Here at Disney Photography Blog, we want to make things easy for you. We’re here to help your photography get better and answer as many of your questions as possible. One of the things that always comes up in photography circles is gear. So, on this page, we’re going to try and do our best to keep up with all the newest gear, and let you know what we suggest, whether you are a beginner, enthusiast, or looking for professional gear. We’re also going to give a Canon and Nikon version of each, since those are the two most popular camera systems out there as of writing.
That said, here we go!
Point and Shoot
Look for high image quality, a Point and Shoot that shoots in RAW, and a maximum ISO of around 3200. Our pick for Canon is the Powershot S95 and for Nikon, we go with the Coolpix P7000.
Nikon Coolpix P7000 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 7.1x Wide Zoom-Nikkor ED Lens and 3-Inch LCD
DSLR – Beginner
When entering the world of the DSLR, there are a few things to look for. Value is one of them, and most entry level DSLR’s can be found in the $600-$900 range depending on whether you buy just the body, or a kit that comes with a standard lens. We recommend just buying the body, as the kit lenses usually aren’t the best. Vari-angle flip screens are all the rage now, and image quality has skyrocketed over the last few years when it comes to these entry level bodies. For Canon, we recommend the EOS Rebel T3i, and for Nikon, the D5100.
Nikon D5100 16.2MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF-S DX VR Nikkor Zoom Lens
DSLR – Enthusiast
At this point in the game, you’re taking your photography relatively seriously. At this level, we are looking for a step up in image quality, good low light performance (good quality at a high ISO) and a really fast shutter burst rate, probably in the 7 frames per second range. These cameras break into the $1200-$1600 range for just the body. Our take for Canon in this category is the EOS 7D, and for Nikon, the D7000. Note: There are professional shooters who use these two cameras, especially in the sports/action world, as they have a faster burst rate than the cameras we’ll showcase in the next category.
Canon EOS 7D 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3-inch LCD (Body Only)
Nikon D7000 16.2MP DX-Format CMOS Digital SLR with 3.0-Inch LCD (Body Only)
DSLR – Professional
Once we get here, you are clearly really invested in taking high quality photos and having the best equipment possible. These cameras jump from the world of a crop sensor to a full frame sensor. Image quality is king here. Control of depth of field is much easier with a full frame camera. And low light performance is through the roof at this level. Most of the Disney Dark Ride kings shoot with a full frame camera. We’re talking pretty big purchases here, usually in the $2500-$3000 range. For Canon, the current kingpin is the EOS 5D Mark II, and on the Nikon side, it’s the D700. Two caveats here: These cameras tend to have slower burst rates than their enthusiast counterparts. Also, with such high image quality, they tend to show flaws in lenses that have less quality. Most shooters that use these bodies tend to pair them with professional lenses for the best results.
Canon EOS 5D Mark II 21.1MP Full Frame CMOS Digital SLR Camera with EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM Lens
Nikon D7000 16.2MP DX-Format CMOS Digital SLR with 3.0-Inch LCD (Body Only)
DSLR – We can dream, right?
There is one more category in the professional realm of DSLR’s, but we here at DPB tend to just drool over them. They range in the $4500-$7000 range, and are in most cases, ridiculously awesome. For Canon, there is the EOS 1D Mark IV and EOS 1Ds Mark III, and for Nikon, the D3X or D3S.
Canon EOS 1D Mark III 10.1MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)
For lenses, we are going to recommend at least one zoom lens, and one prime (fixed focal length) lens for each category.
Lenses – Beginner
For Canon, we recommend a standard zoom, like the EF-S 18-200 f/3.5-5.6 IS. It covers a really large amount of focal lengths. An alternative to that is the Tamron 18-270 superzoom that DPB contributor Larry White reviewed here. Our prime lens recommendation is the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II, otherwise known as the ‘nifty fifty’ in most photography circles. It creates absolutely wonderful images and comes in at usually under $100. A true value!
Canon EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Standard Zoom Lens for Canon DSLR Cameras
Tamron AF 18-270mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC LD Aspherical IF Macro Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras
Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II Camera Lens
For Nikon, we recommend a standard zoom, just like Canon. The Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II lens is a staple in a Nikon shooter’s bag. We know that there are even professional photographers that use this lens due to it’s versatility. Just like with Canon, the Tamron superzoom is another option here. Nikon also has it’s own version of the ‘nifty fifty’ prime lens, the Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D lens. Wonderful images, great for dark rides, and comes in at just $125!
Nikon 50mm f/1.8D AF Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras
Lenses – Enthusiast
At this point, you’re going to start carrying more things in your bag. For Canon, we’re talking the border of prosumer and professional lenses. For a zoom, one of the most popular standard lenses is the EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM. This lens is a stunner. The only problem is that if one day, you upgrade for a full frame camera, you’ll have to sell this as it isn’t compatible as part of the EF-S family. For about the same price, you can have the Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM. This lens falls into Canon’s L Series, which means professional grade in terms of build and image quality. For a prime lens, we either recommend the Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM or the Sigma 50mm f/1.4 EX DG lens. They are both a step up in quality and build from the ‘nifty fifty’ and are also faster, which makes for cleaner dark ride shots.
Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM Lens for Canon DSLR Cameras
Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM Lens for Canon EOS SLR Cameras
Canon EF 50mm f1.4 USM Standard & Medium Telephoto Lens for Canon SLR Cameras
Sigma 50mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras
For Nikon, at this level, many people are still shooting with the Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II. It is a proven performer in the world of Nikon. Another option here is the Nikkor 24-120mm f/4G ED VR lens. Just like the Canon 24-105mm, this lens has professional build and optics. For a prime lens, we recommend the Nikkor 50mm f/1.4G lens. It is a stunner, and a increase in quality from the Nikkor ‘nifty fifty’.
Nikon 24-120mm f/4G ED VR AF-S NIKKOR Lens for Nikon Digital SLR
Nikon 50mm f/1.4D AF Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras
Another hot style of photography in the Disney community is the use of a wide angle lens. For both Canon and Nikon, we recommend either the Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 lens or the Sigma 8-16 f/4.5-5.6 lens. The Tokina has superior image quality, but the Sigma is just mind blowingly wide. The choice is yours!
Canon Tokina 11-16/2.8 AT-X 116 PRO DX Lens for Canon EOS Digital -ATX116PRODXC
Nikon Tokina AT-X116PRDXN AT-X PRO DX 11-16mm Ultra-wide Angle Lens for Nikon
Lenses – Professional
For Canon, the amount of professional lenses you can get is just silly. So is the amount of money you can spend, so we’ll keep it simple here. For zooms, the Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM is probably the best general purpose lens Canon makes. Pair that with the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM II and you have all your focal lengths covered with two legendary lenses. My favorite Canon prime lens is the Canon EF 135mm f/2L USM. It might be an odd focal length for some, but the quality is just unmatched. To keep with our 50mm trend, check out the Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L USM. For wide angle on a Canon full frame camera, we recommend the Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM II.
Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM Standard Zoom Lens for Canon SLR Cameras
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L II IS USM Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon SLR Cameras
Canon EF 135mm f/2L USM Lens for Canon SLR Cameras
Canon EF 50mm f/1.2 L USM Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras
Nikon shooters give much praise to the Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8G ED lens. They tend to also pair that with the Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II lens. Both pieces of glass are mighty expensive, but will give you the best quality photos on a Nikon camera. In the prime lens world, the Nikkor 85mm f/1.4D IF lens gets rave reviews. The creamy smooth bokeh and control of depth of field is truly something special here. For wide angle on a Nikon full frame camera, the Nikkor 14-24mm f/2.8G lens is the king of the jungle. Some consider this to be Nikon’s finest lens. It’s so good that some Canon shooters have jumped ship because of this lens alone!
Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8G ED AF-S Nikkor Wide Angle Zoom Lens
Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II AF-S Nikkor Zoom Lens For Nikon Digital SLR Cameras
Nikon 85mm f/1.4G AF-S Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR
Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8G ED AF-S Nikkor Wide Angle Zoom Lens
Conclusion
That about does it for camera gear! As time goes on, we’ll be adding tripods, ballheads, filters, bags, and other accessories to this list. But for now, at least you have your degree in both Canon and Nikon camera systems! You can create masterful images with any of the gear listed here, whether it be Point and Shoot or Professional gear. Remember, it’s all about the photographer behind the camera!
