Help me select a lense!

[QueBert]

Also here, I haven't bought a camera yet so I'm not even 100% set on that. I'm leaning towards the Nikon D3300, but I'm looking at the Samsung NX30/300, Nikon J5, Olympus om-d & Canon T3i too. I'm not set on DSLR or Micro Four Thirds. I'm kind of all over the place I know, but my Googling is leading me to all sorts of cameras. The main use for this camera will be to take photos of cars I detail for my detailing web site.

I have no investment in anything digital, so I'll be starting from scratch here. I wouldn't be opposed to a fixed lense camera if it was really good quality. My budget's around $500. My starter lense I want something that excels at real close ups, not macro shots. But I'd like to be able to get in right next to the vehicles and capture good pics for before and after shots.

If anyone has a lense and/or camera suggestion here I'm all ears. With the ones I'm considering I obviously don't have a brand preference.

 

[Indus]

If you're getting a DX (crop factor camera), I've not seen a better/ sharper lens than the $200 Nikon 35mm 1.8 DX lens. Super Ultra sharp. It's cons.. it's a prime lens (fixed focal length).

I used that lens for 6 years now till I upgraded to the more expensive 35mm.

I think it's also the lens that made me fall in love with a DSLR. I tried dslr's before with a zoom and hated it.. too many options.. but with a prime and dslr in aperture priority mode was the best way to start.

P.S. If you're looking at D3300.. look at a D5300.. that articulated screen will help a lot with videos and tripod shots.

 

[carlton_fritz]

$500 for D3300 and lens? Or D3300 + $500 for lens?

 

[CuriousMike]

You actually have the right approach - find the lens that will do what you want, then the body falls into place.

$500 for body + lens is going to be tough... at least new.

I'm not sure which off-the-shelf system comes with a lens that lets you get up close - any system you have will have a "minimum focusing distance" - pay attention to that. Whatever you end up with, if you find you can't get the camera to focus as close as you want, then back up and either zoom in a bit (if you have zoom lens) or use a photo editor software to crop the photo.

My guess is you might be best suited by a Sony RX100, either gen 1 or gen 2.

Regardless the camera you pick, and I mean REGARDLESS the camera you pick, to get great results, you should study photos of detailed cars that make you go "Wow!" and figure out how they got the photo. Likely, careful selection of light and location.
i.e., for your best photos, you're going to need to spend time getting your best photos. You can't have the car in a mall parking lot surrounded by other cars, people and shopping carts at high noon and expect awesome examples of your work.

 

[QueBert]

Indus - that lens looks great, and the 5300 looks killer. Not in my budget, but if I waited a month or so I could probably swing it. Looks like a good step up from the 3300. I could get it and down the road buy a 2nd lens with zoom. The reviews on that lens you mentioned are pretty much all 5 stars.

carlton_fritz - I was trying to stay around $500 for both, I see 3300 kits for right under, obviously not with a great lens, but it would still kill my current camera - iPhone 6+

CuriousMike, I'm mobile so most of the pics I snap will be at random peoples houses. All I'll really have to contend with is how the sun is and I guess how their driveway or wherever the cars park is laid out. Will probably take me a lot of practice shots to get a decent feel for what works and what doesn't. That's the fun in photography for me though. The RX100 looks solid! and it's right in my today budget. I'm going to read some reviews on it and decide between it and the D5300. I couldn't go wrong with either. I had a Sony W something or other model camera about 8 years ago and it was pretty awesome. With that said I've never owned a DSLR so holding off 6 weeks until I can afford the 5300 is peaking my interest a lot.

Thanks for the feedback guys

 

[Imp]

I'm going to take the opposite approach...

If I didn't have a camera or any investment in lenses, I would just buy a camera with a kit lens -- and I did, last year. My knowledge in photography is limited enough that I don't think I could tell the difference between a $200 kit lens and a $2000 Canon L lens. I'm also new enough that I still don't know what I want out of a lens yet. Right now, I want a 35mm prime because it's cute and really low profile...

Worst case scenario, there are camera lens adapters floating around out there. I've heard of people using Canon lenses with Sony mirrorless cameras. There's supposedly reduced functionality, but the glass still works.

The only thing I'm concerned about nowadays is sensor size due too bad lighting conditions for 99% of my usage. Full frame or go home...

 

[CuriousMike]

I'm a Nikon fanboi, so you looking at the D5300 makes me sing.

Don't be afraid of refurbished, i.e., $489
http://www.adorama.com/inkd5300bk1r.html

 

[paperwastage]

i own an rx100 (m1/m4)

if you're looking to invest/dive more into photography, a compact camera with no interchangeable lens isn't the best place to start

the rx100 is when you want compact(can fit in pocket) and quality. many people get the (small) rx100 to accompany a (larger) dSLR kit

an a6000 with kit lens will be in the same price range, kit lens is on par with RX100. If/when you upgrade the lens, the a6000 will be much better(APS-C sensor vs 1" on rx100), and you can choose between prime vs zooms.... with the rx100, you're just stuck with 28-100 or 24-70mm

 

[EOM]

If you're getting a DX (crop factor camera), I've not seen a better/ sharper lens than the $200 Nikon 35mm 1.8 DX lens. Super Ultra sharp. It's cons.. it's a prime lens (fixed focal length).

I used that lens for 6 years now till I upgraded to the more expensive 35mm.

I think it's also the lens that made me fall in love with a DSLR. I tried dslr's before with a zoom and hated it.. too many options.. but with a prime and dslr in aperture priority mode was the best way to start.

P.S. If you're looking at D3300.. look at a D5300.. that articulated screen will help a lot with videos and tripod shots.

That 35mm f/1.8 DX would be my first choice if i could do it all again on the nikon platform. In fact, that's the lens i typically carry with me pretty much everywhere!

 

[carlton_fritz]

I'm a Nikon fanboi, so you looking at the D5300 makes me sing.

Don't be afraid of refurbished, i.e., $489
http://www.adorama.com/inkd5300bk1r.html

I was just looking at refurbished to get him a link. :thumbsup: I have gotten 2 Nikons refurbished from Nikon with zero issues. Here is a Demo model of the 35 http://www.adorama.com/US 734320.html

 

[JohnnyRebel]

(EX) condition used D7000 and 35mm f/1.8 from KEH for $550. Another $100 will get you the 50mm f/1.8D which is suitable for portraits on DX.

 

[Paladin3]

I totally get the love for the 35/1.8, it's a great lens. It's just not very versatile, so I recommend the kit wide-zoom as great inexpensive first lens to anyone who asks me. No, it's not as good optically as a prime, but it covers the focal lengths you need most if you only have one lens. You will have a real hard time taking interior shots of a car with a fixed 35mm or 50mm prime unless you only want close up detail shots.

I've got a Nikon 18-70/3.5-4.5 and it's a real workhorse for what it is. I would take it any day over a fixed 35mm if I only had one lens to shoot interiors and exteriors of a car like you describe in your OP.

The 3xxx or 5xxx and the 18-55mm kit lens will do everything you asked.