First DSLR: 5d Mark III or D600 - Which one and why?

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Sparkyboy2406

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Hi All,

If you were to buy your first DSLR which one would you choose and why?

Nikon D600 or Canon 5D Mark III.

I am sure this is a relevant dilemma facing a few people today that want to buy a DSLR and that not invested in any given system.

Would be interested to hear your thoughts

Sparky
 
Well, they're very different models. I think most people looking at their first FX the choice will be either Canon's 6D or the Nikon D600. For those with more cash to splash, the 5DIII or D800. From the 2 you mention, the D600 is a lot cheaper, and would be an easier camera to get to grips with for a beginner.
 
Personally, I don't think there is much in it terms of ease of use.

Given that you have to put a lens on the camera, I don't think that the relative differences in costs between the cheaper options (i.e. D600 or 6D) make much sense to me (i.e. I think it's pointless to buy a 6D, when the 5D will do the job properly for another £500.) Same for the Nikon options (although IMHO the D600 makes a lot more sense than a 6D in terms of the comprimises made).
 
Sparkyboy2406 said:
Hi All,

If you were to buy your first DSLR which one would you choose and why?

Nikon D600 or Canon 5D Mark III.

I am sure this is a relevant dilemma facing a few people today that want to buy a DSLR and that not invested in any given system.

Would be interested to hear your thoughts

Sparky
Click to expand...

Most people buying their first dslr would buy a rebel or Nikon equivalent
 
Sparkyboy2406 said:
well not me, I have been using a friends 500d for over a year and no i am looking to buy my own.


How reliable are these comparisons

http://snapsort.com/compare/Canon-EOS-5D-Mark-III-vs-Nikon-D600
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Not very. The autofocus on the D600 has all of its 39 points packed into the centre of the frame, making composition a nightmare. The 5D mk iii has 61 points and they are spread across the frame giving coverage in all the right areas. Adding to this, its the same AF module thats used in the top of the line 1DX by canon also, so its not exactly ****!

Personally out of a two, I'd rather have the canon camera. The AF is a massive deal breaker for me having got use to the 51 point system by nikon on my D300s. The ISO performance on the D600 is truly great though, but the AF really does let it down in my opinion. Not all of the body is magnesium alloy either, giving the canon 5D mk iii another plus point there as thats entirely made from it. The shutter speed is also greater on the 5D mk iii, as is the flash sync rate, making it a no brainer for anyone who wants to get the absolute most out of the body.
 
markmullen said:
I'd go for the Canon, I've tried Nikons in the past and they haven't suited me, in comparison Canons do and having something that feels comfortable to use makes a big difference.
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Thats a very personal thing though as the canon FF bodies are physically bigger than the nikon variants anyway. If you have bigger hands, you'll automatically gravitate to the larger bodies for comfort, but this can be somewhat ofset by the battery grips on the nikon models (this is coming from a former canon 5D mk ii user who went to nikon, but prefers the gripped nikon over the none gripped one, whilst on the canon body the grip added nothing to the ergonomics)
 
James J said:
Thats a very personal thing though as the canon FF bodies are physically bigger than the nikon variants anyway. If you have bigger hands, you'll automatically gravitate to the larger bodies for comfort, but this can be somewhat ofset by the battery grips on the nikon models (this is coming from a former canon 5D mk ii user who went to nikon, but prefers the gripped nikon over the none gripped one, whilst on the canon body the grip added nothing to the ergonomics)
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It's not just the size, I've just never got on with them, nor got good results. I know the camera is more than up to the job, just not for me. It was the same with rifles when I was an international rifle shooter, I used a Walther and got on really well with it, most of my team mates used Anschutz and Feinwerkbau, neither of which suited me.
 
I have held both in the hands and prefer the ergonomics of the 5d and the fact is it is all magnesium alloy body. Then the D600 has better image quality and dynamic range
 
lodious said:
Personally, I don't think there is much in it terms of ease of use.

Given that you have to put a lens on the camera, I don't think that the relative differences in costs between the cheaper options (i.e. D600 or 6D) make much sense to me (i.e. I think it's pointless to buy a 6D, when the 5D will do the job properly for another £500.) Same for the Nikon options (although IMHO the D600 makes a lot more sense than a 6D in terms of the comprimises made).
Click to expand...

There's plenty difference. The bigger bodies are fully weather sealed and all mag-alloy, they focus better, have more focus points and more on-body controls. Less faffing about in menus. If you're choosing Nikon, it's only £300 more for the D800 over the D600. Personally, I think it's better to save the extra and get the tougher body. But some might rather put that £300 towards a lens. It really depends on budget.
 
if a newcomer had to choose between these 2 he has more money than sense and would not know how to use them to there full potential
i would say to him learn to walk before you run.
a person looking for his first dslr would be better looking at the lower end cameras first cuttining there teeth then he would know what to buy as he progressed
 
holty said:
if a newcomer had to choose between these 2 he has more money than sense and would not know how to use them to there full potential
i would say to him learn to walk before you run.
a person looking for his first dslr would be better looking at the lower end cameras first cuttining there teeth then he would know what to buy as he progressed
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They are no different to an entry level camera apart from Image quality. If someone wants to buy the best camera they can afford then why shouldn't they.
 
POAH said:
They are no different to an entry level camera apart from Image quality. If someone wants to buy the best camera they can afford then why shouldn't they.
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My thoughts exactly. I have been using a friends DSLR 500d for the last year. I am comfortable in manual mode etc. I have saved for a while to buy a full frame and I intend to do so.
 
holty said:
if a newcomer had to choose between these 2 he has more money than sense and would not know how to use them to there full potential
i would say to him learn to walk before you run.
a person looking for his first dslr would be better looking at the lower end cameras first cuttining there teeth then he would know what to buy as he progressed
Click to expand...

OR

Buy once, buy right.

Simple as that. Is someone who knows their way round a camera (You did read the thread, right?) wants to buy full frame the do not have more money than sense. They simply want the right camera for them.
 
i find it hard to believe that there is only £300 difference between the d600 and the d800, im aware that they are aimed at slightly different markets, but in reality surely they will be in competition with each other. i just feel nikon missed a trick by pricing the d600 so high.
 
RichardtheSane said:
OR

Buy once, buy right.

Simple as that. Is someone who knows their way round a camera (You did read the thread, right?) wants to buy full frame the do not have more money than sense. They simply want the right camera for them.
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+1
 
True price (rrp) difference between the d600 and the d800 is near to a grand I think.

Give it time, the d800 has been out for a while now so street prices have settled. The d600 has been available for what? 2-3 weeks? Give the price a chance to settle. I reckon it will drop to £1200-£1300 or so within the next 6 months, which is around how long the d800 has been out / available.

It really is a very basic and simple concept, I don't understand how people are failing to grasp it.
 
thats not much help if your in the market for one today though.
 
It shouldn't be the camera your looking at although both are excellent.

You should be spending your time looking at the rest of the system.

What lenses will you be needing? Will you be doing off camera flash work with speedlights etc?

There more to it then just the latest camera....
 
paul.w said:
thats not much help if your in the market for one today though.
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Well it is actually. The buyer knows that if they have to have a D600 this week they are going to pay the price of having the absolutely latest model.
Knowing that it will fall in n months time helps their decision, they can either wait, buy a D800 for a bit more or buy a D600 and watch the price drop (but at least they now know this is very likely to happen)

And there are two types of people - one will want the latest and couldn't care less is it is cheaper in 6 months as they want it now, others will buy another model that has already reduced from initial price or just wait 6 months.
 
holty said:
if a newcomer had to choose between these 2 he has more money than sense and would not know how to use them to there full potential
i would say to him learn to walk before you run.
a person looking for his first dslr would be better looking at the lower end cameras first cuttining there teeth then he would know what to buy as he progressed
Click to expand...

this^

That is why many people get a rebel or something similar as there first camera. yea u can get a 5d3 now as your first camera but i bet that the user wtol be stuck using it in green mode and with all AF points selected for a few years before diving into the vast amount of features and manual options it has.

lastly, that same user may get bored of pohotography and decide its not for them and flog it away or have it collect dust.

Its best to buy a rebel or similar as a first camera. see if u actually enjoy it. learn about photography and then upgrade
 
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ernesto said:
Well it is actually. The buyer knows that if they have to have a D600 this week they are going to pay the price of having the absolutely latest model.
Knowing that it will fall in n months time helps their decision, they can either wait, buy a D800 for a bit more or buy a D600 and watch the price drop (but at least they now know this is very likely to happen)

And there are two types of people - one will want the latest and couldn't care less is it is cheaper in 6 months as they want it now, others will buy another model that has already reduced from initial price or just wait 6 months.
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the d600 may fall in the next few months but so could the d800.
 
jonneymendoza said:
the d600 may fall in the next few months but so could the d800.
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I doubt the d800 will fall much further if at all, it's already dropped a significant amount from the rrp.
 
I can't say anything about the Nikon's because I haven't had any but I have got a 5D3 that I've built up to by starting with a 550D and then progressing to a 7D and 5D2 combo and then on to a 5D3, which I've just added another 7D to. To be perfectly honest, if the 5D3 had been around when I wanted my first dslr and I'd got the money I would of had one in an instant.

The ergonomics of the 5D3 are fantastic and the performance and IQ is amazing. It's almost difficult to take a bad photo with it. If you're confident in your ability you may as well get something you can have confidence in to start with.
 
jonneymendoza said:
That is why many people get a rebel or something similar as there first camera. yea u can get a 5d3 now as your first camera but i bet that the user wtol be stuck using it in green mode and with all AF points selected for a few years before diving into the vast amount of features and manual options it has.

lastly, that same user may get bored of pohotography and decide its not for them and flog it away or have it collect dust.

Its best to buy a rebel or similar as a first camera. see if u actually enjoy it. learn about photography and then upgrade
Click to expand...

Or, the buyer may have been shooting for decades with film cameras including SLR's. Like me :D

I really don't buy into this view that 5D's or any other camera shouldn't be bought until you've served your time on an entry level model. If you can work an entry level camera I bet you can work a 5D :lol:
 
Abilities and other talks aside, 5d3 seems like the better of the two but this may depend on the preference of size (I hate small so 5d here) and available glass (similar, but there are some minor differences). Only Canon has radio enabled flashes, so this could be also important. Finally, despite all the claims of high DR of sony sensors, the Canon colours actually look a lot more natural and not so oversaturated like a HDR
 
come on guys how many people do buy a ff camera as there first dslr i have never heard of it before ?????? are you in the real world or cloud cuckoo or just out for an argument !!!
try to help the op wjth his enquirey just like i did
 
holty said:
come on guys how many people do buy a ff camera as there first dslr i have never heard of it before ?????? are you in the real world or cloud cuckoo or just out for an argument !!!
try to help the op wjth his enquirey just like i did
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Er, I think it's you who aint in the real world buddy :lol:

And FYI my first SLR was "FF" it was in the 70's and FF was all the rage :lol:

I don't know your history, holty, but seriously, FF cameras are no more difficult to work than APS-C entry level models. If you think they are perhaps you can list some questions and I'm sure that I or others would be willing to help you out and explain whatever is worrying you. Listing your concerns may even help the OP out too :D
 
holty said:
come on guys how many people do buy a ff camera as there first dslr i have never heard of it before ?????? are you in the real world or cloud cuckoo or just out for an argument !!!
try to help the op wjth his enquirey just like i did
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The op said he has used a 500d for over a year, not only that one camera is the same as another both have modes that can be used like p mode.
 
holty said:
come on guys how many people do buy a ff camera as there first dslr i have never heard of it before ?????? are you in the real world or cloud cuckoo or just out for an argument !!!
try to help the op wjth his enquirey just like i did
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Er - me......... And my first camera was a Canon A1 when I was 16 and they weren't out on the market long and it was THE camera everyone was talking about - took all my summer job wages for 6 weeks to buy it and I've never looked back...... 32 years in cloud cuckoo land for me then.

Plus as the OP said - he's been using a 500D for a year or so - if that experience has made him decide to get a FF then fair play in my book.

As to the OP - don't forget the 5D MK2 - is a cracking camera - OK so it doesn't have all the bells and whistles of the latest models - the AF is behind the current crop and the frame rate isn't the fastest but then again if these aren't vital to you then at least put it on the list. IQ is great.
 
good to see the fish are taking the bait ha ha ha
you guys are sooooooooooo easy to wind up
 
holty said:
good to see the fish are taking the bait ha ha ha
you guys are sooooooooooo easy to wind up
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So either you are actually trolling and openly admitting it, or you are covering for the fact you have missed the OP's comment that he has been using an entry level for a year already and is quite comfortable with dslr's and prefers to go straight to a full frame camera. Care to elaborate or are you going to stop now?
 
Yv said:
So either you are actually trolling and openly admitting it, or you are covering for the fact you have missed the OP's comment that he has been using an entry level for a year already and is quite comfortable with dslr's and prefers to go straight to a full frame camera. Care to elaborate or are you going to stop now?
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dont know what trollig is on a forum ?? but i do a bit of trolling with my boat for trout and salmon.
never noticed the op saying he was using a friends camera for a year:bonk:
i still think that a few members are a bit touchy and up tight and will leave it at that
 
Thanks everyone for the replies. I am going to go for the mark III and 24 105 L lens. Hopefully get it the week after next. All input greatly appreciated!!
 
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