How to buy a camera?
Discussion
Hi, all - just looking for some advice from the hive mind.
I've not done any serious photography for about a decade. The phone covers all my needs right now, which is mostly taking photos of my dogs or food. However I've got bucket-list trips coming up in November, March next year and mid-2025 and I think I need something that will do the images justice, particularly in 2025 which is a safari so I'll need a long lens.
I have a bunch of Fuji S "Pro" cameras that haven't been touched for years, and a fair few lenses for them. While the cameras aren't much cop (6MP interpolated to 12 and painfully slow writes to memory card) I'm hoping that the lenses can be revived, really to minimise costs.
The current plan is to try and be as up-to-date as possible and buy something in late summer, if there's anything on sale. I can potentially wait until the New Year sales, as my phone is good enough for November (but it would be nice to be able to practice). I know it will be impossible to buy anything this year for it to be still current in 2025. It would have the Nicon F Mount lens system so I can reuse my old lenses. It would also need to do 4K video. Between now and then I would see which of the lenses are working OK, get them serviced, and scrap the rest and the obsolete and probably nonfunctional cameras.
So the questions are: Will I regret restricting my camera choice based on lenses I already have? Will I regret using old lenses? Are there any tips on when to buy and what to look for? Thanks in advance for any support.
I've not done any serious photography for about a decade. The phone covers all my needs right now, which is mostly taking photos of my dogs or food. However I've got bucket-list trips coming up in November, March next year and mid-2025 and I think I need something that will do the images justice, particularly in 2025 which is a safari so I'll need a long lens.
I have a bunch of Fuji S "Pro" cameras that haven't been touched for years, and a fair few lenses for them. While the cameras aren't much cop (6MP interpolated to 12 and painfully slow writes to memory card) I'm hoping that the lenses can be revived, really to minimise costs.
The current plan is to try and be as up-to-date as possible and buy something in late summer, if there's anything on sale. I can potentially wait until the New Year sales, as my phone is good enough for November (but it would be nice to be able to practice). I know it will be impossible to buy anything this year for it to be still current in 2025. It would have the Nicon F Mount lens system so I can reuse my old lenses. It would also need to do 4K video. Between now and then I would see which of the lenses are working OK, get them serviced, and scrap the rest and the obsolete and probably nonfunctional cameras.
So the questions are: Will I regret restricting my camera choice based on lenses I already have? Will I regret using old lenses? Are there any tips on when to buy and what to look for? Thanks in advance for any support.
In regards to the timing of your purchase, there's nothing really to hang on for. The manufacturers put out promotions from time to time but there's no seasonal fluctuation in costs. And in any case, those promotions often tend to be a bit on the measly side anyway.
Personally, I wouldn't let your current lens stock shape your decision. They're old already so if you get a new body, in a few years time, the camera will still be current but you may well find yourself needing new glass anyway.
If you want to keep budget in check, look at what's out there second hand. Wex, MPB, Park and Camera World all have some really good second had stock worth checking out.
As you're travelling, I'd be looking at something mirrorless. And as video is a priority, I'd put Sony on your to-check-out list.
HTH
Personally, I wouldn't let your current lens stock shape your decision. They're old already so if you get a new body, in a few years time, the camera will still be current but you may well find yourself needing new glass anyway.
If you want to keep budget in check, look at what's out there second hand. Wex, MPB, Park and Camera World all have some really good second had stock worth checking out.
As you're travelling, I'd be looking at something mirrorless. And as video is a priority, I'd put Sony on your to-check-out list.
HTH
I'd say it completely depends on how good your lenses are!
If you look at a manufacturer like Canon (and doubtless others, they're just the one I know best) camera bodies tend to get superceded every couple of years or even faster, whereas they will typically produce one or two iterations of any given lens over the course of a couple of decades or more.
If your old lenses were any good when you bought them, then they're probably still going to hold up to scrutiny now, as since the introduction of autofocus and image stabilisation, there really haven't been all that many significant jumps in lens technology.
If you look at a manufacturer like Canon (and doubtless others, they're just the one I know best) camera bodies tend to get superceded every couple of years or even faster, whereas they will typically produce one or two iterations of any given lens over the course of a couple of decades or more.
If your old lenses were any good when you bought them, then they're probably still going to hold up to scrutiny now, as since the introduction of autofocus and image stabilisation, there really haven't been all that many significant jumps in lens technology.
I don't think you'll find anything new with a native F mount, although you could use them with a Nikon Z series with an adapter. I seem to recall that Nikon have stopped developing DSLRs and are focussing on mirrorless. So as above, I would keep an open mind about potentially replacing your existing lenses.
FWIW Fuji have launched their own ranges of cameras/lenses, and I like their X series, particularly for travel, as they are APS-C native, so lenses are smaller than the equivalent full frame lenses. The X-S10 may be a good option if you want a hybrid (photo/video) camera, although it is rumoured to be replaced later in the year.
As to the question in the title - my advice is to go to a bricks and mortar camera shop, and try some models. In my experience, London Camera Exchange are good, and they have shops all over the country.
Another thing worth considering is borrowing a camera/lens, Canon/Fuji/Olympus, and likely others offer a free 48 hour loan service where they ship a camera/lens to your door to try over a weekend.
FWIW Fuji have launched their own ranges of cameras/lenses, and I like their X series, particularly for travel, as they are APS-C native, so lenses are smaller than the equivalent full frame lenses. The X-S10 may be a good option if you want a hybrid (photo/video) camera, although it is rumoured to be replaced later in the year.
As to the question in the title - my advice is to go to a bricks and mortar camera shop, and try some models. In my experience, London Camera Exchange are good, and they have shops all over the country.
Another thing worth considering is borrowing a camera/lens, Canon/Fuji/Olympus, and likely others offer a free 48 hour loan service where they ship a camera/lens to your door to try over a weekend.
Thanks everyone. It seems the prevailing opinion is to avoid basing the camera choice on the lenses I've already got, reinforced by the F mount not being current (I don't want to bother with adapters).
Budget is not really an issue, it becomes a factor because of how nickable the camera will be, rather than whether it breaks the bank.
Video is a nice-to-have because it's one less piece of equipment to carry, but I don't mind using the phones for that if necessary.
I like the idea of try-before-you-buy, but I like the idea of an actual shop more. I feel personally responsible for killing off Jessops because they spent a lot of time getting me to buy a video camera back in the day. They price-matched the internet and went out of business within months.
Budget is not really an issue, it becomes a factor because of how nickable the camera will be, rather than whether it breaks the bank.
Video is a nice-to-have because it's one less piece of equipment to carry, but I don't mind using the phones for that if necessary.
I like the idea of try-before-you-buy, but I like the idea of an actual shop more. I feel personally responsible for killing off Jessops because they spent a lot of time getting me to buy a video camera back in the day. They price-matched the internet and went out of business within months.
I use Park Cameras. They are willing to advise and answer questions, but don't force it on you. Part of the problem for me. I had a G7, liked it a lot. "While you're waiting, want to try a G9 for size?" I ended up with a G9. Nasty trick.
The good thing with a camera shop with a big range of cameras, they generally have no iron in the fire. Describe what you want, and they'll tell you what they think.
Jessops used to be brilliant at that as well.
The good thing with a camera shop with a big range of cameras, they generally have no iron in the fire. Describe what you want, and they'll tell you what they think.
Jessops used to be brilliant at that as well.
Kermit power said:
I'd say it completely depends on how good your lenses are!
I'd agree with this - what are the lenses? Nikon are still making very good DSLR's with the F-mount, though they are thinning the range down to focus on the enthusiast/pro models, and long term their mirrorless Z-mount cameras will probably take over. So if your F-mount lenses are good its not a bad time to buy a newer DSLR to use them with.
Choice of camera body may depend whether your lenses are FX compatible or only DX - are your old cameras full frame or APSC sensor format? FX lenses are fine with either but DX lenses won't play well with an FX sensor.
If DX (APS-C) the D7500 is current, but IMO doesn't offer much over a second hand D7200 (which I have) or D500 for more of a pro-body feel.
if FX then D780 or second hand D750 would be my pick.
If you decide to switch to a new system the Fuji X-series are really nice as others have said, lighter and more compact than a DSLR and a nice classic feel to use - good external controls so you aren't diving into menus all the time like some cameras.
I wouldn't necessarily rule out using a mount adapter. The one I have on the R6 is excellent.
It only adds about 15mm to the overall length of the camera, is rock solid, and when I was looking at mirrorless cameras, there didn't really seem to be anything available that would take over from my Sigma 150-600 at even remotely the same sort of price.
It only adds about 15mm to the overall length of the camera, is rock solid, and when I was looking at mirrorless cameras, there didn't really seem to be anything available that would take over from my Sigma 150-600 at even remotely the same sort of price.
A left field alternative might be a Sony RX10 iv. Ultimately a larger sensor can produce better images but the lens is very good. As a do it all camera it has no equal. Bird and wildlife photography is my bag. Having been around the interchangeable lens camera route I have found this suits me best.
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