Kuzano

Pamela,

There have been an unusual amount of very long posts You could print all this out and compile a book, that would still leave you spinning, asking even more questions.

I will only ask one question and keep my answer short (if possible)?

How much of your interest involves high dynamic range (more stops of coverage), excellent skin tones, portraiture and whites (as in events and weddings)?

That's my question?

Now if those top your list, you should not make a final decision without looking at Fujifilm's sensors. Fuji does not use a Bayer Sensor technology, like most of the other camera makers. In addition Fuji sensors have not been shot through low pass AA filters as most of the other sensors until the last few years when most of the other mfrs dropped Low Pass filters to improve sharpness. Fuji has always produced sharp images without using such filtering, and not had a moire problem, or required excessive post process sharpening.

In fact Fujifilm, which is an old upscale camera company (I've shot them since the 60's, although not exclusively) now in digital with their own sensor technology, made their "chops" in the portrait, event and wedding photo market.

I said I would keep this short. A few years ago Fuji had a DSLR line called S1Pro to S5Pro. I used about a half dozen of them. My last S5Pro had 254,000 shutter actuations when I sold it. It's still in use.

Bottom line, I don't think you are going to find a better camera for portrait and skin tones. Their SXpro line was a huge hit in the portrait/wedding/event market.

You can still find low count S3 and S5Pro examples in the market well within your budget. Albeit older camera's, I think they are the perfect candidate for your bespoken market.

At the very least, the current Fujifilm mirrorless are also noted for great skin tones and portraiture. The Fujifilm lenses capture the top of the market on image rendering and sharpness. Their EBC (Electronic Beam Coatings) are more flare resistant than most other lenses.

Consider Fujifilm. I would have no trouble buying a clean used Fuji S5Pro. All of mine were very reliable. I now shoot Fujifilm X Trans Mirrorless.

Fuji's digital camera's also shoot film simulation modes in their mirrorless line..........remember all those great fuji films. Well, I still shoot film, predominantly fujifilm in larger film format camera's. I shoot my digital Fuji X Trans in various film modes, including Acros...Black/White via Fujifilm.

scuff

Great pic! When I was looking last month, I almost bought the Sony A7. A good used one, on B&H or Adorama was just under $1000. I ended up getting a Panasonic G85 instead, just because the Sony lenses that I wanted seemed to be a bit more than the Panasonic. but, that was a really nice option.

TSHDGTL

This Craigslist post includes a 50mm f1.7 and the 70-200 f4.0 "beercan" lenses for $120. This with the Sony A68 body ($600) would be a good start. Spend the rest on lighting. https://charlotte.craigslist.org/pho/d/slr-minolta-maxxum-7000/6481096699.html

mymike Loc: Tucson, AZ

Hi Pamela, you have a good eye for photography. After you try different cameras at a camera store, you might consider renting one before buying. Lensrentals.com is inesite, there are others, just google it. I shook Nikons, Canon point and shoot and may get a mirrorless. Good luck! You are wise not to do weddings. I did 3 back in the film days and they all got divorced!

Kuzano

I think there is a wide open untapped market for divorces. At least half of all marriages end up failing and I don't think anyone has tapped that market.

At the very least, statistics show that divorced men are generally remarried within two years of the divorce, so who's taking down that information and marketing to them. It's really all about making the sale and marketing aggressively.

pamelaj

Wow!!!!! Thanks again everyone for so much wonderful advice! Sorry that I can not reply to each and every one one, but rest assured, I have read each comment and I am so blessed to have y'all in my corner, I am getting ready to go to Biggs this morning, so I am going to print all this out and take on my way to read again in the car and hopefully try to condense it to just one camera and lenses, but then take my time and shop for the best price and what fits my need the most, too many choices!!! This is a big deal for me, career wise and budget wise, so I can't thank you all enough for all your help and encouragement, I will keep in touch!

mgoldfield

Consider the Canon Rebel T6. Marvelous performance; spend the savings on lenses.

pamelaj

I did get to Biggs in Charlotte yesterday with my family, about an hour away from our home, they were very nice, but very busy, and me not wanting to take up so much of their time and my families time of doing what they wanted to do as well in Charlotte, I did not get to ask as many questions as I should have, I let the salesman take the lead after telling him what I needed and setting the book of pages that I had printed off from my friends advice here on HHU.......lol.......the only Sony he showed me was the one starting at $2000, way over my budget as far as a beginner, not even knowing if this is going to work out! Then he shows be a big cumbersome Nikon, not even sure what model or price, sorry, but it just didn't fit my little hands, and so then he showed me a Nikon 5600, I really liked it, felt good, looked good and he took few pictures of my daughter right behind the counter with the blurred background with the nifty fifty lens he put on it, I really liked it and the price with the kit lens and 50 lens was in budget!, but was still afraid to commit and still swooning over my beloved Sony that I could no longer afford......and yes, AFTER we left, I had questions that I should have asked and cameras that I should have test driven from all the notes that everyone on here so kindly suggested! What happened to me! I was so worried about everyone else's needs, that once again, I took the back seat, (ha, literally, I rode in the back seat the whole time as well) maybe just the mom in me and I don't mind, but after my daughter is back in school from spring break this week, I am going to have to go again, preferably alone, but will have to take my 4 year old niece, whom I babysit.......and hopefully test drive a lot more, Best Buy will be a lot closer for me and I may call up there first to see what they have and hopefully go up there to look. Thank you again for reaching out to me, do you have any advice on the Nikon 5600? Thank you again so very much everyone, this has been the best way that I have received help on this matter by far!

JPL

The D5600 is a good camera but I think you should stick to your Sony plan if you want to become more of a serious photographer or professional in the future.

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

There are definitely good Sonys out there in your budget.

scuff

I looked at Best Buy. I don't have a local camera shop to go to, so had to. But, it was nice to just look and be left alone to browse without a salesman talking to me. I went in the evening, so the place was pretty dead, except for the one other young, flirty girl who kept the salesman busy so that I could shop! Although a bit annoying when I did have a question lol I hate being hounded when I just want to look! Anyway, could be a good option to browse there before you get a change to get back up. I looked a few times before making a final decision. You think of things you want to check out and then need to see it in person again!

sr71 Loc: In Col. Juan Seguin Land

The D5600 is a very good camera.....Small Hands, Sony A6000 w/sigma 30mm - or Olympus OMD-E-M10 II with the 45mm 1.8mm

FalconChase Loc: Canton,Ohio, USA

Sony a6000 will be a great choice. It is a very good camera at a very affordable price. The Eye Autofocus feature is designed specifically for portraits.

pamelaj

Good to know! Going to definitely ask this time to look at the ones that everyone has suggested here, and this Sony is on the top of my list, being that I know how good my old Sony is....... and it is in my budget as a starter! Thanks again.

DanielB Loc: San Diego, Ca

Thank you Pamela. Did you make a choice yet...waiting with baited breath....