Camera and Lens recommendation

**Rajiv** · 03-01-2007, 03:01 PM

Hi kwun,tell me about the both camera n lens of minimum price but best in image quality n how much it will cost to me.Basically i want a camera whose image quality will suite 4 the newspaper image clippings because i am a sports journalist.

**wood_22_chuck** · 03-01-2007, 03:17 PM

Originally Posted by Rajiv

Hi kwun,tell me about the both camera n lens of minimum price but best in image quality n how much it will cost to me.Basically i want a camera whose image quality will suite 4 the newspaper image clippings because i am a sports journalist.

Language proficiency could be an issue. Here's the deal: how about you do some research on your own, publish your findings, then, and only then, ask for recommendations?

There are some phenomenal photographers here on the forum, willing and able to help, voluntarily, i.e. take time out of their busy schedule to help, but why not take a few steps on your own first. That's what the Internet is for.

-dave

***kwun*** · 03-01-2007, 08:09 PM

which one do you want? minimum price or best in quality? you cannot have both.

it will be more useful if you give more information, like budget, expertise.

i am surprised that you are a sports journalist and don't know about cameras.

but at least you came to the right place to look for information. this forum has a lot of information on camera choices. please read through them carefully in detail, we will be happy to field any more questions you have.

**cooler** · 03-01-2007, 08:36 PM

Originally Posted by Rajiv

Hi kwun,tell me about the both camera n lens of minimum price but best in image quality n how much it will cost to me.Basically i want a camera whose image quality will suite 4 the newspaper image clippings because i am a sports journalist.

http://www.badmintoncentral.com/foru...light=question

same goes for camera equip questions

**red00ecstrat** · 03-01-2007, 09:14 PM

Originally Posted by kwun

i am surprised that you are a sports journalist and don't know about cameras..

kwun, sports journalist and sports photographer are from different teams of a paper. sports journalist cares more about the story rather than photos. therefore, most of the time they will work together to cover a single event.

to Rajiv. like what kuwn said. you have to give us your budget first before we can have further discussion. as for "a minimum price but best in image quality stuff." i m afraid there is no such thing.

**ants** · 03-01-2007, 10:07 PM

I agree with Red here.

***kwun*** · 03-01-2007, 10:15 PM

here are what i would recommend for different levels of budget:

top $$$:

- Canon 1dmk3 body
- 70-200/2.8L
- 24-70L
- 50/1.4 for general purpose dark gyms.
- 85L for a bit farther away

or

- Nikon D2Hs
- 70-200/2.8
- 28-70/2.8
- 50/1.4
- 85/1.4 for a bit farther away
- 35/2 or Sigma 30/1.4 for real closeups

medium $$:

- Canon 30D
- same lenses as above

or

- Nikon D200
- same lenses as above

low $:

- i am afraid there isn't really anything suitable for badminton at the low end. all bodies and lenses are too slow.

**taneepak** · 03-01-2007, 10:22 PM

Originally Posted by Rajiv

Hi kwun,tell me about the both camera n lens of minimum price but best in image quality n how much it will cost to me.Basically i want a camera whose image quality will suite 4 the newspaper image clippings because i am a sports journalist.

I think it is more realistic to look for one that is the best value for the money. Why not consider used equipment? They are really great value for money alternative.
I have a very good friend by the name of David Chan in Hong Kong whom I have known for more than 25 years who deals with a lot of used and new photographic equpiment. He is a great source of value for money camera equipment, used and new. I have bought from, and sold camera equipment to, him in the past. He also ships worldwide and is well known in Hong Kong and internationally. If you are serious pls let me know and I will put you in contact with him.

**Neil Nicholls** · 03-02-2007, 01:29 AM

Originally Posted by kwun

low $:
- i am afraid there isn't really anything suitable for badminton at the low end. all bodies and lenses are too slow.

What do you mean by "body too slow"
the shutter lag?

**Loh** · 03-02-2007, 02:09 AM

Originally Posted by kwun

here are what i would recommend for different levels of budget:

top $$$:

- Canon 1dmk3 body
- 70-200/2.8L
- 24-70L
- 50/1.4 for general purpose dark gyms.
- 85L for a bit farther away

or

- Nikon D2Hs
- 70-200/2.8
- 28-70/2.8
- 50/1.4
- 85/1.4 for a bit farther away
- 35/2 or Sigma 30/1.4 for real closeups

medium $$:

- Canon 30D
- same lenses as above

or

- Nikon D200
- same lenses as above

low $:

- i am afraid there isn't really anything suitable for badminton at the low end. all bodies and lenses are too slow.

Looks like I've got to change my Nikon D70???

:

***kwun*** · 03-02-2007, 02:23 AM

Originally Posted by Neil Nicholls

What do you mean by "body too slow"
the shutter lag?

shutter lag is one.

also, the speed that the AF mechanism works is another one. the AF mechanism is ok if one is shooting from far away, but if sitting close to the court side when there are lots of panning and players moving around, it simply cannot keep up. by the time the camera figured out where to focus, the player is way gone already.

i have found that to be the case with my old D70, and my partner uses a Canon XT and he complains all the time that the AF is either not keeping up with tracking or it always focus on the backwall.

but as i said, shooting from far away with a tele lens is ok as there are less motion to confuse the camera.

**Neil Nicholls** · 03-02-2007, 02:25 AM

googled shutter lag
1D mkII 55 or 40ms
1D mkIII 55 or 40ms
D2Hs 37ms
D200 50ms
D80 80ms

then you have to add autofocus lag unless you have pre-focussed manually on a certain place.

D40 would like to know
(maybe 60-80ms based on http://reviews.cnet.com/Nikon_D40_w_...-32156779.html)
"However, raw and JPEG shot-to-shot time is an excellent 0.6 second (lower than the shutter lag because the camera doesn't need to focus a second time)"

**Neil Nicholls** · 03-02-2007, 02:27 AM

Are the lens with IF (internal focusing) faster to autofocus than normal AF ?

**Neil Nicholls** · 03-02-2007, 02:30 AM

Originally Posted by kwun

but if sitting close to the court side when there are lots of panning and players moving around, it simply cannot keep up. by the time the camera figured out where to focus, the player is way gone already.

wouldn't you switch the AF zone to single centre when you are in that sort of environment?

***kwun*** · 03-02-2007, 02:35 AM

Originally Posted by Neil Nicholls

wouldn't you switch the AF zone to single centre when you are in that sort of environment?

i use center point with tracking. it compensates for moving object. with the static center (centre

) zone, it won't compensate for the motion and focus is almost always off.

on the D70, it cannot even keep up with player, so whatever mode it is in, it doesn't really matter.

***kwun*** · 03-02-2007, 02:37 AM

Originally Posted by Neil Nicholls

Are the lens with IF (internal focusing) faster to autofocus than normal AF ?

yes. there are a few components to it:

- shutter lag
- AF speed of the body (how fast it thinks)
- AF speed of the len (how fast the focus mechanism moves)

in general, IF lens are slightly faster than non-IF lens, AF-s lens are much faster than IF lenses. there are always exceptions, or so i have read.

**Yogi** · 03-03-2007, 12:11 AM

If you are using nikon and if your company is paying for your camera then go ahead and get the the D2Hs with the AFS IF VR LD G what not lenses.

I do know that lot of Indian Photographers tend to use Nikon primarily because of Brilliant manual lenses than nikon used to produce. If you dont want to change lense systems(expensive) then go ahead and get your self a D1H. Not so long back there were many sports photo journalist shooting with this body.