What is the best camera under $1000 ?

I am a Nikon shooter so I cannot comment on the Canon T3i. If you are looking for a Nikon recommendation for comparison, then check out the new Nikon 5200:

Nikon D5200 Review - Watch CNET's Video Review

You get quite a bit of camera for under $1,000 there.

 

The lens is still the limiting factor in SLR cameras. More expensive cameras may have better frame rates or autofocus or higher resolutions, but at the end of the day the glass is king, and the glass can easily exceed 1000 (or 10000) bucks.

With that budget, I'd ask: do you plan to ever buy new lenses? If so, an SLR may be in order. If not, a mirror less camera may be a better option.

 

Best camera for that budget would be a lightly used Canon 7D. You can find them with very little shutter count on CL. I have had mine since 2010 and love it. But the body is just the first step..the lenses are the biggest cost.

 

I also bought a Sony Alpha NX5 for my wife (Compact Camera with interchangeable lenses) and i am amazingly surprised by the quality of the pictures. They look amazing, the colors are perfect out of the box and you dont need to worry about learning what mode to shoot in. I think they go for $500 with the base lense.

 

Lumix..by panasonic, and developed with Leica..

Makes incredible little cameras at all price points..

I have 2 interchangeable lens camera's

I believe they are high man on totem pole as far as picture vs. value..

I recommend the GX1, with a 2.8 lens.

If you can go a little higher the GH3 is unbeatable..

Not sure but I think I heard it is also top rated Video camera across the board bar none.

 

If you're interested in a DSLR rather than mirrorless system...

Before going on, I'd like to say I'm a Canon user, but entry-level body (350D/Rebel XT I've had for 7 years). The T3i is in the same category as it, but is the 5th or so generation newer.

#1 - Canon and Nikon both make excellent cameras with great picture quality and a variety of lenses. Most people cannot tell the difference in photos between the two...

#2 - Both systems have different layouts of their buttons as well as the direction the lens has to turn to zoom. I personally prefer the layout of the Canon (for entry level) over the Nikon, but others feel the opposite. I recommend trying them out in your hand and which you prefer (different hand sizes, different way you like to rotate the lens, etc).

#3 - Canon's entry level cameras from my experience go on sale more often than Nikon so the price is lower most times (my brother got a T4i with the 18-55mm and 55-250mm lens with bag for $699 shipped via slickdeals).

#4 - IMO, I think Canon has pretty much ironed out the entry level kit DSLR and offers the best for that end while Nikon is better in the full frame body and lens category.

#5 - Don't base your decision on brand for lenses you may purchase in the future. When you decide on going into the full frame (35mm) camera bodies (Canon 6D vs Nikon D600), then you can think long and hard about which you want as you will spend $$$ on the lenses to go with them. These entry-level DSLRs shouldn't have that amount of thought go into it...

IMO, get a Canon T4i with the kit 18-55mm and the "kit" 55-250mm lens UNLESS you absolutely cannot stand the way the Canon feels in your hand and much prefer the Nikon. The bundle regularly shows up on slickdeals.net as my friends got one not too long ago for the same $700. All you need an an SD memory card and you're off shooting.

Photos I took recently with my brother's 55-250mm lens and T4i: http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/142230932-post10405.html

Photos I took yesterday with my own 55-250mm lens and Rebel XT (both have had heavy use): http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/142243652-post35.html

Have fun...it's a great hobby.

 

I'm a canon user, but when asked for SLR recommendations 9 times out of 10 I go to the Nikon D7000. It's fantastic in its price range. The ergo sucks for my hands, but the IQ is top notch, and the metering and AF are arguably as good as the canon offering (7D).

 

What do you guys recommend for Mirrorless? I want to get a camera that will shoot well in B&W, but I suppose B&W is all post processing except for the new dedicated Leica Monochrom, so I'm basically looking for a good mirrorless system that will shoot closer to what a rangefinder would, rather than a dslr with a zoom lens. Hope that all makes sense. I've heard good things about the Fuji x100 but I wanted to know how much of it is pure gimmickry (think Lumix vs Leica price bumps)....