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Which camera should I purchase?
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Apr 21, 2014 07:14:22   #
bdog
 
In high school, I was really involved in photography, dark room developing, and yearbook staff. Then kids were born and I became too busy to continue. Bad excuse, but I opted for an easy point and shoot camera. Well, I am ready for a good camera again. I have done some research and looked at some cameras of my friends. These seems to stand out to me. Please give me your advice on the following cameras. I do want something easy, but not too basic. I want great pictures of sporting events, and in low light. If you know of other cameras I should look at, please let me know.

Nikon D5100
Canon EOS Rebel T3i
Nikon Coolpix P150

Thanks!
Bonnie

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Apr 21, 2014 07:19:56   #
banjonut Loc: Southern Michigan
 
bdog wrote:
In high school, I was really involved in photography, dark room developing, and yearbook staff. Then kids were born and I became too busy to continue. Bad excuse, but I opted for an easy point and shoot camera. Well, I am ready for a good camera again. I have done some research and looked at some cameras of my friends. These seems to stand out to me. Please give me your advice on the following cameras. I do want something easy, but not too basic. I want great pictures of sporting events, and in low light. If you know of other cameras I should look at, please let me know.

Nikon D5100
Canon EOS Rebel T3i
Nikon Coolpix P150

Thanks!
Bonnie
In high school, I was really involved in photograp... (show quote)


My choice of your listed camera would very the 5100, but I'm sure there will be other suggestions. One idea. If you go refurbished, you may be able to move up a model or so for the same money. Check B&H, Adorama etc.

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Apr 21, 2014 07:51:01   #
DavidPine Loc: Fredericksburg, TX
 
I'd go for the D5100 or D5300 depending on your budget.The D5100 is a good place to start. Good luck.
bdog wrote:
In high school, I was really involved in photography, dark room developing, and yearbook staff. Then kids were born and I became too busy to continue. Bad excuse, but I opted for an easy point and shoot camera. Well, I am ready for a good camera again. I have done some research and looked at some cameras of my friends. These seems to stand out to me. Please give me your advice on the following cameras. I do want something easy, but not too basic. I want great pictures of sporting events, and in low light. If you know of other cameras I should look at, please let me know.

Nikon D5100
Canon EOS Rebel T3i
Nikon Coolpix P150

Thanks!
Bonnie
In high school, I was really involved in photograp... (show quote)

Reply
 
 
Apr 21, 2014 09:35:01   #
boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander
 
bdog wrote:
In high school, I was really involved in photography, dark room developing, and yearbook staff. Then kids were born and I became too busy to continue. Bad excuse, but I opted for an easy point and shoot camera. Well, I am ready for a good camera again. I have done some research and looked at some cameras of my friends. These seems to stand out to me. Please give me your advice on the following cameras. I do want something easy, but not too basic. I want great pictures of sporting events, and in low light. If you know of other cameras I should look at, please let me know.

Nikon D5100
Canon EOS Rebel T3i
Nikon Coolpix P150

Thanks!
Bonnie
In high school, I was really involved in photograp... (show quote)

I would go to a brick and mortar store and actually handle the the camera as feel is improtant. The refurb route can perhaps save enough money to get better glass.

Reply
Apr 21, 2014 10:11:55   #
don4u Loc: Southern California
 
First thing. Go into a Best Buys and handle them. I know its has a security cable. But look them over. Get one of there people and pick their brains. I would say a refurbished nikon 5100. You have the camera. Go for the best lens. I always go for the fastest lens. Watch out for used on the net. You don't know how many pictures were taken. Nor how the camera was treated. Good luck and have fun.

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Apr 21, 2014 11:01:50   #
wilsondl2 Loc: Lincoln, Nebraska
 
I would go a step up from the 5100 to the 7100. Reason - the focus motor in the body. You will then be able to buy a lot of glass at bargan prices on eBay. Not sure about the 5100 but you can also use the aperture setting to meter almost any lens you put on the 7100. - Dave

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Apr 21, 2014 12:57:40   #
don4u Loc: Southern California
 
If you want speed in taking more pictures per second. Some more lens too. It's about $600.00 More.Then the 7100. If you budget is high. I would agree with some of the others. I always want the best megapixels. Then the glass, fast lens. Read everything you can. Check it out. Take pictures. Practice makes perfect.

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Apr 21, 2014 13:12:11   #
amehta Loc: Boston
 
bdog wrote:
In high school, I was really involved in photography, dark room developing, and yearbook staff. Then kids were born and I became too busy to continue. Bad excuse, but I opted for an easy point and shoot camera. Well, I am ready for a good camera again. I have done some research and looked at some cameras of my friends. These seems to stand out to me. Please give me your advice on the following cameras. I do want something easy, but not too basic. I want great pictures of sporting events, and in low light. If you know of other cameras I should look at, please let me know.

Nikon D5100
Canon EOS Rebel T3i
Nikon Coolpix P150

Thanks!
Bonnie
In high school, I was really involved in photograp... (show quote)

Welcome!

Since you included two "second shelf" DSLRs, I'm going to agree with others and take the Coolpix off the list. Nikon and Canon have 5-6 shelves for their DSLR line-ups. As you move up the shelves, there are generally more features, better image quality, better build quality, and faster operation.

The cameras on the third shelf, the Nikon D7100 and Canon 70D, are about $1100. Both of these will be better for sports than the D5100/T3i, because they have better autofocus systems. If this is very important to you, I think the D7100 in particular should get some consideration. If these are out of your price range, however, either the D5100 or the Canon T3i will take great pictures, though they will "miss" the action shots more often than the better cameras.

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Apr 21, 2014 21:59:55   #
cntry Loc: Colorado
 
bdog wrote:
In high school, I was really involved in photography, dark room developing, and yearbook staff. Then kids were born and I became too busy to continue. Bad excuse, but I opted for an easy point and shoot camera. Well, I am ready for a good camera again. I have done some research and looked at some cameras of my friends. These seems to stand out to me. Please give me your advice on the following cameras. I do want something easy, but not too basic. I want great pictures of sporting events, and in low light. If you know of other cameras I should look at, please let me know.

Nikon D5100
Canon EOS Rebel T3i
Nikon Coolpix P150

Thanks!
Bonnie
In high school, I was really involved in photograp... (show quote)


Expand your search to include Sony and micro 4/3 systems like Olympus and Panasonic. Sony Alpha series (with the exception of new A7 and A7r) accept Minolta A-mount lenses which are readily available at reasonable prices used. I've never used a Sony NEX, but those who have them love them.
www.snapsort.com is a good site for comparisons

Go to a camera store that carries all the brands (not Best Buy, their salespeople have no idea what they are selling, they just push whatever their manager told them to push that day), talk to a knowledgeable salesperson and play with the cameras you are interested in. Make sure the camera fits your hands, is comfortable to hold, buttons/controls are easy to reach, menu system makes sense, etc. Based on your comments about those you play with, the salesperson may have a suggestion that you hadn't even considered.

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Apr 21, 2014 22:19:38   #
SharpShooter Loc: NorCal
 
bdog wrote:


Nikon D5100
Canon EOS Rebel T3i
Nikon Coolpix P150
Thanks!
Bonnie


Bonnie, welcome to the hog.
If you thinking of getting serious, because of the lenses, get the Canon.
If not, then it won't matter.
Again, welcome. ;-)
SS

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Apr 21, 2014 22:26:11   #
CHOLLY Loc: THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE!
 
cntry wrote:
Expand your search to include Sony and micro 4/3 systems like Olympus and Panasonic. Sony Alpha series (with the exception of new A7 and A7r) accept Minolta A-mount lenses which are readily available at reasonable prices used. I've never used a Sony NEX, but those who have them love them.
www.snapsort.com is a good site for comparisons

Go to a camera store that carries all the brands (not Best Buy, their salespeople have no idea what they are selling, they just push whatever their manager told them to push that day), talk to a knowledgeable salesperson and play with the cameras you are interested in. Make sure the camera fits your hands, is comfortable to hold, buttons/controls are easy to reach, menu system makes sense, etc. Based on your comments about those you play with, the salesperson may have a suggestion that you hadn't even considered.
Expand your search to include Sony and micro 4/3 s... (show quote)


^^^EXCELLENT advice! :thumbup:

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Apr 21, 2014 22:29:28   #
CHOLLY Loc: THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE!
 
bdog wrote:
In high school, I was really involved in photography, dark room developing, and yearbook staff. Then kids were born and I became too busy to continue. Bad excuse, but I opted for an easy point and shoot camera. Well, I am ready for a good camera again. I have done some research and looked at some cameras of my friends. These seems to stand out to me. Please give me your advice on the following cameras. I do want something easy, but not too basic. I want great pictures of sporting events, and in low light. If you know of other cameras I should look at, please let me know.

Nikon D5100
Canon EOS Rebel T3i
Nikon Coolpix P150

Thanks!
Bonnie
In high school, I was really involved in photograp... (show quote)


You should also include the Sony A65/A77 in your search.

Both are EXCEPTIONALLY good cameras, VERY easy to use that produce EXTREMELY good images, even under difficult situations.

And each is highly competitive price wise with the cameras you listed, AND they will outperform them in MOST categories HANDS DOWN.

Take a look at Sony; you won't be disappointed. :thumbup:

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Apr 21, 2014 23:24:12   #
cntry Loc: Colorado
 
CHOLLY wrote:
You should also include the Sony A65/A77 in your search.

Both are EXCEPTIONALLY good cameras, VERY easy to use that produce EXTREMELY good images, even under difficult situations.

And each is highly competitive price wise with the cameras you listed, AND they will outperform them in MOST categories HANDS DOWN.

Take a look at Sony; you won't be disappointed. :thumbup:


:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

I'm on my 4th Sony (1 bridge, 3 DSLR) and I love them all! Upgraded to the A65 a couple months ago, it's a terrific camera!

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Apr 21, 2014 23:25:13   #
amehta Loc: Boston
 
SharpShooter wrote:
Bonnie, welcome to the hog.
If you thinking of getting serious, because of the lenses, get the Canon.
If not, then it won't matter.
Again, welcome. ;-)
SS

If you are thinking of getting serious, because of the lenses, you can also get the Nikon. :-)

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Apr 21, 2014 23:28:12   #
cntry Loc: Colorado
 
amehta wrote:
If you are thinking of getting serious, because of the lenses, you can also get the Nikon. :-)


It doesn't matter how many lenses a mfr makes as long as they make the ones you need/want. Nobody uses all 100+ lenses that are available.

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