As expected, after our convention my wife stated that she would like to pursue buying a different camera for next year. I subtly hinted that she should look into upgrading our lenses instead, as I thought it would make the biggest difference in her shots. She was trying to get some close-up shots of the stage from the crowd with a 300mm lens that doesn't let in much light. As you can imagine that's hard to do without a tripod and when the subject is constantly moving around.
Of course I know that a newer camera would have better Resolution and who knows what all features, but I feel as though upgrading the camera will still mean she needs a bigger zoom lens if she wants enough light to get clear pics at that distance.
Our camera is a Nikon D50. She had a chance to look at a Canon at the convention. And I see a local ad for a Nikon D700 which is twice the pixels and probably much newer. And our lenses would fit. $600.
I'm torn, because while I appreciate her interest in photography, she didn't practice any of these types of shots before the convention, mostly shooting macros on her phone, and I'm afraid getting the equipment to take these shots is going to cost a small fortune. And she'll be spending that money to get a few shots on a weekend once a year...
If she actually practiced more of this kind of thing, or appeared to be interested in portrait, candid, landscpae, etc. I'd be totally down for an upgrade.
She's mentioned renting lenses, but I don't think she even looked into the possibility before this event. Would that be a more reasonable approach considering the amount of time she would would actually need this kind of lens? Would we be better off just renting for the weekend?
Maybe simply sell our current camera and lenses, and upgrade wholesale? Will we have to spend $1000 to get a 300mm zoom with enough light to take good stage pics?
Of course I know that a newer camera would have better Resolution and who knows what all features, but I feel as though upgrading the camera will still mean she needs a bigger zoom lens if she wants enough light to get clear pics at that distance.
Our camera is a Nikon D50. She had a chance to look at a Canon at the convention. And I see a local ad for a Nikon D700 which is twice the pixels and probably much newer. And our lenses would fit. $600.
I'm torn, because while I appreciate her interest in photography, she didn't practice any of these types of shots before the convention, mostly shooting macros on her phone, and I'm afraid getting the equipment to take these shots is going to cost a small fortune. And she'll be spending that money to get a few shots on a weekend once a year...
If she actually practiced more of this kind of thing, or appeared to be interested in portrait, candid, landscpae, etc. I'd be totally down for an upgrade.
She's mentioned renting lenses, but I don't think she even looked into the possibility before this event. Would that be a more reasonable approach considering the amount of time she would would actually need this kind of lens? Would we be better off just renting for the weekend?
Maybe simply sell our current camera and lenses, and upgrade wholesale? Will we have to spend $1000 to get a 300mm zoom with enough light to take good stage pics?