What would be the best DSLR camera I could get with a budget around $500?
Preferably one that comes with an okay lense and can record decent audio.
Preferably one that comes with an okay lense and can record decent audio.
...can record decent audio.
Is there a DSLR that has decent audio?
Pawn shops have tons of older manual lenses (no auto anything) that you can put on the camera using a $10 adaptor ring from ebay... I'm currently shooting with an old Nikon 50mm f1.8 lens this way. Works like a champ:
What would be the best DSLR camera I could get with a budget around $500?
Preferably one that comes with an okay lense and can record decent audio.
Yeah agreed with above get t2i/t3i refurbished body only or with a lens preferably the 50mm , and the rode mic to boost your audio but will still be crap, what's stopping you from waiting a few months and raising your budget?
I would go for a Canon T2i as it has the same sensor as the T4i.
The Lens depend on what you want to shoot, I would maybe to for a f1.8 50mm Canon, but you should also get a zoom lens.
That sounds like a great idea to save money! I do manual everything as it is, so it would make no difference really to physically do it on the lens. Any downfalls about going the old lens route?
Firstly, thanks for all the replies.
I want the camera mostly for filming video.
After reading through the posts and reading through the specs; I'm liking the Canon T3i or the Sony A37. Just having trouble deciding as they are only $100 apart. Either will probably work, but what is the better one for filming in general?
- viewfinders and autofocus stop working in video mode (and if you buy a T4i to get video autofocus, Canon autofocus motors are noisy and will ruin your soundtrack)
- has a 12 minute video clip length limit
- is susceptible to a phemomenon called moire when shooting brickwork, shingled roofs, patterned fabrics and similar subjects with fine details - as seen here and here
The GH2's viewfinder and autofocus continue to work in video mode, it has no shot length limit, the autofocus motors on most of its lenses are absolutely silent, and it is resistant to shot-ruining moire.
Take a look at the videos in this post to see the quality of the images the GH2 can produce.
All of that said, Canon shooters work around these limitations and produce some absolutely terrific work. But people shoud buy these cameras with their eyes open. I don't want anyone else to be as surprised as I was when I tried to shoot video with the T2i![]()