Camera / lens recommendations

[Black_hawk]

Hi all,

This is my first post on this forum. I am an IT guy from Bangalore with a passion for travelling, cars and photography. I have been pursuing photography as my hobby since 7+ years but want to take it up a notch. Need your suggestions please.

I have saved about 1.5 lacs INR for the upgrade, have a Canon 700D with kit lenses (18-55 & 55-250) + EF 40 mm f2.8 prime. Also have a Godox TT685C for interior Portraits. For the last few years, my DSLR is mostly relegated to travel (landscape) and portraits with a sprinkling of wildlife and bird photography primarily due to size / weight and low image quality.

Of late I have developed an itch to improve my photography and iPhone 12 photos don't really cut it as I like to print my photos too (4x6). On the other hand, I took many excellent photos with my DSLR with the kit lenses but I feel limited by the equipment.

Challenges I face: lack of dynamic range, slow / unreliable autofocus, high noise in ISO above 3200. Many times I lost multiple photos due to non sharp / front / back AF especially in portraits or wildlife. Also, the keeper rate for burst shots (with AI servo and back button AF) falls drastically to 10-20% only. But, if I shoot single shot, that keeper rate increases to 60-80%.

I understand, getting better glass could solve part of my problems. If feasible I would like to move to FF too.

What would be the best way forward for me?

1. Get a new FF mirrorless (A7III/Z5/R8/RP): I can get a Sony A7III body for 1,29,000 new, with 24-105 F4 Sony, it will be 2.0 lacs plus. Z5 is under a lac and can get a 24-105 F4 under 1.4 lacs Z6ii with same lens is 1.8 lacs. RP with 24-70 2.8L will come about 1.8 lacs. Should I wait for R8? Canon has lack of good affordable RF lenses I feel.

2. Get a Fuji: XS10 looks like a good option but will it be a good upgrade over the Canon 700D? Or would XT4 be a better option. Smaller overall equipment but mixed reviews regarding AF performance.

3. Get better lenses: Of late, EF lenses are out of stock mostly online or in store. But I can try getting some good used ones.

4. Get a used DSLR: I still like the ergos and feel along with OVF of a DSLR. Should I go for used FF body? Or go for something like 90D or 7Dii.

5. Any other option

TLDR version: what best option to upgrade body / lens from 700D & Kit lenses. Usage: Portraits, family photos (incl shooting my 2 yr old hyperactive kid), travel & landscape photos. Negligible video requirement.
Budget: 1.5 lacs, can be incrementally increased over the next few months too.

Thanking in advance!

- Mayank

[Bharat Varma]

my DSLR is mostly relegated to travel (landscape) and portraits with a sprinkling of wildlife and bird photography

First prioritize.
All of the above really need different lenses, shooting techniques and type of gear.

Some basic tips -
1. Stay away from Canon's new mirrorless cameras. Very expensive, no third party lenses, debatable benefits (except for the top of the line bodies).
2. Canon has great value in the 5D series (FF) and the 7D (crop) used bodies. Very rugged and reliable too. You do give away a bit in terms of iso and DR to Nikon and Sony. Only matters in birding, primarily.
3. Nikon D500 with a 200-500 is unbeatable value for money for birding and wild life. By a very large margin. There's nothing out there that compares with it. But heavy, and a change of brand for you.
4. Tamron's 150-600 G2 is a great lens too.


Avoid Sony/Fuji/Olympus for starting with. Relatively poor ergonomics, very complex to use, poor resale (as compared to Canon/Nikon, imo).


You're probably best off with a 7DII for "Portraits, family photos (incl shooting my 2 yr old hyperactive kid), travel & landscape photos".
Your existing lenses (especially the 55-250) can give you amazing results for portraits as well as landscapes. The 40mm is also a great lens.

You should be able to get an old 100-400 + 7D II under a lakh.
Spend some money on a good travel tripod and lighting, and you're good to go.
Add a 5D2 or 5D3 or even a 6D (v1) for the full frame experience. (The 6D is a pretty awesome, underrated camera for most things except fast action).


Hope this helps.

[Black_hawk]

Thanks for the recommendations, but wouldn't a modern camera like Canon R7 have better image quality especially in low light conditions than say a Canon 7D? If I combine R7 with RF 100-400 lens, will that be a good option for birding and wildlife ? Also, 5D are either high priced in the market or heavily abused (1.5L+ shutter count). Would a new RP be a better option to used 6D mark 2 for FF?

For Nikon, which camera and lens would complement D500? I am searching for a 200-500 lens for wildlife and birding

[Krish Chandran]

I have been pursuing photography as my hobby since 7+ years but want to take it up a notch.

for interior Portraits.. . .  my DSLR is mostly relegated to travel (landscape) and portraits with a sprinkling of wildlife and bird photography primarily due to

took many excellent photos with my DSLR with the kit lenses but I feel limited by the equipment.

As I understand it, you are looking for advice regarding cameras and lens combinations, preferably full-frame, for

Portraits - Indoor & Outdoor
Travel
Landscape
Wildlife (mammals) &
Bird photography

Bharat has already suggested that you need to prioritize. Each of the items listed are a separate genre requiring different lenses. For travel, small and compact cameras are what you are looking for. The other genres will all work with the same camera body. Stocking up on the best lenses (or even very good quality) of each genre of photography is both expensive and unwise. I would suggest you work out what interests you most, invest primarily in that genre, and buy cheaper multi-use zoom lenses for the others, starting with one camera body.

You will get the most useful advice, after you are able to figure out what you want to do, most of all. If you buy first and do your figuring out later, you'll be back on the forum in the "sell" section before long, having spent more money than you intend to. It will not be easy, but I assure you, it will be worth the effort. Good luck.

[Black_hawk]

Hi Krish,

My preferences /usage are as below:
40-50% landscapes
30-40% Portraits/ family photos
5% street photography
<5% birds

Portraits/family photos include shots without flash indoors so a good low light performance would be good. It's okay if I don't have reach for wildlife or birding

[Roy]

I will make an attempt to suggest high quality gear based on your need and budget.

All items used:
Nikon D810: 70K
Nikon 18-35mm: 30K or Tamron 15-30mm: 45K
Nikon 50mm 1.8G: 8K and/or Nikon 85mm 1.8G: 18-20K
Nikon 200-500mm: 50-55K

With this setup, you have almost all genres covered without breaking the bank.
However, if you want the latest and the greatest, you can plan for mirrorless but at a substantial cost penalty.

[Black_hawk]

Thanks Roy! Would D750 be a good option? I am getting some options for body at 50-60k depending on condition /shutter count or is the higher megapixel of D810 an advantage (better ability to crop photos & print)

[Roy]

I suggested the D810 as your main priority is shooting landscapes. Its dynamic range at ISO 64 is one of the best among all DSLRs, probably surpassed only by D850. 36mp will be also useful for cropping if you use it for wildlife.
For all other purposes, D750 is probably a wonderful body.

[Black_hawk]

Thanks a lot! 😊 Learning so much new, Nikon cameras and their numbering system is very new to me as I have been a Canon guy for 7-8 years, and have been following a bit of Sony and Fuji too. Somehow Nikon has made it quite confusing and each body serves a seperate need / requirement in their FX line-up.

[Krish Chandran]

I will make an attempt to suggest high quality gear based on your need and budget.

All items used:
Nikon D810: 70K
Nikon 18-35mm: 30K or Tamron 15-30mm: 45K
Nikon 50mm 1.8G: 8K and/or Nikon 85mm 1.8G: 18-20K
Nikon 200-500mm: 50-55K

With this setup, you have almost all genres covered without breaking the bank.
However, if you want the latest and the greatest, you can plan for mirrorless but at a substantial cost penalty.

This is a good recommendation - I  would second that. Since your birding priority is less than 5% I suggest you remove the 200-500 altogether.

Thanks a lot! 😊 Learning so much new, Nikon cameras and their numbering system is very new to me as I have been a Canon guy for 7-8 years, and have been following a bit of Sony and Fuji too.

People recommend to you what they are familiar with and know by long use. If you prefer another brand, you should go with that.

Somehow Nikon has made it quite confusing and each body serves a separate need / requirement in their FX line-up.

Not at all, no manufacturer I know makes cameras for a specific genre of photography (special use cameras are an exception). Just like Sony, Fuji or Canon, Nikon also makes cameras that can and are being used for multiple genres of photography. Recommendations that you are getting are based on what each camera is best at - which is why everyone asks you what specifically you are most interested in.

Once again, specificity helps. If you prefer Canon to other brands, ask for a camera lens combination recommendation within the Canon ecosystem. The answers may be more to your liking.