What do you carry for a camera?

Currently the only camera that I have, is a Sony NEX-3 with a 18-50mm lens. I think it takes great photos and isn't too large to take along with me.
 
My canon 50mm 1.8 is an excellent lens for the price. I also have a 75-300 and an 18-55. They cover most of my needs. I have a marumi macro I use as well. I need a good tripod. My gorilla pod only has so many uses!
 
Yeah, bogen/manfrotto are great, its what I use. But Slik tripods are great as well. I did pick up a tiltall clone tripod at the fleamarket for cheap and put a new ballhead on it and gave it to a friend, the whole thing cost me less than $50 and it was a surprisingly sturdy tripod.


-X
 
DSLR: Nikon D5000.

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Point-and-shoot: Canon PowerShot SX230 HS.

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I use the DSLR any time I'm sure to be taking pictures. And the P&S gets carried everywhere else, when traveling by air, or on the motorcycle.
 
The reason I ask is my uncle works in penn and is an excellent photographer/knowledgable about the photography world. He is also the one who got me into knives/photography.
 
Nikon vs Canon, photo quality is the same, it comes down to the navigation buttons for the dSLRs I find the menus easier to navigate on the Canons. If you go for the pro models they are all water sealed, build quality is about the same.

SuzukiGS750EZ said:
My uncle has had a great life in photograph. His old boss paid for his trip to Germany to tour the Leica factory. He works in a camera shop currently, does wedding shoots, has done some nfl shoots and so on. He's a big Nikon guy. I bought canon due to a special they had goin on at the time. Wish I went Nikon though. I have an old Fuji downstairs. Uses the old style very thin cards. I forget what they were called its been so long.
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Honestly, I prefer Nikon all around. But I found the canon for a great price. I have hacked the firmware in my canon, which I vastly enjoy now. The Olympus is awesome, I carry it in a Lowe pro horizontal, somewhat hard case on my belt. Tucks away nice. I know it's a tough camera, but I take good care of my stuff. You'd never know I've used it hard. Now if I threw it in my pocket or into a drawer when I got home, that's another story. My uncle is strictly Nikon, and after letting me borrow one of his cameras, I know why. I do need a battery grip for my canon though...
 
meh - I have owned and shot with both professionally. I like some Nikon lenses better, and I like some Canon lenses better - the bodies and sensors are pretty much a wash once you are at the pro tiers. Comes down to ergonomics and preference. Honestly - right now I prefer Canon because I can use some of the Nikon lenses I like via an adapter (as well as my Canon's of course). Cannot go the other way. Also, Canon currently has a few lenses that I use in my specialties in their lineup for which Nikon does not have an equivalent.

Ultimately - for 95% of users, it doesn't matter. The current crop of dslrs and m43/aps-c interchangeable lens compact cameras provide way more technical ability (shooting speed, image quality, etc.) than those users are ever going to need. Shoot more images. Worry less about the gear. My $.02, anyway.
 
liamstrain said:
Ultimately - for 95% of users, it doesn't matter. The current crop of dslrs and m43/aps-c interchangeable lens compact cameras provide way more technical ability (shooting speed, image quality, etc.) than those users are ever going to need. Shoot more images. Worry less about the gear. My $.02, anyway.
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Nicely said sir,agreed 100%

I will just mention CHDK for Canon users,it will improve your capabilities with the camera a lot. Like override restrictions,catch the lightning or bird with scripts,extend exposure and so on.
 
I completely agree on the Nikon V. Canon debate, but I chose Nikon over 20 years ago and am still able to mount the same lenses directly to my latest bodies. Basically I can use (almost) any Nikon F mount lense 1977 and newer on any of my Nikon SLR's. Canon users of old aren't so lucky, which is why there is an over abundance of quality canon glass out there second hand.

Then again, there is the old advert "Professional photographers choose Nikon, famous athletes choose Canon, and ametures choose everything else."

-Xander
 
fast14riot said:
but I chose Nikon over 20 years ago and am still able to mount the same lenses directly to my latest bodies. Basically I can use (almost) any Nikon F mount lense 1977 and newer on any of my Nikon SLR's.
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Certainly a very good reason, and the reason I switched to Nikon when Canon first went to EF mount lenses - all my very nice FD glass was useless, so I went to a mount where that didn't look likely.

My reasons for going back to Canon nearly 20 years later, are more complicated - but based on my needs, and not any blanket recommendation one way or the other. As any camera choice ought to be.
 
I've just gone in a different direction. I got a good deal on a Canon A-560. What I like best is the AA battery capability. Just like the weak link in an automatic pistol is the magazine I think the battery is the weak link in the camera. With the 560 I carry a 4 pack of lithium AAs and I'm all set. I will carry it in a quart size freezer bag for water protection. I like the point and shoot ability as well.
 
Liamstrain, I totally understand switching for professional needs. The reasons a pro photog chooses one over the other, imo, should not apply to the common camera user. The minute details and technical abilities are so close between the two big players, that it is all awash for the rest of us. I'm locked into Nikon due to my investment in quality glass over the years. I have no aversion to canon, but when I saw the EF/FD switch I sure was happy to not have to deal with that.

Bottom line, most people have WAY more camera than they actually need. Learn to use what you have to its fullest extent and then decide what's limiting you. 99% of digital work is completely acceptable at 8-10mp.


-X
 
I actually need an upgrade. My xti was a good camera to learn on, but I hit its capabilities fast. My purchase was not on inexperience with a camera, but price of the body. I went a long time carrying it around for everything I needed to take pictures of and eventually wanted a point and shoot. Much simpler to pack. I don't have too much glass as I knew I would eventually swap back over to Nikon, but I really want to try the 1.4 50mm. My nifty fifty is pretty good, but I'm keen on a lower aperture. I do a lot I nature photography, animals, ocean, etc. I also like snapping the moon. I have somewhat of an obsession with it. But I can't do that with my glass.
 
Why not? The moon is properly exposed at f11 and the reciprocal of the ISO. No need for large apertures for the moon. And canon makes many good lenses for nature and wildlife. Your limit is glass, not camera body. Invest there. Not the body.
 
My comments weren't directed at you specifically, but seems that the camera crowd are some of the biggest gear heads out there! There are very few situations where a $500 50 f/1.4 will be a noticeable upgrade over a $100 50 f/1.8. Btw, shooting the moon is much like shooting the beach as far as settings go. I just shot the recent super moon at 450mm, f/7.1 1/160 iso100. Low apetures aren't needed for lunar shots. I prefer to use low apetures for controling DOF.

If you're looking for better gear, but can't afford it check out KEH or FredMiranda. The former is a shop and latter is a forum with a great classifieds section.

-Xander
 
Suzuki, if you're looking to get back into the Nikon camp, go get a used D200 and a 18-55 kit lens for <$400otd. The 50 f/1.8 will be 75mm on the D200 and can be picked up for less than $100 used. The Nikkor 75-300 f/4.5 is another good inexpensive lens. This setup is pro level body, and good glass. It will be an excellnt starting point, imo. That will give you a mini-tele, a prime that is excellent for most everything, and a long lens for nature/lunar.


-X
 
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