I will just say, if one can recover 70% of the money spent on camera equipment, one is doing well! ALL photography dealerships are not in the business to break even on buying used equipment...they make big bucks buying, then selling used equipment. I will also add, it is so easy to get sucked in to the idea that you must buy the best glass, the best lens, the fastest lens, to get good photos. Not so! Also, don't get fooled by those who claim shooting manual, and in raw, is the only way to go, if you don't shoot manual, you are not a photographer. This ole boy has been through the mill enough, I have my affordable D5300, my affordable Tammy 18-400, and I will shoot any program mode that suits my fancy, and it probably won't be manual. I quit striving to be a "National Geographic" photographer, and trying to keep up with the Jones...I am going to enjoy photography again, and not worry about getting that "bet photo of the year" award. Done chasing that neon rainbow!

I started into into photography about 20 years ago. I got a little Olympus point and shoot, and IT took pretty good photos, but, I thought it was me that took good photos. So, I started reading, and eventually graduated to the Olympus E300, and boy, my ego soared. I started thinking professional photography. When I did ot have the success of selling my photos (they were good), I went back to reading...and was convinced I need a better camera...so I got the Olympus E3, and once again, my ego soared. And, again, my success was sparse, then I read an article, it placed a bad rap on Olympus cameras, that four-thirds system resulted in very noisy photos. So, I wanted to go Nikon, but the camera shop owner I dealt with convinced me go Canon, so I bought a Canon, can't remember the model. Eventually, I got the Canon 6D...full frame, baby! It was a very good camera, and the L series lenses I got were very good, but the Nikon (AKA GAS!) kept calling me. So, I switched, got the Nikon D7200, a very good crop sensor camera. Still not satisfied because, I was not selling images like I wanted, I thought...need to go full frame, so I got the D610 with the Nikon 200-500 lens. Now, after much money spent, and numerous different cameras and lenses, I have decided, I am not the professional photographer type. I did not put in the time necessary...I certainly had the equipment, but, I did not have the pro mentality. So, now, at 74 years of age, I have finally faced the truth....I will never be a pro, and really, I don't want to be. So now, Folks, here is what is in my camera bag....the Nikon D5300, with the Tamron 18-400 lens. That is it...and that is all I will ever need. It is an awesome little camera, that Tammy is sharp and accurate, takes very good pictures, and best of all, the entire setup weighs less that 4 pounds. So, anyone out there looking for a good camera/lens combo for your daughter, son, wife, or even yourself, and one that won't break the bank, the Nikon D5300 w/Tammy 18-400 lens deserves a serious look.

Boy, have you been through some bad cases of GAS! You finally discovered that it was not necessary to carry a lot of gear to make excellent pictures and you were right all of this time, you are the main factor of your good or bad photography.
Olympus cameras do not behave very different to other cameras when it comes to noise. I would say that after ISO 1600 the majority of the cameras have more or less noise. The micro 4/3 format used by Panasonic and Olympus cameras has been very successful and both companies are doing better than ever.
Talk to Annie Leibowitz and she will be the first one to tell you that when you buy a lens you should use it to learn what it can do. A lens like the Tamron 18-400 has a long zoom range, very appropriate for a variety of subjects. We know that zooms in that range will make many compromises to achieve the versatility they have but still they are capable of great images.
If you ask me or better yet, if you ask Steve McCurry he will tell you that less is more. He usually goes on assignment with a couple of bodies and 2 or 3 prime lenses maximum.

I appreciate those of you who are telling me how stupid I have been, how I am easily swayed, how I am beating myself up, the reinforcement means so much to me. My purpose for posting this is two fold. I am sure I am not the only person who had ambitions, desires, who pursued those desires, and then found out a new direction was in order. Perhaps, it is that I might be one of the very few able to admit his/her own shortcomings! Although I am a retired teacher of 39 nine years in the classroom, I may not be in that classroom anymore, but the teacher is still in me...and if my true adventure(s) can be of help to anyone else, I don't mind making myself look like an idiot (in other's eyes, not mine!) posting things I have done to pursue an interest. I will never be shameful of what I have done, and will freely discuss it. If that bothers ANYONE, don't read my post(s). My other purpose for posting this is to point what I have found to be true...anytime one posts, on a social media site, what might appear to be a character flaw, those who have a low self image will blast that person, to make themselves feel better. And, this post proves, the Hog site is no different! So, hey, I don't mind, blast away and happy sghooting!

I appreciate those of you who are telling me how stupid I have been, how I am easily swayed, how I am beating myself up, the reinforcement means so much to me. My purpose for posting this is two fold. I am sure I am not the only person who had ambitions, desires, who pursued those desires, and then found out a new direction was in order. Perhaps, it is that I might be one of the very few able to admit his/her own shortcomings! Although I am a retired teacher of 39 nine years in the classroom, I may not be in that classroom anymore, but the teacher is still in me...and if my true adventure(s) can be of help to anyone else, I don't mind making myself look like an idiot (in other's eyes, not mine!) posting things I have done to pursue an interest. I will never be shameful of what I have done, and will freely discuss it. If that bothers ANYONE, don't read my post(s). My other purpose for posting this is to point what I have found to be true...anytime one posts, on a social media site, what might appear to be a character flaw, those who have a low self image will blast that person, to make themselves feel better. And, this post proves, the Hog site is no different! So, hey, I don't mind, blast away and happy sghooting!

I started into into photography about 20 years ago. I got a little Olympus point and shoot, and IT took pretty good photos, but, I thought it was me that took good photos. So, I started reading, and eventually graduated to the Olympus E300, and boy, my ego soared. I started thinking professional photography. When I did ot have the success of selling my photos (they were good), I went back to reading...and was convinced I need a better camera...so I got the Olympus E3, and once again, my ego soared. And, again, my success was sparse, then I read an article, it placed a bad rap on Olympus cameras, that four-thirds system resulted in very noisy photos. So, I wanted to go Nikon, but the camera shop owner I dealt with convinced me go Canon, so I bought a Canon, can't remember the model. Eventually, I got the Canon 6D...full frame, baby! It was a very good camera, and the L series lenses I got were very good, but the Nikon (AKA GAS!) kept calling me. So, I switched, got the Nikon D7200, a very good crop sensor camera. Still not satisfied because, I was not selling images like I wanted, I thought...need to go full frame, so I got the D610 with the Nikon 200-500 lens. Now, after much money spent, and numerous different cameras and lenses, I have decided, I am not the professional photographer type. I did not put in the time necessary...I certainly had the equipment, but, I did not have the pro mentality. So, now, at 74 years of age, I have finally faced the truth....I will never be a pro, and really, I don't want to be. So now, Folks, here is what is in my camera bag....the Nikon D5300, with the Tamron 18-400 lens. That is it...and that is all I will ever need. It is an awesome little camera, that Tammy is sharp and accurate, takes very good pictures, and best of all, the entire setup weighs less that 4 pounds. So, anyone out there looking for a good camera/lens combo for your daughter, son, wife, or even yourself, and one that won't break the bank, the Nikon D5300 w/Tammy 18-400 lens deserves a serious look.