You don't have to use it in manual. Plus the best way to learn about the exposure triangle is to use manual and experiment.
It's not that hard, and it's not like your burning through film.
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First time DSLR buyer: need some buying advice
- Thread starter JerTheGeek
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It's not that hard, and it's not like your burning through film.
That's true. Maybe it is a better idea to go with the mid-level 70D now. There isn't a huge price difference anyway.
When I got started 9 years ago I moved from a bridge camera to a 30D. I considered a rebel but wanted a better camera to grow with. I find entry level cameras to be very unintuitive to shoot in manual mode if you plan to learn that. They are great if you want an auto only camera but no shutter lag. But if you want to actually learn how to use a camera in manual mode then buy one that makes it easy.
I am eagerly awaiting the EM1 Mark II so I can upgrade the EM5. The m1 mII has some really great new features rumored. My fave walk around/every day lens is the Oly 12-40mm f2.8 Pro. It's a fantastic lens.
Looking forward to seeing the photos of your new friend from the beach!
One thing that stood out for me in these too cameras were the battery life. You need a longer battery life when shooting video. Every time the LCD screen is on, it sucks the juice out of the battery. So if you are set on the T6s you will need another battery.
But seriously get the 70D. Each brand will use the same Operating System. The difference is when you get up in the models, you have more features unlocked. Kinda like buying a car. The base models are the entry levels. The fully loaded are the Pro types (sorta). Any camera you buy will use an Aperture and a Shutter. The Entry level and Midrange will give you auto settings. You can easily move from there by using the Aperture setting (Av) or Shutter Setting (Tv) and let the camera set the rest. So moving to a 70D will be user friendly just like the T6s.
Both Canon and Nikon websites have user manuals and tutorials that are easy to follow. Plus there are users on Youtube that will go through the entire camera menu. I like looking at the tutorials on youtube before reading the manual. kinda fun to explore. Go with the 70D you will love it.
That makes sense, as long as they have the same general menus and settings, may as well get the 70D as it has the better more professional features and room to grow. Thanks for the advice! I'll be going with a 70D!
If you go with Canon, I would go with the single 18-135 lens set-up. I actually have all three lenses and I just leave the 18-135 on all the time. I might put the 55-250 on if I need more zoom (like at a soccer game). My 18-55 is busted and I've not bothered getting a replacement.
If you go with Nikon, I heard the 18-200 lens is very nice as a single lens option.
If you go with Nikon, I heard the 18-200 lens is very nice as a single lens option.
Yeah that is what I'm going with for sure, for me it will be nicer to just have a single lens I can take out shooting. If I need more zoom I probably will pick up a 55-250 sometime, but at least I can get a nice amount of zoom on the 18-135mm, and most importantly for me, a great focal range from normal to zoom.
If you do go with the 18-135, make sure you get the newest one. I believe Canon is on their 3rd version. I'm not sure how to tell them apart. Do a quick Google to make sure you don't get stuck with an earlier revision.
Also, another benefit of the 18-135 over the 18-55 is that the 18-135 is faster at 55 than the 18-55.
At 55mm, the 18-135 will be at f4 or so. The 18-55 will be at f5.6 ... you might be able to get away with a faster shutter speed when you're indoors or if you don't want flash. In any case, it's a little more flexible that way.
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EDIT - another, more expensive option, would be the 15-85 lens. the 15mm focal length could be useful for indoor shots where you can't simply take a step back.
I'm getting the one that comes bundled with the refurbished 70D, hopefully that's the newest one.
Um, you keep mentioning DSLR vs video. Ignorning the fact that even camcorders can take stills, what many of us keep saying is that while ALL digital still cameras can do video, some do it better than others. To see what I mean, check out the Panasonic GH-4. Probably the premiere video+still camera. It's beyond your capabilities and probably budget, but I cite it just as an example. Lotsa vloggers and frequent video users prefer M43's and mirrorless for their video features. And they take fine still photos too.
And it isn't just the pure video, like 4k. It's features like even the most basic like external mic jack, real time HDMI out for monitors, availability of cine lenses, etc.
See http://www.starkinsider.com/2015/03/top-5-best-dslr-cameras-for-shooting-video.html for more examples.
And it isn't just the pure video, like 4k. It's features like even the most basic like external mic jack, real time HDMI out for monitors, availability of cine lenses, etc.
See http://www.starkinsider.com/2015/03/top-5-best-dslr-cameras-for-shooting-video.html for more examples.
Interesting... the 70d is mentioned in Adorama's article
http://www.adorama.com/alc/best-ent...m_content=ALCBody&utm_campaign=Email090916ALC
http://www.adorama.com/alc/best-ent...m_content=ALCBody&utm_campaign=Email090916ALC
The 70D is a very wise choice. The prosumer camera will get you a lot more mileage in the long run than any Reble would have. I have a 60D I have had for almost 5 years and I Kept it as a backup/supplement for my 6D. Something that is worth the extra money alone is that the xxD and xD line of cameras use the same E6 battery packs, which is handy if you do upgrade or get another camera body in the future.
Also, if you are going to be shooting a lot of video, I'd highly encourage you to pickup either a fast prime or zoom lens with a fixed aperture. I find, and you may or may not, shooting with the variable aperture lens to be cumbersome. Going from f3.5 to f5.6 just because you had to zoom in could mean the difference between shooting a usable ISO and having to bump up to one with a lot of noise.
A good option that won't break the bank is the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8. You can find it new for about $400 or used for about $250. It's a under the radar black horse in terms of image quality for the price. It is kind of an odd focal length, and, no, it isn't top tier quality glass, but it is a very good lens. On a crop frame it is a good portrait and interview lens. I used mine with a 60D, and I still use it as a walkabout lens on the 6D.
Also, if you are going to be shooting a lot of video, I'd highly encourage you to pickup either a fast prime or zoom lens with a fixed aperture. I find, and you may or may not, shooting with the variable aperture lens to be cumbersome. Going from f3.5 to f5.6 just because you had to zoom in could mean the difference between shooting a usable ISO and having to bump up to one with a lot of noise.
A good option that won't break the bank is the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8. You can find it new for about $400 or used for about $250. It's a under the radar black horse in terms of image quality for the price. It is kind of an odd focal length, and, no, it isn't top tier quality glass, but it is a very good lens. On a crop frame it is a good portrait and interview lens. I used mine with a 60D, and I still use it as a walkabout lens on the 6D.