Digital Camera Shopping - High End Professional

[davepoet]

Looking to finally upgrade my digital camera (Nikon CoolPix 700 Series) and get myself a professional digital camera SLR style. Looking for recommendations.

What I have found so far that I like is the Cannon EOS D60 6.52 Megapixel. Its only downside is that it only uses a Compact Flash card. Granted, I would use a high speed card but was wanting a camera that also used SD Memory as well as the IBM Microdrive so I can slap in a Gig of memory.

Price isnt much of an issue. I was estimating between $3K - $5K for everything.

Suggestions?

[MacGyver]

I personally don't think you can go wrong with any Canon camera, especially not one from the EOS family. The 60D does support the IBM Microdrive and Compact Flash type 1 and 2 cards, so storage should not be an issue. The Microdrive and CF are proven storage technologies offering up to 1GB on a single card, so I don't know how you could consider that a "down-side".

If you are seriously getting into pro photography, then the camera body is only the first (and smallest) expense. You will spend many more times the value of your camera body on different lenses like wide angle, telephoto, zoom, etc. The kinds of lenses you'll need depends on what kind of pictures you're taking and where. You'll also need a tripod, camera bag, and various filters (if you only ever get one filter, make it a high quality circular polarizing filter). And don't forget to insure the whole mess or you will be SOL.

Check www.photographytips.com for more info on different lenses, filters, and equipment and how they can be used to make your pictures look better.

[confus-ed]

Originally posted by davepoet
Price isnt much of an issue. I was estimating between $3K - $5K for everything.

Suggestions?

Put me on commission please !

& I will point out that the Cannon EOS D60 6.52 Megapixel camera would seem to be able to use a micro drive too ... like it says here ... EOS-D60 6.3 Megapixel SLR Digital Camera

I don't have one but my understanding is that anything that takes a CF card (Compact Flash) will take a microdrive too ...

[davepoet]

Thans guys. Yes I know on all the accessories. I will only need for right now ne shrt range lens since I will be using it for close up digital photos of musical instruments (work). I was planning on getting just the 28-125 mm lens which is about $450 for that model. I priced it out with bag, extra battery, 256MB 12X Highspeed CF card, lens & other accessories at about $2900. I will also be considering better lighting since I have only just hot lamps right night (3 500Watt but since they are always on, it gets hot quick in that room!).

The specs I read didnt say that it was Microdrive compat. but I will look into that. If it is, then this will most likely be what I wil use.

Thanks again. I will let you all know what I decide on.

[ilovetheusers]

You need to go here: http://www.dpreview.com and then you need to go here http://www.bhphoto.com and order their digital photography catalog (it's huge and lists all the pro slr cameras and the acessories for all of them). I just got my catalog in the mail and it's amazing how much stuff this place carries.

One question. Are you going to use it for other things besides what you mentioned? You can do that with a much, much cheaper camera. Heck, there are some really nice 5mp cameras out there by sony and nikon that take great shots, have tons of features and run about $1,000.

[geeksRus]

still another link...if you like reviews, here you go:

Steve's Digicams

[davepoet]

Originally posted by ilovetheusers
One question. Are you going to use it for other things besides what you mentioned? You can do that with a much, much cheaper camera. Heck, there are some really nice 5mp cameras out there by sony and nikon that take great shots, have tons of features and run about $1,000.

I will mainly use it for what I stated. However, I am not going to limit myself to that. I can do plenty fine with my current one (2.1 megapixel) for everything but with a great SLR digital camera, It will all look better. I actually had a friend who had the digital Cannon that I am interested in and we took dome test photos and it was night and day differrent.

[ilovetheusers]

Yeah, I know what you mean. When I got my Sony f707 I was blown away. If it's just clarity you are looking for then the 5mp + cameras by Sony and Nikon are just as good for 1/3 to 1/5 the $$$ of an SLR.

I'm not knocking the SLR's in any way. I just see $$ as an issue for me and can't imagine that most folks have so much $$ floating around that it preferable to spend more $$ for something that can get you the same for a lot less $$. I mean, hey, if you got the $$$ then get the best. If you are a regular joe like me without massive cash laying about - look at the comercial grade 5mp cameras.

Let us know what you get and post some pics!

[geoscomp]

Before you buy, check out the Kodak DCS-14N..I just got mine yesterday, and I love it!!! uses Nikon lenses..(any of them..manual focus or auto focus) and has a full 35mm frame size cmos sensor that delivers 13.7 million pixels..the full size sensor means you can use whatever focal length you want without focal length conversions, plus..it's 13 megapixels. has a dual slot MMc/SD card and also takes compact flash cards and microdrive memory cards..uses hot shoe flash has shutter speeds from 30 to 1/4000 sec and 2fps burst serial and firewire and voice recording. It lists through B&H for $4995 without lens and should last you a loooong time Since you say price isn't much of an issue, check out the difference vetween 6 and 13 megapixels. That gives you a recording mode definition of 4536x3024 the hot shoe lets you use autostrobes to cool down the studio..and you can get a nikon 105mm tele-macro for about $500 used.

[confus-ed]

Originally posted by geoscomp
...Kodak DCS-14N.. It lists through B&H for $4995 without lens and should last you a loooong time

Orignally posted by Mr Mac
the camera body is only the first (and smallest) expense. You will spend many more times the value of your camera body on different lenses like wide angle, telephoto, zoom, etc.

HOW MUCH !?! Oh yeah - ... 'Price isnt much of an issue'

I wish !!

[ilovetheusers]

Originally posted by geoscomp
Before you buy, check out the Kodak DCS-14N..I just got mine yesterday, and I love it!!! uses Nikon lenses..(any of them..manual focus or auto focus) and has a full 35mm frame size cmos sensor that delivers 13.7 million pixels..the full size sensor means you can use whatever focal length you want without focal length conversions, plus..it's 13 megapixels. has a dual slot MMc/SD card and also takes compact flash cards and microdrive memory cards..uses hot shoe flash has shutter speeds from 30 to 1/4000 sec and 2fps burst serial and firewire and voice recording. It lists through B&H for $4995 without lens and should last you a loooong time Since you say price isn't much of an issue, check out the difference vetween 6 and 13 megapixels. That gives you a recording mode definition of 4536x3024 the hot shoe lets you use autostrobes to cool down the studio..and you can get a nikon 105mm tele-macro for about $500 used.

Need a big a$$ monitor to edit those pics...

4536x3024 DAMN!