We are looking for a digital SLR camera that we can use for photos at sports events, fast bikes and cars, and also for holiday snaps. Don’t want to spend a fortune as it would only be used a few times a year as the 12mp cameras on our phones are great for everyday pics. What should we be looking for and where should we go to look? Thanks in anticipation of the professional advice. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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You should look for a digital SLR camera that we can use for photos at sports events, fast bikes and cars, and also for holiday snaps that you can use a few times a year. job done. |
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"You should look for a digital SLR camera that we can use for photos at sports events, fast bikes and cars, and also for holiday snaps that you can use a few times a year. job done."
Wow, I never had you down for being a nerdy, techy type.  |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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If you want to shoot action sports photography, then it boils down to three factors...
How well the camera can buffer individual frames (it's image buffer). Larger the better.
How fast the camera can write its buffer out to a memory card (the card type is a BIG factor)
How fast the shutter assembly can cycle and whether the power supply inside the camera can pump current into the shutter in such a quantity for the shutter to go like a machine gun
Nikon made three models of their cameras with the H suffix. If you look at those they're slightly less image quality than the usual cameras in that range, but they make up for it by being able to take and write out images so fast, they've been the professional's instrument of choice.
The other companies do similar things. If you're going to be doing serious work, then think long and hard about the camera. It having a 'sports mode' is not quite enough....
Good luck with your choice. I'd be tempted for shake reduction in body rather than the lense too, but I like my old glass a bit too much.
Wolf
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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It's not just about the camera. It's about the lens. Do you have some lenses from a film slr?
If you do then you will want the same make camera so you can use the lenses. If not then write a dream list of lenses you may want in the future and compare prices.
Bottom line is speed. there are as many reasons to pick Cannon as Nikon. But once picked you have to follow that brand as you find the cheapest asset is the ceramic body. |
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By *adgeeMan
over a year ago
Sw Scotland |
" Don’t want to spend a fortune as it would only be used a few times a year as the 12mp cameras on our phones are great for everyday pics. "
What kind of phone do you have that has a 12 Mp camera?  |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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I use a Canon EOS 40D. I've had it about 4 years and I'm sure there will be a newer model out now.
It will shoot at 6.5 frames /sec which sounds like a machine gun. ideal for catching fast action such as you require.
Along with a battery grip, extra lenses etc, I paid 1500 quid for it, but that was back then.
Apart from the magapixels etc etc, the most important thing about a camera is the lens - if you have a shit lens, you'll have shit images, no matter how good the camera body is, no matter how good a photographer you are shit lens = shit images.
Also make sure the SD/CF card has a fast write time - Cat10 cards are the fastest. They'll cost you serious money compared with the cheaper cat4 stuff which are sold on Ebay for little money, but the faster the card,the quicker the camera can record the image to the card and prepare to take the next shot - this is particularly importans it shooting at 6.5 f/sec.
Hope this helps |
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" Don’t want to spend a fortune as it would only be used a few times a year as the 12mp cameras on our phones are great for everyday pics.
What kind of phone do you have that has a 12 Mp camera? "
There are quite a few of them? Some of the newer Sony Xperia's for example..
Just to add my two pence worth.. Do you really need an SLR just to use a few times a year? You hardly sound like pro's if you are happy with cam phone snaps (12 mega pix or not). Have you thought about a bridge camera? |
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"I use a Canon EOS 40D. I've had it about 4 years and I'm sure there will be a newer model out now.
It will shoot at 6.5 frames /sec which sounds like a machine gun. ideal for catching fast action such as you require.
Along with a battery grip, extra lenses etc, I paid 1500 quid for it, but that was back then.
Apart from the magapixels etc etc, the most important thing about a camera is the lens - if you have a shit lens, you'll have shit images, no matter how good the camera body is, no matter how good a photographer you are shit lens = shit images.
Also make sure the SD/CF card has a fast write time - Cat10 cards are the fastest. They'll cost you serious money compared with the cheaper cat4 stuff which are sold on Ebay for little money, but the faster the card,the quicker the camera can record the image to the card and prepare to take the next shot - this is particularly importans it shooting at 6.5 f/sec.
Hope this helps"
No one else saw the "don't want to spend a fortune" bit then... |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"
No one else saw the "don't want to spend a fortune" bit then..."
I did see it, but the point I was trying to make is that it cost me 1500 quid then -ie 4 years ago. The same model now 2nd hand would be a tiny fraction of that price but still a good camera which would do exactly what the OP requires .....
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There are very few 'bad' cameras, so handle as many as you can and pick the one you're most comfortable with. You'll get much better results from a camera that you like using than one that feels awkward.
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