rob s Loc: La Mesa, CA

Amen. I usually have to sit down and talk to anyone asking this question. There are far too many variables for a one size fits all answer. It's a different matter when approached by someone who is enjoying their photography and who wants to get better quality from their images.
To these folks my advice regardless of their wealth is usually on the following lines.
In this order -
1) If you're not editing your pictures already get a good editor. (For a low cost start subscribe to Adobe for Lightroom and PhotoShop ($10 a month I believe). There are other choices but with these industry standard programs you'll find a wealth of tutorials on YouTube, classes at your local community college, books and lots of people around who can help.)
2) If shooting Canon look for a good used or new refurbished EF 24-105 f4L is. I have no advice for other makes. Ask the users and join UHH. (Do that anyway - consider it 1a).
3) A good manual strobe and a couple of radio triggers. Yongnuo are cheap and work well.
4) A decent tripod and head. Get some help and don't spend too much (less than $100) until you know how much you're willing to carry it. Make or buy a bean bag for the other times. (Craigslist is a good place to look but be careful, not all sellers have a realistic idea of value.)
5) If you want to shoot landscapes get a good quality wide angle prime to supplement the kit lens you already have.
6) If you want to shoot birds start saving.
and after 1 - 6
7) Consider a new camera body - possibly a 70D or 6D depending on what's around and prices when you're ready to shop.
The step up from the basic entry level DSLR is where most people waste time and money. Myself included! If I had known then what I know now I would have waited on the various lenses I tried and bought the EF 24-105 before anything else. Sure the wide end isn't very wide on a crop factor body but with most editors panoramas are straightforward and how often do you need the width compared with how often you used the extra length? I spent nearly four weeks on vacation and never once pulled my EF 70-200 out the bag to replace the EF 24-105 on the 7D I was using then, (I did make a lot of panoramas however.) It is a terrific value and an immensely useful lens IMVHO.

NeilL Loc: British-born Canadian

Hey, it's your money, your choice. Go ahead, prove 'em wrong. Don't forget to show us the results.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

RESULTS?!..........,RESULTS?!......, I don't need no stinking......, RESULTS!!! :lol:
SS

Kuzano

Puzzling this post???

I spend quite a bit of time here, and I can't recall when I have ever seen anyone discourage a "noob" from buying a $3000 to $8000 camera. It's their money.

Jana-TAS Loc: Washington

Hogs- also it all depends on the subject you are taking photos of. Not just the camera itself. You must ask yourself that question before even thinking about making your purchase. What is going to be your main subject you are taking pictures of. Are you going to be doing indoor photos of people, outdoor-bird and wildlife photography or what? After those questions are asked then that will also help you on your decision. I got my camera years ago but now that I have gotten more "into" the bird photography I wish I would have gotten something else and before I got the camera I was not subscribing to Popular Photo or Outdoor Photo magazine. Now that I am I also am reading more about the camera equipment and feel different about what I got knowing that when I was ready years ago to purchase an attachment for the camera I know I would have been able to get a better attachment if I would have gotten something else and I regret that I got the Olympus instead of a Canon or Nikon. Just do not rush yourself and do a little studying and asking questions first.

natron

Sure, go ahead…but do you have your grandkids 529 covered? How about your 401k? IRA? Mortgage? Life insurance? Charity?
Digital Hasselblad, here he comes!

RonnyE Loc: Las Vegas, Nevada

I believe you should buy the best that you can afford. Buy a low end camera may be fine but if it gives you low end results then you will become disinterested and give up this great hobby.

buenaventura43 Loc: Rockland Co. NY

Thank to all of you. The next thing I need to learn is how to post picture here.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Goodadventure, posting is easy!!
Your welcome! :lol:
SS

kenArchi Loc: Seal Beach, CA

I learned there is only one thing the camera does. It has a shutter that opens and closes.

From that point on you control it or it controls you.

The camera "works" for me.

I am still using a Canon Xsi Rebel (12mpxl) camera for professional architectural and interior photography. And I get paid well.
It is superior over film. My film equipment is collecting dust.

I've also used it succesfully for weddings and events and some commercial projects.

So therefore, I buy and do spend for the best lenses.

So go for it! Don't let anything hold you back.

oldtigger Loc: Roanoke Virginia-USA

by all means post, even if it isn't a world class shot.

i find it makes me try harder if i know someone else is going to be judging my efforts.

buenaventura43 Loc: Rockland Co. NY

This picture is taken with my first DSLR.

(Download)

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Hey Buena, that would have made a great pan shot!! ;-)
SS

pecohen Loc: Central Maine

You might have opened up the aperture to get more blurring of the background. With a decent photo editor you can get much the same effect as I've illustrated here.

Edited to resemble using wider aperture

(Download)

TREBOR77 Loc: Winchester Kentucky

LIFE is short ...like a vapor....go for all the new cameras has to offer...ring ALL the bells