Gage Cowger , Feb 08, 2012; 02:02 a.m.
Ok, soo ive been researching and researching and i needed to upgrade from my Sony point and shoot.
but i can't make a decision on what camera to buy, So i need your help!
I have 600 - 800 dollars maybe a little more if i have too! It needs to be Body and Lens... I'm all about Macro and close up photography but also like a little landscape and street and want to get into some Portraits so it has to be very versatile. I currently have a 14.1 megapixel cybershot Sony which has been pretty good to me not to lie. Here are some of my photos to show what i mean:
Http://www.flickr.com/photos/thegoogje
I want better Image quality and and all around better everything. Ive been looking at:
Nikon D5100(like it but doesn't have auto focus, which i don't need but could help me while i am still learning)
Sony Nex-5n (was set on for a while till i started looking around more, i dont know how much of a change this is gonna be from my current camera... i just don't really know if the mirrorless cameras are good or if there is a better one.)
So any help please!? & Thanks
Matt Laur 
, Feb 08, 2012; 02:20 a.m.
Gage: The D5100 certainly has auto-focus, at least with almost any lens you're likely to purchase with or for it.
Karim Ghantous 
, Feb 08, 2012; 04:13 a.m.
Well, IMHO the mirrorless systems are the logical choice. I am considering replacing my DSLRs with something like an NEX system (I am trying an NEX-C3 to begin with). Nikon's 1 series is not good enough for 'professional' use IMHO and neither are some of the older Micro 4/3 bodies. Pentax could be the go, too.
We're seeing some exciting things happen in digital photography. Don't expect mirrorless cameras to be cheaper than DSLRs, although they sometime are, but expect them to have useful, practical advantages. E.g. if you could put the same sensor in a smaller form factor, you'd probably do that, unless doing so takes away features that you actually need like phase-detection AF.
As usual, my two cents.
Wouter Willemse 
, Feb 08, 2012; 08:33 a.m.
How many macro lenses exist for the NEX system? I believe.... none. If you're passionate about macro-photography, then that could be a nuisance (though you could get an adapter and mount an older Nikon/Pentax/whatever macro lens and use it that way).
And as Matt said, the D5100 has AF, and a selection of lenses that fulfil pretty much any need.
For me, the biggest thing that stops me from even considering a NEX is the way these camera handles. It's much much too small for my hands. Since I have no idea about the size of your hands, I'd suggest you check them in a store, handle them to see what works and what doesn't work for you.
Larry West , Feb 08, 2012; 10:20 a.m.
Wouter makes a lot of sense here. For me, I can't consider any mirrorless system that requires me to hold the camera at arm's length. That's unnatural to me. I much prefer bringing the viewfinder to my eye. The handling of the camera is one of the most important things that should be considered. That's not something that you can ask someone else to decide for you. The best advice I got was to go out and handle some cameras. When I did, I preferred the handling of the Canon large-body DSLRs (xxD, xD, etc.) to the smaller Canons, and the Nikons. While a lot of folks also prefer Canon, a lot prefer Nikon, or Pentax or Sony, etc... You need to find out your preference, and not rely on anyone else's...
Brett W. , Feb 08, 2012; 10:25 a.m.
I'm a Canon shooter so I would go for a Canon T2i (550D), around $500 with the 18-55IS lens but I admit I'm also intrigued by the mirrorless camera systems because some have adapters that take Canon lens.
BeBu Lamar , Feb 08, 2012; 01:03 p.m.
I am considering buying a Panasonic GF1, GF2 for macro. I can put my Nikon bellow on it and use my enlarging lenses.
JC Uknz 
, Feb 08, 2012; 04:14 p.m.
Some mirrorless cameras have electronic viewfinders as well as LCD so you have the option of using what you prefer. M4/3 may be 60% of APS-C but it is much bigger than your Sony with resultant ability to work satisfactorilly at higher ISO settings..
Depending on what sort of macro you do there is the option of using a close-up lens in front of a longer lens to get tight framing. I prefer this way as it keeps me back from the subject.
A macro lens is obviously a convienient way to go but it is far from the only way.
I wonder if with your Sony you are already working with CU lenses so know what I'm writing about :-)
I see it as one of the ways the bridge camera works which I have now transfered to M4/3 without needing to buy another lens. I have a two dioptre lens with threads to fit my bridge 55mm lens and my M4/3 62mm lens ... glued a step-up ring on a 62mm lens to suit my bridge camera origianlly and now it suits my M4/3 as well :-)
Karim Ghantous , Feb 09, 2012; 02:55 a.m.
How many macro lenses exist for the NEX system? I believe.... none.
Actually there is one: the Sony E 30/3.5 with 1:1 capability. But I already have a couple of macro lenses which I will use with adapters.
Mark Drutz , Feb 09, 2012; 11:36 a.m.
I'm not a fan of the NEX system for two reasons. First, since it has an APS-C sensor the lenses are the same size and weight as for a DSLR, so when you put even a moderate size zoom lens on the NEX, it weighs almost as much as one of the smaller DSLR's with the same lens. To me that negates any size advantage the NEX has.
The second, to me more important disadvantage of the NEX, is the electronic viewfinder (EVF). I much prefer the optical viewfinder (OVF) of a DSLR. But that's how I feel. Many others love the NEX.
An advantage of Nikon and Canon over Sony in general is that they both have more extensive systems. That may or may not be important to you. Given the three factors I mentioned above, I recommend the D5100. But before you buy anything, I suggest you handle both cameras, and also look into the macro options available for the NEX and for the D5100.
