Comments on: Comparing Cameras

By: mr. crocodrillo

mr. crocodrillo — Wed, 13 May 2009 00:16:18 +0000

Elliotte- It’s not correct to use the same lens to compare different sized sensors abilities’ to render an image. It may be practical fiscally or weight wise in the field, but for the bigger sensor, you really should be using a lens with a longer focal length- one that matches the increase in size of the sensor. Otherwise you’re comparing apples to oranges. For the cameras you list, a lens 1.5x should do the trick.

By: Elliotte Rusty Harold

Elliotte Rusty Harold — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 16:40:08 +0000

I actually do have a pretty good idea of the lenses I want. That's why I'm specifying Canon. Their high end telephoto and macro lenses seem to be a step or two beyond what I've seen for Nikon. And yes, I am familiar with spherical cows. :-)

By: Dolan Halbrook

Dolan Halbrook — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 16:25:14 +0000

Well, I’d suggest a Nikon D300 for birding, but if you have to go Canon, you’re probably best off with the 50D (the 40D would be fine, too, but I buy your logic). That, or a secondhand 1D variant. The reason I bring that up is it seems for birding good AF goes a long way, and almost any 1 series’ AF (even the old ones) will blow the doors off of the 9 point AF in the 50D. I’d take an in focus, lower res shot any day over a misfocused high res shot, but that’s just me :)

By: Tsu Dho Nihm

Tsu Dho Nihm — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 14:11:19 +0000

My suggestion is to spend a little more time investigating the lenses you want to buy and which camera bodies work (and work well) with those lenses. Camera companies are constantly upgrading the bodies, but the lenses are pretty stable and will last far longer than the body.

You like newer toys, and I don’t blame you (I’m the same way). In a year or two you’ll see another new camera from Canon that you’ll like much more than the one you buy now. I’m not suggesting you’ll run out and buy it, but you need to keep in mind that you’re most likely going to upgrade over time. After only 2 years of owning a Nikon D80, I want a shiny new D700 or D3.

By: yachris

yachris — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 11:57:29 +0000

Assume a spherical cow... Sorry, couldn't resist. If you don't get the joke, google is your friend. Anyway, do you have a good camera store near you? One that would let you actually try the cameras out, in-store, with the lenses you want to buy (and your own memory card)? Bring in a picture of a bird, tape it to a far wall, and go to town. Try that 2x adapter out. Try the macro lens. Bring the images home and look at them. Remember that the odds are that the lens will make an ENORMOUS amount of difference in the final image, so don't stint on the cash there. I wind up doing a fair amount of photography in fairly low-light situations, so the bigger sensor with less noise is a clear win for me. Your mileage more than varies.