Recommendations for Camera - Young Family

rake on 10/09/2020 - 01:28

Hi all,

Appreciate your help with this in advance. Parent to an infant,

Current Gear:
99% of photographs/videos -> Pixel 2XL and Pixel 3XL
Remaining on-> Nikon D700 with either AFS 50mm f1.4 or AFS 24-70 f2.8

Past:
I have travelled quite a bit by road and have always lugged my DSLR along. Loved travel and people photography and this is from the time when phone camera quality wasn't much to talk about. I used to capture RAW most of the times and edit them on Lightroom on my computer. This worked really well and I quite enjoyed the entire process.

Current Situation:
Over the years, phone camera quality got better. The equation of DSLR quality+weight Vs. Phone camera convenience+quality tilted more to phone. But in the recent weeks, I have taken few photos again on the SLR, the physics of quality glass cannot be beaten. We want to increase the percentage of shots on camera, however the D700 is 2008 technology and the focusing really struggles with a fast moving infant.

Question for fellow OzBargainers:
I did do a little research and am a little confused:
Option 1: Upgrade body, stick to Nikon line up so I don't have to buy the lens. D780 or even D850 perhaps. Familiar to the Nikon system/menu helps.
Option 2: Mirrorless, don't mind Sony or Nikon. But need to purchase lens as well.
Option 3: Fuji XT. New system altogether, APS-C format.

I don't have a budget in mind as such, but I will definitely go with the Cost Vs Value analysis (as I do with most things). For Option 2 or 3, might have to go through the process of selling the current gear, which again isn't very enticing.

Also - sitting down and editing on computer is not preferred any more. I trialled Adobe Lightroom on Android, it looks decent but am yet to edit a RAW file on it. What do people do for editing RAW files these days?

Again, thanks in advance for your suggestions.

Electrical & Electronics Camera

Comments

  • cray on 10/09/2020 - 01:57
    +4

    Hi, I shoot professionally and still running on a D750 and a D4 for the last 2/3 years.

    Just my opinion, but as you are coming from a D700, I think a D750 would be quite an upgrade and it wouldn't cost an arm. File size is manageable as well and not overly large compared to newer bodies. Low light performance is fine too. You just need to invest in good SD cards.

    Yes the build quality is not as good on the 750 (more plastic) but the IQ paired with your 24-70 would probably be the cheapest upgrade path for you. I personally know at least 2 other professional photographers that swear by the D750.

    Focussing is pretty reliable on the 750 for me, not that much different from the D4. Fast moving infants are just as challenging to shoot on the D4, so it's not really the limitation of the camera. Perhaps the newer ones would be better, will need to do more research and weigh up the cost difference.

    D750 is also quite compact/light (without the grip) so its my go to camera when I travel + a 35mm. Battery life is decent and cheap to get extras (Amazon).

    You'll find that if you're shooting on 1.4 focus will be slower and you'll miss more. Keep it at 2.8 or higher and you'll be fine. 24-70 would be much faster in AF.

    Lightroom experience on a computer is still the best for me despite being time consuming. Good luck!

    • rake on 10/09/2020 - 17:47

      Thanks for the recommendation, Gumtree does have a D750 in sub $1000 for low shutter count, I hadn't considered this path but will now look. Thanks for that!

      The reason I had not considered it was because it is a 2014 model. I have now owned D700 for 10+ years and more likely to keep the next DSLR for that long. So might as well get the newer model and hence D780.

      Regarding 50mm 1.4, I barely ever go lower than f2. F2.8 is definitely the sweet spot. The 24-70 has unbelievable DOF and results. 50mm just is easier to carry for Mrs.Rake.

      Lightroom experience on desktop is definitely better to me too, but I don't think I might have time to sit down and do it that much. If I were doing this professionally, I'd prefer computer Lightroom too!

  • dust on 10/09/2020 - 07:34

    Would recommend a crop mirrorless instead. Second hand Sony A6000s are cheap and good!

    • rake on 10/09/2020 - 17:48

      Thanks , I will consider the crops too. For whatever reason, I wasn't looking at them (except only for Fuji as they don't have a full frame that I know of).

  • jerome38 on 10/09/2020 - 07:44

    I was on the same boat as you before. I bought a used D750, and is good cost-efficient option as Cray mentioned. That’d cost you about $1000-$1,200.

    For the same budget, you could get a used Fuji XT20 and 35mm 1.4 or 23mm f2. I bought fuji primarily for daily family use. I chose fuji because the ergonomic is not much different vs Nikon.
    And the best is, images straight out of camera are already good you dont need to edit or if ever, just little things.

    I would stay away from Sony as the ergonomic is out of this planet (if you’re much used to Nikon) haha!

    • rake on 10/09/2020 - 17:50

      Thanks, you know I have read this so many times that jpegs sooc on Fuji are really good. It definitely has me intrigued and pretty much why I even considered cropped (other options I have looked at are full frames for their DOF). However, I was thinking XT-3. What did you end up getting?

      • jerome38 on 17/09/2020 - 08:12

        XT20 first, sold, then got XT3. Realised I should have stayed with XT20. Hahaha

  • klonky on 10/09/2020 - 08:59
    +1

    I was in a similar situation and have so far stuck with my phone - ultimately I got sick of being 'that guy' who walks around holding camera gear, plus it was difficult to look after my kids with a camera body in one hand. This was with the smallest form factor I could find too, a Sony a6000 with 35mm f1.8. I would also have to plan to take it with me where as my phone is always in my pocket ready to go. Sure I miss the bokeh but I just didnt see the point of carrying around something in hope of finding something worth taking a photo of.

    If having a camera around your neck doesnt bother you then upgrading your camera body would probably be the best option financially as you already have the glass.
    If you want something more compact and still need the range of different lenses then get a mirrorless camera.
    If you want pleasing photos SOoC perhaps the Fuji Xt series would be best for you. You could even have a look at the x100v if you want the smallest body possible, great video capability and are happy with a 35mm eqv.

    • rake on 10/09/2020 - 18:05

      I hear you. Regardless of the upgrade, I would still be using it to photograph planned sessions on less than 30 days year. The phone would still be the primary shooter. I forgot to mention that. For those few sessions, I feel like the D700 isn't cutting it any more. XT series I am considering, but something like x100v may be not. I think x100v is not going to be that much better than Pixel. I could be wrong though.

  • JimmyF on 10/09/2020 - 09:12
    +4

    Recommendations for Camera - Young Family
    really struggles with a fast moving infant.

    Then the age old saying of the best camera is the one you have on you!

    With the pixel, you can whip it out, double tap the power button, camera opens, take picture. All in a matter of seconds

    You can't do all this with a DSLR camera, unless you have it out and 'ready' to take a picture.

    By the time you go get the camera, turn it on, remove the lens caps etc, that fast moving infant has moved on.

    I have taken few photos again on the SLR, the physics of quality glass cannot be beaten

    Won't disagree at all! But its going to come down to getting a picture or not at the end of the day.

    Maybe go a mixture of both. Good camera for your pocket and those instant snaps. Get a good DSLR for those more thought about events.

    • rake on 10/09/2020 - 18:07

      Agreed, Pixel will continue to be the primary shooter. I still love using it and I love the results from the Camera app as well as Hypocam (I am a sucker for BW photos!)

      Just need a better DSLR experience for planned sessions. Or so I am thinking fo now.

  • FSTB on 10/09/2020 - 10:46

    If your a camera snob or want to parade your pictures around like a piece of art buy a camera. Otherwise just use your phone. The difference between shooting a "fast moving infant" with a decent phone camera is minimal to the average eye.

    • rake on 10/09/2020 - 18:10

      Hey - don't think I am snob that carries a camera as a piece of art ( not denying there are those that do! ). I will continue using phone, the convenience of the phone + decent results can't be beat. For pure quality, for few days of the year. I would prefer a DSLR, just something that I feel might give a better experience than D700.

      I do disgaree with you about the difference between SLR and Phone camera to be "minimal". Perhaps I don't have an average eye?

  • uncompressed on 10/09/2020 - 11:14
    +1

    Sony RX100 series. I know it's a point and shoot but…good enough that anyone over 8 yrs old can operate, solid build and decent zoom. Picture quality is good and best of all, small enough for your pocket so you can bring it everywhere and have millions of annoying baby photos you can show to friends and family that don't care (joking).

    The best camera is the one you have on you.

    • rake on 10/09/2020 - 18:11

      Thanks mate, I have actually used a friend's RX100iii and did not find it capable for my needs. I don't see myself going down the P&S route, don't think the results will be 'that much better' than Pixel.

  • Rosh272 on 15/09/2020 - 12:04

    What about Nikon P950

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