Photography HELP!! DSLR

[shaddydan]

Hello,
My daughter really wants to get a digital slr for Christmas and I really don't know where to start (I still have a K1000) Trying to stay under $300 for a decent camera. Is my budget appropriate for a decent base camera that can be expanded? Thanks for the help!
Dan

 

[Hawkeye]

Like any other thing, the answer is going to be "it depends." How in to photography is she? How experienced? What does she want to use the camera for? Etc....

The most important question, though, is: does she, or you, or whoever, have any other SLR camera gear right now? If so, you'll likely want to buy the same brand for her because you'll be able to re-use the lenses that you may already have. If that's not a factor, the major brands (Nikon, Canon) are so similar in price and features that it doesn't really matter.

Retail for the basic beginner consumer grade DSLR kits (the camera body and one lens) is around $450 - $500 or so. This will get you a basic camera body and a basic zoom lens. Neither will be anything to write home about as far as being the most amazing camera in the world, but they are still powerful tools that can produce some really nice images.

One thing you may want to look in to given your budget is buying a refurbished camera. Canon has a refurb program that provides some decent deals. I am a semi-pro motorsport and car photographer and I bought the camera that I use for work through their refurb program and have been VERY happy with it. It was like new. Canon also has a "loyalty program" where if you have ANY Canon digital camera (even a broken one you bought for $5, ahem...) you can call them up and you get 20% off the refurb price on certain gear. They send you the new gear and a box, and you send them the old camera for recycling.

Also watch the Black Friday deals - there will probably be a basic kit on sale somewhere.

 

[stu929]

http://www.techbargains.com/canon-eos-rebel-t3i-deals

Currently expired but for an SLR the price point you mention will be tough. That being said Im still using a canon rebel I picked up in 04/05 and it has well over 10k pics taken. Otherwise you can find some nice used SLRs that would have been almost professional grade a few years ago if you look around. I really like canon, Nikon of couse also has a big following.

Techbargains
Slick deals

 

[sead0nkey]

EOS Rebel T3i EF-S 18-55mm IS II Lens Kit Refurbished was 312.00 shipped a few days ago from http://shop.usa.canon.com

Black Friday should have similar deals...


Another comparable model would be the nikon d3200

 

[-Z/28-]

Poke around and see if you can find a Nikon D40 or D60. There a few years old but still very capable entry level DSLRs. Should be able to find one in your budget.

 

[Sundazes]

Go down to Service Photo and take look. They are in Hampden on Falls Rd. Tell them what you are looking for and see all the options. They are friendly and know their stuff. Remember, when buying a camera body, you are buying into a lens system, so take that into account if you daughter is serious.
DON'T get hung up on megapixels.

 

[shaddydan]

She only has a cell phone camera but wanted to get a DLSR. She's very artistic and seems to have a bend toward photography. I hadn't thought about the refurb program. That would be a good way to get a better body. I figured you can't go wrong with Nikon or Canon.

 

[TonyB.]

The body is the cheap part. The glass is what costs money.

I'd buy a used or refurb mid-level body (Canon D60, etc.) before even considering a new Rebel. The limits of entry level bodies are quickly reached, even by a novice.

Shop the used section of bhphotovideo.com Their prices are good and they come with warranties.

 

[Overboost44]

Check these deals too. There is a T3iDSLR for $311 refurb and others.
http://www.spoofee.com/search/camera

 

[Hawkeye]

She only has a cell phone camera but wanted to get a DLSR. She's very artistic and seems to have a bend toward photography. I hadn't thought about the refurb program. That would be a good way to get a better body. I figured you can't go wrong with Nikon or Canon.

Basically, yeah. Either one of those two will produce a decent camera, and at a given price point their features are going to be VERY similar. The big thing about a DSLR is that you're buying in to a lens system with which you can expand the capabilities of the camera. Once you buy in to a given brand's lenses, though, you'll probably want to stay with that brand to protect the investment you made.

I'd buy a used or refurb mid-level body (Canon D60, etc.) before even considering a new Rebel. The limits of entry level bodies are quickly reached, even by a novice.

In general that's not bad advice at all, but in this case with the given budget that's probably not on the table. (A refurb 60D is still at least $500 just for the body.) And while you will eventually reach the limits of a consumer grade body they're still incredibly capable tools that you can get a lot out of. I shot races with a Rebel XTi for a couple of years when I was getting started, and though it wasn't as good as the 7D I have now, I got some good images. The other thing to remember is that she's a new photographer who may or may not stick with it.

Shop the used section of bhphotovideo.com Their prices are good and they come with warranties.

B&H are awesome. Definitely a good place to shop.

At this point, I'm also going to throw in the advice I always give to people asking about photography, which is that along with a first camera, get a copy of Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson. It's a great book that teaches how to really use a camera in a hands-on, easy to follow manner. A better $15 could never be spent for a photographer.

 

[webb297]

At this point, I'm also going to throw in the advice I always give to people asking about photography, which is that along with a first camera, get a copy of Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson. It's a great book that teaches how to really use a camera in a hands-on, easy to follow manner. A better $15 could never be spent for a photographer.

Best advise ever, for people who want to get into photography. I taught myself using this book, and recommend it highly to anybody, of any age, who wants to learn.

 

[-Mil-Surp-Phreak-]

I got my wife a Refurbished Nikon D3100 as her beat around camera and to take anywhere she wants. She has 2 other SUPER nice Nikons and a Canon also but for just every day use where we want better than cell phone pictures the D3100 comes everywhere with us. Cameta usually has good deals on packages.

http://www.cameta.com/index.cfm?fa=display.search&page=1&refine=y&Category=Digital%20SLR%20Cameras&Condition=REFURBISHED&Manufacturer=Nikon&sort_by_field=Price:ASC&cmsid=530

 

[Sundazes]

At this point, I'm also going to throw in the advice I always give to people asking about photography, which is that along with a first camera, get a copy of Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson. It's a great book that teaches how to really use a camera in a hands-on, easy to follow manner. A better $15 could never be spent for a photographer.

Agreed.
Just like shooting, it is the person behind the camera that makes the shot. It would drive me nuts when people would say to me that camera takes great pictures. Having an eye for composition and exposure is key.

 

[dogbone]

Go down to Service Photo and take look. They are in Hampden on Falls Rd. Tell them what you are looking for and see all the options. They are friendly and know their stuff. Remember, when buying a camera body, you are buying into a lens system, so take that into account if you daughter is serious.
DON'T get hung up on megapixels.

One more voice suggesting Service Photo. The folks there are just too good a resource to pass up. You might save a few bucks at one of the big box stores but shopping with Service Photo is the camera equivalent of a trip to your local gun shop. Friendly and knowledgeable staff who often use what they sell beats some guy who worked in Housewares last week.

 

[markgrutz]

I will throw another vote in for Service Photo. Got the best tripod I have ever had from them. When (or if) I ever drop my Sony/Minolta stuff, I will probably get replacement gear from them.

The Nat Geo's Field Photographers Guide used to be a great (small/portable) book with really good basic info in it as well. I haven't seen the current printing of it, but the 1980s version is great.

Mark

 

[blackseven]

I ordered a brand new Canon T5 with lens kit for 369 off "rakuten.com" which was formerly buy.com.

My wife is going back to college for photography and she's actually pretty damn good at it, but she's been having to use a really old (12 years old) camera that is starting to fail, I wanted to get her up to a good beginner DSLR and the Canon Rebel series are all great, as well as the D3200 too and in my price range. The lowest I've seen the cameras go for is 399 at sears.com on blackfriday so the rakuten deal looked really good.

 

[shaddydan]

Agreed.
Just like shooting, it is the person behind the camera that makes the shot. It would drive me nuts when people would say to me that camera takes great pictures. Having an eye for composition and exposure is key.

That's too funny. I have some experience with photography from a few years back and I was always trying to change exposures etc. My ex would basically do quick point and shoot pics and they were always better. I had to finally admit that I'm not much of a photographer.

 

[molonlabe]

+1
I got a picture used as a calendar shot for our Credit union taken with a 5MP Nikon camera. It was one of the first 5mp and went through batteries like a maching gun goes through bullets.

I traded my T3 at Service Photos for a T4 and love the touch screen for speed of accessing parameters.

 

[Reptile]

Agreed.
Just like shooting, it is the person behind the camera that makes the shot. It would drive me nuts when people would say to me that camera takes great pictures. Having an eye for composition and exposure is key.

That bothers me, too. Many years ago I read about a photographer who was approached at a party by a writer who said, "I love your photos. You must have a really good camera." He responded, "I like your books. You must have a really good typewriter."

 

[fidelity]

If you can move up in price, for $550 you can get a package for the Nikon D3300 and an 18-55mm lens. We recently got one as my wife wanted a lighter bodied and somewhat smaller DSLR to carry. We have a few pricey Nikkor/Nikon lenses previously obtained for a Nikon D90 (a great, relatively rugged DSLR that's now discontinued), so I was a bit skeptical of the package lens with the D3300, but it's been a performer, and we've taken some really nice pics with it. I think the high ISO range and noise handling of the camera gives it more flexibility even with a basic lens.

Be careful about camera deals from online vendors that are substantially cheaper than prices at Amazon, B&H, Foxes, etc (e.g. avoid Abe's of Maine - which is really in NJ). Many will sell grey market goods whose warranties are no good in the US, and they will delay shipping orders, call buyers, and try to talk them up to buying more expensive goods.