Coming back to photography after a break

UKmitch86

UKmitch86

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Mitch
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Last year I sold off a lot of equipment that I wasn't using - it helped relieve some financial burdens, which is why I don't regret selling up at all, but we've recently found out the wife is pregnant - it's our first child, and I know I'll regret it if I don't have something to capture her early years with.

I've decided to slowly build up funds, up to a maximum of around £600. I absolutely want to work with a 50mm prime, and I'm more than happy to live with that for a while. I used to own a 5Dc, a 1DS3 and have had a couple of Fujis. A friend is a Canon user with a lot of enthusiasm and is desperate for me to go Canon again. I'm definitely wanting a full frame again - my best work has been with that sensor size, I feel it can achieve a certain look that I want.

The problem is, at the pricepoint I'm looking at, the best Canon has to offer is the 5D2. I know the sensor is better than 5Dc, but the AF system is the same. I really want a full suite of controls at fingertips, and I love the thumbstick on all 1D and 5D models. the 6D is probably within reach if I wait a little longer, but I'm not keep on the lack of thumbstick (should I care?)

I'm looking over at the Nikon camp and wondering what it's like over there. I'm not used to the control scheme. I'd rather not have the recurring Lightroom bill either, and I know I'd be content using DPP to edit.


A bit of a brain dump there - if you're still here, I'm open to suggestions!
 
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First off congrats on the impending arrival :)

The usual answer to which cheap Nikon full frame is usually a D700 - very well built and matched with any of the recent-ish nikon 50's will give lovely results. The AF is still good even though it is an old system. Nikon has free s/w to edit in too and although it gives good enough results, it is a royal pain to use ime/o. But I never got on with the D700 for some odd reason (some would say I'm odd and maybe they are right ...). However the output from them is very good still. You could find a used D3 too, though it would be a beater.

The more recent option would be a D600/D610 (the latter requires less oil changes ;)) but it may be pushing your budget - superb sensor performance although some folk have issues with the AF I never did. I doubt you would find a D800/e or a D750 within budget ...

My preference for 50mm lenses is the f1.4g afs - I've had a few of the 1.8g afs and maybe had bad luck as most weren't the best copies. I do have a soft spot for how the 50mm f1.4 af-D renders though, particularly skin tones.
 
Congrats!

I had a D700 and loved it.

I also had a 6D and loved it more (especially for skin tones).

I'd go for the 6D (I had a 5D2 before that and I didn't miss the joystick)
 
The 1d mk3 and 40mm 2.8 are the only canon gear I have left. It is aps-h so like 52mm on FF.

Has a joystick. Has a massive battery life. Built like a tank. Very easy to use. Tough and tough shutters. Weatherproof and a list too long to list. And they cost £250 - £300 now and its 10fps for god sake.
 
Thanks all for replies!

PaulButler said:
First off congrats on the impending arrival :)
The usual answer to which cheap Nikon full frame is usually a D700 - very well built and matched with any of the recent-ish nikon 50's will give lovely results. The AF is still good even though it is an old system. Nikon has free s/w to edit in too and although it gives good enough results, it is a royal pain to use ime/o. But I never got on with the D700 for some odd reason (some would say I'm odd and maybe they are right ...). However the output from them is very good still. You could find a used D3 too, though it would be a beater.
The more recent option would be a D600/D610 (the latter requires less oil changes ;)) but it may be pushing your budget - superb sensor performance although some folk have issues with the AF I never did. I doubt you would find a D800/e or a D750 within budget ...
My preference for 50mm lenses is the f1.4g afs - I've had a few of the 1.8g afs and maybe had bad luck as most weren't the best copies. I do have a soft spot for how the 50mm f1.4 af-D renders though, particularly skin tones.
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Your enthusiasm for Nikon is admirable! I guess I'm concerned about relearning ergonomics. Do you know if the D700 has 14bit raw? The 5Dc is 12bit, and it's noticeable in colour gradation. I've read a couple of blogs that haven't had good things to say about Nikon lens lineup compared to Canon, across the cost spectrum. Do you have any feel for that?

GreenNinja67 said:
Congrats!
I had a D700 and loved it.
I also had a 6D and loved it more (especially for skin tones).
I'd go for the 6D (I had a 5D2 before that and I didn't miss the joystick)
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Reassuring to hear about the joystick. Really enjoyed using that, made things very simple. very quick. Looks like the extra ~£200 or so would be worth saving.


GTG said:
The 1d mk3 and 40mm 2.8 are the only canon gear I have left. It is aps-h so like 52mm on FF.
Has a joystick. Has a massive battery life. Built like a tank. Very easy to use. Tough and tough shutters. Weatherproof and a list too long to list. And they cost £250 - £300 now and its 10fps for god sake.
Click to expand...
Owning the 1Ds3, I'm with you on the 1D3 feedback - loved it, but I've got to be careful not to forget the weight in bag, along with baby paraphernalia. I really do want the FF look too, 1.3x is not going to cut it. Your post did make me look again at used 1Ds3 prices, they're actually more attractive than 5D2 prices - makes me think the extra used value is coming from the smaller size/weight that more people presumably want. Whilst I liked it, I did often worry that too many people were aware I was holding something big and expensive. I suppose I could always whack someone more effectively with a 1Ds3. Do you know how the 1Ds3 AF system compares to 5D2 and 6D?
 
UKmitch86 said:
Your enthusiasm for Nikon is admirable! I guess I'm concerned about relearning ergonomics. Do you know if the D700 has 14bit raw? The 5Dc is 12bit, and it's noticeable in colour gradation. I've read a couple of blogs that haven't had good things to say about Nikon lens lineup compared to Canon, across the cost spectrum. Do you have any feel for that?
Click to expand...
I'm used to the Nikon eco system now ... but have and do use other makes still.

The D700 does support 14 bit, from memory you can have lossy and lossless compression too - fwiw I always use a lossless compression (why have all those bits to throw some away? ).

As for lenses, depends on what you are comparing against I guess. Canon do a cheap and cheerful 50mm lens (which I've used and wasn't impressed with) - Nikon do a not quite as cheap but just as cheerful 50mm lens (which I've used a lot of different versions of) - I found them to be slightly better than the Canon lens I used. Canon do a 65mm macro lens (MPE I think it is called) that goes to 4x, Nikon do a 105mm f1.4 ... depends on what your needs are - I don't shoot macro so no need for the 65mm lens, I do shoot portraits and the 105 would be of interest (the bank manage would wince though). The exotics on both are utterly superb. The 200-500 Nikon is excellent VFM and IQ, the Canon 400mm f5.6 likewise - used prices are pretty much comparable ime. :)

Massive choice in the used lens market too (applies equally to Canon).
 
UKmitch86 said:
Do you know how the 1Ds3 AF system compares to 5D2 and 6D?
Click to expand...

I only had a 6D out of those and it has an amazing centre AF point that focuses in moonlight. The rest of the AF are quite poor.
I would imagine the 1D has a better AF system than the 5d2, I'm sure I read the AF system on the 5d2 is not great but I never tried one
 
The 5D2 AF is okay for it’s time and can get the job done, but you need to know it’s quirks, try land on contrasting colours and surfaces etc
 
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