Rolk Loc: South Central PA

Whatever you do, Pamela....
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let us know what you decide,
and post more pictures.

pamelaj

Will do! I have been researching for several weeks now, and I must say, you all have helped me the most, by far!

traderjohn Loc: New York City

I would ask your local professionals that you went on a variety of different shoots with.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Three pages already!

Used and refurbished will save you money. As for brand, it doesn't make much difference. It's the model that makes the difference. A company's cheapest camera will not perform as well as their best. You have to decide if you want a DSLR or mirrorless. Then pick a brand, and then a model.

Read comparisons and specs, and decide what features are important to you.
(Reviews) https://www.youtube.com/user/TheCameraStoreTV/videos
http://www.cameradecision.com/
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

Good dealers - Adorama, Amazon, B&H, Cameta, Costco, Crutchfield, Hunt’s, Robert’s. KEH for used.

jefffs

Welcome to the group!
Like you, I had people ask me to different portrait work. Families, couples, children.
I have slowly built up and improved my equipment....usually buying the older models of what I wanted used. Including glass. And it has worked very well for me with minimal investment.
Just remember.....it’s easy to get sucked into the whole gear thing. But in reality it’s your eye and your work that will be rewarding for you....and pleasing to those you shoot.
Use and abuse YouTube. There is so so much information and guidance available on there for free. Just keep doing what you are doing and with practice and commitment you will get better and keep having fun.

hj Loc: Florida

Welcome to UHH! In your original post you mentioned you borrowed your niece's inexpensive Canon and didn't like it but you failed to mention what Sony model you compared it to. Don't ever judge something based on the inexpensive/low-end model. Of all the cameras I have used and owned, I always go back to my Canon and Panasonic models. There's a reason there are more Canons in use than any other brand. When you make your current choice of brand you are committing to that brand as you add more and more lenses. Changing later to another brand would be expensive because of the dollars you have already spent. Choose wisely. As some others have suggested, consider manufacturer refurbished (not third party). Canon for instance offers the same one year warranty for their refurbished as for their new equipment. Many, many on UHH prefer refurbished and have experienced the same as I have.... that the refurbished are almost always indistinguishable from new yet can save many dollars.

jfdnp Loc: Coastal Connecticut

Hi Pamelaj If that photo is an example of your work with a point and shoot, you are half the way there. I agree, you should go to a "local" camera shop, explain your needs and see what they can offer you. There are a fair number of good cameras in your price range by Nikon, Canon and others and, at this juncture, you don't need a camera with a lot of whistles and bells that you will never use. Initially, I would tend to stay away from large chain stores where the emphasis is on the sale, not on the service....Best of luck!

Hbuk66 Loc: Oswego, NY

This is just my opinion based on my limited experience. That being said, a little over 2 years ago I purchased a Sony a7 with the kit 50mm lens. Started taking photos mainly of sunrise and sunset. After 6 months I upgraded my 50mm to the 55mm Zeiss($1000) and have been very happy ever since. At first I started buying Canon FD lenses(really cheapened a large selection, all manual focus). Did some research because I noticed that Canon dslr lenses were very expensive. I started buying used Nikon lenses on ebay and craigslist and now own a modest selection of very good inexpensive full frame lenses.And all of my lenses are adaptable to my Sony a7.So now I am saving up for an a7RII... My Nikon lenses started me on Nikon cameras and now own D700, D300, D3, D90, and I'm looking for a used D7100. Welcome to UHH and good luck and just take pictures...

aellman Loc: Boston MA

I would like you to take a look at the other side issue. I have two older Sony DSLRs. I paid under $300 for each including kit lens. I get great images. Never had a issue with quality, operation, or reliability. Before 100 people jump on me, I am not saying this solution is for everyone, but the opposite extreme that you have to spend $5000 for a camera at this point in your photographic life is ridiculous. Why not take this advice further? Go for a Leica M10 mirrorless for $7000 and add the equivalent of a kit lens for another $2000? There is a price point for each of us that gives us the best price-quality-features balance. Based on my read of your situation, I think you would be very happy with a Canon, Nikon, or Sony (my choice) for under $1000 including a 2 lens kit. (Think for a moment what else you might do with the remaining 4000 bucks.) Just one man's opinion. Don't kill the messenger! >>>Alan

PhotonHog Loc: Annapolis

For starters that is a pretty nice looking portrait. Interesting with the window panes - gives the photo some depth. The camera world today is very large, impressive and can be just be overwhelming. Before locking into any brand, consider sensor size and make that a main priority. Bigger is better, always has been and always will be in the limit. So consider a full frame DSLR or if you can afford it, a larger format. Yes, a FF camera will cost a bit more, but the lower noise and improved image quality is worth it. Shooting RAW should not be problem as there are many good PP programs out there, some free like GIMP. How many pixels?? A long time ago I was told good print film was about 20 Mega Pixels and that still feels right. So consider anything above, say, 15-16 MP. LOTS to choose from these days many models going well above 20 MP. LOTS of really good lenses out there. Any major brand, be it Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fuji, Pentax will do the job. GOOD LUCK!!!

Dargen Loc: Australia

Oh my God! But what's the difference between what brand of camera? The main thing that would be professionally and you have the ability to this, too, were. Do not pay attention to all these pseudo-experts, child. Start your work!) And layout more pictures

TomC. Loc: Bel Air, MD

Hi, Pamela
Just a quick observation. When you are replying to a person, you need to respond by clicking on (quote reply) under their name, That way, we know to whom you are replying. Right now, we don't know who the reply is for, it's just there in the next spot with no reference to their original post to you.

JPL

You are hard on us because you want the best for $1000

But it can be done. I suggest you buy used Sony A7 or A7r. I think the A7 can be had for around $500 used. That is a full frame camera with good image quality, like in good enough for professionals. Since you are interested in learning to shoot manual you can as well use old manual focus lenses. It dones not matter what brand you buy because you can adapt them all to this Sony camera. So choose your lenses based on focal length, other peoples reviews and opinions and price. For portraits it would be a good start to get 85 mm lens and 50 mm lens. Lot of good old lenses of this kind can be had for less than $100 each. A cheap adapter for manual use can be had for around $10. I am using a Sony A7r that I bought new but only using old and new manual focus lenses with it. Have never autofocused anything with that camera. Those Sony cameras have excellent tools for manual shooting, like histogram, zebra, focus peaking and focus magnifying. And it can all be activated by one press on a button. Works like charm. And for a person in the learning this is an excellent way to learn. Much better than putting autofocus lens on your camera and hoping the technology will do the rest. So you can easily start you professional career within your budget. And if you do it like this you can still get most or all your investment back if you change your mind and want to get something else.

raferrelljr Loc: CHARLOTTE, NC

Hello, Pamela, from a fellow lifer Charlottean. Welcome to the HOG. I was just in Bigg's last week and picked up a used Nikon 16-35 F4 WA, nice store. Even though the Nikon D700 is an older camera you may like the results that you can get with it. Otherwise you may be able to find a used D800 or D610 on Ebay? Both are good cameras. I have been using Nikon equipment since the early 70's and have never had a problem or disappointment with their cameras or lenses. You may want to rent a camera but your choice should be what is comfortable and within size/weight limitations. Most all cameras today will give you excellent results. Enjoy your new equipment.

Boris Ekner Loc: From Sweden, living in Guatemala

1/2

This is not the kind of question one can answer to anyone’s satisfaction in a 140 character tweet... 😉

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Here's my answer to a similar question in another forum.

Disclaimer
I’ve had a camera since I was 7 y/o, in 1969. Some year later I got my own darkroom. I am NOT a professional photographer. That said, keep in mind that below is my personal experience of seriously getting into digital photography.

Here is what I did:
-Budget: no more than $500. (This was the most important criteria I had.)
-Searched for $500 DSLR's on eBay & Amazon in order to understand what I might get.
-I found some favorite models that I compared side by side at http://cameradecision.com. I refused to have any brand preferences.
-I read & watched plenty of reviews on the cameras I found interesting.

Here is the compressed version:
Canon - Good for video. User friendly interface.
Nikon - Lots of very good lenses. Great pictures.
Pentax - Weather sealed. Very good for landscape. Excellent user interface.
Fujifilm - Mirrorless with great results.
Sony - Mirrorless. Makes the sensors for Nikon.
Olympus - Good cameras.

Furthermore, about the two largest brands; Nikon vs Canon:
* Nikon should, over time, dig a smaller whole in your economy as long as you stay on a fair amateur level. I.e. Nikon cropped sensor/DX is more budget friendly, especially if you later decide to upgrade to a more advanced DX camera body. And to my understanding Nikon has more APS-C lenses than Canon. Buy them used!
* Canon might, initially, be more expensive than Nikon but might be cheaper in the long run regarding brand new additional lenses.
* There’s literally no image quality difference between the two. Some argue that Canon have more vibrant colores than Nikon. Others argue that this is more due to the person behind the camera than the actual camera itself.
* Some argue that Canon has a more user friendly interface, and is better for video, others differ.

All cameras are compromises. Some are better for this, some are better for that. Some have preferred features, other’s don’t have them. You have to figure out what features and performances you want your camera to have to fit your needs.

That said, my priorities were; very good professional reviews, the highest pixel count possible, RAW format option, wifi, built in GPS, fair prices & f/values on future lenses.

Nikon D5300 turned out to be the final option. With my personal preferences, and budget, it was by far the best option. Price paid: $449 on eBay, including an 18-55mm lens, plus some other (now useless)-stuff/junk in the bundle.

I've had the camera since January 2017, and I have no regrets on my purchase. On the contrary, I'm very happy with what I got for the money I spent. Just for the fun of it, I still read reviews on other cameras. Time and time again the D5300 has proven to be the right choice for my kind of photography. I.e. so far no other camera has popped up as a better option.

Later I bought a 55-200mm, a 35mm, and a Tokina 11-20mm, all used lenses, from eBay. A better speedlight/iTTL flash, a good tripod, petal lens hoods, third party battery grip, extra batteries, twin charger, better/faster memory card, micro extension tubes, and some other stuff. All from eBay which time after time confirms to provide the best prices. Next on the wish list is the Nikkor 17-55mm to replace the 18-55mm kit lens that came with the camera, and the 80-200mm f/2.8 as it is better than the 55-200 I currently have.

Your best option is probably not my best, and vice versa. It is not about the camera as much as it is about the photographer. Just as a good stove isn't enough to cook you a good dinner, right?

In order to update my knowledge from film to digital photography, I started off with reading Nikon D5300 For Dummies as well as Stunning Digital Photography by Tony Northrup. The third book was Secrets To The Nikon Autofocus System by Steve Perry, which is my favorite so far. The fourth book was Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson. This was all well invested pennies, and as knowledge has no weight it is easy to carry around. All books, but “Secrets to...” are available at Amazon.com

- You’ll find “Secrets To...” at
https://backcountrygallery.com/secrets-nikon-autofocus-system/

Best of luck on your pursuit of your best camera. ...and don't rush it to get one. Take your time, i.e. weeks, to learn about your options and what you favor.

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Note 1
Regarding long range zoom lenses it is good to know that the longer the range the less the image quality at the far ends of the range. Lens reviews are found at Camera Decision and LensTip.com, as well as on YouTube.

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Here is two very informative D5300 Reviews:
Exploring the Nikon D5300: A Mid-Range Impressive DSLR Camera
http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d5300.htm

Canon or Nikon, which one is the best?
http://the-pro-photographer.com/canon-vs-nikon-which-is-the-best/

Please keep in mind that Pentax, Olympus, Sony, Fujifilm, makes very good cameras as well!

PS
I had the same procedure when I looked for, and bought, my sons camera. (He turned 6 at the end of July, 2017)
The budget was no more than $80, had to be fully automatic, as well as having manual features to grow with as he gets older and if his photo interest persists. Best option: a used Fujifilm Finepix S8600 (it's a bridge camera), for $76 on eBay.
And there are instructive videos for his camera on YouTube for him to watch later.

PPS
Here is a different opinion on this issue.
The Battle is Over: My Micro 4/3 Camera Outsold my Full-Frame DSLR

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Next task, after learning to take good to great pictures, is to learn how to use Lightroom properly. Here I’ve found that Serge Ramelli is a favorite of mine. I’ve bought some of his lessons but haven’t had the time for them yet.

Keep in mind that the better quality of the original photo the less you need to post process it, if any at all. Photography is the art of capturing light, and the better the original the easier and more optional the post processing. After I’ve learned more about Lightroom, Photoshop is next... 😃

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Note 2
With courtesy of Jim Stascavage, member of another forum:
"For anyone wondering how big a crop sensor image can go, here is a photo I took with a D7200 a few years ago that makes up a 12'x16' [3.6x4.9 m] wall in our office break room."
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He shot the picture from another water vessel, while it was moving!

FYI
1. All Nikon's with cropped 24MP sensors has the same sensor as Jim's D7200.
2. A modern TV is ~2MP. A 4K TV is 8+MP.