Stan's Digital Camera Recommendations

Stan’s Digital Camera Recommendations

Winter 2015 V1.2 (prices/models subject to change!)

Compact Cameras:

Sony RX100 IV                      $950.00 Fixed zoom lens

Lumix GX-8                            $995.00  Body only

Olympus E-PL7                     $550.00 with 14-42 mm lens

Fuji X100T                             $1,099.00 Fixed lens

Fuji X 1 Pro*                          $799.00 (body only)

Compact DSLR:

Nikon D3300                         $499.00 with 18-55 kit lens

Nikon D5500                         $890.00 with 18-55 kit lens

Canon 760D (AKA T6s)       $949.00 with 18-55 kit lens

Lumix GH-7                            $579.00 w/14-42 lens (mirrorless camera, not a DSLR)

Sony SLT-A77 II                    $850.00 (body only-mirrorless)

Mid sized DSLR:

Nikon D7200                         $110.00

Nikon D610                           $1,500.00

Nikon D750                           $1900.00 for body only, $2,400 with 24-120 lens

Canon 70D                             $1,249.00 with 18-55 mm lens

Canon 7D MkII                      $1,300.00

Fuji X-T1                                $1,000.00                              

Pro bodies (full frame):

Sony A7rII                              $3,200.00  Body only

Nikon D810                           $2790.00   Body only

Canon 5D mk III                    $3,000.00  Body only

Nikon D4S*                            $6,000.00   Body only

Leica M Type 240                 $6,400.00   Body only

*model due to be replaced with improved version early 2016

Stan’s Used Digital Camera Recommendations

Winter 2015 V1.0

(prices subject to change)

Digital cameras used to be a lot like used laptops, every three-five years the technology so jumped ahead there was little point in buying a used model. Just suck it up and buy the latest technology. We’re reaching the upper end of what sensor technology is offering and we now have a better sense of just how many mega pixels we need to make the photos we need to make. With improvements in software we can resample images now and a 12 MP camera usually works for many people, 16-20 MP is more than enough for 75-90% of students. Here are some “last generation”  Prosumer and professional cameras that offer great value used. In all cases it pays to get a shutter count and anything under 50,000 clicks is a pretty safe bet. The smart plan now is to “invest” in legacy lenses and buy the body for your current needs and not think about camera bodies as a long term investment.

Nikon:

D300 (12 MP) APS-C sized sensor, buy at the $350-375 price point

D7100 (24 MP) APS-C sized sensor, buy at the $700-750 price point

D700 (12 MP) Full frame sensor, buy at $900-1,00 price point

D3X (24 MP) full frame sensor, buy at $2,100-2,400 price point

D800E (36 MP) Full frame sensor, buy at the $2,500-2,750.00 price point

Canon:

5D MK II (21 MP) Full Frame sensor, buy at $1,200-1,450.00 price point

7D 18 MP APS-C sized sensor) buy at $650.00 price point

Fuji:

X100S (16 MP) APS-C sized sensor, fixed 23mm lens, buy at $750.00 price point

XPro-1 (16MP) APS-C sized sensor, buy used body for $500-600.00

Sony:

A7R (36 MP) Full Frame sensor, mirrorless, buy used for  $1,200-1,300.