Camera Shopping

[tropterrarium]

Have a 5d mkII and waiting for my pre-order 5dsr to come in. I'm possibly in the way over the top group, but like playing around with it. For those currently looking, I may suggest the following:
- first think about the images you want to take, and which lenses you need.
- the camera body only captures what the lens projects onto the sensor.
- FF vs. APS bodies at same MP count, the difference is pixel size, and that means signal to noise ratio.
- For web postings up to about 8x10" print, even simple camera bodies capture enough information. At 13x19" and above a 20 MP body is barely scraping by, that's why I'm going for the 5dsr.
- If you want to treat yourself, get some Zeiss lenses with matt focusing screen.
- Get a tripod. Use it.

For orchid pictures, I mainly use the Zeiss 100 mm Makroplanar ZE f/2.0, extension rings, the Canon MPE 65, Zeiss Otus 55 mm f/1.4. Zeiss 21 mm f/2.8, and the Zeiss 25 mm 2.0, occasionally for environmental portraits. Recently saw Cephalanthera austiniae and Corallorhiza maculata near Corvallis, Oregon.
I also do a bunch of Z/focus-stacking and have the Cognysys Stackshot, which is wonderful.
Tripod: recently upgraded to RRS TVS 34 with RRS BH55 with nice low performance for in-situ photos. Before I had some Gitzo CF legs and a Linhof Profi II and an Arca B1 ballhead.

[No-Pro-mwa]

Originally Posted by silken

I had a wonderful old Pentax and a fair bit of equipment for it until we were broken into and it was stolen. I loved it and it was my first SLR. Film back then of course. I am on my 3rd digital, not counting the little underwater point and shoots we have had for snorkelling etc. I have had two Nikon DSLR's and been happy with both. My latest one is a full frame and I love it. But the better the quality, the larger and heavier the cameras and lenses are

So sorry about your old camera. I know I will probably never use it again but I used it allot at the time and I got good pictures most of the time.

[silken]

Originally Posted by No-Pro-mwa

So sorry about your old camera. I know I will probably never use it again but I used it allot at the time and I got good pictures most of the time.

Thanks. I really got to love the Minolta that replaced it and a Nikon D80 after that and now a Nikon D600 which is my current camera. I don't miss lugging bags of exposed and un-exposed films on trips and trying to protect them from airport X-rays and the heat etc. It is so much simpler in that regard! And less expensive for data storage.

Go find a new camera you can love

Good luck RJSquirrel and have fun with your new one!

[RosieC]

Have fun with your new camera. I can't comment much, except that hubby and I love the Canon 7D MkII and if we could afford it would have got the 5D.

The Conon 7D Mk II can take both EFS and EF lenses, we use both with it. As you said the full frame cameras can't take the EFS lenses. I understand the mirror would hit the back of the lens with these. I thought all the lower models could take both, our older 60D can (equivalent of the current 70D which also can), but it might only be the mid range ones.

The L-series lenses are indeed wonderful ones. We have an L-series 100mm macro and a couple of others and have been really pleased with the results.

Enjoy!

[estación seca]

An issue with the new wireless cameras is that they constantly try to connect when there is no signal, draining your battery rapidly. Think way out in the field. A lot of the vacation snapshot cameras fall into this category and you can't turn off the wireless. I bought one for a trip to Mexico and it was out of electricity after only about 120 shots. With my old Nikon DS70 I can take many hundreds of shots on a charge.

[wintergirl]

Originally Posted by estación seca

An issue with the new wireless cameras is that they constantly try to connect when there is no signal, draining your battery rapidly. Think way out in the field. A lot of the vacation snapshot cameras fall into this category and you can't turn off the wireless. I bought one for a trip to Mexico and it was out of electricity after only about 120 shots. With my old Nikon DS70 I can take many hundreds of shots on a charge.

Thanks for the information. It is something to think about.

[RosieC]

Originally Posted by estación seca

An issue with the new wireless cameras is that they constantly try to connect when there is no signal, draining your battery rapidly. Think way out in the field. A lot of the vacation snapshot cameras fall into this category and you can't turn off the wireless. I bought one for a trip to Mexico and it was out of electricity after only about 120 shots. With my old Nikon DS70 I can take many hundreds of shots on a charge.

Not always, might depend on the make/model. Check if there are settings to turn it off.

I have an Eyefi wireless SD card in my Cannon 7D and there are options on the camera menu to turn off the wireless on the card (because the camera knows how to understand/control the Eyefi wireless card) Our Canon 60D could also do this, however our much older Canon Powershot is always trying to contact our wireless router and that does drain the battery.

I'm sure that if Canon have thought of adding these options to the non-wireless SLR cameras (to handle wireless SD cards such as Eyefi) many years before they had built in wireless options, then they would have added such options to their wireless models. Maybe I'm wrong I've not tried a wireless model They have added options to turn off GPS on the 7D MkII which also drains the battery.

[RosieC]

Originally Posted by RJSquirrel

the worst thing I read about the 6D is the GPS when you are using it along with the photos eats your battery life up pretty fast.

You should be able to turn off the GPS. We can on 7D MkII.

[Tim P.]

My personal setup is the Nikon D5300. It has the same sensor as the 7200 (to my knowlege). The 7200 just has a few more physical dials, and waterproofing. I have a budding photography business, and the pictures that come off the camera are stunning!

Let me know if you need any help with equipment suggestions!

[wintergirl]

My son's girlfriend gave me a Nikon cool pic. It may not be too technical but it has to be better than the cell phone I am using now. Had to order a charger, so I shall see soon.