DSLRs from list

[Rob Manning]

Hey Mike,

I missed the part about $1,100 budget.

Point made indeed, in that range either the Panasonic GH2 or Canon as discussed are the best choices.

RM

[Adam Leonard]

Thanks everyone. I think I’ll get the 60D. Now for the lens.

I’m leaning towards the EF-S 18 135 or 200 mm lens, which B&H packages along with the camera. Any thoughts?

[Steve Crow]

Neither, not right away in any case. Remember that with the less expensive zoom and kit lenses that the aperture changes as you zoom in…in other words they are not constant aperture lenses. What this means is that your image will darken as you zoom in unless you simultaneously raise the iso or change the shutter speed which you wouldn’t want to do (I lock mine at 1/50th a second and basically keep it there locked) (If you follow the advice never to film while you are actually zooming in or out this becomes less of an issue)

What I would be tempted to get instead would be the Tamron 28-75mm 2.8 for $499

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/284399-REG/Tamron_AF09C700_28_75mm_f_2_8_XR_Di.html

which is going to get you a a tad wider than a standard 50mm lens on a camera with a full frame sensor all the way up to about a 120mm equivalent for the short telephoto range – and all at a constant aperture. It’s got great reviews and a very competitive price. So I’d start looking there.

Steve Crow
Crow Digital Media
http://www.CrowDigitalMedia.com

[Adam Leonard]

I’ll have to check the requirement list again, but I think it has a minimum size of 115 mm for lenses.

[Malcolm Matusky]

I bought the 7D when it came out (didn’t want the vista-vision sized sensor of the 5DII) I just bought a 60D and would buy 2 60D’s at this point if I did not already own the 7D. Magic Lanern is worth buying the 60D over the 7D, even thought the 7D is a “better built camera” so what, it will be functionally obsolete before I wear it out!

Don’t show up on a “paying job” with just one body. I’m shooting dual cameras now, as the “zoom” capability of the Canon lenses is not anything like a TV or Cinema lens, I use them as “variable primes” and shoot a CU & MS at the same time for cutting.

My $0.02

Malcolm

Malcolm
http://www.malcolmproductions.com