DSLR camera help

[gracie1]

I am really interested in getting a DSLR camera. Can anyone help me out?? I don't want to spend a $1000 on one, and know nothing really about them. I've heard a lot of people talk about the nikon d3100 but now I keep seeing the advertisements for the canon eos rebel and the t3 and t3i.
Help!!!

 

[Crystal824]

I have a Nikon 5000 (the predecessor to the 5100). I was able to get the 5000 at a hefty discount just after the 5100s came out. You might be able to find one that is still avaliable. I love mine. It takes great photos.

 

[mrodgers]

A dSLR is a very expensive camera if all you are going to do is snapshoot in auto with the kit lens. You can't do dSLR for under $1000 because you are inevitably going to want different lenses for different reasons.

May as well just buy a $200ish superzoom camera if you are going for cost only.

 

[BoogasMom]

What most will tell you is that you need to go to the stores that sell the ones you are interested in and "handle" them. Feel how they are in your hands and get the one that is most comfortable for you to operate.

That being said, I have the Nikon D3100 and I LOOOOVEEE IT!!!

 

[tink_n_pooh]

Canon Rebel's are great cameras, much more user friendly than the Nikon from my own experience

 

[gracie1]

A dSLR is a very expensive camera if all you are going to do is snapshoot in auto with the kit lens. You can't do dSLR for under $1000 because you are inevitably going to want different lenses for different reasons.

May as well just buy a $200ish superzoom camera if you are going for cost only.

Right now there are so many specials with extra lenses for well under $1000.

 

[usnuzuloose]

I have the cannon t2i. I really like it. It fits my hands well. It is costly getting different lenses.

 

[gracie1]

Thanks everyone. I think I will go to a camera store (like Ritz camera) and look at the different ones. Just to get a feel. I loved seeing the canon eos on qvc the other day with how many shots you can take (I have a kodak and you have to wait between each shot) and that sucker cost me $400 when it first came out!

 

[KarenAylwood]

Thanks everyone. I think I will go to a camera store (like Ritz camera) and look at the different ones. Just to get a feel. I loved seeing the canon eos on qvc the other day with how many shots you can take (I have a kodak and you have to wait between each shot) and that sucker cost me $400 when it first came out!

The T2 or T3 would probably suit your needs. A Canon Rebel is just a series name- the T2i, T3i and T3 are all Canon Rebels.


This is a comparison between the T3 & T3i:
http://snapsort.com/compare/Canon-T3-vs-Canon-T3i

T2i vs T3i:
http://snapsort.com/compare/Canon-T3i-vs-Canon_EOS_Rebel_T2i

T2i vs T3:
http://snapsort.com/compare/Canon-T3-vs-Canon_EOS_Rebel_T2i

Looks like the T2i would fit your needs. Go to the store and handle them, but DO NOT buy at Ritz Camera or Best Buy or the like. When you decide what you want, compare prices online. Check out amazon.com, adorama.com, bhphotovideo.com and a few others like Walmart, etc.

Yes, lenses are costly but it depends on what you're getting the camera for. I know plenty of people who have bought dSLRs and have a few inexpensive lenses (the kit, the 50mm f/1.8 and maybe a cheap telephoto) or just use the kit lens it came with.

You can spend gobs of money on lenses if you get into photography and really learn what it's all about. You can also just buy a dSLR with the kit lens and snap some great photos in auto. Your output will be different but it's all in what your end goal is.

Buy the camera with the kit and try it out before deciding what other lenses you want. I'm still using the Rebel I bought in 2008 for about $600 including the kit lens. Since then I've spent about $5,000 on lenses and filters alone (not including photography classes, photobooks, seminars, etc). It's easy to get sucked in, but it's an expensive hobby!

 

[Nayan]

It's easy to get sucked in, but it's an expensive hobby!

Oh I so agree with that statement!

While DSLR's are very nice don't discount point and shoots. My favorite is the old Canon Powershot A630 which does many things like my Canon Rebel XS does only in a small package. The question I would ask is what you plan on using the camera for and how often then deciding if a DSLR would be the right fit for you. I love my XS but find I grab my A630 more often than not.

 

[MichelleinMaine]

Agree to consider why you want a DSLR. There are plenty of fast point and shoots if that is where your concern is. A DSLR is more money- plus it is alot larger to carry around. It's not going to tuck in your purse for an afternoon outing.

That said- you really can't go wrong with either the Canon Rebel {as said, mutliple minor variations in the models} or Nikon entry level cameras. (Canon and Nikon are kind of like Coke and Pepsi- you'll hear some people with strong opinions about one or the other )

My recommendation would be to go into a good locally owned camera store and ask to try each of them out. One may very well fit your hands better/controls feel more logical, whatever. (A smaller store will likely also have classes to help you learn to use it.)

Personally, I'd skip the kit lens it comes with (again, an independant sort of store will let you do this). I keep a Tamron 28-75mm lens on my camera most of the time. It's the one I bought with the camera body- together they were around $700. (That was a couple years ago.)

 

[Crystal824]

I have a Nikon 5000 (the predecessor to the 5100). I was able to get the 5000 at a hefty discount just after the 5100s came out. You might be able to find one that is still avaliable. I love mine. It takes great photos.

A DSLR is expensive but by getting the earlier model we ended up paying about $500 for the camera and the one lens. We have since gotten the zoom lens and lucked out getting it a Target on BF for $149 (it is usually $249). The camera bag was another $50 so all in all we have about $700 in our camera. I LOVE it and it takes great pictures. Yes, I often use it on auto but I'm learning about the features and trying out the man. mode too.

 

[prncess674]

Go to the store and handle them, but DO NOT buy at Ritz Camera or Best Buy or the like. When you decide what you want, compare prices online. Check out amazon.com, adorama.com, bhphotovideo.com and a few others like Walmart, etc.

I have to disagree with this and think it is rude to use the knowledge of the saleman when you have no intention of purchasing. Part of the reason stores like Ritz are more expensive is because they have knowledgeable sales staff and you pay for that.

 

[jdrais]

In my opinion Canon and Nikon DSLRs on the market right now have many similar features. In fact in you use them in automatic mode the only real difference is how to access information on the menus. You might want to see if you can use one before you purchase. You may like how Nikon does something or you might like how Canon does something. Sometimes a feature on one if something that you really like that isn't on another model. Heck the main reason I got my wife a Nikon d5100 was that I could add a GPS reciever and have it store geocoding directly in the photo. (Where is the nerd smilie when you need it )

Yes, I often use it on auto but I'm learning about the features and trying out the man. mode too.

This is a nice feature to have since there are times when doing point and shoot is more convenient. Then again I'm not any where near a professional photographer either.

 

[wtrmlnlabs]

I love my cannon rebel eos. My friend spent the little extra and got the T2i, wish I had!! It takes video too and she absolutely loves it. I had heard a lot of complaints both online and from friends, two are professional photographers, that the Nikkon was not good. I forget why. Yes the DSLR was expensive compared to a point and shoot camera but I don't know how I ever lived "taking the picture before the picture" you know, that lag time. I can't handle using one like that anymore. I see the T2i well under $1000 packaged with 2 lenses that are pretty much what you'd use all the time.
Good luck, I know it's a painstaking decision to make, to buy one or not, which one

 

[jdrais]

I had heard a lot of complaints both online and from friends, two are professional photographers, that the Nikkon was not good. I forget why.

There are whole sites where people argue back and forth over which camera is better.

 

[gracie1]

Thank you all so much for your help!!! I am going to research them online some more and go to a camera store to check them out.

 

[eduk8r26]

I bought the Sony Alpha 390 because I had a bunch of lenses from my Minolta SLR. They fit the Sony.

 

[Pooh2]

There are lots of posts on buying DSLRs over the on the photography board that you might want to check out.

A friend just got the Nikon 5100 and loves it. I think it was under $800 with two kit lenses.

 

[LisaR]

We bought the Nikon 3100 about six weeks ago after doing as much research as my mind could handle. As someone else mentioned, there is a great deal of debate between the "experts" on what brand is better. It got old reading the reviews because there seems to be so much bias based on brand.

We were able to get the camera, an extra lens, one of the fast SD cards, an extra battery, a case, and most importantly for us, an extra 5 year warranty since my 14 y/o will be the one using it the most. It came to $900.

We are all very happy with it. My son has taken some classes to learn how to get the best use out of it and he is producing some really good shots. I just had an 8 x 10 printed out of a flower that he took and it came out fantastic!