tjones

Hello to all you fine folks, I am so eager to learn anything and everything I can. I love photography but new to alot, a whole lot. I have used point and shoot, other folks cameras and cell phone. I have so much interest in learning all I can about photography, have many questions and hoping for many answers. Thanks and bless be..

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

Thanks and Welcome to UHH in 2018.

frankraney Loc: Clovis, Ca.

Welcome to the hog. I come from southern Il, Mt Vernon. Moved to California in 69..... You have come to the right place to learn and get help. There are a lot of knowledgeable people here willing to help.. All you have to do is ask, and you will get the answers.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Welcome to the forum.

ebbote Loc: Hockley, Texas

Welcome to the Hog, enjoy.

wanderingbear Loc: San Diego

Sorry pushed the wrong button. Welcome, you will get ALL the info you need. My only suggestion is to ask specific questions. If you have not purchased a camera some great suggestions on this site. I have been aware of some individual's ( where cost) was not important that bought as much as $8,000 for camera & lenses, and other accessories and Did not even know how to turn their new purchase on. Photography is a life time of learning. In this digital age you will be able to do with your camera what the Great Photographer's of the past spent days or even longer in their dark rooms to perfect a photo which now can be done in camera. Good shooting. The Bear

tjones

Thank you all so much for the warm welcome, I have for sometime been reading up on different dslr's. I have used compact cameras, as well as my cell phone and also used a few that didn't belong to me, one being my son's Canon Eos Rebel T3 but he doesn't let me really get my hands on it much lol. I need my own but still trying to learn all I can before making a purchase. I definitely need one for a beginner. To be honest I like Nikon and Canon both what little bit I have been able to use them, as I think it isn't the camera that gets the great shot but the photographer. I was looking into the d3400 Nikon dslr, but I just want to make sure I am really buying something good for my photography interest and something I can futher myself with. I need to learn alot about the camera itself as that is why it has takin me so long in puchasing uggggg. I love shooting macro and also truely enjoy taking photos of sunsets, barns and well just anything that catches my eye... I think beauty is in the eye of the beholder :) I am so ready to learn learn learn and share what little photography I have done off and on. I have told myself for this new year I am really gonna go futher with it because I have such a great love for the beauty and I have the passion. I just have alot to learn and I am willing to learn whatever it takes.

kpmac Loc: Ragley, La

Welcome. The D3400 would make a wonderful starter for you. I started with a D3300 and it really is what got me interested in doing photography the right way. (If there is a right way).

tjones

Thank you so much, and I will be truthfully honest I have been reading up on the d3400 for months now.. I have read as much as I could find about the camera and folks reviews and just whatever I could find.

wanderingbear Loc: San Diego

Hi, back again. You may want to move up in the Nikon #'s. You may find that you will out grow the one you mention. Back to cost there are several companies that have slightly used where an original cost might have been $5,000 or more now $2,000 or much less. The starter kits give you the camera and normally 2 lens that give you all the focal options you will normally need. I am a Nikon user. Usually the advice on this site is you need to see which feel best in your hand the buttons are similar. Just located differently One advantage of Nikon, nearly ALL the lens will fit even some wonderful older ones at a fraction of the cost. You might want to take a look at the 7100. I started as you did. You can't make a mistake. Photography is a Life Long learning
experience and the camera is only a tool. I also do Macro. That is a world in it's self. If you do not have a macro lens yet, you need to do your home work on lens length. If you are going to say do bugs bees, etc you need a longer lens such as what I have a 105mm that lets the insects do their thing undisturbed, etc There is just an additional Macro site on Hedge Hog. Ck it out.

The Bear
The Bear

tjones

Thank you so much, my friend uses a Nikon d3300 which I have used a few times, and she also told me the same thing about the lenses for Nikon. Again thank you so much will most definitely look into that one. I do want to futher myself on this journey. And I love doing macro of flowers, butterflies ect ect, and would love to also photograph birds. My interest has been alot on macro, flower photography, and I love taking shots of old barns and trees as well... I have a love for black & white photography. I have truely appreciated all the nice comments and feed back. I am super excited. I found free classes, called a year with my camera. I need a camera first :)

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

welcome

I am a Canon user so would vote for a Canon, besides all the Canon lenses work and auto focus on all the bodies because all Canon lenses since the late 80s have their own focus motor. With Nikon only the 7000 series can use all their lenses on auto focus since they have a focus motor in the body. The 3000 and 5000 series have no motor and can only auto focus with the lenses that have their own motor. Nikon made a lot of lenses without focus motors of their own.
Also if he mellows out you could swap/borrow lens and accessories with your son if you both have Canon.
I would recommend a T6i as a starter and on the Canon Store refurbished site you can get a real good deal (mostly out of stock because of the holidays but give them a week or two http://shop.usa.canon.com/shop/en/catalog/cameras/refurbished-eos-digital-slr-cameras) I have purchased two cameras from Canon refurbished and they were both like new - plus 1 year warranty.
If your heart is set on Nikon (both brands are great cameras) then I believe you should move up from the bottom of the line beginner model 3400. A 5000 or 7000* series body will go a longer time before you started wanting something more.
No matter what you get, learn the camera, learn the basics of composition, exposure etc and practice, practice, practice. Remembering to have fun while doing it.

You discussed macro, I use a 100 mm macro lens sometimes but mainly a 180 mm which gives me more chances to get butterflies etc without having to keep moving the camera closer or scaring the butterfly. Plus since both of my cameras will auto focus at f/8* I can put on a 1.4x extender and use it for birds at the feeders (it becomes 403 mm angle of view on my crop sensor body). In Nikon the 7000s will AF at f/8 but not the 3000 or 5000 series.

*The is a maximum opening of f/8 - ie a lens with max f/5.6 + a 1.4x entender becomes a max f/8 when wide open. All lenses autofocus wide open then close down to the f-stop you selected just before the shutter activates.

tjones

Thank you so very much for this info, I really like both Canon and Nikon, and with everyone's wonderful comments it has gave me more to look into, and some lenses to check over, thank you all so much....

Nature_Shooter Loc: Chesterfield Missouri

Welcome! Looking forward to your posts and pictures. Happy shooting!

tjones

Thanks so much, I have really enjoyed reading in the forum alot of interesting things to read about camera's, lenses and have viewed alot of beautiful photography