Topic: Upgrading from a Point and Shoot

[kcmule]

I'd like to upgrade my point and shoot to something better.  I've been
looking at some Canon DSLR's but am unsure of what the best bang for
the buck is.

I'd be shooting concerts 99.9% of the time at a venue where getting
gear in the door is not an issue in the least.

I do not know enough about DSLR's to speak intelligently so any pointers,
advice, comments, etc.. are most welcome.

Thanks for your time.

[flipp]

The only piece of advice I can offer is check how noisy the shutter is on any dSLR you are thinking of purchasing. I was in a small listening room one evening recording a singer with an amplified acoustic guitar. The place holds ~125. There were two folks with dSLRs there (may have been more but those are the only two I noticed). One of the photographers shot between songs and I could occassionally hear the shutter from 40 feet. Those don't appear on the recording. The other photographer, using a Nikon which I believe was a D80, was 30 feet away and everytime he took a pic I could hear it and it is also on the recording. Very annoying.

[Brian Skalinder]

My questions / thoughts on going through the same process, though not for concert shooting:

http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,100817.0.html

[kcmule]

Thanks for the comments thus far.  I'll read that link.

[sullen]

Well how much is your budget, that's key here.

If I were in your shoes, and I was 2yrs ago and was driving myself nuts shopping for a camera.

I would wait until monday. Canon will have the rebates in effect.

~EOS Rebel XSi EF-S 18–55mm IS Kit (B) + EF-S 55–250mm f/4–5.6 IS - $200

Buying that deal, it's like getting the 55-250 lens almost free.

Pick up a 50mm 1.8, this lens is bang for buck, 100$ and you can get flawless pics under concert lights.
Extra battery, few cards, and you're done.

You'll have a nice setup that can shoot even more than concerts for under 800$

[kcmule]

Well how much is your budget, that's key here.

If I were in your shoes, and I was 2yrs ago and was driving myself nuts shopping for a camera.

I would wait until monday. Canon will have the rebates in effect.

~EOS Rebel XSi EF-S 18–55mm IS Kit (B) + EF-S 55–250mm f/4–5.6 IS - $200

Buying that deal, it's like getting the 55-250 lens almost free.

Pick up a 50mm 1.8, this lens is bang for buck, 100$ and you can get flawless pics under concert lights.
Extra battery, few cards, and you're done.

You'll have a nice setup that can shoot even more than concerts for under 800$

Budget, I guess, is around $1000 - $1200.  Really haven't decided, but that
sounds reasonable to be.  Under $800 sounds much better

Thanks for your input.

[spcyrfc]

i bought a nikkon d90.  i have noticed the shutter noise, it's loud and can be a problem as mentioned above.  i went with nikkon cause my roommate uses one and we can share lenses.  the biggest kicker for me was size.  the nikkon was smaller than other dslr's i looked at (iirc) and i really dig the feel of the camera.  it is solid, maybe it couldn't take a drop, i wouldn't want to find out. 

roommates brother shoots on a d300 with a nikkor 17-55mm lense and he beats the shit out of that.  gets the shots tho - http://stephenmaturen.squarespace.com/

someday i know i want to move to nikkon's higher class bodies d300, d700, d3 after i get my dream recording rig in order, so in some time, but i rest easy knowing all my lenses will be compatible AND that nikkon will be around for a long time.

[phanophish]

I'm a Nikon guy but honestly Canon & Nikon both make great cameras.  Right now I would say Nikon has a small nearly negligible lead in sensor performance (A year ago it was bigger lead for Canon) and a little larger lead in their flash systems.   Typically though, flash is not permitted when shooting concerts so may not be a big deal for ya.  The D90 or even the D5000 are really nice and can be found with a lens for <$1000.  They also offer HD video which has some pretty interesting possibilities.  Audio on the DSLRs is not great, but pretty easy for us tapers to overcome.  Nikon also just released a 35/1.8 lens that is probably the best choice for small clubs as it offers a little wider field of view than the 50/1.8 others have recommended while still being a really fast lens.  I just picked on up brand new for $200.  Right now I don't think Canon has an equivalent lens.

Where/what are you going to be shooting?  Knuckleheads and the Bottleneck are both REALLY low light so can be very tough rooms.  Most other venues in KC have better light but frequently have bands that you need a media pass to use a SLR. 

If you want to get together sometime I'd be more than happy to let you play with my camera at a show.  Not sure what is coming up soon that would be a good option. 

One other thought is there are some really good deals on D200 Nikons & 30/40D Canons.  You get a more "pro" camera and potentially save enough to pick up a extra lens or two.  If you have questions PM me or give me a call.

[kcmule]

I'll mostly be shooting Knuckleheads, as you mentioned I'd need a pass for
most other places.  I can do what I want at Knuckleheads and not worry
about it.  I see 95% of my shows there anyway so that is my prime ground.

I'd love to take your toys for a spin but finding a time where that is doable
is more than likely tough.  Thanks very much for the offer.

I'll be shopping around a bit before I buy anything.  I'll hit you up for your
opinion/comments before I purchase.  It's been recommented to me that I
go for something full frame, but I don't have that kind of change to drop.
Besides this is my first DLSR, baby steps 

[Gutbucket]

Shutter noise at quiet concerts drives me nuts.  I talked with a photographer at a recent Indian classical concert who was obviously distracting all the patrons with his Nikon.  Totally disrupted the delicate auditory atmosphere that the musicians worked so hard to produce.  Several attendees mentioned that they didn't mind him walking/crawling around to compose the shots, but found the incessant clicking very annoying.  If you are buying camera gear primarily for shooting music other than blaring rock, I urge you to search out something quiet.  He did mention that he found Cannon much quieter than Nikon.

I'll add that I often cringe when photographers lean up against my stage-lip mics without even thinking about it.  If the shutter is loud I get to cringe with every playback.

[phanophish]

I'll mostly be shooting Knuckleheads, as you mentioned I'd need a pass for
most other places.  I can do what I want at Knuckleheads and not worry
about it.  I see 95% of my shows there anyway so that is my prime ground.

I'd love to take your toys for a spin but finding a time where that is doable
is more than likely tough.  Thanks very much for the offer.

I'll be shopping around a bit before I buy anything.  I'll hit you up for your
opinion/comments before I purchase.  It's been recommented to me that I
go for something full frame, but I don't have that kind of change to drop.
Besides this is my first DLSR, baby steps 

Full frame is nice, but I think for your purposes probably double your budget.  The newer crop sensors from both Canon & Nikon are VERY good.  Not as good as a 5DmkII or a D700 but they are also not $2K+. 

I'd also steer away from any of the Kit lens deals.  None of the kit lenses are really suitable for low light shooting so you are spending $$ on glass that really can't be used for your primary purpose.  Instead pick up a body only, and begin building your lens collection from there.  The 50/1.8 is a staple and the best $100(or less) you can spend on a lens.   There are some aftermarket (Sigma, Tamron, Tokina) wide angle 2.8 zooms that are great options for daily and low light shooting and can be had fairly ($250-400) inexpensively.  Good glass holds value well so it's easy to resell later if you decide to upgrade.  The kit lenses very few people purchase individually so their resale value is not as strong.

[kcmule]

Full frame is nice, but I think for your purposes probably double your budget.  The newer crop sensors from both Canon & Nikon are VERY good.  Not as good as a 5DmkII or a D700 but they are also not $2K+. 

Funny, the guy that mentioned the full frame shoots with a D700.

I'd also steer away from any of the Kit lens deals.  None of the kit lenses are really suitable for low light shooting so you are spending $$ on glass that really can't be used for your primary purpose.  Instead pick up a body only, and begin building your lens collection from there.  The 50/1.8 is a staple and the best $100(or less) you can spend on a lens.   There are some aftermarket (Sigma, Tamron, Tokina) wide angle 2.8 zooms that are great options for daily and low light shooting and can be had fairly ($250-400) inexpensively.  Good glass holds value well so it's easy to resell later if you decide to upgrade.  The kit lenses very few people purchase individually so their resale value is not as strong.

Noted.  Thanks.

[it-goes-to-eleven]

I'll add that I often cringe when photographers lean up against my stage-lip mics without even thinking about it.  If the shutter is loud I get to cringe with every playback.

That's so obnoxious.  Shoot rubber bands at them?  Hit them with a laser pointer?

I'm also a shutter noise hater.  Fwiw, a lot of the noise tends to be from the mirror in the DSLR.  Most of the fixed lens cameras (some are very good) don't have mirrors and often are very silent.  Some folks build or buy noise suppressing boxes to put their cameras in.

[kcmule]

I'll add that I often cringe when photographers lean up against my stage-lip mics without even thinking about it.  If the shutter is loud I get to cringe with every playback.

That's so obnoxious.  Shoot rubber bands at them?  Hit them with a laser pointer?

I'm also a shutter noise hater.  Fwiw, a lot of the noise tends to be from the mirror in the DSLR.  Most of the fixed lens cameras (some are very good) don't have mirrors and often are very silent.  Some folks build or buy noise suppressing boxes to put their cameras in.

I do hear some shutter noise from others around me at times.  I don't
attend many "quiet" shows so this really is not much concern for me.

[phanophish]

I'll add that I often cringe when photographers lean up against my stage-lip mics without even thinking about it.  If the shutter is loud I get to cringe with every playback.

That's so obnoxious.  Shoot rubber bands at them?  Hit them with a laser pointer?

I'm also a shutter noise hater.  Fwiw, a lot of the noise tends to be from the mirror in the DSLR.  Most of the fixed lens cameras (some are very good) don't have mirrors and often are very silent.  Some folks build or buy noise suppressing boxes to put their cameras in.

It's all about perspective.  Photographers probably hate that you place your mics in the line of sight of their lenses.