Noob Camera Shopping

[Duby T]

My wife and I are looking to buy our first digital SLR camera and I was hoping that some of you could provide some insight and or make suggestions.

We don't want to go over $600, but if we find a camera worth shelling out another $40 for, we will.

A friend of mine told me that the Nikon D3200 and the Canon T3i are good options in our price range. Do any of you have experience with either one?

Future shop currently has a D5100 on sale for just under $600. I'm assuming that the D5100 is better than the D3200, yes? no?

Any advice would be appreciated.

[witchcraftz]

Re: Noob Camera Shopping

I went with a micro 3/4 camera and am very happy, same quality as a DSLR, many lens options and much smaller to hold.

The NX300 has great reviews and sells currently around your price point.
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2418209,00.asp

[Duby T]

Re: Noob Camera Shopping

Interesting option. I just watched a video on that camera and it seems pretty cool.

[RONDAL]

Re: Noob Camera Shopping

1. find out which you prefer more in your hands and to use. Nikon and Canon are very different in the way they feel and its all personal preference
2. once you figure out which brand you prefer, shop used. You'll find out really quickly that the camera bodies are the cheapest part. People buy entry level cameras and often grow out of them quickly. take advantage of this.

happy shooting

[PRY4SNO]

Re: Noob Camera Shopping

1. find out which you prefer more in your hands and to use. Nikon and Canon are very different in the way they feel and its all personal preference
2. once you figure out which brand you prefer, shop used. You'll find out really quickly that the camera bodies are the cheapest part. People buy entry level cameras and often grow out of them quickly. take advantage of this.

happy shooting

This.

[flipstah]

Re: Noob Camera Shopping

1. find out which you prefer more in your hands and to use. Nikon and Canon are very different in the way they feel and its all personal preference
2. once you figure out which brand you prefer, shop used. You'll find out really quickly that the camera bodies are the cheapest part. People buy entry level cameras and often grow out of them quickly. take advantage of this.

happy shooting

What has been said. You'd be surprised with how companies lay things out.

You give me a Canon camera and I'll be ready for the boudoir.

I cannot work a Nikon DSLR to save my life. Their menu layout is just too bizarre for me.

[Danaldson]

Re: Noob Camera Shopping

i agree with all thats been said, i prefer the cannon line up over the nikon, just because i am somewhat more familiar with them. i also strongly recommend you buy used. it will allow you to get a nice body for cheaper and that might allow you to grab an extra lens with the money you save.

[Thor]

Re: Noob Camera Shopping

Plus most older canon lenses work with the newer model bodies and vice versa (:

[flipstah]

Re: Noob Camera Shopping

Plus most older canon lenses work with the newer model bodies and vice versa (:

Same as most Nikon lenses. Just no AF.

Lens>Body for $$$

[R_Ethug]

Re: Noob Camera Shopping

i'm picking up a new canon 70d this winter to replace my old canon xs and keeping my lenses of course

[Kor]

Re: Noob Camera Shopping

This was already said but I can't emphasize it enough.

Unless you are a professional photographer, or unless all you care about is the "prestige" or "recognition" from owning a DSLR (you want it just to say you have it), you should buy a Mirrorless system camera instead.

Even if you plan to get REALLY into Photography as a hobby and take it SUPER seriously you should STILL get a Mirrorless system camera.

Mirrorless system cameras have everything you probably want in your DSLR but in a friendlier package. They let you buy and interchange lenses, they support all the same manual modes and options, and they take just as good pictures.

Unlike most people who buy DSLRs you will be able to afford and be physically able to carry a larger number of good lenses AND you will probably have the camera with you more often because it will be smaller. Moreover, the new Mirrorless cameras arguably have better quality than the lower end DSLRs. E.g compare low end DSLR to the full frame Sony Alpha 7R.

Some great examples of Mirrorless cameras are the Sony NEX and new Sony Alpha 7 cameras, as well as the Olympus OMD-EM5 and OMD-EM1 cameras.

[flipstah]

Re: Noob Camera Shopping

This was already said but I can't emphasize it enough.

Unless you are a professional photographer, or unless all you care about is the "prestige" or "recognition" from owning a DSLR (you want it just to say you have it), you should buy a Mirrorless system camera instead.

Even if you plan to get REALLY into Photography as a hobby and take it SUPER seriously you should STILL get a Mirrorless system camera.

Mirrorless system cameras have everything you probably want in your DSLR but in a friendlier package. They let you buy and interchange lenses, they support all the same manual modes and options, and they take just as good pictures.

Unlike most people who buy DSLRs you will be able to afford and be physically able to carry a larger number of good lenses AND you will probably have the camera with you more often because it will be smaller. Moreover, the new Mirrorless cameras arguably have better quality than the lower end DSLRs. E.g compare low end DSLR to the full frame Sony Alpha 7R.

Some great examples of Mirrorless cameras are the Sony NEX and new Sony Alpha 7 cameras, as well as the Olympus OMD-EM5 and OMD-EM1 cameras.

Keep in mind that mirrorless will have slightly higher cost of ownership because since it's not as popular as DSLR's, their equipment in the used market will not be as fully stocked so you may be forced to buy new in some cases, but not all.

Also, most Micro 4/3's (mirrorless systems) have electronic viewfinders so you're hooched when the battery is close to dying, while DSLR's can run on 'battery saver' mode by using the manual viewfinder and have no preview.

+ side is that mirrorless systems are less prone to shake because there's no moving parts but the difference is minute and only holds dear to really critical situations such as low-light.

[Kor]

Re: Noob Camera Shopping

Keep in mind that mirrorless will have slightly higher cost of ownership because since it's not as popular as DSLR's, their equipment in the used market will not be as fully stocked so you may be forced to buy new in some cases, but not all.

Also, most Micro 4/3's (mirrorless systems) have electronic viewfinders so you're hooched when the battery is close to dying, while DSLR's can run on 'battery saver' mode by using the manual viewfinder and have no preview.

+ side is that mirrorless systems are less prone to shake because there's no moving parts but the difference is minute and only holds dear to really critical situations such as low-light.

I would also say that a danger with low end DSLRs is that BECAUSE of the HUGE used market, the body and lenses depreciate like crazy if you buy anything new. Basically its like buying a new Cadillac

I have bought my Micro 4/3 lenses used and so I would say the used market is there. The Canon used lens market for DSLR is definitely biggest but in my experience most hobbyists and pro-sumer users don't end up taking advantage anyway - they just want 3 good lenses and then done with buying lenses. They are not always upgrading or trying strange lenses.

Heck I would say a lot of people intend to buy more lenses but then never get around to it and end up always using the kit lens that came with the body they bought. Or they go on Craigslist and because they are new at this, buy such poor quality old glass from 30 years ago because it still fits any Canon, and wonder why their photos are blurry etc.

In terms of electronic viewfinder, it does use the battery but in general the battery lasts forever so its hard to see it in the real world. On my camera you can actually take photos with the viewfinder off if you want to be reckless, and it does shut the viewfinder off until the moment you put it to your eye so in most situations it is using like 20 seconds of power, not on all the time.

Last thing I should mention, in some feature areas many Mirrorless cameras also absolutely destroy the lower end DSLR's such as burst mode speed or autofocus speed, that makes a HUGE difference in everyday shooting. Likewise many Mirrorless cameras blow away DSLRs if you decide to shoot some video on them.

Something like a 70D or T5i is going to be like a big heavy slow boat compared back to back with an EM5 or NEX7, definitely go to a camera store and compare them yourself to see.

[PRY4SNO]

Re: Noob Camera Shopping

And FWIW, some of the best shots I've ever taken have been hiking or boarding on the mountain or walking around a foreign city with a pocket sized Canon Powershot worth about $250. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE my Nikon D90 but Canon's point-and-shoot cams are superb; fast, cheap and intuitive.

I use DPReview.com and cnet.com (among others) to narrow down the top contenders, whichever route you choose (P/S vs dSLR).