Camera Bundle Suggestion

[Maddox]

I'm looking to try my hand at photography and will start looking at cameras soon. I'm leaning toward purchasing a bundle from Costco and I believe in buy once, cry once.

What do you guys suggest?

costco

[wassaw]

same Nikon bundle at B&H but $250 less (+ a mono pod and extra battery) 16gb card not a 32gb card though

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/872033-REG/Nikon_13019_D7000_DSLR_Camera_with.html

[Shane]

If you really believe in buy once, cry once then don't buy a kit. Buy the camera body of your choice and then buy top quality lenses. The lenses that come in those bundles aren't the top of the line.

I'm only familiar with Canon's stuff, since that is what I use. The T5i is similar to the 70D, but the 70D is a little more sturdily built and weather resistant. I have a Rebel T2i and a Canon 7D currently. They both are capable of producing excellent images. They have the same sensors. The 7D just has more bells and whistles and is a little more sturdy. If you can afford a 7D or a 70D as well as a top quality lens or two, then get one of those. If you need to save a little money somewhere, buy the Rebel T5i body along with top quality lenses. You will be much happier with that combination than you will be with a top of the line body combined with kit lenses.

[Buckhunter75]

Nikon. Do a little research on the Web and it is a better camera for the money than a Canon. I did a lot of research and in the end my wife got the D5100 and loves it

[Shane]

Nikons are better on the web when you read things written by Nikon fans. Canons are better when you read things written by Canon fans.

They're both excellent. Stick with either Canon or Nikon rather than any of the other brands though, because there are a LOT more lens options for Canon and Nikon compared to others.

[Casey]

Nikon. Do a little research on the Web and it is a better camera for the money than a Canon. I did a lot of research and in the end my wife got the D5100 and loves it

It's not the stove it's the cook.

[Maddox]

Thanks, didn't realize the lens were not good quality in the bundles.

Point me in the direction of a good lens, and what would you get as a good starting out, all around lense?

[wassaw]

the cosco and B&H bundle with the Nikkor 18-200mm is not "cheap" glass. it's an $846 ED2 glass very good all around start with lens

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/644744-USA/Nikon_2192_AF_S_DX_NIKKOR_18_200mm.html

JMHO

if it was the 18-105 then that would be their cheaper glass $356

[Shane]

A good walk around lens would be something similar to a 24-70mm zoom. You really need a lens that has a fixed f/stop of f/4 or better. Smaller f/stop numbers mean larger aperture openings, and that equates to more light coming through the lens. That allows you to take pictures with faster shutter speeds in lower light. The kit lenses typically have f/stops from f/3.5 - f/5.6, and they vary when you zoom from short focal length to longer focal length. So a kit 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 lens will allow you to use f/3.5 at 18mm, but if you zoom in to 55mm then f/5.6 is the best you can get out of the lens.

Canon's best lenses are the L-series lenses. They cost a lot more than the standard kit lenses, but they are way better. The build quality is top notch, and everything about them is just better. Better, sharper image quality, better focus performance, better durability, etc... Nikon's top of the line lenses are the same in comparison to their kit lenses. You get what you pay for.

Other lens manufacturers that make lenses that fit Canon and Nikon are Tokina, Sigma, Tamron, etc... I have a Tokina 12-24mm f/4 lens that I love. Casey and several others have the Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8, and that is a fantastic lens as well. Both of those are ultra wide-angle lenses. They're great for taking big wide views like landscapes, sunsets, etc. They won't zoom in tight to a distant subject though. You need longer focal lengths for that (200mm, 300mm, etc.)

I have a Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 lens that I like a lot. It's not quite as good as a Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L, but it's half the price or less. If you want a longer zoom, definitely get a Canon 70-200mm L lens. There are 4 different versions of it. It comes in f/4 and f/2.8, and each of those comes in a model that has image stabilization (IS) or without. I have the f/2.8 non-IS version. All of the 70-200mm L lenses are excellent. I had the f/4 version before, but I needed f/2.8 in order to shoot sports at night. Definitely a must-have lens.

[Hillary]

Love Casey's advice

Does anyone in your circle of friends shoot with either a nikon it canon?
My advice is either go with what you are familiar with or hold each one in your hand. The nikon body felt better in my grip than a canon.

I completely agree with te comments above, invest in a midrange camera body and a sturdy piece of glass.
For every day you would like a midrange focal length wide angle, go with the 24-70 that Shane talks about. I shoot a nikon, and I have the nikon glass. That lens will cost you but it is on my camera 80% of the time.

But I will also say that each photographer is different depending on what you like to take pictures of. Maybe the way to go is getting a "kit" lens and finding the focal point you prefer.

Another note: if our vocab is confusing you (focal lengths, aperture, mm, f stops, etc.) then do some research before you splurge because there is nothing worse than spending 3k and keeping it on auto mode.

[billinkb]

It's not the stove it's the cook.

Agreed.

I also have to agree with buying the body and then getting a couple of good lenses.

I bought a camera with the kit lens and now it's hardly used.

[Buckhunter75]

My research was reading independent reviews. Customer reviews are pretty much split depending on what the individual has experience with. In most of the professional reviews I read Nikon had a slight (very slight) edge over Canon. All others came well short of those 2.

[Henry]

Tamron is only slightly less sharp in the corners than the Canon L series when comparing the 24-70mm, plus the Tamron has image stabilization and is about only half the price(mk II).
Check it out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fC3IWsQ_Ms&feature=youtube_gdata_player

http://m.bhphotovideo.com/mobile/detail?R=845339_REG&

[Curtis32]

I just switched from a Sony A100 to a Canon 70D and love it so far. Quality glass is where you should invest the interest in. I have been saving up about $4k for years for a good quality set and ended up getting a new Canon 70D, with three good lenses. I chose to not get the kit and pick the body style I wanted and buy the lenses seperately.

I looked into the Nikon and Sony line up as well but the Canon got my attention with how easy the customer support was to talk to me on the phone to answer some technical questions before buying. I also found out Canon does some seminars throughout the US on occasion and that interested me. I did not find any for Nikon or Sony and they were not nearly as helpful to me on the phone. Also I liked the way the controls were set up on the Canon over the Nikon or Sony. That was important to me as well.

I like to look for good deals just as much as the next guy. If I had to buy a lens that was not Canon brand I may look into Sigma lenses. I have heard a lot of good things about them.