jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Have you checked prices on a refurbished camera? That's always my first step. Cameta, Robert's, Adorama, etc., offer about the same price, but there might be a difference is the warranty they offer.

DickW Loc: Roxboro, NC

Take a look at the Nikon D5100. I narrowed my alternatives to the 3200 and the 5100 (prices and ratings about equal). Liked both. Ended up with 5100 and initial reactions are very positive. This is my first DSLR.

Wabbit Loc: Arizona Desert

Well Doc ..... looks like Nikon has competition now with the release of the XYZ camera system ..... but how well will it fair .....

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

You can't discount personal experience. I have been using Nikon SLRs since the 1970s because I heard how good they were. I didn't like the first one, a Nikon F Photomic, but I kept using it till the 90's, when I sold it to someone in Dublin, Ireland. Then I started buying Nikon DSLRs - the D90, D3100, etc.

I took thousands and thousands of photos with them, and people were really impressed, but what do they know? Using a magnifying glass, and then a microscope, I could see faults in every image. I just kept buying more Nikons, hoping to find a really good one. I'm not giving up, though. I figure I'll keep buying Nikon cameras till I get one that takes perfect pictures every time. Then I'll investigate the Canon line. :D

Bugfan Loc: Toronto, Canada

From my engineering days there were two things I was always interested in knowing and which were rarely ever available - the MTNF and the MTTR for the product I was looking at.

The MTBF is the mean time between failures. It's a measure of how long you can expect the product to operate flawlessly before you have problems. Since a camera would likely not be a time issue, it's probably the mean shutter activations between failures instead. This number gives you a sense of longevity and overall quality as well as reliability.

The MTTR is the mean time to repair. Basically how long do you have to wait on average to get it fixed when it does fail?

Alas these are well guarded secrets in industry so they're not easy to find. Take the time to also touch what you're considering, if it doesn't feel good in the hand you won't use it much. And look at the functionality, does it have the features you need to address your longer term aspirations recognizing that as you become ever more sophisticated you will also upgrade eventually?

Those are the kinds of things I look for.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

This might be of interest, and with your experience, you'll know how to interpret the chart.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Of course, the shutter is only one part of a camera, and if it fails, it can be repaired or replaced.

http://petapixel.com/2012/12/22/look-up-your-cameras-lifespan-with-the-shutter-life-expectancy-database/

dar_clicks Loc: Utah

Jerry, what a great post! ... got laugh and a grin here -- perspective with a twist -- so it's been my Nikons' fault all along ... hmmmm

davidrb Loc: Half way there on the 45th Parallel

Here we go: Heads is 3200, tails is ...

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

5200 is a bigger number, therefore it must be better.

lukan Loc: Chicago, IL

Spend a little more money now and short-circuit your upgrade path by a few years/model numbers and spring for the D7100. And, per Jerry's post, you might be OK for the next 148,734 (on the average) shutter cycles. By then, film might be back in vogue.

joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

The articulating monitor is nice on a tripod, like shooting the moon. Hand held is another story.

amehta Loc: Boston

I'd want to hear some details on this. Is the significant difference the camera or the lens... Or the user? :-)

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

Technology makes cameras obsolete in a matter of one or two years. Do that means we should buy a new camera every two years or so? My answer is NO.
It has been said here already, we should buy a camera that makes us feel comfortable when we use it and the camera does the basic things we need it for. There are hundreds of photographers using the D800 and they are very happy and I also see many owners of the D2X that are also very happy in spite of the old technology packed in the D2X.
I use old cameras. My "new" camera is the D7000, a camera that except for fast shooting of action and wildlife satisfies my needs and it has a superb low light capability that I do not use that often since most of my photography is of landscapes.
Since you have already decided between one of those two cameras I would go to a dealer and handle both cameras, as has been suggested just to have a feel of which one fits your needs better. Do not pay more for features that you will not use.
If you feel comfortable with your photographic expertise I would also join the group that has recommended a refurbished camera, if you want to save some money and the D7100 is a great selection from what I know.
Good luck with your choice.

angelab371 Loc: Alabama

I can't thank each of you enough for taking the time to respond to my inquiry. I have one more question that I would really appreciate your input on... I have 3 boys, 13, 9 and 7. They play sports and are just never still in general. Will the fact that neither camera has image stabilization make me regret not getting an advanced point and shoot? Trees and landscapes stand still enough, but the boys are a different story.