fullyexposed Loc: Illinois

I agree with looking at factory refurbished. You can get a lot more camera this way. I am a canon user and did a lot of research before I bought and I went with the Canon 80D. This seemed to be the right choice for ME. This may not be the right choice for you. Nikon also has refurbished cameras to look at. I saw that the 77D seems to be very user friendly and teaches, but I find this to be unnecessary as you will learn this information as you go along. Do a lot of research online. Read print on the cameras that you are considering and watch youtube videos and find out what options you are looking for. Portraits and landscapes look great on full frames, but the cost is significant. As you can see, I have a cropped sensor because of the cost difference. The 80D is about $950 refurbished with the 18-55mm lens (a good lens). Pair this with the 55-250mm and you will have a nice starting point. Also the 70D is at a good price point as well. I can't give too much info on Nikon, but I have seen others talk highly about the 7200. The rebel series in canon is also used by a lot of people. Nikons 3xxx and 5xxx series are others that you may want to look at. If you get into either of these you are somewhat committed to the lenses, especially if you start to buy higher quality glass. I would recommend not upgrading glass too quickly (people will probably crucify me for this statement), but if you buy a canon and after a year you want to go to Nikon, you may be stuck with some nice glass that you have to try to sell.

Most importantly, this is your decision, your money, and you are the one that needs to be happy with your decision. I don't know anything about mirrorless cameras, so I can be of no use to you there, but I did a lot of research before I bought my 80D. I chose it because I have used canon my entire life and it's what I'm use to. If I had it to do all over again would I get the 80D? Yes... and No. I would love to have a full frame camera, but that would mean that I would have had to wait a lot longer to find the extra money for one.

I have gone on about a lot of options and things to research, but it is a lot of money to get into photography and I don't want to see anyone spend this type of money and not be happy with their decision. I would recommend one thing above all others. If and when you decide to buy, whether it be Canon, Nikon, Sony, Pentax, Leica or what ever. Buy it from a reputable seller. If you do not have a local camera store, which I do not, buy from the manufacturer themselves, or companies such as B&H, Adoroma, Cameta (I never have, but have seen others praise them) or some other company that you can trust. Avoid gray market. Don't be afraid of factory refurbs on lenses or bodies. Used from a reputable seller is also a very good option.

Good luck to you on your purchase and I wish you the best.

Busch Loc: San Diego

If you google best beginner DSLR, Nikon D3XXX usually comes up.

Greenmachine Loc: Chicago, IL

I agree with the other guy that said go to a local camera shop and spend some time looking at their selection of DSLRs. Tell them what your budget can stand, and don't be surprised
if they suggest a pre-owned ("used) or even a demo model thay might have in stock that can save you some money! Based on the type of photography you're into, you can't go wrong with either a Canon or a
Nikon (I'm a Nikon dude myself and you can start with a DX format which has cheaper lenses) but the camera guy can help you make the final choice...get back to us and let us know which camera you finally get!
Greenmachine

kchamber4

First thing. Don't forget the other brands besides Canon and Nikon. The only problem is that you might not be able to touch them unless you can find a store that carries them. Next, stay away from the Kit lenses. For the most part, they don't provide the sharpest image and in some cases are all plastic except for the glass. The one big exception has been on the Pentax line. Many of the K-3, K-3ii, and K-70's came with the 18-135 Weather Resistant lens. This lens rocks and many consider it a near professional grade lens.

Next do you plan to take pictures in fog, light rain, or snow. If so, you will need a weather sealed camera and lens. For Nikon, that would be the 7200 and above. For Pentax, that would be a K-70, K-3, K-3ii, KP, and their full frame K-1. Not sure on the Canon

Do you want to take a lot of video. If so, Canon tends to have the best video capabilities, but be sure of the model. What about action photography. Nikon tends to have the fastest AF (comparing models with like capabilities across the lines).

What about using older lenses. Pentax actually has the best solution here. Any lens that worked on a Pentax camera in the past will work on their current cameras. Of course, you might not get all of the functionality of a modern lens, but since you once used a decent SLR, you probably are not afraid to set your own aperture, F-stop, ASA speed, etc that you will need to do with the oldest PK lenses. But the nice thing is that the Pentax bodies have all of the SR (Shake Reduction) built in, so you get that option with every lens.

As some have already mentioned, do you have some of your old Minolta lenses. If so, were they any good. Can they be used with any of the new DSLR cameras or Mirrorless cameras (as one mentioned they probably will work with Mirrorless with a cheap adapter).

The lenses are going to be your highest cost items going forward. Look at what you will want to take pictures of now and in the future. Cost out the appropriate lenses in each mount that has the IQ, sharpness, and color you want or can accept. Now see what your future costs are going to be.

Don't forget used and refurbished cameras and lenses. They can save substantial money and work just fine.

Good luck.

Reinaldokool Loc: San Rafael, CA

What Just Fred said. Try before you buy. If you have a local camera shop, go and handle a number of different models. Find out what feels best in your hands. Ask the folks there for info on pluses and minuses (and buy from them if you choose one). You might also be able to rent cameras (from the same place, maybe), which is probably the best way to find out what works best.

Kuzano

I live in a town called Millican Oregon... Population... less than one dozen. How do I do this?

PHRubin Loc: Nashville TN USA

I agree with what was previously stated: don't go with the 18-55 and 55-300 kit lenses. You will get tired of switching lenses. Before the current crop of lenses came out I bought a Sigma 18-250mm lens. It stays on the camera and is a great "walk-around-lens". It won't be quite as sharp as a prime lens, but unless you make huge posters or "pixel peep", you won't notice the difference.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Every EOS camera made works 100% with every EF lens ever made. This was introduced in about 1988 or about 30 recent years ago. As pointed out Nikon has a major compatability issue. Look up compatibility chart for Nikon on the internet. Some AF lenses work with some and others not. Canon does not have this problem. They do make crop sensor lenses that do not go on FF cameras because they are designed to only cover the smaller sensor. This subset is the EFs series. But all EF fit and work on crop cameras 100%. So no Canon does not have a compatibility problem like Nikon and most all other brands.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Put your emphasis on gaining knowledge first. Whatever you buy, be sure to read the manual. Pick up a few books on digital photography. Search YouTube for photography how to videos. And peruse the forums here.

Consider what you want to photograph and pick a camera based on that that fits your budget. Read reviews and watch them on YouTube as well.

CALIBRATE AND PROFILE your computer monitor. Kits from Datacolor are $100 to $150. X-Rite makes them, too.

Buy a set of Delta-1 18% reflectance gray cards as a cheap exposure and white balance reference.

Knowledge is FAR more important than gear.

ORpilot Loc: Prineville, Or

I live in Prineville OR, no good camera stores within 100 mi either. But I spent the $ and time and went to Shutterbug's Sony class at the Woodburn Tulip Festival. For the low cost of the class, you get to use for free most of the latest Sony cameras and lenses. Plus there is a Factory. Rep. And plenty of people to help you. I am a long time Minolta user, which is Sony A mount. I was wowed by the a7rll but but had plenty of A mount lenses and didn't want to start over. Sony has now come out with a99ll which has 99% of the features of the a7rll but still uses the A mount lenses vs the E mount. I debated and debated over the price. Two months ago I broke down and bought the a99ll. Love the camera. Don't regret a thing. Moral of the story: when you are going to plunk down $1000 or more. Spend the time to actually go and spend time with the camera and lenses. Here in Oregon, Shutterbug Camera Stores have weeken classes for the big three: Canon, Nikon, and Sony. Reference the Tulip festival, my wife went with me and wondered through the the tulips happily while I was in the the class and playing with wonderful camera equipment. It pays in the long run to have actual hands on experience. Happy Shooting

ORpilot Loc: Prineville, Or

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

For the love of little green apples. You know what I meant. And for the most part you are locked into one line of lenses, or third party lenses made in that mount.

IBM

Up to a point there is better image using a full frame body . Like when your making huge enlargements and cropping , but how many are
buying these camereas and never crop and are only enlarging to 10x8 if even that , I doubt that very few could tell a image that was shot
With a D7200 with a 36mm nikon lens and one shot with D 800 and a nikon 50mm lens from the same tripod same time frame .and each
Enlarged to 8x10 . How many never enlarge any to a print , they just put them on a disk and look at them like a slid show on there computer or TV, to me these users of a full frame are no better of than the dx shooter, they spend more money on camera , more on
Lenses , , computers , printers , storage meideia, down loading raw cards , etc , unless your going to do this it's pointless , I never enlarge
Any more print out , every thing gets put on disk , or other types of storage , it's only for the dedicated hobbiest or shooter who would ,or should be using that stuff , I been shooting for years i am 76 in September , and I know I will never be needing any of that gear , and if you do buy a full frame , your not getting the best out of it unless your buying the most expensive lens for it , you don't buy off brand , and you only buy the lens that can handle the what the d 800 provides , other wise save your money .

SusanFromVermont Loc: Southwest corner of Vermont

Not a Canon user, but have heard plenty of mention of "L" lenses which are not compatible with every Canon camera. This is a function of the mount system for attaching lenses to the cameras.


On the other hand, all Nikon lenses will fit on all Nikon cameras because all have the same mount. You are correct about the AF compatibility issue, but that is because of changes in the camera-lens interaction over time. But the Nikon lenses can still be used on ANY Nikon camera, just without having AF.


Apparently you are considering only ONE type of compatibility. With Canon you can use crop sensor lenses ONLY on crop sensor cameras, and if my understanding is correct, you can use FF lenses ONLY on FF cameras. So of course the compatibility is fine as long as you don't mix lens and camera types.

With Nikon the DX and FX lenses can be used on any camera they make. But mixing DX and FX lenses and cameras has its limitations of functionality as a direct result of changes in the technology over time. So anyone wanting to use an older lens on a newer camera does need to do their homework on whether the AF will work on that particular combination. I have a particular appreciation of this because my first camera and lenses were DX. When I could see an FX camera in my future I began to buy FX lenses. There was no problem with using them on the DX camera, and when I was ready to buy the FX camera, I already had a good selection of appropriate lenses! Could you do that with a Canon?

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Every L EOS system lens will mount and work 100% perfectly on every EOS camera ever made period. They also work with 100 % compatibility on every EOS M series ever made with the proper adapter to set the proper lens to sensor distance. I use L lenses and have used them on the very first EOS camera the 650 with 100 % compatability and numerous models since. This is the joy of the system everything works 100 % as intended no matter how old or new.