jjanovy Loc: Lincoln, Nebraska

I agree with Morning Star relative to actually handling the camera you are thinking about buying. I have both Nikons and Canons, but use them for different things. The Nikon D3400 is a great beginner camera, especially with a lens kit that includes the telephoto.

sueyeisert Loc: New Jersey

You need to handle both cameras ansee which one you feel more comfortable in your hands. Look at their lenses and accessories etc.

gary8803

Don't forget to look at the used market you can get some great cameras at a good price lens also.

Cheapshot Loc: California.

I volunteer at the USS Midway Museum. We have a photo concession there that photographs visitors once they board the ship. During the Summer the concession is usually shooting over 5,000 pictures daily with their Canon T6's. They tell me that they very seldom experience camera failures. I was Nikon, Rollieflex and Hasselblad in the film days, now I am digital Canon. I have been pleased with all of my camera systems. Have fun...explore!

Earnest Botello Loc: Hockley, Texas

Welcome to the Hog Vinny, enjoy.

ole sarg Loc: south florida

Easy go to a place that has both cameras and hold each.

The one that more comfortably fits you hand has a one up on the other.

Next look at the menus for each and that which is most transparent has an up vote.

Now decide which you want to buy in order to do that rent one of each and give it a road test.

LWW Loc: Banana Republic of America

I would go with a NIKON because of the massive amount of legacy glass that will fit the NIKON F mount.

I would also opt for a D7200 body which has the built in AF motor allowing utilization of AF on all the legacy NIKKOR AF and AF-D glass along with the legacy AI and AIS MF glass.

And, of course, the newer AF-S and AF-P will also work.

Silverman Loc: Michigan

As a beginner, remember K.I.S.S. ( keep it simple silly), a D3300, D3400, D5600 etc. would be excellent choice for a beginner to learn Photography, they are less expensive, easier to learn, simple to follow the menus. The lens for these cameras are less expensive than Full Frame Cameras.
I personally choose the D3300 two years ago as a Beginner, and it has been a fantastic camera to learn DSLR Photography.

DesRose Loc: Phoenix, Arizona

It's a lot easier if you state HOW MUCH you are willing to pay for gear and go from there. Then people can advise you on your best bang for the buck regardless of camera manufacturer.

charlienow Loc: Hershey, PA

Nikon and canon are both great cameras. I am a Nikon guy and would of course recommend the Nikon. If you are only getting one lens I would suggest either the 18-140 or 18-300. I have both and use the 18-300 most of the time.

Bob Locher Loc: Southwest Oregon

Howdy!

I am a happy user of a Sony A-6000. The suggestions above are all good ones.

Best Buy does offer a good selection, and the A-6000 is one of them - so be sure to try mirrorless as well.

If you do consider the A6000, the new Sony 18-135 OSS lens is a terrific choice. I love mine.

Anyhow, it is all a lot of fun.

Also, the advice on where to buy is very good. You can't go far wrong with Best Buy - who will match internet prices - or Amazon, or B&H or Adorama. Local shops are usually safe. And if you see someone else on the internet be sure to ask here for prior experience. There are the occasional horror stories.

Anyhow, welcome aboard!

ppage Loc: Pittsburg, (San Francisco area)

I started out at the bottom end with a Rebel T5i. Then I put some serious effort into self education. A Rebel works just fine and people make stellar images with these cameras. After what seemed to be a short time though, and after near constant shooting, I wished for something better and wished I had started at the next level up, something like the 80D. Also in hindsight, I wish I would have started with Nikon. In my opinion, their Sony manufactured sensors have better image quality and their crop sensor cameras use the more sensible 1.5x crop factor. Once I bought a lot of Canon lenses, it seemed to hard and expensive to switch to Nikon. In addition to all that, I wished I would have started with a full frame camera because the more I learned, the more I wanted one. That would be the Canon 6D II or the Nikon D750.

PhotogHobbyist Loc: Bradford, PA

Vinny, welcome to UHH. Morning Star probably has given you the best advice, go to a local (if there is one) store and look at, handle, and ask about the different cameras available. Personally, I am a bit of a rebel and started out with a lesser know camera back in the film days. I chose a Petri and obtained additional lenses. Later I bought a used Pentax and extra lenses. Now because of the universality of the lens mount I have Pentax digital cameras. Initially I chose the Pentax for the price and the reputation it had. I've stuck with that brand because of the performance, reputation and because I still have the extra lenses and some other equipment. Perhaps getting a used camera that you feel comfortable with and can use with ease is a way to start. You can always trade up later to the same or different brand.

Booker

Vinny, if you live fairly close to Delaware, visit Cameras, Etc. in Newark, DE. They are friendly and VERY helpful as well as ethical.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

If at all possible, I would buy a little more upscale model from either Canon or Nikon. Rebel T6 and D3400 are both VERY entry-level, basic cameras. Between the two, the Nikon is a little newer and slightly improved in several ways. It's got a newer, higher resolution sensor (24MP versus 18MP), higher ISO range, and a faster continuous shooting rate (5 frames per second versus 3 fps). There's not much difference in their autofocus systems... the Nikon has 11 points while the Canon has 9... but both give about the same level of performance.

One of the Nikon D5000-series models or the Canon T6i/T7i/77D would be a significantly improved camera, compared to the really basic, entry-level models. For example, T6i has a 19-point AF system similar to what was used in 7D and 70D. The latest T7i and 77D use the same 45-point AF system as 80D. The T6 has been superseded by the T7... but the new model is virtually unchanged in most respects. It got a newer 24MP sensor, but that's all. Canon also has offered the world's smallest DSLR... the SL1. It's virtually identical to the T6 in most respects. The newer SL2 gained a little size and a few grams, so is only the world's 2nd smallest/lightest DSLR, but is a much improved model, a significant step up in many ways (a lot closer to the more advanced T7i than to the entry level T7).

In N. America, recent and current Canon "crop sensor" models... from most entry level to most advanced... are:

Rebel T7 (current), T6 and SL1 (old models)
SL2 (current)
T7i (current), T6i (old)
77D (current), T6s (old)
80D (current), 70D (old)
7D Mark II (current), 7D (old)

While cheap, a lot of people move on from the most entry-level models pretty quickly. Might be easier and cost less in the long run to simply get a bit more advanced camera model. The models one or two steps up from the cheapest have just as much support and automation for beginners, but also have a lot of added features and better performance that you are likely to want when you gain some experience.

But all the cameras are capable and lenses actually make more difference than the camera they are used upon!

If looking at the two lens kits offered with the entry-level cameras... STOP. Both T6 and D3400 come with a decent working, if rather plasticky image stabilized 18-55mm lens. That's okay. But the second lenses, telephoto zooms bundled with both of them by the manufacturers are their cheapest and worst. The Nikon gets the AF-P 70-300mm DX without VR ("vibration reduction" image stabilization). The same is true of the EF-S 75-300mm "III" that's often bundled with the T6. It lacks IS. Image stabilization is most useful on telephoto lenses like these and less necessary on shorter focal lengths like 18-55mm (both of which have it, in this case!) So they've got it exactly backward... shorter lenses with IS, longer focal lengths without it... in order to be as cheap as possible.

For a little more money, both Canon and Nikon offer better telephoto zooms WITH image stabilization. For example, Canon's EF-S 55-250mm IS STM is a much better lens in all respects. Step up models of cameras may include the better tele-zooms and usually get bundled with a better version 18-55mm as well.


To make your money go a little farther, you might look for refurbished cameras from both manufacturers. Canon USA has been selling refurbs directly from their website for several years now and offers them with the same warranty as new. Nikon USA started selling their directly just last year, but treats them as used with 90 day warranty. Often with the Canon, buyers report little difference from new, aside from the savings and packaging. I imagine it's similar with Nikon, but they've only been offering refurbs directly for about a year.

For example, I see Canon currently has both T6i and SL2 in stock and offered for $500 with EF-S 18-55mm IS STM lens (this STM or "stepper motor" version is faster & quieter focusing than the micro motor "II" version of that lens). The SL2 is an ultra-compact model which is very similar to the T6i in many respects (SL2 has simpler 9-point AF and there's no option to fit a battery grip... while T6i has higher performance 19-point AF and can optionally be fitted with a BG-E18 grip that both doubles battery capacity and provides convenient, secondary, vertical controls... $136 plus a 2nd battery). When bought new right now, the T6i and that lens cost $100 more... $600. It's also offered new in two-lens kit with both 18-55mm STM and EF-S 55-250mm IS STM for $750.

For what you want to shoot... landscapes and urban photography... you might want additional or different lenses. For example, a wide angle can be useful. Canon offers a small, light, fairly affordable EF-S 10-18mm IS STM for under $300 (Nikon has a similar AF-P 10-20mm VR DX for a little over $300). You also might want a faster (larger aperture) lens for low light shooting.... Canon has an EF 50mm f/1.8 STM for $125 (or there's a Nikkor AF-S 50mm f/1.8G for around $215). For urban photography, there are also ultra compact Canon EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM "Pancake" ($129) and EF 40mm f/2.8 STM "Pancake" ($179) lenses. I don't know if Nikon has similar lenses.

I'm giving mostly Canon examples here because that's the system I use and am most familiar with. I'm sure you can put together something fairly similar around a Nikon camera. Overall, I've noticed the Canon camera kits tend to be a little more expensive than the most comparable Nikon. However beyond the initial "kit" purchase, any lenses or other accessories you may want to add in the future, Nikon items will usually be a little to a lot more expensive.

I agree with other responses... Be VERY careful buying online. Shop around, but be highly suspicious of any offers that are significantly below what the big, reliable, well-established stores offer. There are a lot of "shysters" on the Internet! You can trust Canon and Nikon direct, B&H, Adorama, Amazon Direct, and a few others. Some other stores might be "safe", but only offer VERY limited selection (Costco, Walmart, Best Buy).

Hope this helps!