tonyt722
Tuesday, February 8, 2011 8:20:53 AM
Anyone have a recommendation for a beginner camera? I would like to start taking some pictures of the area since there are some beautiful woods and historical sites around me. Just a quick browse of Best Buy's website showed a couple of Sony and I believe Nikon packages under $1000. You guys know of any deals or cameras that are good for a beginner SLR user?
tonyt722
Tuesday, February 8, 2011 8:35:36 AM
mikey1597
Tuesday, February 8, 2011 8:35:49 AM
I got my wife a DSLR, Canon Rebel, a month age and she loves it. Simple to use and way less than 1000.
rfenst
Tuesday, February 8, 2011 8:51:09 AM
No way you should have to spend $1k for the camera body and a lense! My preference is Nikon. However, others here also favor Cannon (and some of the other well known brands). Sony, for anything other than point and shoot, just desn't seem right to me- Sorry.

So,I MO the best advice to give you is to visit a true, large camera shop, where you can try each different brand and model. You will get the best advice there. Being a noob to the DSLR, consider buying the one that is easiest for you to understand how to control and that fits most comfortably in your hands. See if the camera shop will match the discount prices at Best-Buy, Costco, etc.

cadbeans
Tuesday, February 8, 2011 8:57:24 AM
PM Sent
tonyt722
Tuesday, February 8, 2011 8:59:33 AM
rfenst, the problem with living in a small town is not having a large camera shop to go and try different brands. I figured a couple of people would have some ideas as to what I should look for. I would love nothing more than to try out different models, but I am stuck with just best buy actually having cameras in a decent price range. The one good camera shop around here only has the high end models that are very expensive.
cbc812
Tuesday, February 8, 2011 9:07:16 AM
tony - I second mikey's rec for the Canon Digital Rebel. My bro is a professional photographer and shoots with all Canon stuff. he has a couple of Rebels he keeps for vacation/knockaround cameras, and he swears by them. He lent one to me and my girlfriend for a long weekend we took, and the camera was pretty easy to figure out and use (we are not SLR camera people) and took some AMAZING shots. We are considering purchasing one ourselves, but waiting to see if I can snag one of his for cheap!

It's always better to go with a local shpo in case you have issues, but if you're thinking of buying online, B&H Photo Video (based in NYC) is great and usually has some of the cheapest prices around.

tonyt722
Tuesday, February 8, 2011 11:48:00 AM
I am going this evening to look at the camera in post #2 so that gives anyone else responding a starting point for any other recommendations
Nicar
Tuesday, February 8, 2011 11:56:32 AM
tony, canon is good, my ex had one... rfenst has good suggestion with Nikon... one thing is, not fall for highest megapixel... think about the biggest photo you might want to ever print. 10.1 is more than enough to print 5x7s

just found this website.. charts... megapixel and print size...

http://www.design215.com/toolbox/megapixels.php 

So, you can spend more on lens and other accessories..

tonyt722
Tuesday, February 8, 2011 12:17:57 PM

tony, canon is good, my ex had one... rfenst has good suggestion with Nikon... one thing is, not fall for highest megapixel... think about the biggest photo you might want to ever print. 10.1 is more than enough to print 5x7s

just found this website.. charts... megapixel and print size...

http://www.design215.com/toolbox/megapixels.php 

So, you can spend more on lens and other accessories..

Nicar wrote:

What is selling me is the one at Sam's is coming with a nice set of lenses already, along with a memory card and bag.

Nicar
Tuesday, February 8, 2011 12:23:17 PM
That's a great sale I saw... things you'll need.. and with the print size you can get from 10 mega pixels.. you can get a nice nice 8x10 size with no problem on highest setting. Images for computer.. totally good enough..

It'll have enough settings to take photos you want.. just read the user manual and you'll be a novice-expert in no time...

tonyt722
Tuesday, February 8, 2011 2:01:34 PM

That's a great sale I saw... things you'll need.. and with the print size you can get from 10 mega pixels.. you can get a nice nice 8x10 size with no problem on highest setting. Images for computer.. totally good enough..

It'll have enough settings to take photos you want.. just read the user manual and you'll be a novice-expert in no time...

Nicar wrote:

After doing some reading this does seem like a pretty good beginner camera. The wife wants to start taking some better pictures since it helps her relax. And I must admit, I cant wait to get out for a walk with it and take a few myself

barryneedleman
Tuesday, February 8, 2011 7:37:12 PM
I went with the Nikon set at COSTCO last year, not home so I don't know for sure but I think it is D5000. There were 2 Nikon sets available at the time, and this was the less expensive one (about $900). Came with 2 different zoom lenses, bag, memory card, software and a couple of instructional DVDs. I love the camera, can go all automatic while you learn the features. Takes spectacular pictures.
tonyt722
Tuesday, February 8, 2011 7:51:24 PM
I actually went into a camera shop that I havent been in for years. Ended up getting a Nikon D3100 with an extra 55-200mm lens included. $725 out the door.....didnt think it was too bad of a price.
lou2row
Tuesday, February 8, 2011 7:54:42 PM
Seen a couple Nikons at Costco around Christmas. Was looking at them to get one for my wife to get into photography. Everyone told me to find a deal with the extra lens, because you won't want to go back and buy it later, separately they gouge you pretty good.
lou2row
Tuesday, February 8, 2011 7:58:51 PM
Okay, forget Costco. Their prices jumped up around $500 since Christmas. They had some nice packages for about $750 when I was there. Now everything is over $1200 other than a Panasonic.
jetblasted
Tuesday, February 8, 2011 9:36:49 PM
I'm going to throw my two cents in. Since you live in a small town & only have large retail outlets to deal with, I would do as much online research before dropping a chunk of change on something you might, or might not like. I would do a hands-in test before buying. Like Robert said, go put you hands on the camera & see how they feel in your hands. Go with what feels good in your hands. Ergonomics should play an important part of your decision. Right now there is not much technical difference between Nikon's & Canon cameras. Nikon dies have the edge on low-light sensors, though.

Two things I would recommend though, is getting a 35mm f/1.8 lens. They're inexpensive & sharp as a tack. I mention the 35mm lens, as I'm assuming you'll be getting a cropped sensor consumer camera & the cropped sensor conversion rate is 1.5 for Nikon & 1.6 for Canon. This translates to a 50mm actual for Nikon & 56mm for Canon, which is basically a "normal" lens. I keep my 50/1.4 glued to my camera 95% of the time. I mention this, because the kit zoom lenses that come with consumer cameras have a variable aperture of f/3.5-5.6 & that is abysmal for shooting indoors w/o flash.

I also highly recommend buying your lenses used from keh.com, as they're the world's largest used camera dealer & I've been trading with them for years. Do not be afraid of buying BGN (Bargain) lenses. They might be scuffed up a bit, but mechanically are a sound investment. Given that recommendation, look into aftermarket lens suppliers such as Sigma, Tamron & Tokina & only buy constant aperture f/2.8 zoom lenses.

I've been shooting Nikon Pro bodies for years & I'm a big Nikon fan, but Canon is very good.

tonyt722
Tuesday, February 8, 2011 9:47:59 PM
Thanks Jet. As I posted in #14 I got a D3100. Been playing around with it all night and I love it so far
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