What is the best SLR digital camera for prefessional photography?

Question

I am really into photography and wanted to invest in a high quality digital camera. I have heard great things about Nikon, Sony, Cannon, etc. I wanted to know your opinnion on which one is the best.

Please answer only if you know what you are talking about.

Answer 1

In the "prosumer" segment of the market, there are currently five cameras that are available for around $700-1,000 that are attracting the most attention. By the time you add a nice lens (often the "kit" lens suggested by the manufacturer) and a 2 GB memory card, you will spend about $1,500.

The February 2007 issue of Popular Photography has an article where they compared the top 10 MP DSLR's.

I took the scores and ranked the cameras similar to the way Formula 1 gives championship points. I just gave 5 for 1st place down to 1 for last place, splitting the difference when cameras tied in their catagories.

They evaluated Image Quality (giving this twice as much weight as anything else), Ease of Use, Control, and System Flexibility.

The final order and my scores are:

Nikon D80 - 17.5 points
- BEST in Image Quality, Control and System Flexibility
Canon Rebel XTi (400D) - 13.5 points
- Tied for best in System Flexibility
Pentax K10D - 11 points
- Tied for best in Ease of Use
Samsung GX10 - 11 points
- Tied for best in Ease of Use
Sony Alpha 100 - 7 points
- LAST in Image Quality, Ease of Use and System Flexibility."

Then again, this is the same magazine that put the Sony Alpha 100 dead last in this comparison named it the camera of the year in the previous issue!

Go to the original question and read the responses for more opinions.
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AiG00eHyd0oq5b.X7J.jiULzy6IX?qid=20070113133139AAHWJY0

If you want to get the "best" for the real world, consider the Nikon D200 or Canon 30D if you can afford it. For about $300-500 less, look at the results of the recent PopPhoto test and choose from that list according to your taste.

Personally, I use a Nikon D200 and would recommend it without hesitation to someone who has some knowledge of photography. For someone who wants the "best," but is starting with somewhat of an "entry level" knowledge base, I'd suggest the Nikon D80.

There are people out there who will state their preference for the Canon cameras and I will not argue with them. The Canon 30D and 400D are excellent cameras as well.

You would have to visit a camera store or camera department and pick them up and see what you think.

This review is now available online at:

http://www.popphoto.com/cameras/3569/10mp-dslr-shootout.

If you decide on a camera, come back and ask for a lens recommendation as we have experts for both Canon and Nikon who will be glad to help.

Answer 2

I'm a professional photographer who uses a PhaseOne H25 in the studio. But I shoot with a Canon 5D for my nature photography. The quality is AWESOME! I have a couple of "L" zoom lenses. DEFINITELY don't skimp when you buy the lenses! If my budget would allow me to get EITHER a great body but only a couple of mediocre lenses OR a mediocre body but a couple of great lenses, I would choose the mediocre body with great lenses. Bodies will wear-out after a few years, but you will keep the lenses for a very long time!

As to whether you should go with Canon or Nikon, it's really a toss-up. My advice to you, is to go to a full-service camera store and ask to see several models. After you have the camera in your hands, you may like the feel, location of the controls, etc. on a certain model. But if you are a professional OR you want to be a professional, I would go with either Nikon or Canon. After you really get involved with your photography, you will probably add several accessories. And both Canon and Nikon have a huge assortment to choose from. The other camera makers don't (at least not at the present time). Plus lots of third parties only make items to fit Nikon or Canon.

I hope this helps! And good luck with your photography!

Answer 3

Depends on what system you already have invested $$ in for glass. If you have Canon lenses, you may want to stick with Canon. The Canon 5D is just about the best all around professional camera you can get, for $3K-$4K. It has a full sized CMOS sensor, equivalent to a 35mm frame. Nikon and others use a APS-C sized sensor, which is a bit smaller. Megapixels are not king in professional cameras, size of sensor and other features are. If you are looking at studio work, look into a Canon EOS 1D Mark III, which were just announced this week.

I don't know what kind of $$ you are looking at spending, but if it's about $2K or less, and you don't already have $ invested in lenses, go with the Pentax platform. The features on the K10D are about the best you'll find in a sub-$1K body, and you can find ton's of lenses on ebay for cheap.

I personally have a Pentax K10D and an *istDL2 for bodies. I have many lenses for different situations, from landscape to indoor portraits. The great thing about Pentax dSLR's is that they take any lens made in a K-mount. So there are literally thousands of models available to use.

A great site to see reviews is called dpreview.com. They are a bit biased to Nikons if you ask me.

Good luck in your search.

Answer 4

I shoot Nikon, and just got a D80 last weekend.
Canon and Nikon both make good, great, and not so great stuff. Either system will be fine. If I were you, I would go to a camera store and handle a few models from both companies. See if one feels better in your hands than another. Which one has the better viewfinder for you. Which has a more logical layout. Then, that's the one!
Nikon's kit lens is better than Canon's, but you will probably invest in a better lens, either right away or soon.
Good luck!

Answer 5

The debate between Canon and Nikon never ends. I am at many photography forums, and I still see a big argument.

What is see is that Nikon has good cameras compared on prices, but Canon has better set of lenses than Nikon.

If you want to be come a real pro photographer, you would choose lenses over camera. The money spend on lenses usually 5 to 10 times the money you spend on camera.

It is up to you.

Answer 6

Assume it is more about lens than it will be about camera models. If you want to look at real pro equipment you are talking about pretty high end stuff. Most of the recommendations are for semi-pro equipment. The models suggested might allow you to put more money into lens.

Assume that once you pick a manufacturer you are somewhat locked in for life. This means that you can build up your lens family if you stay with one manufacturer while switching would really cost you for not great reason. At least if you are talking Nikon vs. Canon.

Best? There is no universal answer between the two but pretty much all the pros will pick one of the two.

Answer 7

It's really a matter of opinion. I like the Nikon, because I've been shooting Nikon for 20 years. Over the years, I have accumulated a bunch of their lenses, and their new digital cameras take their old lenses, which cannot be said of any other manufacturer, that I'm aware of (definitely not Canon).

But in terms of performance, all the major brands are good.

Answer 8

In a nutshell, lenses are more important than the camera body.

Any digital camera sensor can record an image, the quality of that image is from the lens.

I have used both Canon and Nikon equipment over the past 35 years. Both are good, but my preference is Nikon -- primarily because I believe their lenses are better.

Answer 9

Haha Dr. Id love to have a debate with you about Nikons vs Canons. =) Itll never go anywhere but it would be funny. Anyways, it mostly depends on personal preference. I am a Canon fanboy while my dad is well a Nikon. Dont know why he didnt get me the D80 when he had Nikon glass but what ever I am extremely satisfied with the Canon XTi. I was scared about how many people critized it for being "underexposed" and being too small and cheap. But I didnt really any of that, well maybe the plasticy feel but hey it makes carrying a camera around very light.

Depends, how much $$ are you willing to spend? I decided that I am going to invest all of my spare cash from my work into getting L lenses and no less. I may be insane since I am under 20, but I work for my money so I decided what I want to do with it. (L lenses are only Canon professional line of glass). You may be surpirsed how much it costs. I would recommond either Nikon or Canon. Perferably Canon, they have a faster autofocus, more IS lenses, which I now hate ='(, and well thats it I think, the full frame sensor on the higher end models are an attractive feature if you ever decided to go to a 5D or Mark II even the new Mark III, that looks cools. You cant go wrong with either Nikon or Canon, like I said before its based mostly on perference. Go to a local store and feel them in your hands and operate them and see how you like the set up.

I dont know how much your willing to spend but the Nikon D200 or the Canon 5D are both amazing cameras. The 5D is a full frame camera but of course its $3000 just the body. But of course you may want to go cheaper like for the Canon 30D or the Nikon D80. The 30D is more ideal for sports because of the fast FPS compared to most $1000 SLRs. And of course you can go cheaper than that and get the Canon Rebel XTi which I love, or you can get the Nikon D 50 which I have never really liked, I would go with the D80 if your going to go as low as $1000.

Word to the wise, you will be spending a lot on your camera, at least a 2GB CF card, camera bag, lenses, filteres, flash unit, etc. Heres a list of what I have for my Rebel XTi:
-The Rebel XTi
-Bag
-Speedlite 480EX (Flash Unit)
-3 UV filters (one for each lens, it NEVER comes off)
-1 Polizing Filter
-70-200mm f/2.8 L
-24-105mm f/4 L
-18-55mm f/3.5-4.5 EF-S
-1 1GB CF, 1 2GB CF

Thats a lot of stuff for just a basic camera. I would build upon your equipment as you go along. For instance, you buy the camera and maybe a lens or two, later in the year buy a flash unit, later on buy more stuff.

My advice, Canon or Nikon, cant go wrong with either.

Answer 10

slr digital camera prefessional photography