Choosing my first DSLR and lenses

Winter

Winter

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Sheylara
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I was wondering if I could get some bespoke advice on choosing my first DSLR and lenses based on my goals/interests? I have done a lot of reading and have kind of set my sights on a Nikon D5500 but there are other considerations making me unsure!

My background:
I have never owned a DSLR nor learned any technical skills so I'm a beginner. But I've been taking photos for a very long time as a blogger so I have some basic understanding of photography.

My goal:
For a start, I have a budget of about £2k for equipment, accessories and training (not just camera+lens!). After a year or two, I'll decide if I want to or can be a professional photographer. If yes, I will invest more in equipment and training, and I want to be really great at it. If no, I still want to be able to take inspiring photos with my startup gear.

My primary interests:
  • Toddlers - I like to photograph them at play, unawares, because then they're not trying to grab my camera and eat it.
    (I do a lot of indoor shots.)
  • Street - I like capturing moments involving people.
  • Food
  • Bokeh. I know this rather limits me but I have loved bokeh photos since I was a teenager, back when digital cameras weren't even invented yet, so it's not a fad thing for me. :D
My secondary interests:
  • Landscape, buildings, documenting, when I go on holiday.
  • Macro
  • Portrait - I like photographing beautiful people. :p
  • Animals
Why I chose Nikon D5500:
  • It's the best entry-level Nikon. And probably good enough to act as a backup if I want to go pro?
  • Small and light.
  • Flippy screen - I think it will be helpful in many situations, like super low angle shots?
  • 39 focus points.
  • I thought about a second-hand mid-range but am wary of shutter life (I'm quite trigger happy on a normal given day) and other problems associated with buying second-hand.

I am open to changing my mind as to which body to get, and my budget is flexible if there's good enough reason, so any advice would be appreciated! :)
 
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Now, about lenses.

If I could get some advice on each type (based on my interests), I'd be very grateful. :)

Kit:
I read that most photographers don't use kit lenses and they just take up space. So is there any point at all in getting them even if they come very cheap with the body?

Prime:
It's between AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G and AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.4G. (I hope I got the correct type for my chosen body.) I'm veering towards the latter because it can still be used when I go full frame. And I like some distance from my subjects. Actually, I want both but is that a waste?

Zoom:
Would be useful for my style since I like to capture spontaneous moments. Need the flexibility of framing shots wherever I'm stood, plus have more distance from my subjects. But I have no idea what length I need. And I think really good quality zooms are beyond my starter budget. So I need a lot of advice for this one, please.

I'm estimating that I can only afford at most 2 lenses at the start, so I'm stopping there, lol.

If you're giving me recommendations for lenses, please give me the full official names so I can be sure I get the right ones! Thank you!
 
the cheapest and most effiecent way to get bokehy photo is with a sony or mirrorless with focus peaking and a old classic lens

nikon limits your options for that, while canon sensors are meh.

but sony doesnt have much interest in a mount anymore, so that sucks :|

guess id recommend a 60mm f2 macro, and 85mm 1.8g ?
 
i dont find 50mm on crop compelling, go 60mm imo
35mm is good :), 28mm is one to consider too
 
Hi here's my take I would go and try a couple of makes of dslrs out see how they feel are all the buttons in the right place for you, are the menu systems easy for you. Do not go for I will get used to it. When you by a Dslr you buy into a system so make that system suits you. As for lenses I would go with kit lens most are reasonable. Don't spend a fortune if you don't have to learn with what you will have.
 
Looking at WEX, if you do decide to go the D5500 route, the kit lens works out as costing £13, so would be silly to not get it. I'd just get the DSLR and kit lens while you get to grips with the controls and you'll be able to figure out which focal lengths you prefer in the 18-55mm range and then make a more informed choice if you do add any primes to the kit.
 
Probably against the grain, but have you considered going full frame from the off? You could get the Nikon D750 and excellent 24-120mm f4 lens for £1383 from Panamoz and the 50mm 1.4g for £289 from HDEW. A total of £1672 which will leave some over for other things like tripod, bag etc.........

I'm not sure on the D5500 for kid photography and what you mean by such, portraits, running around etc............ and how good the AF system will be for this especially in low light?

Edit: Seems David has beaten me to it.
 
pingu666 said:
i dont find 50mm on crop compelling, go 60mm imo
35mm is good :), 28mm is one to consider too
Click to expand...
Could you explain what you mean by compelling? Do you mean the experience of using 50mm on crop, or do you mean the result that produces?

Also, thanks for your input on the bodies. To be honest, mirrorless bodies don't appeal to me aesthetically speaking. I find tiny boxy bodies with huge lenses protruding out of them slightly silly looking. :P But I will go read up more on mirrorless cameras before I make up my mind. :)
 
Whichever make you buy please remember you are buying a system.
When you have bought a camera unless you are much stronger willed than most of us you will contract GAS ( Gear Aquisition Syndrome) , you will buy more lenses, flashes etc.
If you get the choice wrong in the beginning it gets very expensive to change systems when you have a bag full of gear.
Don't rush look at the different brands and models, and the prices of lenses and flashes and ask for advice.
 
wave01 said:
Hi here's my take I would go and try a couple of makes of dslrs out see how they feel are all the buttons in the right place for you, are the menu systems easy for you. Do not go for I will get used to it. When you by a Dslr you buy into a system so make that system suits you. As for lenses I would go with kit lens most are reasonable. Don't spend a fortune if you don't have to learn with what you will have.
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Is it enough to go to a shop and try all their cameras for, say, 15 minutes? I don't have friends who have dslrs so I can't actually borrow any to play around with for any length of time. In fact, I did think along the lines of I will get used to it. :P The reason I chose Nikon was because most places I read say the lens technology is better or they update faster, anyway, so I'm kind of thinking long term here. (Sorry I hope I'm not starting a Nikon vs Canon vs Sony vs whatever debate here!)
 
KitsuneAndy said:
Looking at WEX, if you do decide to go the D5500 route, the kit lens works out as costing £13, so would be silly to not get it. I'd just get the DSLR and kit lens while you get to grips with the controls and you'll be able to figure out which focal lengths you prefer in the 18-55mm range and then make a more informed choice if you do add any primes to the kit.
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Hmm, ok I suppose you have a point, lol. I just don't like things sitting around taking up space not being used cos I have limited space in my flat! :P
 
Winter said:
Is it enough to go to a shop and try all their cameras for, say, 15 minutes? I don't have friends who have dslrs so I can't actually borrow any to play around with for any length of time. In fact, I did think along the lines of I will get used to it. :p The reason I chose Nikon was because most places I read say the lens technology is better or they update faster, anyway, so I'm kind of thinking long term here. (Sorry I hope I'm not starting a Nikon vs Canon vs Sony vs whatever debate here!)
Click to expand...

It's certainly better than not, you might find that a Canon camera feels better in your hand than a Nikon.

As a couple of people have said above though, if you're going to be spending £2000, you'll get the best performance from going FF straight away.
 
minnnt said:
For 2k just go FF now. No point dicking about with lesser bodies if that's the way you want to go.

D610 & 24-85 kit lens
50mm f1.4
85mm f1.8

Use Panamoz for the camera and kit lens, pay via BT so it's even cheaper and source the other two lenses second hand.
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Swanseajack said:
Probably against the grain, but have you considered going full frame from the off? You could get the Nikon D750 and excellent 24-120mm f4 lens for £1383 from Panamoz and the 50mm 1.4g for £289 from HDEW. A total of £1672 which will leave some over for other things like tripod, bag etc.........

I'm not sure on the D5500 for kid photography and what you mean by such, portraits, running around etc............ and how good the AF system will be for this especially in low light?

Edit: Seems David has beaten me to it.
Click to expand...

Thanks for your input, David and Simon. :) Well, here's my response.

Yes, I have been tempted to go FF from the start, but for 2 considerations:

1) I will only be able to afford the cheapest FF. Is it going to be good enough for me for the long haul? It means it'll take a longer time before I can afford an upgrade. On the flip side, if I buy an entry-level now, I can slowly save up for a higher-end FF while training with it, so that, in the end, I will have one high end FF plus a good-enough entry level as backup.

2) If I decide that I don't want to go pro after a year or two of trying it out, I would have lost more in my initial investment if I went crazy. Of course I hope that doesn't happen, but I don't want to be too idealistic!

Also, my 2k budget included other stuff. So, very roughly:

Body - £500
Lenses - £500
Courses - $500
Tripod/lights/bag/batteries/etc/maybe Lightroom - £500

So.... if I did go FF from the start, I'll probably end up spending closer to £3k. :wideyed:
 
troutfisher said:
Whichever make you buy please remember you are buying a system.
When you have bought a camera unless you are much stronger willed than most of us you will contract GAS ( Gear Aquisition Syndrome) , you will buy more lenses, flashes etc.
If you get the choice wrong in the beginning it gets very expensive to change systems when you have a bag full of gear.
Don't rush look at the different brands and models, and the prices of lenses and flashes and ask for advice.
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That's what I'm doing now! :P I started reading up on dslrs in January and only now have made a more or less firm decision. Well, except I haven't actually gone to a shop to try the cameras physicallly. I know I must do that before I actually buy anything! So, just out of curiosity, what is your system?
 
KitsuneAndy said:
It's certainly better than not, you might find that a Canon camera feels better in your hand than a Nikon.

As a couple of people have said above though, if you're going to be spending £2000, you'll get the best performance from going FF straight away.
Click to expand...

Actually, I have always been a Canon fan because a long time ago, a photographer friend let me play with his Canon and I loved the feel of it in my hands and I thought taking photos with it was fun. But I was a model then and preferred to be on the front side of the camera. :P

And I always felt Canon's body designs look slightly better. So, I initially thought I'd go with Canon, but after a lot of reading articles and blog posts, I felt that buying into Nikon seemed a better bet long term. Things like Canon users being disappointed that Canon lenses aren't keeping up with Nikon lenses.

Again, I don't want to start a debate here. This is just me reading stuff on the Internet, and I probably haven't read enough to be fully informed. If anyone has good reason to persuade me in any direction, I would really love to hear it. (You can PM me if you don't want to start a war! :P)
 
when i got my DSLR i had no make in mind tried canon, nikon and olympus( had an OM2 in the film days). I chose canon because the feel was right i liked the menu system and it worked for me and that was 30 mins in shop
 
Swanseajack said:
I'm not sure on the D5500 for kid photography and what you mean by such, portraits, running around etc............ and how good the AF system will be for this especially in low light?
Click to expand...
I forgot to respond to this part of your post! I read some blogs where people have used the D5500 to phtograph kids to good effect, so that was one reason I chose it. Well, but I'm assuming that you're trying to tell me that I'll need a FF in order to take better quality kid pictures in low light? Is that it?
 
I have a Canon system comprising a 7D and a 5D Mk2 and associated lenses from both Canon and Sigma.
This came about because the first DSLR I bought was a Canon 400D with a kit lens the equivalent Nikon ( which was slightly superior) was a bit more than I wanted to pay at the time.
I now have a bag full of lenses (GAS) , some of them quite specialized like the Tilt/Shift and Fisheye but to change systems now would be prohibitively expensive but I have no regrets at my choice but having said that I have never used Nikon gear so in all fairness I cannot make a comparison
 
wave01 said:
when i got my DSLR i had no make in mind tried canon, nikon and olympus( had an OM2 in the film days). I chose canon because the feel was right i liked the menu system and it worked for me and that was 30 mins in shop
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How long ago was that, when you bought your first Canon? And have you never regretted choosing this system?
Erm, also, can you tell me where's the best place to try a wide range of cameras? I was just going to go to Curry's because I don't really know where else is there.
 
You're going to get a lot of opinions with a first post like that. ;)

I came back to serious photography about 18 months ago and had a limited budget (still have) so I've been through a little of your dilemma. First off, don't write off kit lenses, especially while you're learning to use the gear: they're light, often work very well indeed and can be used in knock-around situations where you might hesitate to take a more delicate/expensive lens.

I've just read that you haven't been into a shop to actually try and cameras yet. I'd definitely recommend trying some, just to see what you get on with, because it may surprise you what you find comfy and what you don't (there was one popular camera in my price range that was really uncomfy to hold and handled badly). If you're happy with the camera then it will 'disappear' more easily when you start taking pictures. I happen to like Sony and Pentax handling over all others I've tried, but everyone is different.

One of the other bits of advice I've often seen here (and mentioned myself once or twice) is not to buy a lens until you know you need it. So rather than blow up to £2K on a system, first go out with the kit lens, start taking pictures and see how you get on. Just having one lens (even if it's a 3X zoom) makes one work harder at getting an image and helps understanding of what the gear is capable of. When it came to buying better lenses you could also look at the pictures you took that you liked best and see what focal lengths had worked best for you to help making the selection.

Now, you mentioned a couple of different length lenses. I regularly use a 50 f1.4 and really like the modest telephoto effect with a crop sensor. There are times when, if I'm going for a walk and want low weight, that I'll bung that on and leave it there, so I'd definitely recommend a 50 on crop, and that would also give you the bokeh you wanted. So that's probably where I'd start - kit lens and nifty 50, then add stuff as I found the need.
 
without throwing a spanner into the works as yovve already decided on Nikon ( i use canon but have had nikon systems in the past ).
just for comparison sake, for your budget
canon 5dmk lll and the excellent 24-105 L lens comes in at Hdew for a shade over £2k
may find it under the 2k hunting around.
or for aps-c canon 7D mk ll for around £1500 with the 24-105 lens

dp review comparison is a great little tool
http://www.dpreview.com/products/co...00&products=nikon_d750&products=canon_eos7dii
comparing the 7D and 5D with nikon D5500 and D750

but as mentioned above its what feels right in your hand. you could be set on a nikon, or canon or sony or fuji etc and find its just doesnt fit right be it size, weight, position of the knobs and dials,etc.
ALSO key factor is try it with different lenses. as the Balance of a camera is also a key factor. so try with a short prime ( say a 50mm ), kit zoom and a bigger heftier zoom too. because if your looking long term and planning future lenses you dont want to fidn that what feels ok in your hand with a small lightweight prime or kit lens feels unweldy and awkward with a bigger heavier lens.

Also factor in a few bits a pieces into your price. several SD cards ( or at least 2-3 to start ), good solid camera bag, if your doing indoor work really a flash gun too ( yongnuo speedlites for canon and nikon around £50-100 depending on model ), a good sturdy tripod is worth looking at. ( manfrotto are doing the rather good 190xpro3 with free head for £130
http://www.wexphotographic.com/buy-manfrotto-190xpro3-tripod/p1543787

so straight off thats close to £300 off your 2k budget to consider
 
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Where are you located? There's loads just off Tottenham Court Road in London but that doesn't help if you're in North Wales :p
 
troutfisher said:
I have a Canon system comprising a 7D and a 5D Mk2 and associated lenses from both Canon and Sigma.
This came about because the first DSLR I bought was a Canon 400D with a kit lens the equivalent Nikon ( which was slightly superior) was a bit more than I wanted to pay at the time.
I now have a bag full of lenses (GAS) , some of them quite specialized like the Tilt/Shift and Fisheye but to change systems now would be prohibitively expensive but I have no regrets at my choice but having said that I have never used Nikon gear so in all fairness I cannot make a comparison
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That's good to hear. :) Thank you for sharing!
 
Winter said:
How long ago was that, when you bought your first Canon? And have you never regretted choosing this system?
Erm, also, can you tell me where's the best place to try a wide range of cameras? I was just going to go to Curry's because I don't really know where else is there.
Click to expand...

Systems - you will always regret choosing a system at some point, because of something available on another system.

There's lots of camera shops around - if all else fails then try a London Camera Exchange (LCE). They will also sometimes negotiate on price and carry plenty of used gear too (used with warranty is good for lenses).
 
ancient_mariner said:
You're going to get a lot of opinions with a first post like that. ;)

I came back to serious photography about 18 months ago and had a limited budget (still have) so I've been through a little of your dilemma. First off, don't write off kit lenses, especially while you're learning to use the gear: they're light, often work very well indeed and can be used in knock-around situations where you might hesitate to take a more delicate/expensive lens.

I've just read that you haven't been into a shop to actually try and cameras yet. I'd definitely recommend trying some, just to see what you get on with, because it may surprise you what you find comfy and what you don't (there was one popular camera in my price range that was really uncomfy to hold and handled badly). If you're happy with the camera then it will 'disappear' more easily when you start taking pictures. I happen to like Sony and Pentax handling over all others I've tried, but everyone is different.

One of the other bits of advice I've often seen here (and mentioned myself once or twice) is not to buy a lens until you know you need it. So rather than blow up to £2K on a system, first go out with the kit lens, start taking pictures and see how you get on. Just having one lens (even if it's a 3X zoom) makes one work harder at getting an image and helps understanding of what the gear is capable of. When it came to buying better lenses you could also look at the pictures you took that you liked best and see what focal lengths had worked best for you to help making the selection.

Now, you mentioned a couple of different length lenses. I regularly use a 50 f1.4 and really like the modest telephoto effect with a crop sensor. There are times when, if I'm going for a walk and want low weight, that I'll bung that on and leave it there, so I'd definitely recommend a 50 on crop, and that would also give you the bokeh you wanted. So that's probably where I'd start - kit lens and nifty 50, then add stuff as I found the need.
Click to expand...
Thank you, Toni. Very helpful advice there. :)
 
dean messenger said:
without throwing a spanner into the works as yovve already decided on Nikon ( i use canon but have had nikon systems in the past ).
just for comparison sake, for your budget
canon 5dmk lll and the excellent 24-105 L lens comes in at Hdew for a shade over £2k
may find it under the 2k hunting around.
or for aps-c canon 7D mk ll for around £1500 with the 24-105 lens

dp review comparison is a great little tool
http://www.dpreview.com/products/co...00&products=nikon_d750&products=canon_eos7dii
comparing the 7D and 5D with nikon D5500 and D750
Click to expand...
Haha, I didn't want to ask Nikon or Canon here because I know it's a debate that will never end. That's why I decided to decide myself, and I decided just by reading around as much as I had time for. But like I mentioned, I'm quite flexible to changing my mind if there's sound reason to.

Another thing is, I think everyone missed the part where I said my 2k budget included training and accessories and other things I need to start up in photography. :P So that probably leaves about 1k for camera and lenses, heh.

I have not read anything about FFs yet so have no knowledge of them, but are you actually recommending me like mid range FFs? :o
 
JYC said:
Where are you located? There's loads just off Tottenham Court Road in London but that doesn't help if you're in North Wales :p
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I live in Poole, Dorset. Don't think there are any camera shops near where I live.
 
ancient_mariner said:
Systems - you will always regret choosing a system at some point, because of something available on another system.
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Oh dear, that doesn't sound very good. :P Then I would want to choose the system that gives possibly the least amount of regret, lol.
 
Winter said:
Oh dear, that doesn't sound very good. :p Then I would want to choose the system that gives possibly the least amount of regret, lol.
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I'd suggest a system from any of the major camera makers would be fine for a lifetime, but sometimes one will come along with something that will make people flog their entire outfit in order to move over. That's just how it is. :p

I like my Sony system. There are times when I'd like to try some other systems too, *just to see what they're like*, and I probably will at some stage, but I doubt it will make my pictures much better. The grass is always greener....... ;)

It's a little like the crop vs full frame debate. For most of us a FF camera would be a waste, because we don't enlarge enough to make a difference. I do like prints, but at 12" X 16" it would be hard to spot the difference. One of my pics is being printed for our village hall at 40" X 30" and that definitely make a difference if I'd been using a decent lens instead of a cheap 75-300 zoom, but other than that, mostly there'd be nothing to choose.
 
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Lol. The 'entry level' FF camera would smash the d5500 out the park. The d750 that Simon suggested would be more than capable of doing everything you would ever need it to and has the best AF system of any Nikon DSLR. Ever. End of. Finito.

Courses? Meh. You can do them any time. YouTube is fantastic for learning from, plenty of good tutors and professionals on there who are willing to give you very good free advice.

500 quid for bag and batteries. What on earth are you buying? A bag for about £40 and ex-pro batteries are under a tenner usually on Amazon.

Lightroom... Can be had as part of CC with CS6 for around £7-10 a month

Going the APS-C route first will be cheaper of course, but you will lose money if you sell it and any investment in lenses may not be right for your intended move to FF. Cut out the middleman and go straight for FF imo.
 
ancient_mariner said:
I'd suggest a system from any of the major camera makers would be fine for a lifetime, but sometimes one will come along with something that will make people flog their entire outfit in order to move over. That's just how it is. :p

I like my Sony system. There are times when I'd like to try some other systems too, *just to see what they're like*, and I probably will at some stage, but I doubt it will make my pictures much better. The grass is always greener....... ;)
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lol, I guess so. Well, considering all that, then I think my next move should be to go try out the cameras and choose the system that feels best in my hands.
 
minnnt said:
Lol. The 'entry level' FF camera would smash the d5500 out the park. The d750 that Simon suggested would be more than capable of doing everything you would ever need it to and has the best AF system of any Nikon DSLR. Ever. End of. Finito.
Click to expand...

That, plus the usable ISO range and the ability to pull back details from near-black... I can't wait to get mine back from Nikon, having to use my D7000 for a couple of weeks is killing me after getting used to it!
 
Winter said:
Haha, I didn't want to ask Nikon or Canon here because I know it's a debate that will never end. That's why I decided to decide myself, and I decided just by reading around as much as I had time for. But like I mentioned, I'm quite flexible to changing my mind if there's sound reason to.

Another thing is, I think everyone missed the part where I said my 2k budget included training and accessories and other things I need to start up in photography. :p So that probably leaves about 1k for camera and lenses, heh.

I have not read anything about FFs yet so have no knowledge of them, but are you actually recommending me like mid range FFs? :eek:
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honestly.. the best training you can have... is to get out there with the camera.. qualifications may look good on paper but in the real world of photography its the work you produce that counts more than anything . You can find a whole host of informative vids for free on youtube ( gaving hooey, matt Granger, lynda.com etc etc ) plus plenty of experience (and arguments lol ) to be found on the forum too with helpful ( and sometimes not so helpful ) advice, hints and tips and critique.

as for accessories, apart from above mentioned tripod, bag, some memory cards and flashgun,( maybe some wireless yonguo triggers about £20-30 ) the rest is optional extras ( wireless trigger, flash stand, umbrellas and lighting gear, filters etc ) all that can be picked up along the journey .
for your 2k i would say 1500 on camera and lenses leaving £500 ( plenty enough for all your starter bits and bobs ) stupid things like lens cloths, pocket rocket blower ( under a tenner for both )
for your type of shooting as mentioned a quality fixed prime like the 60mm or 85mm mentioned ( canon or nikon both do quiality lens in that range ) , then maybe a mid range zoom such as a 70-200 for near wildlife, birds plants and flowers etc ( will also do nice portraits too ) or for landscapes you might want to go ultrawide like a 10-20 or similar.
for macro... hmm its tricky as a dedicated macro lens can cost you easily £500 or you could use something like the 85mm with extension tubes or a raynox ( about £40 either way ) and same with raynox on a 70-200 or similar.

i would worry less about any training , courses or such like and make use of all the free stuff out there on there net and use the best tool you have... yourself.. get out there and shoot. nothing beats it really and with digital theres no worry about wasting shots ( i leant back int he days of film when i first started around age 14 and it was either learn very quickly or be very expensive lol )
 
minnnt said:
Lol. The 'entry level' FF camera would smash the d5500 out the park. The d750 that Simon suggested would be more than capable of doing everything you would ever need it to and has the best AF system of any Nikon DSLR. Ever. End of. Finito.

Courses? Meh. You can do them any time. YouTube is fantastic for learning from, plenty of good tutors and professionals on there who are willing to give you very good free advice.

500 quid for bag and batteries. What on earth are you buying? A bag for about £40 and ex-pro batteries are under a tenner usually on Amazon.

Lightroom... Can be had as part of CC with CS6 for around £7-10 a month

Going the APS-C route first will be cheaper of course, but you will lose money if you sell it and any investment in lenses may not be right for your intended move to FF. Cut out the middleman and go straight for FF imo.
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Here's what's in my £500 budget for accessories:
(I may or may not get everything in the list but I have to consider that I may need them.)

1. Tripod
2. Lights/flashes
3. Hard drive to store/backup images
4. Extra battery
5. Memory card(s)
6. Monitor colour callibration thingy
7. Camera bag (I have my eye on Epiphanie bags, which cost in the vicinity of £100-£150. Sorry it's a girl thing. :oops: :$)
8. Lightroom - Are you saying if you pay the £8.57/mo charge, they give you the actual software Lightroom and Photoshop for free?

Course: Yeah, I know I can learn everything online myself. But people have suggested the face-to-face interaction is useful. And I'm someone who likes to ask a lot of questions.

I would love to take your advice and go FF immediately, honestly. Well, I will actually consider it. But what do you think about me keeping my entry-level camera and lenses as a backup camera when/if I go pro? Or do you need 2 FFs if you're pro?
 
Personally, i think you will be best off spending around 300 or so on a second hand camera such as a d7000, get a one standard lens, such as a tamron 17-50, and use just that for 3 to 6 months. That will then give you some experience to base your future purchases on. It may well be that you value size above all and go micro four thirds, or that street photography is your thing and decide to get something like an x100, or that landscape prints at large sizes is the direction you want to go for, or sports photography, or portraits....

The point I am making is that as much as people will advise what you want, the best thing you can do for yourself is to get some experience under your belt to learn the direction you want to go in. this will dictate the equipment you will then need, and you could sell the kit you have already bought for next to no loss of money.

Otherwise you will be spending a couple of grand with no clear direction of your aims and will have a lot of kit sat in the cupboard in 3 months time.

You will also benefit from buying your kit one piece at a time and learning how to use that before going on and buying something else. Photography can be overwhelming in its breadth of skills and technology to learn and buying a camera, many lenses, accessories, software all at the same time is not a good way of learning.Take things step by step.
 
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