)
The Sony RX100 Mk4 does look like a great compact camera.
I have been very happy with my mirrorless Sony A6300. It is small-ish but featured enough for my needs.
The Sony A6500 bundled with 18-123mm lens plus a wide-angle lens is at the top of my mirrorless option list.

Being mirrorless, can the 3" LCD display be used as a shot preview / viewfinder? This would be a handy feature for one user who has difficulty looking through a single-eye view finder (has one good eye and one bad eye, and cannot close the bad eye to look only with the good eye).[/QUOTE]
 
Being mirrorless, can the 3" LCD display be used as a shot preview / viewfinder? This would be a handy feature for one user who has difficulty looking through a single-eye view finder (has one good eye and one bad eye, and cannot close the bad eye to look only with the good eye).
Absolutely. The screen goes blank when you bring the EVF up close. Oh, the EVF can be adjusted depending on your vision, so I can use mine without glasses.

I avoided the A6500 due to extra the cost for the touchscreen which I felt I didn't need. I was able to use the A6300 in mid winter in Norway with gloves on quite happily.

Oh, the A6xx_ series can use the A7 lenses, the picture is just cropped (effectively zoomed about 1.3x)
 
Looks like its time to get a DSLR and I am seeking people's suggestions on a few current models and whether the extra cost for the slightly higher spec models is worth the extra. While I understand the concepts of DSLR camera operations and have a reasonable understanding of the different settings work, I have little real practical experience with it beyond using 35mm SLR cameras back in the 1980s.

I am leaning towards either Cannon or Nikon, although have considers some of the mirror-less options from Sony and Panasonic.

Considering these models, so any relevant comments around reliability, easy of use, functionality, limitations, must-have features/lenses or gotchas would be appreciated:

Entry level: Cannon EOS 200D MkII or Nikon D3500
Mid level: Cannon EOS 80D or Nikon D5600
Higher level: Cannon EOS 90D or Nikon D7500
I have progressed up the Canon food chain from 450D to 70D to now 7DII. I have 2 pro lenses - 24-105 F4 and 70-200 F2.8II. I also have a Sigma 150-600 contemporary lens.
The 70D and 7D take good shots but the lenses make the photo. Expect and do spend a lot of money on lenses as they make your pictures. My kit to replace today; Body $2,000 24-105 $1,600, 70-200 $3,000. Big dollars.
I am a enthusiastic amatuer and won't ever make use of all the features of the 7D so it may be over kill.
One thing to consider is the weight and size. When I went to Antartica this wasn't an issue as getting good shots was the aim.
Your pick list is not quite right. The 90D is an upgrade of the 80D. I haven't looked at what the difference is but the 70 to 80 upgrade gave very little benefit. The progression from the 2 digit is to single digit in Canon so your High level should be a 6D, 7D or go hard with a 5D.
We're about to go on a trip to US and Ireland and I am really considering taking all the gear. Packed it's about 8Kg (without the 600mm) so a considerable heft. So that may be a factor in your choice. I think the mirrorless versions are a bit lighter. My wife has a Sony HX90V and it's pretty good. Long focal length, good resolution and GPS alonh with wireless connectivty.
Reliability? I attend motor racing events and speaking to the guys there they have never had a warranty issues with their stuff (albeit bodies starting at $8,000). I'd imagine Nikon is similar.
Ease of use; you have to read the manual or at least take a course. Canon offer learning courses for little cost so worthwhile. There is a lot of funky stuff you can do with a high end DSLR.
Functionality; going to the single digit Canon brings you 2 card slots, typically SD and Compact Flash (CF). You can save .jpg on one and RAW on the other to save space. The 7D has built in GPS, which the 80/90D don't (I think). You have to buy a satellite dish that sits on the flash foot. However, GPS on the 7D can take a long time to lock on.
The 7D is a cropped sensor whilst the newer 6D is the entry level prosumer full frame. This is going to be a factor when you take shots - a cropped sensor makes the focal length longer so you may not be able to use the 70-200 close up. 6D may be an option for you.
ISO is important. Up to 64,000 makes for nice nighttime pics without flash (animal pics, performances, etc).
On the other hand, the latest smart phones take some very good photos.
Do your research, look up some camera forums. There's a South African guy on youtube that does a lot of camera reviews in a easy to understand way.
The picture attached is with the 7D & 24-105 at night off a ship to show you an example.
 

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Looks like its time to get a DSLR and I am seeking people's suggestions on a few current models and whether the extra cost for the slightly higher spec models is worth the extra. While I understand the concepts of DSLR camera operations and have a reasonable understanding of the different settings work, I have little real practical experience with it beyond using 35mm SLR cameras back in the 1980s.

I am leaning towards either Cannon or Nikon, although have considers some of the mirror-less options from Sony and Panasonic.

Considering these models, so any relevant comments around reliability, easy of use, functionality, limitations, must-have features/lenses or gotchas would be appreciated:

Entry level: Cannon EOS 200D MkII or Nikon D3500
Mid level: Cannon EOS 80D or Nikon D5600
Higher level: Cannon EOS 90D or Nikon D7500

I'm a Canon guy and my brother is a Nikon guy, but then converted to Canon.

I think much of a muchness, I've never had any issues with Canons in hot (45) or cold (-25), my brother did have some issues in -25 with the Nikon.

I like the way you can pick up any Canon and the controls are all similar so I don't need to read the book, not that I ever read the book in the first place.

If the choices above were mine, 90D.
 

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