Posted: 4/17/2014 4:39:27 AM EDT
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What is a good entry level DSLR camera?
It will be for a college graduation gift for someone who has a good eye for photography. Don't want to break the bank but do want something that you can be creative with. Thanks 
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Nikon d3200 Fantastic camera. I have one. It shoots excellent HD video as well. OP I'm partial to Nikon but any of the big makes (Canon, Nikon, Sony, Pentax) will get them started well. Nice package deals on Canon and Nikon cameras can be had at Sams Club or Costco, usually with two lenses and a bag or some other accessories. |
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Quoted: Fantastic camera. I have one. It shoots excellent HD video as well. OP I'm partial to Nikon but any of the big makes (Canon, Nikon, Sony, Pentax) will get them started well. Nice package deals on Canon and Nikon cameras can be had at Sams Club or Costco, usually with two lenses and a bag or some other accessories. Quoted: Quoted: Nikon d3200 Fantastic camera. I have one. It shoots excellent HD video as well. OP I'm partial to Nikon but any of the big makes (Canon, Nikon, Sony, Pentax) will get them started well. Nice package deals on Canon and Nikon cameras can be had at Sams Club or Costco, usually with two lenses and a bag or some other accessories. The refurbished Nikon, Canon, and Pentax kits from KEH are nice as well. Basically a brand-new camera in the box but slightly more affordable. |
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The refurbished Nikon, Canon, and Pentax kits from KEH are nice as well. Basically a brand-new camera in the box but slightly more affordable. Quoted:
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Nikon d3200 Fantastic camera. I have one. It shoots excellent HD video as well. OP I'm partial to Nikon but any of the big makes (Canon, Nikon, Sony, Pentax) will get them started well. Nice package deals on Canon and Nikon cameras can be had at Sams Club or Costco, usually with two lenses and a bag or some other accessories. The refurbished Nikon, Canon, and Pentax kits from KEH are nice as well. Basically a brand-new camera in the box but slightly more affordable. JMHO but I usually steer clear of refurbs, especially on something as droppable and delicate as a camera (gears, shutter, lenses,etc).  YMMV but that's just my take.
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I just bought myself a D5300 which is the new 5 series replacing the 5200.
Absolutely a great camera. I was torn between this and the 7100/70D but the reviews and performance of the 5300 I couldn't ignore.... not to mention the price. If the person is going into professional photography or plan to, perhaps get the 7100/70D as it's a bridge camera. If they are just a serious enthusiast, go 5300... if they just like great pictures and weekend enthusiast type thing, go 3300. |
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We picked up a refurb deal on a Canon Rebel XS with an 18-55mm kit lens. It's a great camera. Recently, I added a 55-250 IS lens to it and holy cow that thing takes some great pictures. For under $500 for both the camera and lenses, I'm super happy with it.
It doesn't do video, though, so if you need that, I think you have to step up to at least the T3i. Put out a slickdeals.net deal alert for some keywords and you'll know when those deals hit. We got ours (both the camera and the extra lens) from Canon directly. |
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This. I started with a D5100 but that's likely a little much for a first DSLR. Check Ryther camera for a good deal. Quoted:
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Nikon d3200 Funny thing is I've been shooting SLR since my Canon AE-1 days back in the 70s..Taking classes and reading books too..Finally switching over from film has me feeling like a rookie all over again..so much stuff |
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My wife and I just bought a Canon 70D and love it! Easy to use and tons of options for lenses. do this. I would think about buying an older mid-level body and not a newer low level body. the Rebel is a good camera series, but it's the entry level model. If you get a 7D/50D series camera, you get a much better camera for about the same. Honestly, I have shot the rebels but currently have a 7D and a 1DIII, and I would get a used 1DIII over a Rebel all day long. Don't fall for the Megapixel trap. a 10MP 1DIII is a LOT more camera than an 18MP Rebel. both camera quality and picture quality. I can offer more if you want to IM me, but it's easy for me to get spun up on camera pretty fast. I have had Rebels, 20D/40D/50D/7D's/1DIII's/1DIIs. Currently shooting with the 7D and 1DIII Edited to add: another think to consider is if you want a Crop body or a Full Frame. Unless you are shooting sports or wildlife at long distance, FF may fit you better. Counter-intuitively, most cameras sold today are crop body frames. A crop frame automatically "zooms" your image in at the sensor level. So any image you take is automatically zoomed in by a small factor. The Canon 7D is a 1.6x crop. So if you put a 50MM lens on a Canon 7D, your effective lens length is equivalent to an 8mm lens. My 1DIII is a 1.3x crop body. Full Frame camera (FF) like the Canon 5D/5DII/5DIII and 6D don't have that crop. It means you may have to but longer lenses, but they do portrait, landscape and other stuff a little better. a lot of your decision depends on what you are shooting and how. a much bigger decision is what kind of lens you get. The bodies change, when you buy a camera, you are not buying a camera, you're buying a lens system. I picked Canon over Nikon for the color clarity in their lenses, and the fact that I buy 99% of my camera gear used. If it's been well taken care of, it doesn't really wear out. And depreciation on camera stuff is a BITCH. Which is good for used buyers. there are simply more Canon than Nikon lenses available on the used market, which makes them cheaper. I also like the controls better, but that's subjective. Pick each system up and see which one feels better in the hands, and whose controls are more intuitive, then buy that system and go. |
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Get a used Canon T2i, a couple lenses, and as many 32GB cards as you can afford. Should set you back about $800-1000ish.
Good overall starter lens: http://www.amazon.com/Canon-28-135mm-3-5-5-6-Standard-Cameras/dp/B00006I53S/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1397748322&sr=8-5&keywords=canon+ef Body should be between $300-500. Cards are about $20 a pop. |
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What is a good entry level DSLR camera? It will be for a college graduation gift for someone who has a good eye for photography. Don't want to break the bank but do want something that you can be creative with. Thanks http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/910146-REG/nikon_1501_d5200_digital_slr_camera.html |
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How about a gift card from B&H? http://www.bhphotovideo.com/find/giftCard.jsp
That way they can choose a body and landscape, portrait, macro or zoom lens that fits the type of photography they like. |
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Look at the roadmap into the future. Buying the correct brand today will save headaches in the future. DSLR investments are meaningless. It's the LENSES that are important.
I personally like Canon, but Nikon is good too. Get any entry level camera from either manufacturer. When this person has 15 lenses accumulated, I'd guess 3-4 camera bodies will have been bought and replaced. My vote is for Canon. They are the 800 lb Gorilla in the DSLR market. |
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I have been very happy with my Sony Alpha cameras. As a nice side bonus Minolta A mount AF lenses will work with it. You can pick up some nice Minolta glass cheap nowdays.
I wouldn't shy away from any of the mid range and up Nikons either. I have a D90 that I love. Although good glass is spendy for them. |