Aedesign Loc: Cleveland, OH

I have a D3200 with 18-55 excellent condition, original box, cables, disk, etc. I'll include a second battery, Nikon case and learning CD's. Since he is a student, I'll also include a couple of my early DSLR introduction books. All of the above for $300. Email if interested downey_assoc@hotmail.com

Patw28 Loc: PORT JERVIS, NY

For a 14-year student, stay with the D3000 two-lens kit.
For best bang for the buck, look for non-VR lenses.
I carry this kit in my trunk. (Jury-rigged an electric outlet back there.)
Better: charge the battery in the front, carry the kit in the trunk.

Bridgeman Loc: Missouri

I have a Canon 10D that I will sell. It is only 6.3 MP, but takes great photos. It would come with a 35-80mm f/4-5.6 kit lens, 3 batteries, charger, BG-ED3 battery grip, manual, and original box. I can send some pictures taken with this camera. $75 plus postage. Also have a Canon 100-300 f/4.5-5.6 lens, and a Canon 50mm f/1.8 Mark II that I would also sell. If interested, let me know

RKL349 Loc: Connecticut

Adorama, Cameta, and KEH usually have a great supply of these. Check out their websites, and if you think he will remain interested, consider refurbished. Cameta refurbished warranties include the Nikon 90 day warranty with Cameta extending for an additional 9 months. Most places will sell one, two or three year extended warranties for very attractive prices. Good luck and you are a great grandpa for helping him get started.

Just looked at Cameta Camera, who is a first rate retailer. Nikon D3100 refurbished body for $219 or a D3200 refurbished body for $239.99 and an 18-55mm VRII lens for $87. Both include a one year warranty and typically these refurbished pieces are "as new" and include all factory original bits and pieces.

AZ Dog Loc: Peoria, AZ

And just what is wrong with a D3200? It uses the same sensor as the D5000 and D7000 series and many of the same features. Is this just a "My camera is better than yours?'

sirlensalot Loc: Arizona

Agree with burk - 3300 kit is the way to go.

relie Loc: Western Massachusetts

Pm sent!

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Unfortunately, high school photography teachers tend to be Nazis when it comes to course requirements (dSLR). I'm amazed the kid's teacher will even use digital processes! The ones around here are still stuck on film.

Reinaldokool Loc: San Rafael, CA

I have a D7000 with a Tamron 18-250 lens. I've advertised it here for $500, on ebay $550. For your 14yo grandson, I'll take $450 just to see it used. This is an excellent camera and I've taken several prize-winning photos with it. Let me know as I will kill the eBay ad.

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

Canon SL1 IS--cant beat it for the price. Check Canon for refurbished cameras. We got my granddaughter a T5 with an 18-55 zoom for Christmas at a steal. $300, I think.

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

That's a good deal--and a good camera. Used or refurbished is the way to go for a kid.

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

Others have recommended the Nikon D3300. An incredible DSLR for a beginner. Comes with a 18-55mm kit lens for $460 at B&H. And 24 megapixels. A 2 lens kit will cost $600 with 55-200mm lens and camera bag. Brand new. Free Shipping too.

Kuzano

The D3300 is a considerable improvement over the D3000 for very little more money. I just bought a low count D3300 with the second version "collapsible" kit lens (a wonderful lens by all standards), for $250 on eBay.

A refurb should not cost much more if any.

Found on the D3300

24.1 Megapixel sensor
Expeed 4 image processor
removal of OLPF AA filtering for slightly increased sharpness
In camera panorama.

These enhancements are not found on any of the earlier D3x000 models....

I bought one because although I am mostly a mirrorless shooter, I wanted a DX 24Mp sensor, and the lightest DSLR i could pick up cheap, with NO OLPF filtering. The pano enhancement was just a bonus.

Most of the mirrorless I shoot are 16MP with no AA filters, but I just want to see if the 24 Mp makes a difference. I will be pleasantly surprised if it does, but with the camera's I have been shooting, I expect to meet the same IQ as the 24Mp.

We'll see, and it's a cheap experiment, because the D3300 can be had in great quantities so cheap. eBay, where I have been buying and selling for over 20 years.

Kuzano

D3200....
Still hamstrung with OLPF AA filtering.
expeed 3 image processor instead of expeed 4 as on D3300
no in camera panoramic as on D3300.

just little things that add up. And if the D3300 has it's most recent kit lens, it's the smaller lighter sharper collapsible lens that did not come on the D3200. Read the reviews at DPreview and Ken Rockwell for even more clear answers to your question.

Now, in real life, probably not a drop of spit in the spittoon in terms of differences. However, points to that fact that every later model number in cameras, always brings improvements however small.

The decisive point is the price.... judicious shopping will get your a 3300 for pennies difference over a 3200. And there don't seem to be as many D3200's for sale as D3300's, which is also a function of the prices being paid.

Again, little things count. The other sleeper camera is the D7100 over both the D7000 (a lost race) and the D7200 (not enough improvement to be worth the price difference). That means the D7200 will be the next best deal... The D7100 right now at $400, and whatever the hot selling D7200 will settle down to.

All these things shift, and some of us make a dime or a few on watching and taking advantage of these shifts. Are we hurting anyone. No, we're just paying attention to little things that can increase the value of an item, making it a commodity for small income increases.

For me, it's not the value of the features, it's what the feature's will do to raise or lower value, combined with the insane purchasing that takes place for not much improvement, as is clearly the case in the D7200.

It works that way with the D3000 through the D3200, making the bang for the buck, much better on the D3300.

So NO Arizona Dog!!! it's not just "my camera is better than yours", and if you were making money buying and selling camera's for incomes sake, you would know this.

The reason all these factors enter into the price game is "Marketing 101". Nobody makes anything until somebody sells something. If you don't pay attention to these small difference, you get ripped off. If you do, you make a buck or two. I make some solid money on eBay paying attention to this stuff, instead of getting riled when someone counters me on a point.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

Would it be possible for your grandson to go handle some cameras in a store?

Some people find one brand or another preferable for their ergonomics, controls and menu layout. All manufacturers offer something entry level, similar to the Nikon D3000-series recommended by the instructor.

Canon and Nikon have by far the most comprehensive selection of lenses and accessories. But Sony, Pentax and Olympus all offer some excellent alternatives, too.

I'll mention some Canon only because that's what I use and am most familiar with. Compared to Canon, at the price range you're considering Nikon lenses are a bit more limited than Canon for autofocus, requiring AF-S lenses that have a built-in motor (AF-D and some other Nikon lenses will be manual focus only, but otherwise most will work okay). In contrast, all 100 million plus Canon EF and EF-S lenses made the past 25 years will work fine on all their entry level DSLRs. Canon T5 and SL1 are the most basic... T5i, T6i and T6s are more upscale Canon. Probably more than you want to spend, Canon 70D will be on sale, as they've announced the new 80D coming soon and will be clearing out the older model (which is still quite capable) at discounts.

Lens choice will actually make more difference in image qualities, than the camera they're used upon. Depending upon what type of photography your grandson wants to try, the lens can make a big difference with faster focusing or lower light capabilities or closer focusing capability. If not now, it might be an idea for future birthday or Christmas gifts. Also, extra memory cards and batteries... and photo editing software (I'd recommend Photoshop Elements for beginners to intermediate). A tripod and accessory flash are also useful (even though all these cameras have a built-in flash... it's pretty wimpy).

Have fun shopping!