Looking for a camera and lens recommendation

[Photographer213]

What is the best camera and lens for shooting time lapse and very sharp photos?

 

[bjornl]

That depends on several things. Your shooting environment (dark, light, wet, dry). Your ability to use or willing to learn to use more complex setups and your budget.

Since your question implies strongly that you are looking for an interchangeable lens system. The camera with the highest resolution in a common format is the Canon 5ds R. The camera with the best overall sensor would be the Nikon d800e or d810 (the d810 is a little better overall, but the d800e is a little sharper).

See here for a comparison:
http/www.dxomark.com/Cameras/Compare/Side-by-side/Canon-EOS-5DS-R-versus-Nikon-D810-versus-Nikon-D800E___1009_963_814
note that sharpness is not measured directly, but you can compare them by putting identical lenses on them and comparing the results. The Canon will be sharper so long as you have good light. It is quite a bit behind in dynamic range and color depth and a little behind in ISO noise and signal to noise ratio. Canon also does not support a very high ISO and makign this worse is that it is not as iso invarianent as the Nikons (meaning less adjustable in post processing if (for example) exposure is not set perfectly).


Combine one of those cameras with the sharpest lens with the angle of view you're looking for (see DXOmark.com for this info). Add an external in intervalometer (remote control) as they give you much better control than a built in one.

Those cameras are all 3-4000 (the Canon being the most expensive). The d800e, even used, is going to be just over $1500.
If you want close but cheaper new, the Nikon d750 has an amazing sensor. But it won't match the d800e in sharpness since you'd be comparing a 36mp to a 24mp sensor. The d750 does better with ISO noise in the very dark regions but otherwise has around the same results there as the d800/d810 series. New it is around $2000 used around $1500. Cheaper still and quite close in all regards (except ISO noise in the darkest parts of the image, where it matches the d800 not the d750) would be the Nikon d610 or d600 (basically the same camera). They are around 1300 new and 800-1000 used.

Once lens to consider for any of the above would be the excellent Sigma 50mm f/1.4 ART for a "normal view", it is priced at around 950. For a wider angle the Nikon 24mm f/1.8 is a good choice at around 750.

An intervalometer is around 20-160 depending on brand mostly. The Nikon brand is costly, the Neewer one is about the same but $140. If it is going to be left out in the rain, I suggest you use a rain cover (Neewer's costs only 10 bucks). Because even though the camera is sealed, and sealed lenses are available I'd be more comfortable with a little more protection if it was left out in the elements day and night.