Which ship to jump on?

Ksanti

Ksanti

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Matt
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As a first time DSLR owner (note: not first time 'user', I've been using my Dad's D5000 for a fair while now, but I feel that I'm both ready to take the plunge into starting my own kit, so I can take my own stuff wherever and whenever, and that the D5000 is somewhat limiting.)

Now, I realise that cost becomes a huge issue with jumping ship later on when lens collections build up etc., so I thought I should ask this now.

Which ship of Nikon, Canon and Sony should I jump on now, getting my first DSLR (or potentially SLT, in Sony's case)?

I know it's hard to discuss this as most photographers will have their wealth of experience with one system, but I figured I'd try. The main manufacturer traits I guess would be warranty, firmware updates, continued support for older mounts etc.

I know many would dismiss Sony, and probably with good reason, but I am considering them.
- They may be incredibly new to the DSLR game, but in their 4 years it seems they've done incredibly well to push themselves to arguably the biggest threat to the big two with Zeiss deals, Minolta designs and genuinely useful developments, so in my eyes they seem to be a strong newcomer?
- Like I said, they have been making developments, SLT cameras especially, that seem to really present new performance areas.
- Sony seems pretty damn keen to break into this market, I'm not sure what their profits have been but with Sony's financial backing it's not like they'll be going bust any time soon.

I know the second hand market is pretty much non-existent for Sony a-mount lenses, but the a55 especially is tempting me with video AF and 10fps burst, as I really can't afford anything like a 1D and sports is a fairly large part of my shooting.

I'm not looking to challenge, I'm looking to get opinions, I have the luxury of being able to choose system now with comparatively little by way of anchors (Dad has a couple of half-decent Nikon lenses, and a couple of old EF Sigma's, neither of which would put me off the other or Sony), so while Sony's tempting me (is it bad that I'm tempted by the awesome colour scheme too? :D), I want to get the entire picture first :)
 
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Budget? makes a big difference to what I'd recommend.

I'd be inclined to the nikons, since that's where you have experience, but definitely don't discount canon or sony, they each have their merits.
Go try out some cameras, see if you get along with any brands style better than the others.
 
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If you see seriously fast telephoto primes in your future (400/2.8 etc) then not Sony. Currently they have the 300/2.8 and there's a 500/4 coming, plus the Minolta 600/4 and 400/4.5 second hand (if you want those two in a hurry then importing from Japanese camera shops is about the only option, they don't come up very often here). Nikon and Canon definitely have better availability of glass in this part of the market.

If those aren't an issue then don't discount Sony. Like just about any modern DSLR they are capable of taking stunning pictures, there's no shortage of options for glass outside of the very specialist stuff I mentioned and some of it is superb. Plus you get image stabilisation for every lens that the camera can detect.

Just because very little A-mount stuff comes up here doesn't mean it doesn't come up for sale s/h at all. My Minolta 300/4, 100/2.8 soft, Zeiss 135/1.8 and Sony 70-200/2.8 SSM all were bought second hand, from ebay (the 300/4) or dyxum (others). The Minolta 70-210/4 (beercan) and 50/1.7 are usually available on ebay, often several at once and are sub £100 lenses provided you are patient.
 
Nikon

Go try them all in a shop and see what's right for you. It's between NIKON and Canon though.

Nikon every time.
 
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Thanks for the advice :)

Super fast telephotos aren't a massive problem, most of my sports shooting is pretty close range (courtside tennis mostly, generally outside as well).

I'll keep my eye on the bay to see what comes up, and also on the grip situation for the a55, I know Sony say they don't want to make a grip but a 3rd party grip would be high on my list if I went with an a55.

I still need to try out the EVF on the SLT's, but I'm in Dubai at the moment and none of the shops have the a55 or a33 yet, so I'm waiting out on that.

Also, budget wise, nominally I'm at £400 right now and managing to put another £100 towards it each month, not planning to buy right now, but choosing ship isn't so much about budget or immediate bang-for-buck so much as long-term value :)
 
awp said:
Nikon
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Gee, I wonder how you got all your posts....

EDIT: Nice ninja edit :D

Fair enough, I've played around with most of them but this is choosing ship, not choosing a camera, so my preferred body through each upgrade cycle may change, and what may be great this year might put me with some awful options later on.

Why always Nikon and Canon? Sony look like they mean business, and seem to be doing a damn good job of making an impression!
 
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stick to nikon then you can lens share with your dad ie let him buy them then you field test them for him
 
As a sony user, you really need to hold all of the different cameras in your hand. Doesn't matter who makes it, if it feels awkward you'll never meld with it. As far as sony lens goes, while they may not have all the nikon/canon varieties the do have the while expensive 70-400 G which most top notch mags rate as the best in it's class, then theirs all the Zeiss ( sol canon) stuff, not to mention all the Tamron/Sigma long lens stuff that Nik/Can's get or older minolta lens. Either sony, nikon or canon, all make good gear and really, for the most part you couldn't tell which camera made what photo ... and I"d throw in the new pentax k5 in the mix.. uses the same sensor as a55, nik d7000, but a lot more than the a55 but it looks to be even better than the nikon imho.
 
One thing to keep in mind if buying a cheaper Nikon body is that you are limited to AF-S lenses. This may not be a problem for you but it helped me jump to Canon.
 
as a sony user ithought i'd add my 10pence to this as well. i was just bought a couple of minolta lenses for my birthday (50mm f1.7 and 70-210 f4 'beercan') both came from ffordes website which has a pretty useful used section.

all lenses will have stabilisation automatically because of the 'steady-shot' function which is pretty handy. i was going to jump-ship to canon in the new year but if these lenses perform well enough for me i think i'll save my money and stay put. the reviews for both lenses are superb so i'm expecting good things from them.

check out the dyxum lens database for a-mount glass reviews

http://www.dyxum.com/lenses/index.asp
 
I was a canon user from the film days all the way through to the digital era with my last canon being a 20d. Then I made the leap over to nikon when I went full frame as the nikons just felt better for me. Now I have swapped I will never go back, the nikons are just superb bits of kit that have taken everything I throw at them without an issue. A few of my students and my mother in law use sony's and each one I have used has been a pretty horrid experience. They all feel cheap and plasticy with menus and options that look like a typical Sony consumer product.

If I were you, pick a manufacturer with a good amount of experience in the camera Market and one that offers you the best flexibility in the system. Also, the camera has to feel right for you to use, go into a store and test drive them.

That's my opinion...
 
Everyone who uses Canon will say: Buy Canon.
Everyone who uses Nikon will say: Buy Nikon.
Everyone who uses 'Something Else' will still be trying to figure out the menu system.

Since you've already used a Nikon, it makes sense to stick with what you know, but go to a shop and play.
At the end of the day, at any given price-point, they'll all perform more or less the same.
 
Arkady2 said:
Everyone who uses 'Something Else' will still be trying to figure out the menu system.
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About the only thing I use the menu for on my "something else" camera is to change between the CF and MS cards. Feels like almost everything else has a dedicated button / dial / knob, it's covered with the things.
 
onomatopoeia said:
About the only thing I use the menu for on my "something else" camera is to change between the CF and MS cards. Feels like almost everything else has a dedicated button / dial / knob, it's covered with the things.
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Yeah...right...

There's always one who can't take a joke, isn't there...? :shrug:

:lol:
 
Read my sig....

only other thing I will repeat is go see what camera feels best for you..
 
Right now I would say Nikon have the best system and bodies.

Canon used to be the top brand for the long lenses - but Nikon have definitly closed the gap there and for availability of the shorted glass Nikon just have a better range.

(Canon user saying buy Nikon :p)
 
Arkady2 said:
Everyone who uses Canon will say: Buy Canon.
Everyone who uses Nikon will say: Buy Nikon.
Everyone who uses 'Something Else' will still be trying to figure out the menu system.

Since you've already used a Nikon, it makes sense to stick with what you know, but go to a shop and play.
At the end of the day, at any given price-point, they'll all perform more or less the same.
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What a good post Arkady
I am a Canon user but think Nikon currently has the best bodies but I think Canon Lenses through sheer choice is the better lineup
every thing I see and read about the Nikon D3s and D700 has me drooling with the ISO
if I was not so heavily invested into Canon I would of swapped systems 18 months ago
 
Ksanti said:
but choosing ship isn't so much about budget or immediate bang-for-buck so much as long-term value :)
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Honestly, that doesn't matter. You could invest in a system that seems superior to your needs at the moment, then in a couple of years another brand storms ahead in technology. Buy what feels best and gives you the lenses you want at the moment, and don't worry about long term.

And ignore anyone who say's the choice is just one brand, or between two brands.
 
grey.squirrel said:
One thing to keep in mind if buying a cheaper Nikon body is that you are limited to AF-S lenses. This may not be a problem for you but it helped me jump to Canon.
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Not true, there are plenty of affordable AF-S lenses.

Even older MF lenses can still be used. Don't be scared of manually focussing lenses.
 
I really wanted to jump on the Sony ship but ruled them out as soon as I picked one up. It may be possible to design a less ergonomic camera (for me) but I struggle to see how. Worth bearing in mind.

No Canon as the local dealer is an utter cretin, Nikon - quite liked the D5000, but finally set sail on the good ship Pentax.
 
Hmm I didn't mind the shape of the a550 in my hands, but I haven't been able to hold an a55 yet.

There are a couple of things making me question whether Sony's really an option; while they're supported by third parties, with Sigma they're lacking e.g. the 30mm f/1.4 (which I was considering as my portrait lens) doesn't have HSM in alpha mount, and the two SLT cameras have reported problems with older alpha mount lenses as well, and given Sony's fondness for proprietary formats, I'm not entirely sure whether they may just not bother sorting out compatability problems.
 
Average, which is part of the reason I'm gutted that Sony say they won't release a battery grip for it.

What are the chances that a 3rd party comes out with a battery grip for it? The iffy battery life and tiny dimensions are more things making me err over the a55 :(
 
srichards said:
http://www.parkcameras.com/Bundle.aspx?BundleID=3075&display=true

This says it does have HSM in the EX version.

I wouldn't go for SLT. I think the A580 SLR might be better now. I'd wait until the SLT issues are sorted out more.
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http://www.sigma-imaging-uk.com/lenses/dclenses/30mm.htm
Sigma say it doesn't :(

The a580 looks ok, but if the issues of the SLT's are workable, the video AF, handheld twilight, fps, EVF information look to be pretty useful, more so than the noise improvements of the a580, if not the ergonomic differences.
 
Nikon bodies are superior IMO, better af and high iso, and I prefer the ergonomics. But I just bought a Canon :lol:

The thing is, it's good lenses that make the most difference and the really good nikon lenses are way more expensive than their canon equivalents. And I know many aren't interested but canon are much better for video as well.
 
grum said:
Nikon bodies are superior IMO, better af and high iso, and I prefer the ergonomics. But I just bought a Canon :lol:
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Maybe so at higher levels (obvious comparison being D700 vs 5D MKII or 1Dmkv vs D3s), but at the kind of level the OP is looking at, the differences are too small or non existent.
 
grum said:
The thing is, it's good lenses that make the most difference and the really good nikon lenses are way more expensive than their canon equivalents. And I know many aren't interested but canon are much better for video as well.
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Whatever system I go with, I'm looking at getting a superzoom walkabout (body brand for whatever, i.e. 18-200 Nikkor/Canon, 18-250 Sony) and then either a 30mm or 50mm Sigma 1.4, so in the immediate future lens prices aren't too much of a problem.

Canon's video advantages over Nikon are minimal, and both pale entirely compared to Sony's SLTs
 
squishy said:
Maybe so at higher levels (obvious comparison being D700 vs 5D MKII or 1Dmkv vs D3s), but at the kind of level the OP is looking at, the differences are too small or non existent.
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Ksanti said:
Whatever system I go with, I'm looking at getting a superzoom walkabout (body brand for whatever, i.e. 18-200 Nikkor/Canon, 18-250 Sony) and then either a 30mm or 50mm Sigma 1.4, so in the immediate future lens prices aren't too much of a problem. Canon's video advantages over Nikon are minimal, and both pale entirely compared to Sony's SLTs
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Quite - so have a play and pick the one you like.
It's better to have any camera and be able to take photos than no camera at all...
You can always swap later on if you decide you've made a mistake...but don't leave it too late or you'll have invested too much in lenses...lol
 
I have a Sony as I used to use Minolta and the Sony uses the Minolta mount.

If I were starting with a clean slate I would go for a Canon or Nikon.

My daughter is a medical photographer and has access to tons of Nikon kit so I bought her a Nikon when she got her degree. She had that for about three years and used it a lot but sold it and is getting a Canon 7D. Going on her experience and comments I would join Team Canon if I were in your position. I would not buy a Sony, not because they are bad just that they still lack the huge user base of Nikon or Canon.
 
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There is very little to choose in terms of the body of the camera. choose the one with the lenses that best suit your needs
 
andy182 said:
There is very little to choose in terms of the body of the camera. choose the one with the lenses that best suit your needs
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Like I said
Lens to-buy list:
Nikkor/Canon 18-200/Sony 18-250
Sigma 30mm f/1.4
Sigma 50mm f/1.4

In the immediate future, lenses aren't making a huge difference
 
Ksanti said:
...... Why always Nikon and Canon? Sony look like they mean business, and seem to be doing a damn good job of making an impression!
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Sony put most of their effort into producing television cameras where they are number one (and have been for ages). They don't put anything like the same resources into stills cameras that Nikon & Canon do. So the best choices are:

  • For 35mm format stills - Nikon or Canon
  • For broadcast television - Sony (with Canon zoom or Zeiss Digiprime lenses)
 
tbh if i was choosing i would go to a store and ask them to get samples of cannon's and nikon's and sony's and find what fits your hand, i had big hands so i found the nikons the best,with the menus youll learn whatever you buy, and all have a range of lenses which can only grow!
good look with your choice :thumbs::thumbs:
 
Ksanti said:
Like I said
Lens to-buy list:
Nikkor/Canon 18-200/Sony 18-250
Sigma 30mm f/1.4
Sigma 50mm f/1.4

In the immediate future, lenses aren't making a huge difference
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That lens list screams Sony to me. I'd love in body IS for use with fast primes. I have both the Siggy 30 and 50mm f1.4's but as I have a Canon DSLR I have no IS.
 
woof woof said:
That lens list screams Sony to me. I'd love in body IS for use with fast primes. I have both the Siggy 30 and 50mm f1.4's but as I have a Canon DSLR I have no IS.
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But only if the Sony's have HSM in their Sigmas, the Sigma site suggests otherwise, which won't be great :S
 
Matt, Reading the full thread it sounds like you have decided on the Sony kit,,, I'd bite the bullet and go with it...But, and it is a big but, take the advise from the many on here and get down to the shops and try them in your hands...You will not believe the difference until you have actually tried them for yourself.

About the battery grip for the A series, you cannot purchase on the hope that the manufacturers will in the near future produce the Battery Grip.

I am a Canon user and have several bodies (2x 1D and a 5D2) but I will admit that the D3s does appear to handle high ISO noise better than the Canon equivalent, but as said earlier at the level you are looking at, this will not significantly affect your choice.

IMHO I think that from the gyst of your posts on this thread, go with Sony especially if Sigma are producing the lenses you require at the price bracket you are looking to pay.
It looks like you have done a lot of time on Google..

So Join your chosen Ship !!

Tug
 
Ksanti said:
But only if the Sony's have HSM in their Sigmas, the Sigma site suggests otherwise, which won't be great :S
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HSM is nice as is full time manual focus adjust but I'm sure that you don't need either for in body IS.
 
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