Help a photonewbie -- Nikon D*what*?

I can personally vouch for the D3000. I've had mine for almost a year and it's been a great transition to the DSLR world. It's very easy to use and even has an in-camera guide to help you out. The only downside of the D3000/5000 is that they don't have an internal focusing motor so you have to buy AF-S lenses which are more expensive. You can still use older, cheaper priced AF lenses but you will have to manual focus every shot.

I recommend either, depending on yur price range. If you can afford a little more then go with the D5000. The D5000 also shoots HD video so that may be a plus for you. Go to a camera shop or Best Buy/Target and try them out to see how they feel in your hands.

 

Don't buy a camera without the AF motor. Old Nikon lenses with fantastic build- and optical qualities can be had for cheap, but won't autofocus on the D40/60/3000/5000. I have a D40, and while I love the image quality it has, I will sooner or later trade it for a D90 for that very reason.

So, while it is always good advice to invest in the lenses and not the camera, I'd suggest here that buying a better camera (read: D90) plus old cheap lenses is better than buying a new D3000/5000 and only be comfortably able use brand new expensive plastic lenses with internal motors.

 

The D5000 definitely trumps the D3000 in almost every regards. However, if you can buy an old used D40X or D60, their sensors are a little sharper than the D90/D5000 sensors, and come out with ultrasharp pictures without any processing. The new gen sensors are a touch soft. However, I have the D5000 and it's a fantastic camera for its price. In regards to the previous post, if you have the budget for a heftier camera with a built-in autofocus, then you should get that. It opens up so much for you in terms of lens options.

However, as a starter, the Nikon D5000 is awesome.

Kenrockwell has some pretty good basic reviews comparing the different Nikons. Nikoncafe is also a good resource, as well as dpreview.

 

I have an older D50 and am happy with it, not a pro grade camera, but does everything you need it to.

 

I wouldn't buy the D40X or D60 - they have the same type of sensor as the D40 (without X), but more pixels cramped on them, which means more noise. IMHO the D40 image quality is superior to the D40X and D60.

 

..my 2 cents..

$700.00 will not get you there..

I believe that a good bounce flash is just as important as a fast lens...If you cannot aquire a fast lens such as a 2.8.
You will probably be left with a 3.5 or 4.5 f

In that case in order to speed up the shutter you will need a substantial quality flash...

Heres my suggestion...
Nikon p7000 with an sb 600 or 700 flash...

can be got new and has all the makings of a slr in a smaller format..


all for about 7 bills

Remember Flash units make a better outdoor pic than indoor!

 

What I am getting at is , Nothing takes a better picture than bright light and fast shutter speed, and a low f stop... a built in flash, and a slow lens is no match, regardless of reflex or direct 4/3 format
Especially outside!

http://imaging.nikon.com/products/imaging/lineup/digitalcamera/coolpix/performance/p7000/



http://imaging.nikon.com/products/imaging/lineup/speedlights/

 

I (like Judge4re above) have a D50 "Kit" here that Scott returned to upgrade to the motion picture capable one (D90??)

I'll make you a deal on it.........all paperwork and receipt of purchase, about four years old.

As some have noted Nikon has moved the focus motor into the lens, so this body would take all lenses "one version old' where the focus motor is onboard the body.

They are still very available the extra lenses..

 

m4/3rds >>> than any p7000

stay away from a d3000

lenses are more important than bodies.

go d5000 or better as budget allows

& $700 is plenty depending on what you buy and from who...

 

$700 can get you an entry-level Canon DSLR with the 18-55 kit lens + a 55-250mm lens as well (both with autofocus motors, image stabilization, etc). My friend has that and has been happy. Not sure I like the path Nikon went without AF motors in some...odd.

Check slickdeals...they have these offers all the time. A random one for instance...
http://slickdeals.net/forums/showthread.php?sduid=0&t=2469085

 

I wouldn't go that far...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pt1202/

 

I would

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikond3100/page16.asp

Plug the d3000 into any of the spots other than the E-pl1 and see what I mean...

even the 3100 I'd stay away from...

the d3xxx series is fairly unremarkable.

 

It's called a budget, entry level DSLR. If that's what your budget allows there's nothing wrong with it.

 

there are better for same money which is my point...

 

I hate to get into the Canon vs. Nikon debate, but since you are looking, I don't think you can go wrong with the Canon. One of the best things you can do, if you can, is get L glass lenses. Skip the kit lens...

Good Luck

 

I bought a P7000 today. So far so good!

I just didn't want to carry an SLR around.

 

Tillman,
I will be interested to know what camera you finally pick. I am also looking for a good entry level SLR in the same price range - have been looking at the D3100, but have not purchased yet and am not in any rush.

Ken

 

I know this thread has a lot of Nikon users and I appear to be one of the few Canon ones in this subforum. IMO, both are wonderful cameras in terms of image quality and both will produce similar results. Most people will probably fail a blind test if they had to differentiate the two.

My preference for Canon is because I like the layout of buttons and it feels more comfortable in my hands. Others feel the same way toward the Nikon. The lens options is what also drew me to Canon. They have a lot of lenses and all have the AF motors so I don't have to worry about any of it.

I convinced my friend to not get an XS and spend just a little more on the T1i (through slickdeals) because it has more features.

This should help you see the types of Canons available:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Canon_DSLR_cameras

For Nikon:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Nikon_DSLR_cameras

^^Those two pages really broke it down for me in simple terms.

Edit: PS, mine is the Canon 350D so you can see it on that timeline. I've had it since 2006 and taken probably 15,000+ pictures easily and no problems. It takes pictures just as well as it has since day 1.

 

there is sony, pentax and olympus to consider as well... they all have their pro's/con's.

there is also mirrorless to consider if if you want size advantage over a dslr and performance advantage over a P&S.

there are a lot of great options out there for the money you are talking depending on what you want to be shooting.

 

I am a Nikon shooter... some might call me an extreme Nikon shooter, as I use even the 50's Rangefinder S3 as my main system. But the DSLR for a first timer is, IMHO, whatever last incarnation of the digital Rebel kit. For a little additional money you can get the "plastic fantastic" 50 1.8 lens which is incredible for the price.

 

I believe Nikon has something similar, if I understand the constant burst mode to be just continuous shooting. If you adjust your shooting from single frames to continuous frames then it should be the same thing. It's a couple of clicks more to get to than the Canon, but it's there.

 

Congrats