usaellie101 Loc: Spring Hill, Florida

OK you know I lost my camera ...stolen maybe ..
But I am now ready to go buy one. I am a true Nikonian
I was looking to spend about $400.. ( bad economy otheriwse I'd be spending more ).
What can you guys recommend ... I do a lot of portraits and close up as well as landscapes.

DSLR or SLR?
I need this to be with the lense.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

The D3100 with the 18-55mm kit lens is going for $479 brand new, or $449 refurbed from Nikon. But for under $400 you need to look at used, maybe check out Ebay. The older D3000 is also available from Nikon in a refurb with lens for only $399.96.

Bret Loc: Dayton Ohio

B&H has a few re-furb D5100's you mite want to look into also.

usaellie101 Loc: Spring Hill, Florida

Thank you I wil look at the info on line and get a comp
I am just hooked on NIKON. Am I being silly ? what do you think?

usaellie101 Loc: Spring Hill, Florida

OK but let me ask you guys how can I trust a seller selling reburbs,... isn't it like second hand? I wonder. Maybe I'm just scared.

oldmalky Loc: West Midlands,England.

This is the best chance you will have of buying a camera instead of just a name so why not have a proper look at what is on offer from ALL makers,you have a fixed amount so check all cameras that come into your price range.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

If looking at a refurb, only buy a "Factory Refurb" as that is completely gone through my the manufacturer and will carry a factory warranty. "Refurbished" from a private source means absolutely nothing and may well be junk.

usaellie101 Loc: Spring Hill, Florida

Looking into the NIkon D5100
Found a few very scary negative reviews like the camera going black. I like the camera but I'm scared it will happen to me too.

Who do I trust?

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

Getting a D5100 with a lens at your price point won't happen unless its well used, even refurbs are at $570.

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

From this question, I am going to assume that your lost camera was a Point & Shoot, and that you have not previously owned a Digital SLR, or you would never be considering a (film) SLR. Possibly you meant P&S rather than SLR.

With your proposed budget, I concur that a Refurb 3100 or Refurb 5100 would suite your needs. (Factory Refurbished means previously sold, but not used or very little used, store demo, etc. Must include original packaging. Usually has a limited warranty, not offered with used equipment).

MtnMan Loc: ID

[quote=Nikonian72]

I was hoping to get a D7100 but based on the ongoing refusal of Nikon to address the dust problem on the D600 and other issues with new cameras I decided I wouldn't buy one for about six months or more till after it is issued anyway. Since I need it for an extended AK trip in the spring and my wife is pressuring me for the promised hand-down of my D5100 I decided the time to act has come.

So I ordered a refurbished D7000 kit from Cameta.com. The kit includes all the stuff with the camera body (I'm in good shape on lenses), a 32GB card, bag, and even a tripod and other miscellany for $829...free shipping and no sales tax.

My theory is that refurb is better than new because any manufacturing defects have been overcome and it has been given individual treatment in the refurb not afforded to new ones. It also is free of any new-model design or manufacturing defects such as the D600 has and I understand the initial D800 and D7000s had.

It comes with the standard Nikon 90-day refurbished warranty plus a Cameta one year warranty...which is the reason I am posting this here to suggest checking what they might have on refurbished D3100 or D5100 kits with lenses. Adorama and B&H don't offer the included one-year although you can buy one.

Check out this, which is in your price range (this one is $530) and includes two great lenses:

NIKON

Nikon D3100 Digital SLR Camera & 18-55mm G VR DX AF-S Zoom Lens - Factory Refurbished with Nikon 55-200mm VR Zoom Lens + Tele/Wide Lenses + 32GB Card + Case + 2 Filters + Kit

They have other kits with a single 18-55mm lens under $400. That is the best lens to start with.

usaellie101 Loc: Spring Hill, Florida

Ok I ordered a factory refurb Nikon D5100 with lense and 2 year extended warranty from Anorama... I'm nervous.. wish me luck
Free shipping will be here in 3 - 5 days.
$470

Bret Loc: Dayton Ohio

Bravo!!!....super shopper job well done...LOL

MtnMan Loc: ID

Good choice. You'll learn to love it.

Try to not be intimidated by it at first. I was. It has MANY setting options.

But you don't need to use them all at once. Start with Auto and take some fun pictures.

Then learn how the "P" mode works and use it, still with the other settings on default. You can then move on to A and S mode for special circumstances.

You might also then want to move on to some of the other choices such as spot focusing or vivid picture controls. I also use both of them as my standard.

For what it is worth, and not something to worry at first because the default of Auto ISO is pretty good, I have settled on setting the function button on ISO most of the time. I forget what the default is for it.

Check out Ken Rockwell's free D5100 guide.

tlbuljac Loc: Oklahoma

Congrats on purchasing a great camera...sounds like you did well...I know you will be satisfied...now what are you waiting for, post some pictures