Remember my great pics from the fire lookout last year?

[DemoTex]

Those were taken with an antiquated Nikon D-70. I want to make it my #2 for this fire season. I'm getting ready to spend some big bucks on a new camera. My choice is the Canon EOS 5D Mark II w/ 24-105mm IS Outfit. It is in the $3-Cleveland+ range, so I need input.

Advice, please!

[xchrom]

1. No advice -- but those were the best threads ever! Nt

[BrklynLiberal]

12. That is exactly what I was going to say.

No input about a camera..but please make sure to keep posting the pics!!!


I thought at first that maybe there was going to be a book of your pics!!!

[DemoTex]

24. There will be

Working on that

[BrklynLiberal]

29. YAY! I am pre-ordering right now!!!!!!!!!!!!

[jannyk]

31. Totally agree! I loved the pics and the narrative - I know diddly about cameras tho'!

[MiniMe]

2. I would post this in the photography forum

They are much more knowledgeable than most of us are. You will get some good recommendations there.

I am looking forward to pictures of next year,

[DemoTex]

3. Good advice.

Thanks! But I still welcome advice here, in GD!

[onehandle]

4. In general Canon makes good stuff. I have had three Canon video cameras ranging from 1 to 6 grand.

They have all been excellent pieces of equipment. Never have had a problem with any of them.

[DemoTex]

8. I also want to get a professional video rig for the 2010 fire season ..

I'm budgeting $3000-5000 for that. Canon looks good in that range. Last years videos need improvement!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HfAYVnAHew

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXY2na0RyN0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KCW8NUL-sA

Enjoy!

[onehandle]

15. Thanks. I'm watching the snow video right now.

Very exciting. Well done!

I'll watch them all later.

[DemoTex]

26. Audio balance was a problem ..

Now that I have Photoshop Elements 8 Premier, I should be able to fix the audio tracks.

[Captain Hilts]

5. Why? The Nikon works great! We loved them!

[DemoTex]

11. Low ISO is only 200

No decent battery grip available.

Just enough issues to make it a great second camera, set on a tripod awaiting the incoming goshawk!

[Captain Hilts]

17. Oh. You want 64 ISO?

[Dappleganger]

6. GREAT choice!

All I have is a little XSi but Canon lenses are amazing!

[tabatha]

7. I bought a new 7D last year when it came out.

I like it a lot; I also like the fact that one can make movie quality videos with it (not that I have done so)

For comparisons, google

canon eos 5d mark ii vs 7d

[MUAD_DIB]

9. Are you going to be at the same spot this year?

Can you insure it? As I recall you had to bug out one night due to fire. I wouldn't want to lose an investment like that so if you can insure it...

[DemoTex]

16. I will be in the same lookout.

No, the bug-out on August 2 was not necessary. That was lightning on the road flank of my mountain.

You might be thinking of the Black Butte Lookout hike-out of July 6, 2009. That was done at 2 AM as a fire spread to 600 acres on the road side of Black Butte.

All of my gear: ham radio, camera, generator, etc., is double covered.

[greatauntoftriplets]

10. I've used Canon cameras for years....

SLRs and I still use film. I highly recommend them.

:hi:

[DemoTex]

27. Long time no see, dear heart!

Dr. D is in downtown C tonight!

:hi:

[Catshrink]

13. I don't know much about cameras so don't laugh at this.

But, here's my big idea. Would it be helpful to get a camera that you could switch lenses with this Nikon? I have two older Nikon SLRs and I regret that the second couldn't share lenses so I could have one for "normal" range and one for zoom. I also have two less expensive Nikon digital cameras that I use almost all the time now. I used to be really into photography as a hobby but now not so much.

[DemoTex]

19. No, that is a damn good question.

There are formulas to use for switching old film SLR Nikon lenses (bayonet) with new digitals. My problem is that my old film SLRs are screw-in Pentaxes. I'm getting one of those Pentaxes restored for the 2009 fire season for nothing but low light film work (f 1.4 lens).

[Pavulon]

14. The d700 is a full frame camera AND it is smart enough to use your old nikon

DX lenses and any other nikon glass you have. The lenses are really where the money is. If you own lots of Nikon (or cannon) consider that more than the body, which is a disposable item.

If you do purchase a new body DO NOT "buy up" at the sake of buying quality glass.

borrowedlenses.com rents high end glass for each platform as well.

Both are excellent platforms and you cant go wrong.

[DemoTex]

21. Good advice

I've got a lot invested in Nikon glass. What are the big diffs between the Nikon D-700 and the Canon I mentioned?

[Pavulon]

32. From all the reviews I read before

i purchased my last body they are both very good and other than the interface difference, take great pictures. Because of what i do I opted for a d300s but I do lots of very long telephoto work (birds and wildlife) and DX sensors do that well. I generally rent lenses for trips because 10 grand is just insane for a 600mm lens.

I read a bunch on this site www.kenrockwell.com

he does side by sides and comparisons, his conclusions are not as important as his details. He notes interface defaults and compares noise in a way that does not put you to sleep like dpreview.com does.

My read was they both take excellent pictures at the edges of low and high ranges and I know guys who use cannon and are happy as well.

[Ohio Joe]

18. I don't know anything about camera's but...

Definitely more pics this year you put some great ones up last time. Please continue to be safe out there!

[Octafish]

20. Kwannon makes a great camera.

I've owned Canon since my FT-b(n)QL way back when pictures needed fillum.

The digital thing you're looking at is tops. I'm very jeal-happy for you, my Friend.

The "L" series lenses are world-class, outstanding performance throughout the focal length and from center to edge, wide-open.

Here's a nice resource for camera buyers:

Digital Photograph Reviews...scroll down for an update on software that turns your still into a video making monster.

More...

Worth the upgrade?

Nikon is great. Leica cameras are, too. Best value, IMO, are Canon.

If you can get us a ride, I know where we can get a dozen Hasselblads for free.

[DemoTex]

23. FREE Hasselblads? Where?

Downtown Falujah?

[Octafish]

25. Look up, my Friend.

The 'blads got left and "All we got back wuz a bunch of rocks or sumpin."

[DemoTex]

28. Bwaa haa haa haa!

Got me on that one!

[Warpy]

22. When I was looking last year, my eyes having improved enough

for me to see through an SLR viewfinder, I compared every site online I could find. It eventually came down to optics. Canon and Nikon by far had the best optics out there, with Nikon a hair better but not enough to justify the difference in price.

I just did a quick search for that set of reviews complete with scans of every camera's strengths and weaknesses, couldn't find it.

I do, however, love my Canon. It fits my hand just fine, the batteries have decent life and come with rechargers, and 8 megapixels is fine for what I do.

[HubertHeaver]

30. Antiquated? The D-70 is my main camera!