ADVERTISEMENT

Need help buying a camera DSLR/video

Lemon Thrower

Seminole Insider
Aug 28, 2001
49,614
1,368
853
looking to upgrade my camera. I have an old Canon rebel and a separate HD video camera. looking to get an HD Video camera integrated into a digital SLR.

my local Costco has 6 good options.

leaning towards the Nikon D3300. Its seems like once you get to that one in price, the additional benefits are marginal and very expensive. but maybe i am missing something.

$500 Canon Eos Rebel T5 with 18-55 and 75-300 lenses.
· 18 megapixel CMOS (APS-C) sensor with DIGIC 4 image processor
· 1080p HD video
· 3 fps
· ISO max 6400
· 3-inch LCD

$650 Nikon D3300
· 24.2 MP CMOS DX-format sensor
· 5 frames per second continuous shooting
· 11 AF points with 3D tracking
· ISO 100-12800 (expandable to 25600)
· 1080 (60, 50, 30, 25, 24 fps) HD video (MPEG-4/H.264/MOV)
· 3 inch LCD
· Review says excellent battery life
· Very small camera

$1000 Canon Eos Rebel T6iwith 18-55 and 75-300 lenses.
· 24 megapixel CMOS (APS-C) sensor with DIGIC 4 image processor
· 1080p HD video
· 5 fps
· ISO max 6400
· 3-inch LCD
· 19 point AF
· Reviews say weak battery, autofocus is poor for moving subjects.

$1100 Nikon D5500
· 24.2 MP CMOS DX-format sensor
· 5 frames per second continuous shooting
· 11 AF points with 3D tracking
· ISO 100-12800 (expandable to 25600)
· 1080 (60, 50, 30, 25, 24 fps) HD video (MPEG-4/H.264/MOV)
· 3 inch LCD with 921,000 dots

$1250 Canon 70D with 18-55 and 75-300 lenses.
· 20.2 megapixel CMOS (APS-C) sensor with DIGIC 4 image processor
· 1080p HD video
· 7 fps
· ISO max 12800
· 3-inch LCD
· Large heavy camera with solid grip.
· Reviews say weak battery, autofocus is poor for moving subjects.

$1250 Nikon D7100
· 24.2 MP CMOS DX-format sensor
· 6 frames per second continuous shooting
· 11 AF points with 3D tracking
· ISO 100-12800 (expandable to 25600)
· 1080 (60, 50, 30, 25, 24 fps) HD video (MPEG-4/H.264/MOV)
· 3 inch LCD with 921,000 dots
· Reviews say slow AF
 
Last edited:
just wondering if you already have a bunch of lenses for your current Canon? I would like to get the 3300 myself. currently have a d60 and it's way out of date with only 3 focus points.

you can also look on woot / amazon from time to time and see the d3300 for < 400 with a 17-55 mm lens. I'm guessing the quote above has two lenses?
 
just wondering if you already have a bunch of lenses for your current Canon? I would like to get the 3300 myself. currently have a d60 and it's way out of date with only 3 focus points.

you can also look on woot / amazon from time to time and see the d3300 for < 400 with a 17-55 mm lens. I'm guessing the quote above has two lenses?

the prices above are bundles from Costco with an 18-55 and a 55-250 or 55-300.

I have a 75-300 for my Canon but its USM, not STM, which I think is inferior - maybe something to do with the autofocus. I have an old Canon EOS Rebel xsi - no number, so maybe it was the first one.

Yeah, you can get better prices than Costco if you don't need both lenses. I just listed that for comparison.
 
It depends what you are trying to video. The 70d has by far the best AF, and it works fine for moving objects as long as you keep the f stop 3.5 or smaller (read higher number) you start opening it up more then that for a shallow depth of field it can hunt a bit. But I've shot plenty on that using AF and MF, and it's the best AF on a dslr. Also I 100% feel the image off a cannon is the best of all cameras out there pre color correction. If you are looking for something easy and not having to go into editing and correction, I'd get the 70d all day.

However for pictures the nikons on there are generally better. So I'd first figure out if this will be a picture first camera or if video is more important. That being said I love my gs/3 and gs/4 I hate lugging around those heavy dslrs.
 
Would you consider going mirrorless?

Yes, the Sony a6000 was recommended to me.

it used to be that the optics were not as good - you would lose a full f-stop or two - but a handful of competitively priced mirrorless seem to have equivalent optics, and probably better video.
 
Sony is really pushing the industry with mirrorless, sensor tech, in-body stabilization, lens compatibility, and most importantly price.

I was dead set on a DSLR and ended up buying the Sony A7ii.
 
Sony is really pushing the industry with mirrorless, sensor tech, in-body stabilization, lens compatibility, and most importantly price.

I was dead set on a DSLR and ended up buying the Sony A7ii.

that is a nice camera but much more than i need. it would have been considered a professional camera just a few years ago.

looking at the Sony a61000 for under a grand.
 
ADVERTISEMENT