Best budget dslr for portraits

Alright everyone, I'm curious... Which is your favorite dslr for taking portraits and why? I shoot with Sony and I love them dearly but my photographer friends suggest other brands see to do better jobs.

Personally, I think the person behind the camera makes the picture. The camera is just the added tool.

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Permalink Reply by CameraClicker on January 21, 2012 at 6:02pm

It depends on how large you want to print. Bigger sensors and better software in the more expensive bodies give cleaner files which can be printed larger. Beyond a noise free, many pixel file, a lens with a very wide aperture for easier blurring of the background is the other SLR advantage. After that, it is just the camera with a menu system you like and that feels good in your hands. If you like your Sony, get it a 50 mm f/1.8 or f/1.4 lens, or even 35 mm f/1.8 or f/1.4. Try them out at a Sony store to see which focal length you like better.

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Permalink Reply by Melissa Wilkinson on January 21, 2012 at 6:13pm

I have a 50mm f/1.8 and it's awesome! And as for printing, the biggest I've done is 16x20 and the pic quality was great. The pic details were fine no obvious noise detected. But thanks! I think Sony is more user friendly and easier to handle for me. However I'm open to suggestions

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Permalink Reply by Sajid Fakir on January 21, 2012 at 6:44pm

Well, no one can suggest what's right for you without knowing you. No one knows you better than you know yourself. Find a dedicated, reputable camera shop in your area. Walk in. Spend a few minutes getting to know the menu and features of each camera to help determine which suits your taste the best.

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Permalink Reply by Anatoliy on January 22, 2012 at 12:03am

The truth is that if you are planning to go professional or take your photography to a higher level then best go with Nikon or Canon as they offer you a lager range of lenses, camera bodies and accessories. Those brands are considered more on the professional side but yes it's more about the person taking the photos but cameras make the job so much easier.

You will not see top professional using Sony, Pentex or Olympus and there main camera brand it's either Nikon or Canon.

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Permalink Reply by CameraClicker on January 22, 2012 at 4:47am

In this video, the judge expects the photographer to have much better than budget equipment.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjBSIvg3pjc

He also expects the photographer to have more than a passing familiarity with the equipment.

As an amateur you can use budget equipment.

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Permalink Reply by Melissa Wilkinson on January 22, 2012 at 6:07am

That is so true. So I guess my questions should be what are the better pro equipment used now, being that there are so much.

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Permalink Reply by Melissa Wilkinson on January 22, 2012 at 6:49am

Do u have a particular canon on Nikon in mind that is both user friendly and pro that would be easy to transition to? I was looking at the canon rebels to far... Is Nikon easier to use than canon or visa versa?

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Permalink Reply by Carrianne P. on January 22, 2012 at 3:51pm

I got the canon T1i a few years ago and it was pretty easy to get accustomed too... I plan on buying a full frame sensor camera soon since I've learned my way around the custom settings. But like everyone else suggest head to a store and test some out in your hand. Nikon and Canon are equal one is not better than the other. Canon does have more options for lenses but Nikon is getting there. T1i has been pretty reliable to me for a pro and casual camera, but if you decide on a canon and dont have the $$ for the 5D try out the 7d (it's a c-sensor like the rebels but has some good features almost to the 5D, well so I've heard)

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Permalink Reply by Melissa Wilkinson on January 23, 2012 at 7:49am

I looked at the 7D and it seems good so I'll check it out in store and see how I like it in person. also will check the T1i.. thanks a mil.

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Permalink Reply by CameraClicker on January 22, 2012 at 4:20pm

Presently Canon offers a couple of bodies with full frame 21.5 Mpx sensors, and a collection of bodies with 18 Mpx APS-C sensors. They also offer a 16 Mpx APX-H sensor. They are moving their flagship body from 21.5 to 18 Mpx with the 1D X, available shortly.

Nikon recently released the D4. I don't follow Nikon's offerings as closely as I only have one of their film cameras and all my digital cameras are Canon.

A few thoughts:

If you are doing this as a professional, you probably have to consider return on investment. Not having to worry about that is something I enjoy as a amateur.

Full frame cameras have a wider field of view so you can stand closer to your subject with the same focal length.

Full frame lenses are bigger, heavier and usually cost more. Typically the lenses are also faster.

Full frame lenses fit APS-C bodies.

Full frame sensors typically have larger photosites (pixels) which gives them an advantage from an engineering perspective which translates into better pictures.

Sony and Nikon bodies share some sensor assemblies but Nikon modify their sensors once they receive them from Sony.

The digital image you get out of the camera is a result of the sensor assembly and the software running on the body's processor.

As you move up Canon's line of bodies, the auto-focus improves, both the number of sensor points and the sensitivity and speed of those points.

As you move up the product lines from entry level through intermediate to professional, the size and weight of the bodies increase.

How well a photo turns out is directly related to how well you interact with the camera. You need to visit a well stocked store and try out a number of body and lens combinations to see what suits you best.

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Permalink Reply by Melissa Wilkinson on January 23, 2012 at 7:53am

seems like I'm leaning more towards the canon. I really do not want a heavy camera and would like more manual features as I try not to shoot using auto modes or focus sometimes. As for lens, I mostly shoot portraits so I don't need many lenses but quality ones..

Thanks for all the great info.. You making my decisions much easier!

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Permalink Reply by bryn grhm on February 7, 2012 at 1:02pm

One piece of info about camera bodies that I found useful is that the cameras today have so many bells and whistles, you can't really go wrong with the major camera makers, whether Canon, Nikon, Sony, Panasonic, you name it. That's usually followed up with getting the best and fastest lens's you can afford. Quality glass is an investment that keeps on paying long after the next upgrade you may have in your camera body. And, from what I hear, that's likely gonna be Canon or Nikon. It's better to have a less fancy camera with great glass than the other way around. Why not research who makes the best lens for the work you do? Then focus on what camera body is gonna meet your budget? Or invest in photography master classes with someone who specializes in your photography interests before investing in new equipment? That would be consistent with the philosophy, "It's the photographer who makes the photograph, not the camera."