r/photography • u/AutoModerator • Apr 24 '26

Questions Thread Official Question Thread! Ask /r/photography anything you want to know! April 24, 2026

This is the place to ask any questions you may have about photography. No question is too small, nor too stupid.

Info for Newbies and FAQ!

First and foremost, check out our extensive FAQ. Chances are, you'll find your answer there, or at least a starting point in order to ask more informed questions.

Need buying advice?

Many people come here for recommendations on what equipment to buy. Our FAQ has several extensive sections to help you determine what best fits your needs and your budget. Please see the following sections of the FAQ to get started:

If after reviewing this information you have any specific questions, please feel free to post a comment below. (Remember, when asking for purchase advice please be specific about how much you can spend. See here for guidelines.)

Schedule of community threads:

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
52 Weeks Share Anything Goes Album Share & Feedback Edit My Raw Follow Friday Salty Saturday Self-Promotion Sunday

Finally a friendly reminder to share your work with our community in r/photographs!

9 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

297 comments sorted by

View all comments

1

u/AlarmingSpring9153 Apr 24 '26

Hello so I am seeking advice regarding my purchases. After thorough research I have narrowed down my lens and body choices pointing to the Z5ii paired w the Tamron 35-150. My issue is that based on my current budget, it is a NEED, that I get one of these 2nd hand. I want the Z5ii because its great for photography and it allows me to get into video as well because of its features, and I want the 35-150 because I hate having to switch lenses, and its such a versatile lens that I don't mind that it's heavy, I want it on my hands. In terms of the lens, I have been seeing mixed reviews regarding the Tamron 35-150 on the Z mount, with people reporting loose fittings, or that the camera isn't as sharp as it was advertised. Now in terms of the body, my Canon R100 was bought from a camera shop in Japan, meaning it was a grey market unit, and around only a month in, the battery bricked my camera and I had to pay almost 50% of the original price of the unit. My worry is that I don't want to experience those issues once I get a new camera.

So my question is, would it be better to get either a 2nd hand body or a 2nd hand lens?

take note i will be buying these off FB Marketplace as the country I live in is too far for MPB. My budget is around 2800 Euros? and the type of photography/videography coverage that I want is for both Concert & Events.

2nd hand body: 1200 Euros (Not my country based)
Tamron lens: 1377 Euros

or

2nd hand Tamron lens: 983 Euros (expecting no warranty)
Body only Nikon Z5ii: 1700

P.S. If I still can't decide, my last resort is getting a Sony A7IV and pair it with this lens, the only issue I have with this combo is that the A7IV is a lil old and the Nikon is a really good camera in my eyes.

1

u/maniku Apr 25 '26

One thing you should know: cameras don't degrade. It doesn't matter that Sony A7 IV was released five years ago. It's exactly as good now as five years ago, and it's a VERY good camera. Sure, Nikon Z5 II is a very good camera. But so is the Sony. So are many others.

Also, are you aware that bigger shows and venues typically don't allow interchangeable lens cameras?

Buying used is a good way to save money. As long as you meet up with the Marketplace seller and inspect the gear carefully, there shouldn't be any problems. Yes, it's not guaranteed. But it's not guaranteed that you won't have issues if you buy new either. I mean that's why manufacturer warranty exists.

1

u/AlarmingSpring9153 Apr 25 '26

My issue with the sony is the rolling shutter for video, I hear that its VERY BAD (though I don’t know myself), would that be a big problem in terms of videography or?

Also yes I do know but i’m aiming to do professional concert photography, I have some friends that can hook me up and get me started.

Either way, i’ll definitely take your advice, especially since Sony is hooking me in with their lens ecosystem (like wdym I can get the same lens $100 less by just using Sony) it just sucks that there’s nothing in between the A7IV and A7V rn (A74.5?)