need help with camera selection

[nucktaco]

so long story short me and my girlfriend are planning a trip to alaska for sept 2016. a good camera we have decided is a must and we are wanting to get one in the next few weeks to use for our camping trips this summer and fall.

ive been looking around and the canon t3i or t5 seem like a decent option. we are really wanting something that will hopefully allow us to capture the northern lights and allow us to take photos of the night sky when we are away from the city.

we are both complete amateurs at photography.

can anyone recomend a good starter camera for us and maybe a decent lens that will allow us to capture those night shots?

thanks for any help.

Scott

 

[mtnbike28]

If you are set on Canon (great system) - I would at least go up to the 60d. For the Northern Lights, speed is huge. f2.8 lens and wide.

6.0 sec; f/2.8; ISO 1600 with crop sensor Nikon D7000 - but this was a bright show. Most exposures were 30 seconds at 2.8

 

[Dr. Cornwallis]

I would second what mtnbike28 said. I would buy at least the 60D and if budget allows a 6D would be even better. If going full frame, for glass I would recommend the excellent 16-35 f2.8 L II or if you're on a budget the 16-35 f4 L IS and the 23-70 f2.8 L II or 24-70 f4 IS L. I would also get a good 50mm prime like the 50mm f1.8 STM.

You could honestly get away with just the 24-70 but I would def carry a 50mm prime too.

If you're going to go with a crop sensor camera like the 60D I would buy the 17-55 f2.8 IS and a 50mm prime. This is actually the combination I personally shoot with. Although if I was doing it over again I probably would have spent the extra money and bought the 16-35mm f2.8 as that lense will work with full frame as well. If you bought the 16-35 and a 50mm prime that would pretty much cover it all for you and you would have two excellent lenses you could keep for when you upgrade to full frame.

If you can swing the price tag and you only want to buy one camera and one lens, I would make it the 6D and the 24-70 f2.8.


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[Colorado David]

No matter what camera you decide to buy, please, please, please budget money for a good tripod and ball head. It will be a lot more expensive than you think, but it is an absolute necessity for any type of low light photography. Any photograph you shoot will be better for having been shot from a tripod, whether low light or not. A carbon fiber tripod will not transfer vibrations the way an aluminum one will and will be more comfortable to carry in a variety of temperatures. You will be frightened by the cost, but you have to budget for it. Also consider a ball head and an Arca Swiss type quick release system. Look at Kirk or Really Right Stuff for ball heads and quick release systems. Look here; http://www.reallyrightstuff.com/Be-a-Gear-Expert/Our-Quick-Release-System/

 

[Eric K]

Colorado David is right on. You absolutely will need a good tripod. I haven't photographed the northern lights (yet), but I have done a lot of night photography and no amount of spiffy camera will make up for a bad tripod at night. Also, get a remote or use the timer on the camera. Pressing the button on the camera can cause camera shake as well.

 

[AA1PR]

whatever you decide think of it as building a system, not just a camera

all the pieces will work together as one

 

[bhowdy]

AA1PR has offered great advice, in my opinion

 

[workerdrone]

If on a budget, crop camera, 50mm "plastic fantastic" lens, a zoom for general use, and a tripod - if there is no chance you will be shelling out the bucks for a high end tripod and head (around $1k range), then get something cheap but decent like a Manfrotto. Proper tripod technique is more important than having Gitzo / Really Right Stuff porn in your kit

 

[Scott H Murray]

The new sony systems have been getting great reviews for low light so may be another option.

 

[haven]

There is plenty of time before your 2016 trip. So I recommend joining a local camera club. A club is a good way to get advice and to check out gear. A club is also a source for used equipment. Also look for an astronomy club in your area. It's sure to have a group interested in photographing the night sky.

A quick Google search shows there are many articles online that give advice about where and how to find and photograph the Northern Lights. Here's one
http://www.dpreview.com/articles/82...aphy-a-guide-to-capturing-the-northern-lights