Amd1790

Hello everyone, my name is Dennis and I love taking pictures but never own any DSLR camera, its always been point and shoot, but lately I have the desire to buy myself a DSLR camera but confuse of what to pick, I am torn between Canon T5, Nikon D3200 and Pentax.

Any advice and recommendations

A. J. Loc: PA. USA

Hi Dennis and Welcome...........Owning DSLR depends on your budget and what type of pictures you want take.

The detachable lenses will be the deciding factor; for example, I paid $600.00 for a 70-300 zoom lens.

Check out these, Adorama and B&H photo shops on line, for more information, before purchasing the DSLR camera to weigh your options and what your budget can allow.

Wishing you the very best.

Db7423 Loc: Pittsburgh, PA

Welcome to the Hog, Dennis. First I would try to find a place where you can see and hold each up close and personal. Then I would print the specs of each to determine which fits my needs best. You can't go wrong choosing any of these three so it really comes down to which one you personally like the best. Good luck. ;)

Mr PC Loc: Austin, TX

Welcome aboard, you can't go wrong, even with entry level cameras from any of those manufacturers. Check out KEH, they have a sale on used Nikon cameras right now. Very reputable source, I bought a Sigma 150-500 lens from them at about two thirds of the price of a new one and am very happy with the quality and value. Good luck.

LuckyshotCT

Support your local camera shops - go there and handle each one, and ask for advice from the shop owner. Very often, the price paid there is the same as that charged by one of the big on-line companies. You get personal service and help the 'little guy' in one purchase.

ottopj Loc: Annapolis, MD USA

Get a Nikon D3300 with kit lens for $500 and go and have some fun.

At Amazon, there is refurbished D3300 with an 18-55 and a 55-200 available for $499. Add a 4 year Drops and spills warranty for $74 and off you go!

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

Welcome aboard, Dennis. You have opened a virtual can of worms here on the UHH because every week a new member asks the very same question. You will get pages of answers because we all have differing viewpoints and stick by them pretty heavily. I am a Nikon user and have been since the early 60's. But you will get strong replies from users of Canon, Pentax, Sony, Leica and so on. Every one of us is correct in our belief that we own the best brand made. That is the problem you will run into since all of the manufacturers of DSLR's have great quality. You really can't go wrong.

My bit of advice would be to buy Nikon but rather than buying new I recommend buying a D5300 or higher depending on your price limitations. There are also some excellent used cameras out there as well.

Good luck on whatever you purchase and let us see some of your photos.

Dennis

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Welcome to the family! Lots of great advice already given; just want to mention I'm a Canon user :) Canon T3i - I like it so much I recently purchased a second body as "insurance." The 5 series is faster for continuous shots (birds in flight), I believe.

nakkh Loc: San Mateo, Ca

Go with the one you're most comfortable with.

ottopj Loc: Annapolis, MD USA

The 3 and 5 series are 3 fps, the 6 series is 5 fps.

MarkD Loc: NYC

Within a given price range Nikon, Canon, Sony, and Pentax are more or less equal in quality. I would try to handle the ones that interest you most and decide based on features, ergonomics, and how you like the controls and menus. Don't get paralysis by analysis. You won't go wrong with any of them.

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

Welcome.
Bag the traditional dslr...come on over to mirrorless, where you'll be able carry your camera with you everywhere you go.

I used to own a DSLR...so glad to be rid of the bulk and weight.

Click on my user name and you'll find my website. Click on it and just let the homepage scroll through some examples.

lighthouse Loc: No Fixed Abode

I think you will be happy with any of those, and I wouldn't rule out Sony.
My personal recommendation would be a refurb Nikon D7100 without many clicks.
One warning ... or eye opener ..... a camera and a couple of lenses ... you probably have a budget of $600 to $1000 and think thats it.
Its not.
There is a disease called Gear Acquisition Syndrome ... or G.A.S. for short.
Afetr you start taking photos for a while, you will realise you need another lens .... and another .... oh and .. you will need a tripod .... and a backpack for carrying your gear and storing it in ... and some filters will be handy ..... polarisers ..... and grad ND ..... and software ... you will need software ...... and .. hey how do you take this type of shot ...... yep ... you need another lens ......

People on here are very helpful.
But they cannot help you with GAS.
As a matter of fact, they will take great pleasure in helping you to make it worse.
By the way .. .that list up above ... its probably $2000 ... and you will gladly pay.

A suggestion, make you purchasing decisions with an eye on where you would like your photography to be in 5 years time.
If you think a full frame camera is in your future, buy a cheap crop format now, but full frame compatible lenses.
Nikon crop lenses can be used on Nikon full frame cameras.
Canon crop lenses cannot be used on Canon full frame cameras.
But either way, look ahead.
Tripod, do not buy cheap.
Buy cheap, buy twice.

Buy once, save money.

There is more, but I think I have already scared you enough, and given you enough to avoid some of the pitfalls.

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

You did not say what P&S you have, perhaps an upgrade will satisfy your needs. I have an on the belt Sony HX50v, Canon, Pentax, and others are excellent. The advantage is that they are there 24/7, while my excellent Sony DSLR is snuggled with it harum of lenses in the closet, heavy and bulky as they all are... even morrorless.

The key to good photography is mastering first composition, then light. Picture quality, noise, sharpness etc... they are secondary. A DSLR a good photographer does not make.

You should first define you need for a DSLR. Sony is excellent in that ... well yesterday in UHH classified there was a full Minolta 7000 & AF lenses for sale... all those lenses from 1985 fit the Sony alphas ... you can buy a Sony body only and use AF family lenses.

Again "Define Your Need."

Impressionist

Good morning Dennis and welcome to this forum. It is pretty difficult to go wrong with the choice you have given yourself. Financially speaking, picking a DSLR body is much like a marriage. You will have little problem finding many with Canon and Nikon systems, thus borrowing or exchanging among new friends you will meet will be pretty easy. Pentax is built like a tank and has been careful to keep the same mount through out the years, meaning old lens will work. Am personally a Minoltas and Sony person, though have a new Nikon D7200 which rocks. As nice as it is proving to be, I wouldn't trade my Sony a77 ll for it. Put it down as preference.

Consider getting an outfit from a reputable place like Cameta. You will appreciate the tripod, extra lens, battery and case. Download a good guide book and you will have a blast. Got my D7200 from them and a Canon t5i for a daughter who lives in Florida around many Canon people. She is set.

Only other suggestion is four or all wheel drive and good hiking shoes.