Posted: 9/17/2016 9:43:12 PM EDT
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Wife is due late December and we'd like to get a good camera and stop using our phones so much.... for posterity's sake.
Also, we'd like it to be a camera that is capable enough to take some really great wildlife and scenery photos given the proper lens of course. We happen to live in a place that has a pretty impressive spring migration of full plumage waterfowl, and we'd like to capture them in vivid detail if at all possible. Along with the typical family trips and kids photos and such. Budget is $1000 or so for just the camera and basic lens, with the ability to purchase others later on. Thanks for any info,....................... we don't know much about photography, so go easy! |
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Quoted:
Wife is due late December and we'd like to get a good camera and stop using our phones so much.... for posterity's sake. Also, we'd like it to be a camera that is capable enough to take some really great wildlife and scenery photos given the proper lens of course. We happen to live in a place that has a pretty impressive spring migration of full plumage waterfowl, and we'd like to capture them in vivid detail if at all possible. Along with the typical family trips and kids photos and such. Budget is $1000 or so for just the camera and basic lens, with the ability to purchase others later on. Thanks for any info,....................... we don't know much about photography, so go easy! Nikon D5300/D5500 https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1010025-REG/nikon_13303_d5300_dslr_camera_with.html https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1111433-REG/nikon_1548_d5500_dx_format_dig.html |
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Quoted: Still photos Quoted: Quoted: Kind of depends on the specifics. Are we talking stills or video? Once you get away from an ipotato things change. There are a whole bunch of entry level DSRs that do video too, like the Nikon 3300. Still photos |
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I'm a fan of getting the best camera you can afford, and learning it. I don't agree with the "get a starter camera, then get another a few months later when it starts to drive you crazy" idea.
Within your budget, a refurb'd D7000, D7100, or D7200 is easily attainable, with a lens or three. |
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Go to a store that sells lots of cameras and try them out.
Pay attention to the size, weight, shape, button layout, etc. If the camera does not feel good in YOUR hands, you are not going to take it out much. Nikon vs Canon bodies, there is no real world differences that really matter; you are buying into a lens system. I happen to prefer Nikon for their ergonomics. If you go Nikon, pay attention to the sizes. The D3000 and D5000 lines are really small sized, which may be a problem for folks with bigger hands. I greatly prefer the large bodies. My recommendation would be something in the D7000 line, like the D7100 or D7200, but that is pushing your budget. |
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Quoted:
I'm a fan of getting the best camera you can afford, and learning it. I don't agree with the "get a starter camera, then get another a few months later when it starts to drive you crazy" idea. Within your budget, a refurb'd D7000, D7100, or D7200 is easily attainable, with a lens or three. 100% agree. |
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Quoted:
Go to a store that sells lots of cameras and try them out. Pay attention to the size, weight, shape, button layout, etc. If the camera does not feel good in YOUR hands, you are not going to take it out much. Nikon vs Canon bodies, there is no real world differences that really matter; you are buying into a lens system. I happen to prefer Nikon for their ergonomics. If you go Nikon, pay attention to the sizes. The D3000 and D5000 lines are really small sized, which may be a problem for folks with bigger hands. I greatly prefer the large bodies. My recommendation would be something in the D7000 line, like the D7100 or D7200, but that is pushing your budget. That isn't the case with the D5500. Apparently nikon made the grip larger. (comparable to if not better than the D7xxx series) |
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Quoted: That isn't the case with the D5500. Apparently nikon made the grip larger. (comparable to if not better than the D7xxx series) Quoted: Quoted: Go to a store that sells lots of cameras and try them out. Pay attention to the size, weight, shape, button layout, etc. If the camera does not feel good in YOUR hands, you are not going to take it out much. Nikon vs Canon bodies, there is no real world differences that really matter; you are buying into a lens system. I happen to prefer Nikon for their ergonomics. If you go Nikon, pay attention to the sizes. The D3000 and D5000 lines are really small sized, which may be a problem for folks with bigger hands. I greatly prefer the large bodies. My recommendation would be something in the D7000 line, like the D7100 or D7200, but that is pushing your budget. That isn't the case with the D5500. Apparently nikon made the grip larger. (comparable to if not better than the D7xxx series) |
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Quoted:
Are the Nikon's pretty similar feature wise between the 5000 and 7000 series? What are some must have features? The sensors are often shared. The 5000 series usually has a tilting screen (this may or may not be something that interests you) The rest, the 7000 series favors. Drive motor for older lenses, front and rear command dials, buttons and toggles for things rather than having to dig through a menu (or several menus) to get to it. More weather resistant, locking mode dials, the list goes on. The front and rear command dials and the extra buttons are reason enough to get the 7000. The drive motor for the older lenses is an added perk. |
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Quoted: I'm a fan of getting the best camera you can afford, and learning it. I don't agree with the "get a starter camera, then get another a few months later when it starts to drive you crazy" idea. Within your budget, a refurb'd D7000, D7100, or D7200 is easily attainable, with a lens or three. +1 B&H and KEH are worth a look. |