Steven Heicher
Enthusiast
I'd look up each lens in that pack just to see what's in it. If they're lenses like Nikon, Sigma, or Tamron, generally speaking you're good. Once you get into some of the XYZ lenses, then quality can become iffy.
Equipment Question: Best Camera for Weather Photography?
- Thread starter C Sanchez
- Start date
Drew Terril
Staff member
Yeah one of the lenses in my bag is an old Tamron 28-200. It's an older model, but it still does well and I've shot some great pictures with it. A lot of chasers really like Sigma lenses as well. I have yet to own one, but I've heard a ton of good things about them.
Marc R. O'Leary
EF5
I carry Sigma, Tamron and Rokinon and have had success with all of them. Cant justify the cost of Nikon lenses for a hobby.
ScottCurry
EF3
I buy my camera equipment from pawn stores. That way I get to test it before I buy it. The key to getting good pawn shop value is finding a chain where they mark the price down each month. Then just find something that's been there for about 6 months. You can pay $150 - $200 for a decent body (not full frame), and $70 - $100 for each lens.
After buying anything used, make sure you have a camera shop clean it for you. No need to pay $3,000 on a full frame body until you have honed your camera skills and you're sure you are in it for the long haul.
After buying anything used, make sure you have a camera shop clean it for you. No need to pay $3,000 on a full frame body until you have honed your camera skills and you're sure you are in it for the long haul.
Drew Terril
Staff member
That's actually how I ended up with my Elan 7ne. A pawn shop listed their stuff on Ebay, and I just waited until the price started coming down. Then, once it basically was cut in half, I jumped on it before anyone else could beat me to the punch. The bonus was that it came with a lens that filled in a hole in my lens lineup as well, so I killed two birds with one stone on that. I've bought radio equipment from pawn shops that way as well. They quickly tire of holding on to things.
Marc R. O'Leary
EF5
Theres a pawn shop a few blocks from my office. Ill have to go check it out.
Shawn Camp
EF2
I must say I like all the good talk about NIKON !!!!!!! I am considering getting a 2nd camera for chasing and NIKON is what I am looking at ............ Maybe the 7100 series ...... Pecos Hank-Another well known chaser- has stuff on YouTube about his Camera's and I am seriously looking into getting that series for chasing and I have heard that Nikon is a Grrrrrreat Brand- I mean they've like been around for a long long long time. While we are on the subject of Camera's anyone got more advice on Nikon ????? and me considering the 7100 series for chasing ????????????????? and pictures and maybe video.
Shawn C.
"FOX 4-WARN SENIOR STORMTRACKER"
"FOX4NEWS.COM"
Shawn C.
"FOX 4-WARN SENIOR STORMTRACKER"
"FOX4NEWS.COM"
Drew Terril
Staff member
Anything Nikon, Canon, or Sony will be fine. I'm not familiar with the 7100 in particular, but I believe it's their equivalent to the Canon 80D. Crop sensor, but not low end.
Marc R. O'Leary
EF5
I use Nikon but for no other reason than my first one was on sale at the time. Just pick what fits your budget and go from there.
Paul Knightley
EF5
I think the replies above are great - and my only reason for posting is to give my experiences of moving into storm photography a number of years back - I've always taken video, but wanted my own camera for taking stills.
I decided to not go down the DSLR route, as a) I wasn't really sure how much I would use it, and b) I didn't want to carry multiple lenses around, especially considering a). I've still got the camera - and have not moved into DSLR yet - mainly due to being happy with it, and it doing what I need from it.
I bought a Sony RX10, back in 2014 - it's a fixed lens camera, and techinically classed as a 'compact' - but it's a similar size to many DSLR cameras. It has a 24-200m f/2.8 lens, which gives great results - with f/2.8 at 200mm, you can get good light collection even at a decent zoom.
The RX10 has moved on to version 4 now (I've not moved on, mainly due to cost!) - it is packed with a lot of tech, and now has a 24-600mm lens, F/2 - 4.4. For an all-in-one camera, I think this really is pretty high!
Downsides? The fixed lens means you are 'stuck' with those ranges and f numbers, which is an issue if you want maximum flexibility. Also, the sensor size is 1 inch - so, no full frame...for many applications this is OK, and I find night photography is pretty good. However, at higher ISO it does get pretty grainy, when a full-frame would still be sharper/less noisy.
Below are just a couple of storm shots, which have been tweaked in Lightroom to improve contrast, etc - it shoots in RAW, which is very useful.
I decided to not go down the DSLR route, as a) I wasn't really sure how much I would use it, and b) I didn't want to carry multiple lenses around, especially considering a). I've still got the camera - and have not moved into DSLR yet - mainly due to being happy with it, and it doing what I need from it.
I bought a Sony RX10, back in 2014 - it's a fixed lens camera, and techinically classed as a 'compact' - but it's a similar size to many DSLR cameras. It has a 24-200m f/2.8 lens, which gives great results - with f/2.8 at 200mm, you can get good light collection even at a decent zoom.
The RX10 has moved on to version 4 now (I've not moved on, mainly due to cost!) - it is packed with a lot of tech, and now has a 24-600mm lens, F/2 - 4.4. For an all-in-one camera, I think this really is pretty high!
Downsides? The fixed lens means you are 'stuck' with those ranges and f numbers, which is an issue if you want maximum flexibility. Also, the sensor size is 1 inch - so, no full frame...for many applications this is OK, and I find night photography is pretty good. However, at higher ISO it does get pretty grainy, when a full-frame would still be sharper/less noisy.
Below are just a couple of storm shots, which have been tweaked in Lightroom to improve contrast, etc - it shoots in RAW, which is very useful.
Tony Laubach
EF5
My workhorse has been the Nikon D750 and I LOVE that camera. It's a full-frame, very clean shots, and works with the Nikon lenses I used with my Nikon D5300. My favorite lens is the Nikkor 24-120mm lens, got it for a steal on Amazon from a dude selling a practically new lens for a third the new price. I took a chance on that and scored well, so I'm in love with that setup!
In addition, I have the Tamron 10-24mm for wide-angle shots, and I let that live on the D5300 for the wider shots. I also have a 70-300mm lens that I'll throw on the D5300 to get in tight if I am far away (with the crop sensor, it can exceed 400mm zoom). I have several other lenses that I use for other activities, but those three are my storm chasing gotos.
In addition, I have the Tamron 10-24mm for wide-angle shots, and I let that live on the D5300 for the wider shots. I also have a 70-300mm lens that I'll throw on the D5300 to get in tight if I am far away (with the crop sensor, it can exceed 400mm zoom). I have several other lenses that I use for other activities, but those three are my storm chasing gotos.
Similar threads
