Mark, being a Nikon guy, can you confirm that if I want to get good at shooting action/sports at a semi-pro level than your camera would do it, but nothing less (i.e. D7000)?

And Heather, I wouldn't knock the kit, but my Danish friend who also has Canon and will be there in the winter has an f4 70-200 L, so I'm thinking the mega cheap 50 and maybe a 17-40 L so that I have the potential to go full frame. That way, we can share for different tasks.

Ulimately, IF it doesn't work out or I don't like it, or I discover I'm just crap at taking photos - I shouldn't lose much when I sell.

Can we at least agree that I'm considering the right body for the job? Nobody seems to be confirming that...

This is true. I shot nearly all of last night with the kit lens, after some 28mm prime stuff. Didn't touch my 50mm all night in fact.

I think any of the cameras you're looking at will take perfectly decent photos.
The K-5 has the advantage of being able to withstand being dropped in the snow off the ski lift, however.

I can't categorically confirm this, not without having used a D7000 in those conditions.
All indications point to the D3 being significantly faster than the D7000, but then you'd expect that, as the D3 is a fully pro body.

Mark

Agreed. You're totally right. But I think the 7D will as well. Check out the hardcore durability test video on DigitalRev.

If I just wanted to take perfectly decent photos, I'd probably have already bought a D3200/5100 by now. But I want to shoot action/sports.

I'm biased, as I've said. If you want the 7D, it'll do what you want - probably more than you want. I've not found anyone say anything particularly bad about the thing.

Buy the bloomin' camera already!

Remember there is also the D300s between the D7000 and D3 for around the price of a 7D. It sounds like you're going Canon but I just noticed it didn't seem to be mentioned.

Also it's Photokina very soon which mean new models might be announced. Although initially they're likely to be pricey it might drive down the prices of current models e.g. if Canon announced a 7DmkII or 70D like in this rumour article

Don't start okenobi worrying about "might be" and "what if". It's bad enough getting him to decide as it is!

True story!!

Just that you lot all got me thinking about holding the thing before I spend £1000. Which is probably fair I suppose.

And Veato, I did look at the D300, but it's not fast enough, neither are the 5D, D700, or D800. The 7D appears to be the only crop sensor camera that has the speed, buffer and build quality I'm after.

Just to say I've literally had a read of the Which? magazine, and the D7000 scored 86%, the 60D scored 85%, but that 1% will save you a few hundred quid if you choose the Canon.

I found Canon to be predominant in the land of the Danes.

Re: continuous shooting, any SLR will be better than a compact. But will shooting at 10fps be a significant improvement over 6fps? It certainly looks like it when you just compare the two figures side by side, but will it really provide you with more useable shots, or generate digital litter?

Spray and pray.

Totally agree. 6 would be fine. It's the dual processors in the 7D that give you a more usable buffer. The D7000 runs out of puff after just 22 jpegs or 11 RAWs that's the issue. Then recovery time. If I'm shooting a family of four and need say a short 11 frame burst per person, I need the card cleared every time ready for the next skier who might only be a few seconds behind. The D7000 for me is a better camera than the 60D in a heartbeat. Better contruction, more pro feel, better high ISO, oh and Mark shoots Nikon

But I can't wait wait 16 seconds after filling the buffer. That's when I'll miss shots. Also, in terms of starting out, any money I save on the D7000 would mean I'd have to buy more of my own lenses.

I understand how you feel you need the best specs, but should point out that getting the 'shot' you need could be down to technique and skill as much or more than hardware.

Thanks for stirring Al! But it's the same story as before. 7D for action. For everything else there's the D7000.

And took this from the comments:





I'd love the D7000, but I'll be missing shots while it writes the previous burst from the buffer AND I'd have to buy all of my own glass. Which means a minimum of the 70-300 VR, something prime, fast and short and an ultra wide zoom (probably Tokina 11-16). For that price, I could buy an Audi Quattro wagon fully loaded!