beginning DSLR camera?

[deerhunter_98520]

 my wife wants to start photography...what's a good dslr camera to start out with that's easier to use? She plans on taking a photography class at the college

[huntnphool]

Any of the Canon xxD series cameras.

[HUNTNORTHWEST]

i just got a nikon d3100 and have been taking great pictures with it.

Very easy to use and nikon makes great glass.

[deerhunter_98520]

Thanks guys....The 3100 is the one she's been looking a

[Brute]

It just depends on what she wants to take photos of.
Started out with a  Nikon D90 and 2 kit lens's the 18 -105 and the 70 -300. Hardly ever use the 70- 300 anymore.
I wanted to shoot wildlife at longer ranges. Got a used Nikon D300 and a used 80-400.
I use the D90 with the 18-105 for mostly family  and closer shots now.
It can become a expensive hobby. The lens is where you want to spend your money.
Then learn some editing.
Good Luck on what you decide to get.   

[deerhunter_98520]

Mostly family pics for her...wildlife for me 

[Brute]

Used a friends D3100 with a 18 -55 lens for some indoor photos. It took nice photos.
 Learn what the settings are for . Take it off of Auto.

[deerhunter_98520]

Used a friends D3100 with a 18 -55 lens for some indoor photos. It took nice photos.
 Learn what the settings are for . Take it off of Auto.

That's why she wants to take a class...no idea what the settings are for

[LndShrk]

7D is always a good option.

https://seattle.craigslist.org/see/pho/4327762317.html

[deerslyr]

I run the canon T5i for all of my video and picture. I started with the now discontinued t4i before it got water damage and I was upgraded to the t5i. I thinks its really user friendly and really enjoy the touch screen. I had never used a dslr before and it wasn't too hard to figure out.

[HUNTNORTHWEST]

look into getting the 3200 its not much more expensive and the megapixels go from 14 with the 3100 and 24 with the 3200.

If you ever want to blow up you pictures and get them printed you will be happy you went with the 3200

[Bean Counter]

I wish I had spent far less on my first digital camera. I think most people who buy a DSLR for the first time don't really know what they want in a camera. If I were looking at Nikon and starting over knowing nothing, I'd probably buy a Nikon D70 for $100. Get this lens with it, a fixed, non zooming lens: http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-50mm-Nikkor-Digital-Cameras/dp/B00005LEN4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1393391316&sr=8-1&keywords=nikon+50mm+f%2F1.8+D. I would NOT get a zoom lens for your first lens. It will make you lazy. Fixed lenses force you to walk around and think more about you composition. I love my zooms, but I'm also glad that I started with the Canon equivalent of the above lens for several years before buying a zoom.

 As others have said, learn what kind of photos you want to take and learn how all the settings work. In 9 months, put the D70 in your fireplace along with the countless magazines you'll read from now till then. Christmas sales will be going and go buy what you know you want.The money you'll save on Christmas sales will more than make up for the "wasted" money buying a D70 from now till then.  Keep the lens as it is a lifetime investment.

Last Christmas shopping season I upgraded my Canon 400D to the full frame Canon 6d. I got it for $1,500 with $200 of free stuff (camera bag, monopod, extra battery, etc) in the Christmas sales and right now its selling for $1,750 after the holidays. I realized that what I really like are landscapes and low light. I love hunting and a nice wildlife photo as much as anyone else on here but I don't want to take my camera in pursuit of wildlife, for now. If I decide to later, I'll probably pick up a used 7D or 70D.

My order of quality must haves is:
1. Filters
2. Lenses
3. Camera

Filters are like binoculars. Buy a good one and it will last you your lifetime Buy cheap, buy twice. If you want to shoot landscapes, you'll want a nice circular polarizer and maybe a neutral density filter. You can skip the grads (graduated neutral density filter) as you can shoot HDR and get similar results. You can forget UV filters all together. I have a couple of $1,000+ lenses and I use a clear filter for protection but putting a protection filter on a $100-300 lens is silly.  :two cents:

If your wife is a good study, you can self teach yourself without a class. http://www.magbooks.com/mag-books/digital-photography/getting-started-in-digital-photography-2nd-edition This is an AWESOME magazine. Very little junk ad and page after page of kick ass how-to's. Between this magazine and the plethora of great stuff on YouTube you don't need to go to an expensive college class.

look into getting the 3200 its not much more expensive and the megapixels go from 14 with the 3100 and 24 with the 3200.

If you ever want to blow up you pictures and get them printed you will be happy you went with the 3200

I disagree with the above. If you want to print big, you're better off getting a large frame sensor camera. i believe this means "FX" for Nikon instead of "DX" which is their drop (i.e., the 3100, 3200, ec). Megapixels are a marketing gimmick once you get past 8-10 on a camera. You will get far better quality prints with a 13 megapixel full frame camera than you will with a 22 megapixel crop sensor. My 6d is  a 20 megapixel camera and I usually only set it to 1/2 (10 megapixel photos) for most photos (casual shots, chasing the kids, etc). Shooting 20 megapixel RAW files fills up a hard drive in a hurry. 

[deerhunter_98520]

I bought a used 30d from a member here last year and she's not to fond of it...she wants to be able to see what she's taking a pic of on the LCD ....I may just start dinkin around with this one and use it for the woods and let her get a new one......I have about a $500 budget for her camera and she had her mind set on the d3100....is there anything wrong with that camera? Here's the link of what she wants
http://mobile.walmart.com/#ip/Nikon-D3100-14.2MP-DSLR-Camera-with-18-55mm-VR-Lens-3-LCD-HD-Video/15222286?type=search

[Brute]

No. Nothing wrong with it. Get her what she want's and keep her happy.

[deerhunter_98520]

I just spent over $1000 on a spotting scope so I need to keep her happy 

[Bean Counter]

IMHO its silly to buy a DSLR if you want to look at the EVF to compose a picture. I didn't have it on my 400D, and now that I have it on my 6d, I've tried it out and added it to the list of contemporary junk features that I would happily just take off the camera if possible.

If she really wants to look at an EVF she should consider a mirror less camera like the Canon EOS M, the Nikon 1, or the Fuji x100S, which has a cult like following.

We still don't know what the uses for the camera will be--do you? If its solely for the prestigious look of carrying a DSLR trust me it will get old in a hurry.

One of the reasons that a DSLR is great is because of the OVF (optical view finder). Ie through the lens. The auto focus points just work better. The EVF is slower to react than what you see optically through the glass. I also happen to like seeing a smaller picture through the OVF. It makes me think less about details and more about composition of lines and shapes, colors and shadows, etc. 

I just spent over $1000 on a spotting scope so I need to keep her happy 

That's good reasoning. I spend a lot on me wife for the same reason. 

[deerhunter_98520]

She says she wants to get into photography....I know what your sayin about the lcd but I'm sure you've tried to tell a woman something at sometime and you know that's like talking to a brick wall    with that said she does love to take pictures....the kids pictures are all over my walls so I think that will be her main focus and possibly others to come

[pianoman9701]

If she's a beginner and wants to be able to take good pictures right out of the box, she should get a Cannon Powershot SX50. It's really easy to use, has a 50X digital zoom (which is incredible, especially using a tripod), and the resolution is 12 MP. This is a point and shoot camera.

A couple of years ago, I got her a Nikon D90 SLR with a Nikon 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR AF-S DX Nikkor Lens. It's about a 1,400.00 package. She's doing some nice stuff with it. About year ago, we got her son one of the Powershots. Then we bought one for her daughter. I got her one for Christmas this year and the D90 is now collecting dust.

I would highly recommend that you look into a refurbished one directly from Cannon. You can get them for around 299.00 or so. Make sure the package you order, no matter from whom you order, includes the battery pack, cords, etc. We had problems with this on the first two purchases, which were not through Cannon.

[deerhunter_98520]

She has a Kodak point and shoot that takes pretty good pics already...she's got her mind set on a DSLR...she needs a hobby anyways...it will give me another reason to hit the woods and bring her along...she gets bored and now she can take pictures when she goes with me....I wouldn't mind learning to use one also

[swanny]

IMHO its silly to buy a DSLR if you want to look at the EVF to compose a picture. I didn't have it on my 400D, and now that I have it on my 6d, I've tried it out and added it to the list of contemporary junk features that I would happily just take off the camera if possible.

If she really wants to look at an EVF she should consider a mirror less camera like the Canon EOS M, the Nikon 1, or the Fuji x100S, which has a cult like following.

We still don't know what the uses for the camera will be--do you? If its solely for the prestigious look of carrying a DSLR trust me it will get old in a hurry.

One of the reasons that a DSLR is great is because of the OVF (optical view finder). Ie through the lens. The auto focus points just work better. The EVF is slower to react than what you see optically through the glass. I also happen to like seeing a smaller picture through the OVF. It makes me think less about details and more about composition of lines and shapes, colors and shadows, etc. 

I just spent over $1000 on a spotting scope so I need to keep her happy 

That's good reasoning. I spend a lot on me wife for the same reason. 

Make her get on here and read this advice. I couldn't agree more. Any DSLR you need to use the view finder to compose the picture. It's part of the camera, learn to use it.

I'd also advise to look at the mirrorless 4/3's camera's as well if she doesn't want to look through the viewfinder. They are producing great photos, play videos, and are much smaller to tote around. Really look in to the type of photos she wants to take and where she will most often use the camera. Buy one that fits those needs, and her hands. Go find a camera shop to play with them, ask questions, etc because it's easy to make a mistake and either let it collect dust or end up costing you more as you buy a 2nd or 3rd camera.

[grade-creek-rd]

I hope it's not too late to reply to this topic and you haven't bought a DSLR yet. First go to http://www.kenrockwell.com/index.htm (if the link doesn't work, just google Ken Rockwell and it will pop up) and read everything about the camera's you are looking at/for. Then go buy the Nikon D5100...look at the reviews and then check out the price, unreal for a DSLR (get the Kit so you have lenses to start with) as it is rock bottom for pricing but is a great starter camera...just remember that it does not have a motor in the body for auto focus lenses (FX series, the higher end Nikkor/Nikon lenses so you have to manual focus those) but the G series DX lenses have the motor in the lens and work just fine. Due to the price point on the D5100 you can't go wrong and when you decide to upgrade you will have a good back up camera.

for a point and shoot I use the Canon G1x (it actualy costs more than the Nikon D5100)...you would be suprised at the photos it takes.

G-C-R

[deerhunter_98520]

Well we went shopping today and came home with a Nikon d3200 with AF-S DX nikkor 18-55 f/3.5-5.6g vr.....this should get her started out and I'm sure well end up getting a better one down the line....thanks for all your input everyone 

[Bean Counter]

Have fun man! 

[deerhunter_98520]

I'm already looking at new lenses 

[Bean Counter]

Start with that 50mm f/1.8 

[grade-creek-rd]

Great choice deerhunter...and I agree with bean counter...if you or your wife like those blurred background with the subject in focus type photos (its called bokah) then look at getting the 50mm f/1.8 BUT make sure you get the AF DX version as it will have auto focus and will work with the D3200...its about $200 new (I just picked one up used on ebay for $145). You have a great camera and in a few months/years when you want to upgrade rethink it and upgrade the glass...as the camera will shoot just about anything up to semi-professional photos (and in reality with today's post processing programs you can shoot pro level with practice and good glass). Again go back to my earlier post and use the link to Ken Rockwell's website...especially before buying any lenses for the D3200.

G-c-r