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How bad of an idea is this?
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May 25, 2019 14:16:59   #
Neverlost99 Loc: Sarasota
 
I won a Sony Alpha 5000 with the kit lens a few years ago and it was a big upgrade to the 1 MP memory stick that was in my Sony Cam Corder. It has served me well but I would like to have a bit sharper pictures and the ability to have more zoom.
I am 67 and retired and travel lots: Just this year Japan ( took my Iphone... duh) Lisbon, Toronto and Stockholm.
I just saw this advertised at under $500 USD

Nikon says the D3500 two-lens kit is at its lowest price point ever, selling for more than half off with a $450 discount. Along with the camera body, the kit includes the AF-P DX Nikkor 18-50mm f/3.5-5.6G VR and AF-P DX Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3G ED lenses, offering a good amount of zoom and versatility for the price point.

These are not the fastest lenses and assume basically the kit lens.

Would this be worth doing? Thanks in advance.

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May 25, 2019 14:25:01   #
Scruples Loc: Brooklyn, New York
 
A camera is a camera by any other name. The real difference is the nut behind the viewfinder.
While I'm not familiar with Nikon, it is a worthy camera nonetheless.
Just remember. With any new camera there is a learning curve. Just be patient with yourself. Great captures will follow.
Happy Shooting!

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May 25, 2019 14:36:12   #
photoman022 Loc: Manchester CT USA
 
The D3500 is an entry level camera. That being said, I've only shot the Nikon D3000 series for the past 10 years and I'm very happy with all of them. I presently shoot the D3000 and the D3200; they are exceptional cameras and I am sure that you will be more than happy with the D3500. I saw the D3500 on sale locally at about the same price you have and it took all of my will power to resist buying it!

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May 25, 2019 14:44:55   #
zug55 Loc: Naivasha, Kenya, and Austin, Texas
 
The D3500 is pretty much an entry-level DSLR. It is a fine camera, but like all DSLRs it is bigger and heavier than it needs to be. You already owned a mirrorless camera before, and unless you had a terrible experience with it I would stay with a mirrorless system. They generally perform better and are lighter than their DSLR counterparts.

If you are happy with your A5000 you just might look at a different lens for it. Sony has added many APS-C lenses since you got the A5000. The 18-135mm lens, for instance, is a fine lens; perfect for travel. It has image stabilization which will help you get sharper images. It goes for about $500.

I would look at that Sony a6000 series. Or at a micro 4/3 system--Olympus, Fuji, Panasonic, etc. All these systems are travel-friendly and give you great image qualitiy. This would set you back a little more than $500. But given your travel activities this might be an investment that is going to make you happy.

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May 25, 2019 15:26:03   #
BebuLamar
 
I don't think it's worth it. You went from and entry level system on one type to the next. You could keep using the same camera and buy a longer lens. If you are going to buy another camera you should get something significantly better than what you have now.

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May 25, 2019 16:09:46   #
PHRubin Loc: Nashville TN USA
 
It would help us determine if the lack of sharpness was the camera or the user technique if you would post with EXIF data (use "store original" and Add Attachment) a sample of a photo that dissappointed you.

More zoom range is accomplished with another lens, not another body.

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May 25, 2019 16:16:10   #
Stardust Loc: Central Illinois
 
Won't recommend what to do but yes that is an entry level, 2 kit lenses, and if you have a Costco near you they are selling for $449 including extra battery, 32 Gb SD, bag, extended 2-yr warranty on body and 90-day return policy.

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May 25, 2019 16:54:56   #
Rich1939 Loc: Pike County Penna.
 
Neverlost99 wrote:
I won a Sony Alpha 5000 with the kit lens a few years ago and it was a big upgrade to the 1 MP memory stick that was in my Sony Cam Corder. It has served me well but I would like to have a bit sharper pictures and the ability to have more zoom.
I am 67 and retired and travel lots: Just this year Japan ( took my Iphone... duh) Lisbon, Toronto and Stockholm.
I just saw this advertised at under $500 USD

Nikon says the D3500 two-lens kit is at its lowest price point ever, selling for more than half off with a $450 discount. Along with the camera body, the kit includes the AF-P DX Nikkor 18-50mm f/3.5-5.6G VR and AF-P DX Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3G ED lenses, offering a good amount of zoom and versatility for the price point.

These are not the fastest lenses and assume basically the kit lens.

Would this be worth doing? Thanks in advance.
I won a Sony Alpha 5000 with the kit lens a few ye... (show quote)


I'm a Nikon shooter but in this case I couldn't recommend switching from the Sony to the Nikon. They are both APS-C cameras the Sony is ~20MP and the Nikon ~24MP. Not enough of a difference to justify changing. If you feel your images aren't sharp enough, lets us try to help you. I'd be surprised if there isn't something we could do to help you get sharper images.
On the other hand if you're having an uncontrollable major "GAS" attack, raise your sights above the D3000 series to the D7000 series or the Sony equivalent and save some money on lenses..

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May 25, 2019 20:45:03   #
Scruples Loc: Brooklyn, New York
 
I'm a strong believer that I am not a better photographer than anyone else. I also don't have better equipment than anyone else as well.

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May 26, 2019 06:22:21   #
miked46 Loc: Winter Springs, Florida
 
that is a good setup, but the results of your photo's are in your hands. Good luck, and happy shooting

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May 26, 2019 07:17:40   #
cmcaroffino Loc: Sebring, FL
 
Another reason not to get the kit is that the 70-300 lens doesn't have VR which is a necessity to get sharp pictures with a telephoto lens.

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May 26, 2019 07:54:48   #
imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida
 
Neverlost99 wrote:
I won a Sony Alpha 5000 with the kit lens a few years ago and it was a big upgrade to the 1 MP memory stick that was in my Sony Cam Corder. It has served me well but I would like to have a bit sharper pictures and the ability to have more zoom.
I am 67 and retired and travel lots: Just this year Japan ( took my Iphone... duh) Lisbon, Toronto and Stockholm.
I just saw this advertised at under $500 USD

Nikon says the D3500 two-lens kit is at its lowest price point ever, selling for more than half off with a $450 discount. Along with the camera body, the kit includes the AF-P DX Nikkor 18-50mm f/3.5-5.6G VR and AF-P DX Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3G ED lenses, offering a good amount of zoom and versatility for the price point.

These are not the fastest lenses and assume basically the kit lens.

Would this be worth doing? Thanks in advance.
I won a Sony Alpha 5000 with the kit lens a few ye... (show quote)


If you are traveling, a DSLR is not a good solution IMO. A smaller mirrorless with a 1 inch sensor would make the most logical sense to me. The Sony RX10 IV is the BEST of the genre but pricey.
.

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May 26, 2019 08:11:10   #
ELNikkor
 
The major caveat to that system to me would be the lack of VR on the 70-300 AF-P lens. Out at 300 f6.3, you need all the stabilization you can get. (Also, I insist on an articulating screen, as on the D5600.) I do like the lightweight of the lens, however, and the VR version is only $50 more. I doubt they will, but you could ask if they will give you that deal + $50 for the VR on the 70-300 AF-P.

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May 26, 2019 08:27:13   #
Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)
 
Neverlost99 wrote:
I won a Sony Alpha 5000 with the kit lens a few years ago and it was a big upgrade to the 1 MP memory stick that was in my Sony Cam Corder. It has served me well but I would like to have a bit sharper pictures and the ability to have more zoom.
I am 67 and retired and travel lots: Just this year Japan ( took my Iphone... duh) Lisbon, Toronto and Stockholm.
I just saw this advertised at under $500 USD

Nikon says the D3500 two-lens kit is at its lowest price point ever, selling for more than half off with a $450 discount. Along with the camera body, the kit includes the AF-P DX Nikkor 18-50mm f/3.5-5.6G VR and AF-P DX Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3G ED lenses, offering a good amount of zoom and versatility for the price point.

These are not the fastest lenses and assume basically the kit lens.

Would this be worth doing? Thanks in advance.
I won a Sony Alpha 5000 with the kit lens a few ye... (show quote)


Your expectations are well within reason. I am not sure if your $500 budget is firm. The A5000 is a fine camera, and you have a decent selection of Sony and third party lenses in E or FE mount, and you can adapt many lenses, but you will often lose camera control of focus and aperture.

You probably won't be using your A5000 forever. But the nice thing is that if you invest in good E or FE lenses, you can always use them with current bodies - these lenses have the same mount. If you see a full frame camera in your future, you can get only FE lenses. The only thing that I would have a little trouble with is the lack of a viewfinder, but Newer, Hoodman etc make reasonably priced attachments that magnify the rear screen image and shield it from extraneous light to make focusing easier.

This may help:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6S1XvWSwIRk

If you want longer zoom - you can always get the Sigma 60-600. Autofocus will always be better with Sony or Zeiss lenses.

Ultimately, only you can decide what is worth doing, but I think the D3500 is not a tremendous upgrade from what you are using now. Lenses have to be evaluated on their individual merits.

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May 26, 2019 08:47:23   #
LXK0930 Loc: Souh Jersey
 
I have never owned Nikon equipment. However, from what I have read, the 3000 and 5000 series do NOT have the auto-focus motors built into the bodies. Therefore, many lenses can only be used in manual-focus mode. This may become important in the future, if you want to add glass.

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