linkadv5

I am learning on the nikon 3200, love this camera, what would be the next best camera for a novice, i.e., what features would another camera have in the line of cameras that a 3200 does not have. I don't mean those thousand dollar cameras, something reasonable.

linkadv5

thanks

Joe Blow

What would you like your camera to do? Then you can start thinking about getting one that matches your needs.

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

Joe is correct, what do you like to photograph? The D3200 is a great entry level DSLR, but with Nikon's pricing schedule, it doesn't take a lot to get close to, then over $1000 in cost.
So, what do you like to shoot and what is your budget?

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

Welcome to the UHH. I'd speculate the D5600 would be the next step up for under $1000.

CO

The Nikon D3xxx and D5xxx series cameras have a pentamirror viewfinder. If you go to a D7xxx series or above Nikon you get a superior pentaprism viewfinder. The glass prism inside gives a larger, slightly brighter view through the viewfinder. I think it really helps with composition. You also get the U1 and U2 memory banks on the mode dial, front and rear command dials, dual memory cards slots, a virtual horizon, and the 51-point autofocus system. You won't really get much more going to a D5xxx series camera. You'll have to go right to the D7xxx series. B & H Photo and Adorama Camera have the D7200 for around $996 right now.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

A D7xxx series refurbished. Read reviews and comparisons.

(Reviews) https://www.youtube.com/user/TheCameraStoreTV/videos
http://cameras.reviewed.com/
http://camerasize.com/
http://www.imaging-resource.com/IMCOMP/COMPS01.HTM
http://snapsort.com/compare
http://www.dpreview.com/products/compare/cameras?utm_campaign=internal-link&utm_source=mainmenu&utm_medium=text&ref=mainmenu

kschwegl Loc: Orangeburg, NY

I's go for a D7200 body only. Your current lenses will work. (both camers are crop frame). I went from a D3100 to a D7200 (body) and I love the camera. Easy to find a body under $1,000.

Ken .

chrisg-optical Loc: New York, NY

As a fellow D7200 owner, yes best bang for the buck under $1k - refurbished too is a great way to save even more about -$200. I used the kit lenses from the D3300 until I acquired some better FX lenses (although the kit lenses aren't too shabby).

DStone Loc: Outside Winston-Salem, NC

The response from Joe was dead on. After a few thousand shutter pushes, you might start thinking “If I had a button I could push instead of diving into the menu”, or “I need a larger buffer for burst mode”, or “If only this lens was (wider, faster, longer)”, or any of a thousand upgrade reasons. But, unless you just need to satisfy a GAS attack, take the time to find out what features you want/need, then look to see which machine will help you out.

67skylark27 Loc: Fort Atkinson, WI

D5300 for around 400 bucks used or the D7200 around 650 used.

Bill Munny Loc: Aurora, Colorado

My wife has a D3300 and I have a D5200 and a D750. All take great pics, the D750 being much heavier. She seems to take better pics than I do because she has a great eye for composition. So, you should find out why you need to upgrade other than GAS, which I have a lot of. The lens she uses is an 18-140mm Nikon and it is the only lens she uses. I have a lot of FX lenses which I also use on the D5200 and they work great, but she still kicks my rear with her composition. I do set up her camera menus and she shoots RAW and JPG, depending of subject. Makes me jealous that I do not have a great eye for composition but at least I can tell her when and what to snap and she does great. So, the D3300 has excellent capabilities.

bkyser Loc: Fly over country in Indiana

Honestly, you might not know it by looking at what I own. (because I don't get rid of old equipment), but I'm a firm believer in not replacing something until you HAVE TO. What do you need your camera to do that you can't do now? When I teach photography classes, I tell people that until you know every single function on your camera, how to change it, and what it does, and keep running into times that your current equipment can't do what you need it to do...don't spend the money on new equipment. Money is actually better spent on education, and traveling to beautiful places to use your equipment. The goal is to either outgrow, or wear out what you have...either way, you will be a better photographer. Buying a nicer guitar, won't turn you into Stevie Ray Vaughn, Buying a nicer stove won't turn you into Gordon Ramsey, and buying a more expensive camera will just make you the owner of a more expensive camera.

I shoot wedding, and my daughter owns a barn reception hall. After several weddings, I found that I was spending a lot of time fixing noise in the wedding photos. That was the only reason for moving to a newer camera body. I used a D-200 for YEARS after it was obsolete, never had a bride complain about her album, and have some 40x60 family photos hung in the homes of some local families......nobody cares that the camera was like 5 years behind the times. That one only got replaced, because I dropped it off a ladder (accidently) at a wedding.

PAR4DCR Loc: A Sunny Place

IMHO a refurbished D7200 would fit the bill. I have one and love it.

Don

Bobspez Loc: Southern NJ, USA

I don't think another camera under $1000 would make any difference. What lenses do you have? What types of photgraphy would you like to get better at?