Need some advice: My better half would like to get a better camera than she has which is a cannon point and shoot. Her budget is $500 or less and would like something that will take...

Thomas Firth

My better half would like to get a better camera than she has which is a cannon point and shoot. Her budget is $500 or less
and would like something that will take sharp pictures. Something like my D750 is just too heavy and expensive. A simple
walk around lens would work. She wants to be able to go with me when I go out shooting. Probably be shooting landscapes and
nature stuff and possibly some of the quilts she has made.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Thomas Firth wrote:

My better half would like to get a better camera than she has which is a cannon point and shoot. Her budget is $500 or less
and would like something that will take sharp pictures. Something like my D750 is just too heavy and expensive. A simple
walk around lens would work. She wants to be able to go with me when I go out shooting. Probably be shooting landscapes and
nature stuff and possibly some of the quilts she has made.

Would a good megazoom/bridge camera like the Nikon P900 or Canon SX-60 fill the bill?
If you are willing to go $100 more Nikon is having a Mother's day deal of the 5500 and two lenses for just under 600 this month. Then you could swap lenses.

Ah, just checked Sam's Club, they have the 3400 with two lenses and other goodies for $499.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

My recommendation is the original Sony RX10 version I used......

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

I've got the Canon SX60HS. It takes pretty darn good photos and video and it has a very wide focal range. I bought mine used for $325 in like new condition. It's more like a mini DSLR than a pocket camera. For the money it's a really nice camera.
If she's interested in a DSLR, the D3400 package is an excellent choice, especially for the cost.

wdross Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado

Thomas Firth wrote:

My better half would like to get a better camera than she has which is a cannon point and shoot. Her budget is $500 or less
and would like something that will take sharp pictures. Something like my D750 is just too heavy and expensive. A simple
walk around lens would work. She wants to be able to go with me when I go out shooting. Probably be shooting landscapes and
nature stuff and possibly some of the quilts she has made.

Two other possibilities would be the Olympus E-M10 mrII or the GH4. Either one with a kit lense would be in the ballpark of $500. They are small, light weight, and would allow for "growth" of the system should she choose.

FotoPhreak Loc: Whittier, CA

Sounds like the experience with my wife about 5 years ago. Back then I let her have the cameras that I no longer used but she found them too heavy and too complicated. So I bought her a Nikon Coolpix camera and she absolutely loves it (and me for buying it for her). It's fairly light and compact and has a good range on the zoom lens and picture quality is excellent. The lens is a fixed mount zoom which really works for her since she doesn't like the 'complexity' of interchangeable lenses. I am sure that Canon and other camera manufacturers have similar cameras. Now while I roam around taking pictures, she now does the same and, while she is not as serious about the photos as I am, she takes some very good pictures with the Coolpix.

cmcaroffino Loc: Sebring, FL

The current sale on cameras has the nikon D3400 with 18-55 lens for $396 or 2 lens for $496 a great buy.

TB4 Loc: TX

Sony DSC-HX80 or 90. My wife loves hers and the quality it produces is impressive. Also easy to carry in a purse or pocket.

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

The SX 60 is a good choice--light and versatile. If she wants a DSLR, get her a Canon Rebel SL1--it's the lightest DSLR made, I think. It will let her use your lenses, too.

Thomas Firth

Thanks all for your input. My first thought was the D3400 as for some reason I favor Nikon. I'm not
sure how well a FX lens will work with the DX camera. I also need her to go with me to the store and
get the "feel" and weight of the different cameras. Thanks again the journey continues.

SusanFromVermont Loc: Southwest corner of Vermont

Thomas Firth wrote:

Thanks all for your input. My first thought was the D3400 as for some reason I favor Nikon. I'm not
sure how well a FX lens will work with the DX camera. I also need her to go with me to the store and
get the "feel" and weight of the different cameras. Thanks again the journey continues.

FX lenses work very well on DX cameras. Just have to be aware of the crop factor effect on taking photos. An FX zoom will have a narrower angle of view, which essentially creates the impression of more "reach". For instance, the 24-70mm zoom lens [FX] will take pictures equivalent to 36x105mm on the DX camera. The magnification of subjects is still 24-70mm, just "cropped" by the narrower angle of view. I like a longer focal length FX lens on a crop sensor camera for wildlife, because it makes it possible to fill more of the frame with the subject.

JHC-NOLA Loc: New Orleans

I agree with robertjerl that one of the small Nikon DSLRs would be a good choice since they are very lightweight, relatively inexpensive, and there are many Nikon lenses that will work on both cameras (FX to DX, but not vice versa). I would also strongly recommend looking for a D3400 or D5500 that has been refurbished by Nikon. The prices are lower and they are like brand new except for the 90 day warranty. Over the years I have purchased several DSLRs refurbished by Nikon and they are great!

photoman33

For lightweight dslr camera with 18M resolution, the Canon T5i is a great choice. You can probably get best deal buying body only in the $300 range, then add a good all-around Canon lens. I use an 18-70 mm, which
is my every day lens. You can always add another lens later. Takes great large images and i can carry it around all afternoon without tiring. Good luck.

cthahn

Any SLR or Mirrorless camera will take a sharp picture if fitted with a quality lens. The photographer takes the picture. not the camera. Any person who does not understand that statement is not a photographer and never will be..

Charles P Loc: Southern Central NY State

Thomas Firth wrote:

My better half would like to get a better camera than she has which is a cannon point and shoot. Her budget is $500 or less
and would like something that will take sharp pictures. Something like my D750 is just too heavy and expensive. A simple
walk around lens would work. She wants to be able to go with me when I go out shooting. Probably be shooting landscapes and
nature stuff and possibly some of the quilts she has made.

For less than $500, I don't think you could do any better than a refurbished Nikon D5300 and a refurbished Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR AF-P DX Zoom from Cameta Camera. From what I've read on line, the new AFP kit lenses are better than the older AFS kit lenses. And you get a full one year warranty on both items if you buy factory refurbished by Nikon USA from Cameta. I've had great luck with them, their refurbished cameras and lenses are exactly like new!

http://www.cameta.com/Nikon-D5300-Digital-SLR-Camera-Body-Black-Factory-Refurbished-82763.cfm
http://www.cameta.com/Nikon-18-55mm-f-3-5-5-6G-VR-AF-P-DX-Zoom-Nikkor-Lens-Factory-Refurbished-96612.cfm
I have the D5300 and I love it. Whatever you decide on, have fun!