Help me decide

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bloater

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Luke
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after being without a decent camera for a couple of years, it's time to rectify the situation.
My wife is treating me before I head off around Europe for a few weeks.
The plan is on this trip to keep light and so I'm only planning on taking one lens.
I have had Nikon and Canon before and have no brand loyalty.
The camera will be used for everything from portrait to landscape and maybe some sport as well, I like fireworks so hope to use it for shooting them in the future.

At the moment I've narrowed the selection down to either a new Nikon D7100 with a 18-105mm lens kit or a used Canon 7D with the EF 24-105mm f4L IS USM II lens.

The Canon is a fair chunk more expensive but I could get the L series lens, I wanted to keep under £1000 ideally for the camera and lens but the Canon is over that but it's not a deal breaker.

So which would you recommend? And why?
 
The canon 7d plus 24-105 nowhere near a £1000.
Edit
Mk 2 lens yes over :)
 
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The D7200 and 18-105 is £1025 new at Amazon.
 
just sold a 7d. fantastic camera, bad iso performance.
 
Used Fuji XT-1 with 18-135?

Light weight easily portable and if you can get one within budget a 27mm f2.8 which is very unobtrusive and then the camera +lens will fit in a pocket or a manbag.
Stick a cordy wrist strap on it for a tenner and nobody can get it off your wrist
 
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bloater said:
The Canon is a fair chunk more expensive but I could get the L series lens, I wanted to keep under £1000 ideally for the camera and lens but the Canon is over that but it's not a deal breaker.
Click to expand...
So you want the Canon :-)
 
Cheers folks.
Not 100% swayed either way yet, I just saw the L series lens in the shop so added it in to the mix.
Probably more in favour of the D7100 at the moment
 
The 24-105 though a great lens, is not wide enough on a crop sensor 7D. You'd be better going for the 17-55mm f2.8 IS, which not only goes wider but offers you a wider aperture which will be very handy as you don't want to push the ISO on the 7D too high.
Besides, I wouldn't bother with the 24-105 Mk2 if you're getting the older 7D Mk1 as it really won't take advantage of the minor improvements of the 24-105 Mk2.
If you were going for Canon, I'd go for an 80D which is going to be better than the 7D Mk1 and then get the Canon 17-55 f2.8 IS secondhand (the glass on this is rumoured to be as good as L glass) or the Sigma 17-50mm f2.8 OS.

If you're wanting Nikon, then the D7200 might be marginally better.

If you are travelling for a number of weeks and might do more later, you may be better off looking for a lighter setup. Fuji XT10 or Sony A6000 are both within budget.
 
If it helps I have the Nikon d7200 and a friend has the Canon 7D Mk1. I think the sensor of the Nikon wins and I am trying to be objective about that. Also whilst he was looking for lenses I suggested full frame lenses in case he next gets a full frame camera. There did not seem to be any affordable options from Canon compared to Nikon ... but I did not spend any time looking. All I would say is, try to look beyond the camera, i.e. what happens next.
 
I would take a serious look at Fuji, especially as you said to travel light.

The XT1 is easily available, or even an XPro1 or XT10. Great cameras, and I use the X100T a lot although the 35mm can be a bit restrictive.

I like Nikon, lens wise the 18-105 is not the best, maybe look at something like a 28-75 Tamron 2.8 used as the lens, much better IQ.
 
If you don't care about travelling light my suggestions would be either a D7200 and 16-85 VRII or even a used D600 and used 24-85 VRII. If you want a smaller package how about a Sony A7 and 35?
 
The question is, is the weight a priority?
How exactly are you travelling? Driving, back-packing, train, hiking?

The D7200 and 7D are both heavy, especially when you add bigger zoom lenses.

Here's some weights for you: (Comparison link)
Canon 6D : 770g
Canon 7D : 860g
Canon 80D: 730g
Nikon D7200: 765g
Nikon D610: 850g
Fuji XT1: 440g
Fuji XT10: 381g

The Canon 6D is the lighter full frame option, in fact lighter than the 7D and almost the same as the D7200. However both Fujis are significantly lighter still and when you add a lens, the difference will be more stark.

Imagine the total weight with: (Comparison link)
Canon 24-105L Mk1 = 670g
Canon 15-85mm IS USM = 575g
Nikon 16-85mm ED VR = 485g
Nikon 24-120mm ED VR = 710g
Fuji 18-55mm f2.8-4 = 310g
Fuji 18-135mm = 490g

Either of those Fuji combos will weigh less than 1kg, but a 7D with the 15-85 is 1435g or the D7200 with the 16-85 is 1250g.

If you are doing a lot of walking, your back will thank you for picking a lighter setup.

Out of those options, I think the Canon 7D has the weakest sensor and is the heaviest body. The rest are all good. The 6D is in budget if you want Canon full frame, add a secondhand 24-105L Mk1 for £350ish. I think the 80D is probably a bit too expensive, but maybe look at the 70D.

Alternatively, a Sony A7 with the 28-70mm f3.5-5.6 OSS.

Lots of options.
 
One to add to the list... Panasonic GX80, a zoom lens and a f1.8 prime. The camera and two lenses will make a tiny little package :D
 
woof woof said:
One to add to the list... Panasonic GX80, a zoom lens and a f1.8 prime. The camera and two lenses will make a tiny little package :D
Click to expand...

If going that way, given the 100 discount, I might be tempted by the Panasonic G80+12-60 deal and add an Olympus 17/1.8 or used Panasonic 15/1.7.
 
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