Beginner Camera Selection

J

Jahid Turja

New member
Hi everyone,
I'm from Bangladesh. I'm an indie film-maker and an enthusiast photographer. I want to buy a DSLR for my works. Within my budget I've found Canon 60D, Canon 700D and Nikon D5300. It seems like I'll go for the Nikon D5300 for better IQ, no aliasing and moire, no banding and better color. But I'm still confused. Could you suggest me a camera for a beginner like me among these three?? Thanks. :)
 
I'd agree with the Nikon, or maybe something Panasonic if you want to adapt more types of lenses and have unlimited recording length. I agree about avoiding those Canons, they don't compete well anymore.
 
Today, with a low budget, it can be Nikon, Panasonic, or Sony (a5100 or a6000). Canon doesn't make sense unless you can go for the 5D3 or have lots of very expensive Canon glass that you don't want to sell.

If you want to see the resolution and artifacts of each one, you can check this (and the original source. slashcam.de).
 
Samuel H said:
Today, with a low budget, it can be Nikon, Panasonic, or Sony (a5100 or a6000). Canon doesn't make sense unless you can go for the 5D3 or have lots of very expensive Canon glass that you don't want to sell.

If you want to see the resolution and artifacts of each one, you can check this (and the original source. slashcam.de).
Click to expand...
From the above link, to my eyes, resolution wise, the 2 winners are Canon 1DC 4K downsampled to 1080p and Panasonic GH4 4K downsampled to 1080p.
However there are other considerations besides resolution, like price, sensor size, rolling shutter, color science, handling and present stock of lenses.
Since I cannot afford Canon 1DC and since I have few Canon lenses, if I'd be shopping for a video camera I'd go for Panasonic GH4 with basic lens plus Metabones EF to 4/3 reducer.
 
I'm DR obsessed, not resolution obsessed, but it's somewhat important too, and I do care about artifacts, that's why I put that compilation together. Of course, many other things matter too.

As of today, there are lots of cheap cameras that will be enough for 99% of users: a5100, D5300, GH4, a7S, 5D3+RAW... they are all great all around, and some are really impressive in some respect (resolution for the GH4, DR for the a7S). Choose the one that best suits your needs.
 
Samuel H said:
I'm DR obsessed, not resolution obsessed, but it's somewhat important too, and I do care about artifacts, that's why I put that compilation together. Of course, many other things matter too.

As of today, there are lots of cheap cameras that will be enough for 99% of users: a5100, D5300, GH4, a7S, 5D3+RAW... they are all great all around, and some are really impressive in some respect (resolution for the GH4, DR for the a7S). Choose the one that best suits your needs.
Click to expand...

That's the gist of it. I'm pretty well equipped for commercial video, though 4K and good slowmo would be nice for my corporate and consumer stuff.

I may grab the new Panasonic 4K "video" camera for corporate event work, but those are boring gigs.

For the things I really love, creative work, things where I need my own camera so I can do cool stuff under any budget - I definitely need 4k detail levels (effects and keying) and the highest frame rates I can get. Thus I've yet to own a BMC, even with their awesome raw image and low cost. I have the lights to work with less that amazing DR. So my "best camera" for a budget has yet to exist (unless that NX1 firmware update really rocks).
 
Samuel H said:
If you can work with *much* less than amazing DR, the GH4 is a very mighty beast. I mean, wow (not for me because meh).
Click to expand...

I just really, really don't want a sensor smaller than APS-C. For one thing, it adds $500 to the cost (speedbooster - I have too much awesome Nikon glass).

Actually, my next purchase looks like the new Panny whatever-1000 4K camcorder - looking back at 2014, most of my on-set and imaging income came from more event-style shooting. Much as I hate the idea of spending on something for less-exciting work, work is work. As you know, I'm really keeping an eye on NX1 developments...
 
wgzn said:
for a beginner / hobbyist on a budget. it would be very very hard to beat a used GH2
Click to expand...
Indeed or a G6, which is similar in price and sensor, but adds some niceties like focus peaking and 60p at FHD.

You don't need to spend $500 on a speedbooster, they have those mitakon and RJ Camera versions for around $100, and have the added advantage of making the m43 cameras WIDER than APS-C like Canon. Same 50mm lens on my GH2 with a speedbooster is wider than when mounted on my Canon Rebel body. According to my tests, its around a 1.4x crop.

So for about $450 for a G6 or GH2 + $100 for the booster, you're looking at $550 total investment for a camera that records sharper 1080p video than any Canon, with a wider FOV than a Canon APSC, AND is ready for your Nikon glass without anything additional to buy.
 
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