Abbykats Loc: Arizona

i am kind of new to photography and would like to purchase a DSLR as an upgrade from my point and shoot canon camera the reason i would like to purchase a DSLR is for the fast shooting because i mainly take pictures of my animals and of other wild life and the point and shoot is just not doing the full job any more i have had the canon point and shoot for a little under 3 years now and i have loved it it just isn't fast enough any more if you have any suggestions for what type of DSLR i should consider buying that would be helpful :D

and my budget is around $500-$1500

Rongnongno Loc: FL

Budget?

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

As Ron said, Budget? I am in the Canon camp, others will advise on Nikon or other brands. But most of the major brands are very good to excellent.
Keeping in mind the wildlife, assuming it will include birds.
Big budget = 1D x or 5D III (these are full frame and lenses are more expensive)
Medium to Big budget = 7D II will use the full frame or crop frame lenses 7D II is designed for action, so is the older 7D
Medium budget = 7D (until they run out), or 70D will use the fullframe or crop frame lenses
Lower budget would be the T5i these will use the full frame or crop frame lenses
Just saw your budget add on, this would put you at the medium budget range and below.
You might consider a fixed zoom lens camera like the SX50 or its replacement the SX60

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

If you truly want a DSLR:
D7100 Refurb is $999...I'm sure others will suggest a lens to go with it.
Sony A77m2 and 18-135 is $1350
Canon...perhaps a 60D? Everything else, unless it is used or refurbished with over your budget.

Something different (smaller, and still blazingly fast):
Sony A6000 ($600)
Olympus EM10 ($559 refubished) 75mm ($559 refurbished) 25mm ($399) 7.5mm FE ($200 used)

cntry Loc: Colorado

Sony A55, A58 or A65...all are great cameras that will have a relatively short learning curve (compared to some of the others mentioned). All accept A-mount lenses, so you can use just about any Minolta lens manufactured after the mid-80s with full functionality. Minolta lenses are easy to find at cheap to decent prices depending on the lens. Sony also makes some really good lenses as do Tamron and Sigma for the Sony A-mount cameras. You can set up a pretty good bag for $1500 with any one of these. See my tag line for what I use, I have an A65.

The A77 or A77II are great cameras, but are more complex and a new camera should be fun and easy to understand, not frustrating and if this is your first dslr, don't start at the top or you will be frustrated! There's a lot to learn, pick a camera that will grow with you. Yes, you will have to upgrade, but I can promise you this - you can buy a top of line of camera right now and as soon as you figure it out (or sooner) you'll want to upgrade anyway, this way you save some $$$ upfront to spend on lenses, bags, tripods, etc. It doesn't matter what you buy...G.A.S (Gear Acquisition Syndrome) happens. Buy the camera to fit your needs and skills NOW, not for where you'll be down the road.

amehta Loc: Boston

Interchangeable lens cameras (ILCs) do tend to be operationally faster. This includes both DSLRs and mirrorless (MILCs). For your budget, I think your first decision if whether you would prefer the smaller size of a MILC or really prefer the optical viewfinder (OVF) of a DSLR. If you want the DSLR, there are quite a few from Canon, Nikon, and Sony to pick from, for anywhere in your price range. If you think a mirrorless might work better for you, there are mainly two sensor sizes in your price range: micro 4/3 (2x crop factor, Panasonic and Olympus) and APS-C (1.5x crop factor, Sony and Fuji). The most important thing would be to try the electronic viewfinder (EVF). If it is uncomfortable, you are not likely to use the camera.

For your price range, there are very few bad decisions. While you may stress over it a little for now, once you get a camera, just enjoy it. :-)

richosob Loc: Lambertville, MI

I have a Sony a65 and I love it. I had an old Minolta Maxxum so I am able to use those lenses on this Sony. I can highly recommend the Sony. Takes great pictures and is not too complex for a new photographer just starting out. There are many videos on you tube to learn about the camera and photography. I'm sure you will enjoy photography no matter what camera you choose.

Rich

redhogbill Loc: antelope, calif

you will find that after you purchase your new camera, and you like it, you will end up spending 4 times that amount!!
it is a "HABIT" for which for there is no cure!!!!

MontanaTrace

Go to Target, Costco, Best Buy or any camera shop that has a display of cameras that you can try out. Look for the "fixed lens" model. These days, the display model would be most likely be made by Nikon. 50-60 X zoom. Super big time. About $429- $499. For upgrades, I would slowly move up in the camera world. Lenses alone can run thousands. Buy a smaller camera with high powered zoom built in. Easy to put in a ski jacket pocket. The Nikon CoolPix 900, Canon SX 50 or new SX60 are loaded and you don't have to buy expensive lenses. Compact and yet, 21mm - 1300mm all in one. Just carrying around the extra baggage is a pain, if you buy a body and interchangeable lenses (zoom, wide angle, standard 50mm, 2X adapter, wide angle, fish eye, et al $$$$$). An expensive pain. I've been using an Olympus S560 for years. It is compact, packed with features and most affordable. With time, and you find you want more, you aren't putting away a bunch of money in the closet to gather dust. The zoom is extremely powerful. Not a bikini safe at the beach or a deer in the field. I'm shopping for my own upgrade and think it will be the Canon SX60. $529 or near there. 65X zoom is great for spying on wildlife. I like the HDR feature for my special work needs. Don't jump up in cameras too fast. I went from snap shot cameras to very big and expensive systems. Now back in the middle. More features than I can use, easy to carry, no lens changing and much easier on the budget.

Using about half my zoom at 200 yards.


Back porch, fast shutter. 10 feet.


Backyard, one inch. Gentle bee, no sting.

MontanaTrace

Go to Target, Costco, Best Buy or any camera shop that has a display of cameras that you can try out. Look for the "fixed lens" model. These days, the display model would be most likely be made by Nikon. 50-60 X zoom. Super big time. About $429- $499. For upgrades, I would slowly move up in the camera world. Lenses alone can run thousands. Buy a smaller camera with high powered zoom built in. Easy to put in a ski jacket pocket. The Nikon CoolPix 900, Canon SX 50 or new SX60 are loaded and you don't have to buy expensive lenses. Compact and yet, 21mm - 1300mm all in one. Just carrying around the extra baggage is a pain, if you buy a body and interchangeable lenses (zoom, wide angle, standard 50mm, 2X adapter, wide angle, fish eye, et al $$$$$). An expensive pain. I've been using an Olympus S560 for years. It is compact, packed with features and most affordable. With time, and you find you want more, you aren't putting away a bunch of money in the closet to gather dust. The zoom is extremely powerful. Not a bikini safe at the beach or a deer in the field. I'm shopping for my own upgrade and think it will be the Canon SX60. $529 or near there. 65X zoom is great for spying on wildlife. I like the HDR feature for my special work needs. Don't jump up in cameras too fast. I went from snap shot cameras to very big and expensive systems. Now back in the middle. More features than I can use, easy to carry, no lens changing and much easier on the budget.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I would recommend getting a refurbished Nikon from Cameta Camera. The D7100 would be a good choice. They sell body and lens together, or you could get a refurb lens.

http://www.cameta.com/index.cfm?fa=display.search&page=1&keywords=refurb%20nikon%20d7100

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

This appears to be anopther case where mirrorless may be the best route. I would recommend one with an EVF since you will be shooting outdooors and the screen my prove inadequate.

RKL349 Loc: Connecticut

If you have a local camera store, stop by and talk to the folks. Hold some cameras in your hands to get a feel for them and tell them what you will be shooting. They can explain the features of each. If you plan to buy on line, be aware that if the price looks too good to be true, it probably is. If you have any questions about the place selling at what seems to be unusually low prices, let us know as most of us have seen or heard about all of the bait and switch, scam artists.

BuckeyeBilly Loc: St. Petersburg, FL

None of the other replies to your question mentioned this because I think the writers of every response merely tolerated your entire post so I'll be the first perhaps the reason you're not getting satisfactory results with your point-and-shoot is because you're not paying enough attention to details like the way that this sentence is being structured are you aware that none of your sentences in your post contain any periods or other punctuation marks it's not that I'm trying to be your third grade teacher all over again but really you need to pay attention to details study the way your photos come out write out what you learn from them and then try something different like putting in punctuation marks in your sentences understand

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I'm glad that I'm not the only one who throws in extra p's. For some reason, when I hit "o," I also hit "p." :D