garwig

I am interested in a DSLR camera. I am also interested in learning more about how to use something other than automatic mode as well as having an eyepiece that I can use outside other that a screen I cannot see. I have looked at Canon, Nikon, Sony and I am totally confused. What do you recommend for a 59 year old rookie?

seeSAW Loc: Western Mass

If you can give a budget and what you plan on using it for there may be some good suggestions made.

oldmalky Loc: West Midlands,England.

I use Sony so i will say Sony every time, anyone using canon or nikon will say the same, price wise the Nikon D3100 looks a good bet

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

I'm a fan of lightweight and smaller, so you can take it everywhere with you, and not stick out like a sore thumb.

Consider a mirrorless camera like one of the Olympus OMD series, Panasonic GX-7, Sony Nex 7, or one of the new Fuji X series cameras.

A budget would help though. Cameras can range from $600-$10,000. Just depends on what you want.

indycaver Loc: Indianapolis

Being a Canon guy, I recommend a Rebel T3 or T3i. These are both very good cameras at a reasonable price. I use one as a backup and it is rugged and easy to use once you learn how to use it properly. It runs around $500 or less including the decent lens (15-55mm auto focus, Image Stabilized). Canon has excellent online tutorials and customer support as well. You can also purchase a refurbished T3 direct from Canon w/1 yr warranty for $400 or less. A friend bought one of their refurbs and had no complaints.

Pepper Loc: Planet Earth Country USA

We need to know a little about your total budget to give you any kind of viable answer. Also if you can tell us what you enjoy or plan on shooting we can help you with lens selection. There are so many options that a little more detail would be helpful.

DickW Loc: Roxboro, NC

I just went through the same search with unbelievable confusion. I took my time, asked lots of people, read the reviews, compared cameras on snapsort.com and followed prices on B&H, Adorama, eBay and Craig's List. I set a budget and decided that new, refurbished or lightly used were all okay. My first decision was Nikon over Canon and Sony. Next I narrowed it down to the D3200 or D5100. In the end I found a D5100 kit with 2 months of use and <300 shutter count on Craig's List for a really good price. That was 3 months ago and I am really happy. There are lots of ways to attack the problem, but my advice is take your time, look at/handle lots of cameras, weed out on whatever basis and make your own decision. It is confusing, but the nature of today's cameras is that they all are capable of good pictures...so your risk of a big mistake is really pretty small. And photography is a process of learning about the unknown...starting with what camera to buy in the first place. Have fun and enjoy it!

Rongnongno Loc: FL

I have a single answer for you:
The one you can afford.
Brand is no matter.
All go manual for a full control
Lens of excellent quality are available to all cameras either in the brand themselves or brand compliant.
So, learning?
Any camera only budget.
Full format vs DX? Budget
Mirror vs mirroless? Budget

Differences? Look that up in internet you will have less confusing answers than what you will get here. Limit your research to camera review sites thought. They have more information and you can compare cameras side by side.

BigDaddy Loc: Pittsburgh, PA

I would seriously look into a bridge camera or any of the better mirror-less cameras. A bridge camera, such as a Canon sx50 or a Panasonic 200 or a Good Sony would be what I would recommend unless you are ready to spend tons of money and a lot of work to get pictures. A brigde camera typically has ALL the same stuff a DSLR has, but a lessor sensor. You can play with all the manual settings on a bridge, just like a DSLR. If you get a DSLR you must spend over 2 g's because you need a good body and lense, and both cost over a grand each. Also, the bridge cameras take super good closeups, and amazing telephoto pictures w/o changing the lens. This is a biggie for most non-professional photographers.

I got a Nikon 5200 for Christmas and it is OK, but a lot of trouble, and the kit lenses simply don't cut it. I've been told a number of times I need a good lens, and the cheapest good lens I've heard about cost over $1200.
As it is, while the camera/lens combo cost 2x as much as my (now old) Panasonic bridge, the bridge has as many features if not more than the Nikon, and takes better pictures with no muss or fuss. I'm fairly certain I would like the Nike with a 28-300mm lens, but I not sure I want to invest the money, since I'm just a snapshooter doing it mostly for fun.

Also, this camera (Nike 5200) has built in filter that softens pictures I read, and it does takes soft pictures, not crisp like I (everyone) would want. The 5300 supposedly lost the filters and takes sharper pictures.

If you get talked into getting a DSLR, I'd recommend staying away from the kit lenses and going for the best all around lens you can afford. Also stay away for the Nike 5200, go for a Canon or a at least a Nike 5300, or better yet, the Nikon7100.

garwig

I will be shooting low light, family pics, animal pics, and sports shots. My budget is trying to stay under $1000.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I would recommend a factory refurbished camera. All the major makes offer them. They are thoroughly checked and adjusted, and they come in factory boxes with all the bits and pieces. Refurb is always my first choice.

PhotoJoe Loc: WASHINGTON

I like my nikon d5100, it has an articulating screen so you can get low shots without getting low. You can also get shots over crowds.

John Lawrence

If possible, I would suggest you go into a full photography store and spend some time there. The people are always helpful and you can handle the various cameras and ask questions. If that isn't possible, I suggest you call one of the major retailers (B&H, Adorama, etc.) and discuss your needs. You'll find them very helpful. Best of luck.

John

rizer Loc: Long Island, NY

I would think you would want a camera that has interchangeable lenses and a built in viewfinder...something you can build on. After that, you need to establish a price range that is comfortable for you, size of camera you want, how it feels in your hands, etc. As has been said above, probably any camera with interchangeable lenses will provide you with excellent photos. It won't be the camera that decides the quality of the photo, content, composition, etc... it will be YOU and your photographic skills.

A. J. Loc: PA. USA

Hi garwig............For starters, I suggest, a Canon Rebel t4i, it is cost effective, not too complicated, and takes great pics. Make sure the lens you purchase is the correct lens for the type of photos you are interested in. :-D