RichardSM Loc: Back in Texas

Hi Jeannie
As you can see there are lots of folks promoting Nixon camera they are very good products do your home work, I'm a Canon user I recommend Canon because in my opinion they are very intuitive plus they have some of the finest lenses on the market especially the "L" class lenses. But look at both products and decided.


[qTNuote=Jeannie1]I am recently retired and would like to get a dslr camera. I have had point & shoot cameras but now want to developers my hobby. Friends suggested a Canon 80 d or Nikon 7200. I was told these are OK for beginners and I would be able to learn. I have viewed videos and am wondering if I am getting in over my. Head? I am hoping this will last me the rest of my life. I want something to take on vacations; scenery, landscapes etc. I will be going to Yellowstone this June and hope to take some great pics. Bundles come with a couple of lenses, are they acceptable?[/quote]

SusanFromVermont Loc: Southwest corner of Vermont

Thank you for the clarification. I don't do video, and mostly use LV for macro, and then will adjust focus manually. So I cannot speak to that issue!

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

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duck72 Loc: Laurel Ridge, PA

"Love" it when UHH posters refer to "mid-level" cameras, sensor size, RAW vs JPG, PP layering, and ensuing opinions.
I suggest you get a Nikon D7200 with "kit lenses" and don't look back. Good speed, good resolution. If you're a "PROfessional"...All $options are good-- as long as your business supports them. One can take a D7200 from the box, set on "Auto," and get amazingly good photos. After learning all the buttons and whistles- even better. "Recently retired" is a relative term.

RWCRNC Loc: Pennsylvania

I would suggest any one of the Sony mirrorless. Smaller, lighter and good image quality. It depends on your budget and how much gear you want to carry around on vacation. I have a Canon 70D ( predecessor of the 80D) that I love, but it was too heavy to lug around on vacation, especially with a few heavy lens. I recently bought the Sony a6000 for trips and I keep my macro lens on my Canon.

mkaplan519

Something for you to consider is going with a bridge camera instead of a DSLR.
My brother went that way. Ha has had DSLR's in the past but instead just bought a Panasonic FZ1000.
It is a 'DSLR Like' camera with a 24-400mm equivalent zoom. This is great because you have from wide to telephoto without carrying and changing lenses. It has a 1" sensor which can give great quality photos. Can shoot jpg or RAW. Was rated best in class. There are others in the same category as well like the Sony RX10 but the Panasonic is the best for the money IMO. Look at some reviews on it and decide for yourself.

If you do want to go DSLR, any of today's models will give you excellent photos. I suggest you go to a local store and try them. Which feels best too you in your hands. If you go with either Nikon or Canon, you are getting a large available system of lenses,flashes and other accessories available from cheap to expensive as well as 3rd party stuff like lenses from Sigma, Tamron or Tokina among others. Best to know what you want to take photos of and ask questions based on that as to what lens(es) to buy etc with whatever camera you choose. Any model camera can take photos of everything if you have the right lens but some camera's are better than others for certain things.
You may also consider buying your first camera used. There are a lot of people that start out and then sell and upgrade their gear so you can have a great savings starting to learn and then up can also upgrade to something higher once you know what you want/need.
Good luck with whatever you go with.

Jeannie1 Loc: Sacramento,CA

Considering I am new to dslr, would a bundle deal with two lenses be a good idea or should I go with a better lens? I understand that kit lenses are of lesser quality but would that make a big difference for me as a newbie to the dslr world. Which camera would have the best auto focus to help me get started? I apologize for so many questions... just a little overwhelming at this point.

mcveed Loc: Kelowna, British Columbia (between trips)

Jeannie, Like many people who decide to get more serious about photography, you with the advice of well meaning friends, started to look at DSLRs. Ten years ago this was the most logical step since the use of medium format cameras either took you out of the digital field or into an extremely expensive one. These days are there are more choices than the obvious DSLR route. Many DSLR users have recently switched to smaller format mirrorless cameras, myself included. I suggest you look at this article comparing DSLR and Micro 4/3 systems and decide which features are most important to you.
http://www.slrlounge.com/11-key-differences-micro-43-vs-dslr/

mkaplan519

Going with a kit is a lot cheaper than buying the camera and then the lens(es).
Yes, there are better lenses but the kit lenses will still give you nice photos and when you are ready to move up, you can always sell them.

TechLauren Loc: SW AZ

I recently went from a bridge to my first dslr and I compared these same 2 at the end after weeding other brands out. I went with the Nikon because it has the sony sensor without the aa filter on it. The benefit of the Canon seemed to be better video but since this is primarily for still photography, I took the Nikon and I'm not sorry! I bought it bare and did not take the kit lens.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

I would say get the best glass you can afford. That said the current crop of kit lenses are of exceptional quality today compared to decades past. As far as AF is concerned Canon is on the cutting edge in this realm. in 1987 they developed all computer controlled lenses with electrically operated apertures for far superior repeatability of the opening on every shot even at 14 frames per second that could not be duplicated for decades and some companies are just now starting to figure this out. Also the USM concept was decades ahead and the IS too. While others were messing around with primitive mechanical couplings Canon was all digital. They have continued to maintain this lead and all EF and EFs lenses made since 1987 will fit your APSC format camera you are considering and work perfectly as designed.
Canon has consumer lenses for budget minded photographers that are excellent and L lenses for professional use that are built very rugged and still maintain excellent optics.
If I were starting out and budget was a concern get a kit lens but make sure it is a USM one if possible.

jimmya Loc: Phoenix

Of course they're acceptable. I've had three Canon dslr cameras, upgrading as I went. I've always had excellent results with my Canon cameras. I'd suggest that before you invest lots of cash in lenses that you use the kit lens to get to know your camera and then decide what lenses you think you'll need. Best of luck.

stevebein

The best camera I used for learning was a 4x5 view camera. It required time to look at composition, focus, and many more things but very slow. The basics are more important than the bells and whistles. The learning curve is as steep as you chose to make it. Digital requires learning to capture the most information, then the learning curve for post processing can be steep, or fairly simple. Mastering post processing for winning images is the greatest learning curve. IT is worth it. There are many routes for post processing and many opinions, so that is up to you to follow through. Good luck, the journey can be very fun, but you, not a lab, become the final part of the equation.

Airwatcher

I have been a Nikon "loyalist" since sometime in the 70s ending my film shooting days with an FE2. When I decided to enter the digital realm I had a brief fling with an Olympus E-10 but came back to Nikon and got as far as a D300. I considered myself a "Nikon guy" for many years. However, having a recent need to shoot video, my research eventually led me to the conclusion that, within my budget, a (gulp) Canon 70D would be a good choice, and I ordered one. My first experience with the 70D was at a dear friend's wedding. The camera arrived at our home the day before the wedding, so I barely had time to open the box before we had to leave. The event was a good distance from our home, so I at least had some time to study the manual while my wife drove. But the familiarity with Nikons was of no help with the Canon, and I could do little more than power it on and find "Auto" as I stepped from the car and joined the guests. Fortunately, I was not the official photographer so there was no pressure, but I had in mind the gift of a video for the couple and really wanted to capture some great footage along with stills. The point of all this long wind is to tell how intuitive the Canon was to use. I got some great stuff with no experience with a new tool. I have no idea what a newer Nikon would be like, but my take on the difference between the DSLR Nikon and Canon software that I'm familiar with is that the Canon is simply more intuitive and easier to use. Unfortunately, the 70D had a meeting with an operating garden hose which ended its life, but the result required a replacement affording me the excuse to upgrade to an 80D which is even better. Bottom line: I absolutely love these Canon cameras. Nikons are fabulous, no doubt, but the Canons seem somehow friendlier to me and have actually become inspirational. I find myself interested in photography again in a way not felt for many years. I'm now trying really hard to come up with reasons enough for a Canon FF, but the wife's glare when the subject comes up is not something wisely ignored. And when it comes right down to it the 80D is plenty of camera, so the FF will probably remain nothing more than a pleasurable fantasy. For now, anyway.

alliebess Loc: suburban Philadelphia

Nikon, Canon, Sony - all good cameras. Also look at Pentax - they do less advertising, but make excellent cameras.