Gerry_R

Hi Foozer,

I'm a long time Canon SLR and DSLR shooter, who has recently changed to mirrorless.

As you are new to photography, and have yet to have the experience to make informed choices, may I suggest a rather powerful camera that you can use as a point and shoot, and grow into as you learn or become more interested in the fun of photography.

A mirrorless camera, like the Sony a6000 or it's newer sisters with the 16-50 kit lens, and perhaps the 55-210mm telephoto is my preference.
It gives you an advanced technology, and a quite powerful camera for your needs now, and LOTS of capacity to grow as you learn. The best part of it is the stabilization in the lenses, versatility, and image quality, with a 24 megapixel aps-c array. Oh, and the price of entry is around your target of $500-600, depending on where you buy it.

Anyway, my 2 cents.

Best of luck in anything you decide.

Gerry

SusanFromVermont Loc: Southwest corner of Vermont

You have received a lot of good advice. But I have a question as well as some suggestions!

First, where would you be buying the camera bundle? If it is online, then you want to make sure you are buying from a trusted vendor. There are 4 of them that are most recommended by people on this forum: B&H, Adorama, Cameta, KEH These are trusted because they have a proven track record for good deals, good return policies, good customer service. Other vendors may be selling gray market cameras/lenses, whose warranties will NOT be honored by Nikon USA.

I am a Nikon advocate, but either company can be a good choice. The thing to consider is that since the camera you are now using is a point-and-shoot, you will find that any DSLR you purchase will present the challenge of learning how to use it. Most DSLRs have many features in common, so the choice of camera comes down to the differences between them. Looking at comparisons [specifications] will help to determine which camera has the features you need most.

My theory of buying any photographic gear is to buy the best you can afford. If your budget is around $500, you will get a lesser camera [new] than you would for an additional $ amount. If you want new, and can afford it, I recommend going higher. If you are willing to buy a refurbished or pre-owned camera, you will get more camera for the money. The trusted vendors all sell refurbished or pre-owned cameras, they all check them over before they buy them to resell, then give them a "grade" that indicates their condition. With most you get a 3-month warranty, with Cameta you will get 1 year. Nikon and Canon also sell professionally refurbished on their websites. [Note on pre-owned Nikons: with cameras a new model has a different number, but with lenses be aware that since the designation is the focal length range for all versions, you have to look at the specifications to determine which one is offered for sale. Check out the list on Nikon's website - there are sometimes as many as 5 versions of a lens that has been around a while. The difference can be DX or FX format, or it can be the available apertures. It can be the VR version or no VR. There are also lenses that have IF - internal focus - and others that do not.]

This time of year, there will be plenty of sales, so you have some time to do some research. Nikon's Black Friday prices are already advertised. Here is an example of what to look for from B&H's website:
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ns=p_NEWEST_SORT%7c1&ci=9811&fct=fct_brand_name%7cnikon%2bfct_a_filter_by%7c04_USA&srtclk=sort&N=4288586282
I set up the filters for the "newest" cameras so that the same model in different packages would show up together. [Filters can also be arranged so cameras are shown by price.] You can scroll down and see the choices and prices for the D3400, and also for the D5600. This will show you that for around $250 more, you can get a newer model camera. And you can choose which lens you want in a bundle. IF the bundled lens is what you want, then it can be a very good deal. But if not, there is no sense in buying that bundle. [For instance, there is a bundle with both the 18-55mm and the 70-300mm. This sounds great, but checking the specifications, the 70-300mm does NOT have vibration reduction. There is always the possibility that B&H would substitute the one with VR for an additional amount, you would have to ask.]

Before buying a camera and lens[es], do some research. Read the descriptions and specifications for the gear in your price range. Get to know the meaning of all the letters in the description. Nikon has a photography glossary on their website under "Learn and Explore" that can help. Best to know what you are getting, both its good points and its deficiencies.

Hope this helps.
Susan

PHRubin Loc: Nashville TN USA

There are 2 major makers of DSLRs that offer a huge selection of lenses, Canon and Nikon. It is important to chose between them carefully at the start, since you quickly accumulate brand specific accessories (lenses, strobe) making it harder to change. The best way is to go to a store that has both on display. Hold them. Which feels better? Look at the menus. Which is easier to understand? Preferences are a personal decision. Renting is a way to make sure.

First, I recommend reconditioned. Purchase from a reliable company (the manufacturer, one of the ABCs (Adorama, B&H, Cameta) or KEH). Beware of stores that don't make it obvious that offer gray market items. If the price of a new camera is too good to be true, it isn't.

I can speak about Canon, so I would recommend the entry level DSLR T7i (the T7 is a stripped down model) and (though it costs more than the 18-55mm) either of the 2 later versions of the 18-135 mm zoom. The T6i will also work well, but is older technology.

I believe the 75-300 lens does NOT have image stabilization, and is a lesser lens overall.

Gerry_R

I must agree with several of the folks here who mention adorama, b+h, and keh. They are long standing and reputable sources for your photographic needs.
I have had great service and guidance from all three of these companies, and would recommend them. As always, we end up getting what we pay for.

Years ago, with several friends, when it was new to buy direct from Japan, we bought great film cameras that way. Now I read all the company reviews, and am wary. I prefer the backup and service of companies with great reputations. Anyway, no matter what you decide upon, I'm sure you will be happy with your choices.

NikonFan

Go for a refurbished D3400 body and a separate lens such as an 18-105mm. Nikon has one of theses lenses, furbished, for $209.96 on their website. The 70-300mm is not a very good lens and as others have told you it does not have the Vibration Reduction feature. With a lens that big, you'll really need it. Don't bother with the warranty. You'll probably never use it.

bleyton Loc: Los Angeles, CA

I was in the same spot as you - my last camera was a Canon S5IS. Honestly, I was never that happy with that camera. It took decent pictures, but it really did not give me the control that I was hoping for. When I made the decision to look for another camera, my budget had me quickly limit the search to the entry-level end of the scale. I looked carefully at the Canons & Nikons. It seemed to me that the two most comparable cameras were the D3400 and the T7i, but the T7i is far more expensive. The non-i Canons are getting pretty old, and only have 18MP. Also, if you are looking at getting 2 kit zooms, the Nikon wide/normal kit lens has VR but the telephoto does not. I believe that the Canon kit comes with both lenses having VR, but I'm not totally sure about that.

I then looked at the Sony A6000. At first I had a hard time with the idea that the cost was more than the D3400, but eventually I decided on the Sony. For me, it was the speed of focusing & drive mode, along with the ability to use virtually any kind of lens with an adapter (I have some old manual Minolta lenses from my film days) that made the difference. There are a couple of features like Bracketing that Nikon left out on the D3400, but the Sony has. I also figure that mirrorless is the future. It opens up many possibilities, and really has few disadvantages compared to DSLRs.

B&H also has the A6000 on sale right now for under $700 with the two kit lenses (which both have VR).

Honestly speaking, I think you can't go wrong with any of these choices, especially when you compare to your Canon S3IS. Any of these cameras will do a far better job, and produce excellent results. You just have to look at the comparison sites, figure out which features you really want, and then figure out which camera gives you what you want at a price you can afford.

Keep in mind that you held on to your old camera for a very long time. Spending an extra few hundred $ might be hard to do, but you will be stuck with this decision for a long time - you might as well get something that you will enjoy.

As for me, I don't regret my choice at all. I love the compact size of this camera, particularly with the 16-50 lens. I also love the speed. One of my pet peeves is that I hate pulling out the camera and missing the shot while the camera does its thing (booting, focusing, etc). The Sony is always ready when I am, and I love that. I've had a lot of fun playing with my various old lenses. The only bad thing about the Sony is battery life. It's pretty abysmal, but I went on eBay & got a bunch of spares and a charger, so it really doesn't matter to me. Changing batteries is a small price to pay for the many things I love about this camera. True, Sony does not have the huge choice of lenses that Canon & Nikon have, but I don't have a huge amount to spend on lenses, and they still have some great choices (plus the ability to use other lenses with adapters).

Good luck with your decision - I hope this helps.

Gerry_R

Bleyton,
I was in the same spot, and opted to buy a Sony 6000, too. We took a trip, recognized it's feature set an power, then began looking for a faster lens. Long story short, returned the a6000, bit the bullet, and bought a new a6500.
I'm thrilled with the performance, and the flexibility of getting 5 axis image stabilization, using any lens, with or without oss built in.

I would recommend the a6000, too.

bleyton Loc: Los Angeles, CA

I'm sure I would love the A6500 too, but you know, the A7 series is even nicer, and then there's the new A9, and so on...

I had to draw the line somewhere, and for me it was the 6000. If the OP has the budget, I would encourage him to look at the upscale models too. Again, it comes down to which features you think you are going to want, then zero in on the model that does what you want at a price you can afford.

I think the manufacturers arbitrarily withhold features at the low-end, just to force you to the higher-end models. I mean, would it have cost Nikon that much to include bracketing on the D3400? Heck, my old Canon S5IS had that feature, and I'm sure that lots of other P&S cameras do too. The overall image quality is pretty much identical across all cameras from the same mfg using the same sensor, but different cameras will suit different people's needs and shooting style. The only one who can decide which is the best camera is the person who will be using it.

Gerry_R

Right. One of the reasons I chose the a6000 was just that. Even though it is a couple of years older, it still has all the capabilities of DSLRs much more expensive.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

Hi Scott,

The Canon T6 is their most entry-level model and those lenses are pretty basic, too. But the same is true of the Nikon, too.

The kits I'd recommend instead are currently out of stock, but I'd really recommend you check out the Canon USA "refurbished" cameras at:
https://shop.usa.canon.com/shop/en/catalog/refurbished-eos-digital-slr-cameras?cm_sp=Camera-Category-_-Product-Link-3-_-Refurbished-EOS-Cameras

There the T5i with EF-S 18-55mm IS STM and EF-S 55-250mm IS STM lenses for $440 plus tax. https://shop.usa.canon.com/shop/en/catalog/eos-rebel-t5i-ef-s-18-55-is-stm-kit-with-ef-s-55-250mm-f-4-56-is-stm-refurbished

And the T6i is being offered in kit with the same EF-S 18-55mm IS STM and EF-S 55-250mm IS STM lenses for $510 plus tax. https://shop.usa.canon.com/shop/en/catalog/eos-rebel-t6i-ef-s-18-55mm-is-stm-lens-kit-with-ef-s-55-250mm-f-4-56-is-stm-lens-refurbished

Both these cameras are a significant step up from the more basic 18MP T6 model.

The T5i uses largely the same 18MP sensor, but is faster shooting, has better performing 9-point autofocus, has a larger buffer so it can take more consecutive shots before it needs to pause, has an articulated LCD monitor and more.

The T6i is much the same, plus is 24MP, has even more advanced 19-point AF, among other improvements.

Both the lenses offered with these are also better than the kit you mentioned. The "STM" lenses are faster, smoother and quieter focusing than the "micro motor" lenses being sold in kit with the T6. In particular, the EF 75-300mm III is among Canon's cheapest and worst. Besides slower and noisier AF, it also lacks image stabilization and doesn't have all that great image quality. The EF-S 55-250mm IS STM is a MUCH better lens in all respects... it's got better image quality, faster & quieter AF, image stabilization, is closer focusing. Normally it costs a $100 or so more than the 75-300mm (Note: There are several very good EF 70-300mm Canon lenses, but they tend to be more expensive and you don't need an "EF/full frame capable" lens on an APS-C camera such as T6/T5i/T6i. The EF 75-300mm III is bundled in the cheapest kits merely because it's the least expensive tele-zoom that Canon makes... but it's also the least capable.)

Canon refurbished bought direct from them are little different from new... they often are just open box or demo models that can no longer be sold as new... and they have the exact same warranty as new.

If you are okay with refurbished and patient enough to wait until stock is available, for the same money or only $50 or $60 more you can get a WHOLE LOT better camera and lenses. The same T6i, 18-55mm STM and 55-250mm STM lens is available brand new (not refurb'd) on sale right now for $900 (after a $300 instant rebate). The T5i is an older model less easily found brand new any more.

Canon USA has been selling refurbished direct via their website for several years now and many people have been very pleased with the products and services they've bought that way.

You'll have to compare the Nikon D3400 and lenses specifications yourself.... But or the D3300 is probably most comparable to the T6. The Nikon D5200 or D5500 is probably more comparable to the Canon T6i. I do know Nikon USA has recently followed Canon's lead and started selling refurbished cameras and lenses directly via their website. Not sure about availability or if the deals are as good there. I do know that Nikon usually only offers 90 day warranty on their refurbs (instead of a year like Canon). I also know the Nikon D3000 and D5000-series cameras are unable to autofocus some of the legacy Nikkor AF lenses and even some that are still being produced... to autofocus, these cameras require AF-S or AF-P lenses, I believe. Even so, there are quite a few lenses available, so it's not a big deal.But there are no limitations with the Canon T6, T5i or T6i.... Like all Canon APS-C models made since 2004, these Canon can fully utilize ANY EF or EF-S lens made the last 30 years.

Both Canon and Nikon offer excellent cameras (even their entry level) and very extensive selections of lenses and accessories. To help you decide between them, you might go to a store and actually handle the models, play around with them a bit, to see if the controls and menus and general ergonomics of one or the other appeals to you. The differences may be minor, but a camera that's you find more comfortable or more intuitive to use will probably be faster to learn and more fun to use.

Finally, it's fairly common for Nikon cameras and camera/lens kits to be a slightly lower priced than the most comparable Canon. However, Nikon lenses and accessories tend to be more expensive than comparable Canon. So you might spend a little more initially on Canon... but less in the long run if and when you add lenses or accessories in the future. Look beyond the basic "kit" you buy now... at things you may want to add in the future such as a wide angle zoom or a macro lens or a flash, etc.

For example, Canon offers two ultrawide zooms... an EF-S 10-18mm STM IS for under $300 and an EF-S 10-22mm USM for about $650. Nikon offers three: an AF-P 10-20mm VR DX for about $310, an AF-S 10-24mm DX for $900 or an AF-S 12-24mm DX for $1150.

Another example, Canon offers a number of macro lenses including: EF-S 60mm f/2.8 USM for $400, EF 100mm f/2.8 USM for $600 or EF 100mm f/2.8L IS USM for $750. In comparison, Nikon offers Micro-Nikkors: AF-S 60mm f/2.8 for $600 or AF-S 105mm f/2.8 VR for $900.

And, top of the line Canon 600EX-RT II flash is selling for $480 right now, while similar specification Nikon SB-5000 AF costs just shy of $600. There are many more similar comparisons.