Motorbones Loc: Fair Oaks, CA

As a person that reentered photography about 4 years ago I can offer you this. I suggest you focus more on what you want the camera to do as opposed to the brand you buy. Canon, Nikon, and Pentax are all great cameras. My first SLR was a Pentax Spotmatic IIa I bought just before graduating high school in 1972. I suggest you focus more on what you want it to do balanced with what you're willing to spend, you'll make a better choice for yourself. I'm on my third camera body in four years, but finally have what I want. I shoot Nikon. I could have just as easily went with Canon. Who sells the most or what government agency uses, or even what do the pros prefer 5 to 1 are not the best reasons to select. Pick what will do the best job for you for the best bang for the buck.

Probably the best starting point is how much are you willing to spend for what you want it to do? Do lots of research and take notes. Revisit reviews as needed until one becomes a clear choice. I took three months to choose my current camera as I was balancing three particular models back and forth. Being an amateur, I didn't need the drop dead best one out there, just the best for what I wanted to do for the money I was willing to spend. You won't be buying a camera for anyone else on this forum to use, so it's your opinion that will matter most. If you take the time to select (and no not necessarily a year or two) you stand the greatest chance of buying what you really want or need the first time around. Finally, realize that lens selection is also as important as body selection and for some even more so. Buy lenses can get expensive as well. Full frame, cropped, or mirrorless should be included with your decision and as many have already said, Pick up a few and see how they feel in your hands. You can even rent some models and test them out. Once you get the camera you want , take the time to learn what it can do and focus on the features you want control over. Most important of all... take lots of pictures and have as much fun as you can doing it. As you plug along there are a lot of great people here that can help you become a better photographer... There's also a lot of three dollar opinions as well and some can be really useful...

I am now shooting with what works great for me, does what I want it to do and with the best lens for my needs... I also have two decent back-up cameras to use....

Gregger Loc: Phoenix area

I don't know your age, but I have converged to Bridge Cameras. I just purchased a Sony RX10 m3. Received it on Saturday. It has a one inch sensor which give better IQ. My only draw back is it is a bit heavy when fully zoomed. I have a micro 4/3 Olympus EP-5 and it also is a great camera. I just don't enjoy changing lenses anymore. The Sony zooms from 25-600mm. Sony is coming out with a m4 this month, but I believe it is $1600-$1800. The Nikon P900 which I don't own, but have read it will zoom to 2000mm. Great for being a bird watchers. I have seen some of the photos and they are very good. It just has a small sensor.

phildee Loc: Oceanside, NY

I am also an amateur photographer Nikon does seem superior but is much more expensive than Canon products. Quality is similar but Nikon has more upper end.Good luck!

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Buying one of the mirrorless brands that can adapt Canon EF lenses, using a “smart adapter,” or “SpeedBooster,” is one way to hedge your bets. Sony, Olympus, and Panasonic can do that with many of their cameras.

Most of the essential focal lengths are available now. Native Micro 4/3 lenses reach out to 800mm full frame equivalent field of view. There are many pro grade lenses for Olympus, Panasonic, Sony, and Fujifilm mirrorless bodies. Most manufacturers also have less expensive lenses for casual users.

GeneG

My first SLR was an Exakta VX in 1955. I have had both Nikons and Canons over the years, and I now use a Nikon 7500, which I highly recommend. My advice is to look at various models, see what feels comfortable in your hand, and buy one. No matter which camera you choose, it should be easier to handle than your manual film camera, and many of the modern lenses are superior to the older ones. Please remember that the most important component of the photographic system is the eye behind the viewfinder.

Pilot

I vote Canon because that's what I shoot.

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

Funny how the flowers and mountains I photograph don't complain about shutter and mirror sounds. Cell phones add fake sounds so you know you made an exposure.

Picture Taker Loc: Michigan Thumb

Both are good cameras. I found the customer service with Nikon to be lacking (to say the least) I recently found that different Nikons have different set-ups ( a friend needed to reset something and a fellow Nikon went to help and found he couldn't because he had a different model. Both current models) . Canon seems to follow colsest to each other. Both are good and external stuff, bot OE and expensive are available. Go to a store and handle them.

IBM

Your k1000 was a full frame if you want the same it's about $1500 more than the DX camera . So are you looking at a dx crop factor camera or a full frame as your pentax was ????

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

In case the OP is unfamiliar with current terms, we should mention that Nikon uses "FX" to denote what everyone else calls "FF" or ""Full Frame", and "DX" to denote what everyone else calls "APS-C" or "crop" cameras. "FF"sensor is same size as 35mm slide, while "APS-C" is about 2/3 that size.

IBM

Also if your pentax still works after all these years ,then your not taking many pic a year ,I would guess under 500 a year , so you defently don't need a full frame for $3000 to $6500 pluse you still have to buy lenses also , that would be $5000 minimal to start
The only easier thing you can do is put what ever you buy ,set it to auto or program mode , and fire away ever shot you take wil
be just as good or better than every shot you have ever taken with your pentax 1000 ,do what the few have said buy the
Nikon D2200, or the equal money on the canon , and get a refurbished one ,there good , also save a bundle of cash , or spring for the D500 , but as much as I would like one I would still get the refurbished d2200. Wait for the d500 to start selling the refurbished
Ones in a couple years for half of what they are now. Or was that the d2100 it is also good

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

Part of that noise is mirror, but part of it is shutter. Many MILC's also make shutter noise; if they don't then they'll have other issues from an "electronic shutter". I'm not bothered by that sound - mirror/shutter noises and flashes tell us something important is happening. My Pentax K-30 is noticeably less noisy than my Pentax Super Program was; I'm guessing any modern DSLR makes less noise than the K-1000 that the OP was familiar with.

added: DSLR vs MILC is one of those things people argue about similar to Canon vs Nikon.

IBM

Change that above to D7200 , getting old it , it's better than the d7500 or what ever is taking its place as the new is missing stuff
Video and some other stuff ,

IBM

I think they left two on moon , every ounce of less weight counted

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Many mirrorless cameras have the option to use an electronic shutter OR a mechanical shutter. They also have the option to turn "shutter noise simulation" on or off.

My Lumix GH4 is totally silent in electronic shutter mode when the artificial shutter noise is turned off. It is wonderful for theater photography, and candid work anywhere noise is unacceptable. I don't use it for action, so I don't run into the "rolling shutter" phenomenon. Almost anywhere I'm photographing rapid action, noise does not matter, so I'll use the mechanical beast.

The electronic shutter has another advantage... SPEED. The new GH5 can record 60 4K stills per second, or 30 "6K" stills per second. That adds a whole new dimension to the "spray and pray" photographic strategy.