Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga

Some people love the articulating screen, but bear in mind that if you are holding the camera in awkward positions,(for street shooting for instance), it will be hard to keep the camera steady. When shooting with your eye at the viewfinder, it helps steady your shot. That said, follow others advice if you can and try & hold each camera in your hands as ergonomics is important in making your selection.... As for your brother saying to get a Canon, well, most of those people on here are going to tell you to get whatever camera it is that they have (I guess it makes them feel vindicated in their selection). Bottom line, the choice is yours, what someone else may think is a great camera or feature, doesn't mean you will regard the same way... ... I started out with a Minolta SRT 101 way back in 1970...

RKL349 Loc: Connecticut

Hafmyne, here is a thought that may serve you well. As others have said, hold each camera in your hands and see which one feels better. It will be a big change from your Minolta. Also, don't fret over the megapixels difference. Then, after you have made the choice, I would recommend going to a community college or night school where they have introduction to digital photography courses. There you can learn how to maximize the use of the camera and all of it's functions. Both camera's are great choices. CNET usually has some great reviews as does Ken Rockwell. Good luck with your decision and let us know what you decided to purchase.

CHOLLY Loc: THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE!

IF his brother has a Canon then HE should buy a Sony so his brother will constantly ask him to borrow it and he can turn him down! :lol:

Because that's what happens you know; Canikon users who get their hands on a Sony USUALLY want to keep it. ;)

Festus Loc: North Dakota

I would stick with the camera that you know how to spell :~)

BillMunder Loc: New Hyde Park. NY

Hello. So when I'm using the articulating screen I'm usually using a tripod or I'm putting the camera on the ground. The articulating screen comes in very handy when your trying for a different perspective, or trying to take a long exposure. I still use the view finder for many different kinds of photography.

Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga

I use an old "right angle finder" from my film days should the need arise...That said, I'm not saying it can't be useful, just not as big of a deal as some seem to want to make it...

RKL349 Loc: Connecticut

Great idea! :thumbup: :thumbup:

caljr Loc: Indiana

I started with a Canon F1 in 1971 but changed to nikon because there new cameras could use the old lenses and I can buy them on ebay for cheap. Both are good cameras but for travel I like something small so I'm using a Fujifilm X-E1 and this little gem takes great pics and is easy to carry around. Fuji also makes some great glass as well and is still made in Japan not China or Thailand.

billnourse Loc: Bloomfield, NM

I have not used a T3i or a D3200, but have used a t5i and a D5000 and D5200 a lot. And these are just upgrades to the to t3i and D3200, so comparisons should be about the same.

I prefer the T5i to the D5000 or D5200 because the feel and operation seem more intuitive to me. My sister and daughter both prefer the Nikon.

Having looked at many, many images made with each of these choices, I cannot distinguish any difference in quality and we are in a college class where images are pretty harshly judged.

Also, the STM lenses that come with the Canon seem to focus faster and quieter.

Bill

Dbez1 Loc: Ford City, PA

Let me summarize for you since this question has been asked many times (which is OK). You will get the folllowing considerations (most of which are valid):

1. Go to a camera store and try them both to see how they feel.
2. Have you considered a bridge or mirrorless camera?
3. I have x?? so get that one. (Disregard this advice)
4. What is your budget? Have you considered refurbished? (Really good money-saving advice)
5. Do you really need an articulating screen for your purposes?
6. Your brother has Canon, he can help with questions and trade lenes. (A lot of wisdom here also)
7. Consider Sony & others also.
8.What are you going to do with it? Is this going to become a serious hobby or are you going to put it on automatic and use it as a point and shoot? Are you going to do sports, or close-ups of flowers, are you going to shoot video?
9. Do you REALLY need an articulating screen for your purposes?
10. Does one brand name SOUND more appealing to you?
11. Which will have the lenses you need? (Probably both)
12. In the end it doesn't really matter since they will ALL take good photographs, so just flip a coin and don't drive yourself nuts.
13. Choose wisely because once you start building a camera system, it is expensive to change over.
14. It isn't the camera, it's the person behind the camera tht make the difference.

Did I miss any? Best wishes and enjoy your photography with whichever camera you go with! One thing is sure...there are many on this forum that are using both those cameras with great success and enjoyment.

gdewey Loc: Robertsdale, Alabama

I have two Nikon DSLR cameras, keeping the D7000 for a backup when purchasing the D7100. They feel good, and I am really pleased with the low light capability of the D7100 in particular. I have a JVC that I use for video. I bought the DSLR's for still photography....Any of the cameras are only as good as the operator. Good luck

ddonlewis

You've gotten some great answers. Both Canon and Nikon will take excellent pictures. Others have mentioned going in and handling the cameras. I personally like the way that Nikon's feel in my hands. The MP count is a non issue. I've got a 16 x 20 enlargement from a 6MP Nikon D70 that could not be better if it was taken with a 50MP. Lenses are important and I would personally recommend a mid range zoom like a 18-55/70, and a 55/70-200 vs the superzooms like the 18-200/300. Some love them so you'll have to decide. All fixed focal lengths are great.

warwoman Loc: NE Georgia Mtns.

Wow, best of both worlds.... A brother that shoots Canon! Will he let you borrow his lenses? Would be great if both had different size lenses to swap out with each other. "Hey brother, go ahead and get that L lense and I'll help you test it.....after all, what are brothers for?"

Harm Solo Loc: Omaha, NE

I totally agree with John. I grew up on a Minolta Maxxum 7000 back in the film days (until it was stolen), then stuck with the family Canon & Nikon bridge and P&S cameras. When I got ready to upgrade to a DSLR, I wanted the most bang for my buck that I could afford. I actually was saving up for the T4i, but after having a co-worker suggest to check out other brands, I ended up buying a Pentax K-30 for much less money. Currently, you can still find the K-30 within your price range that you've listed for both the Canon & Nikon.

Comparing the D3200 to the T3i, Snapsort gave Nikon the edge with a rating of 78 to 62. (Same with the Sony). But compared to the Pentax K-30, Snapsort chose the Pentax hands down - 92 to 78.
http://snapsort.com/compare/Nikon-D3200-vs-Pentax-K-30

Besides all of that, I really took into the fact that the Pentax was a weather sealed body (available weather sealed kit lens incuded). None of the "major" brand cameras I was looking at offered that within the price range. It's not just for rain or what not, but for below freezing temps as well. I'm sure you don't have the freezing problem in Jacksonville, but pretty sure it rains there. I haven't looked back and have since added a K-3 to my bag because I was impressed enough with how the K-30 performed.

As far as lenses, lets face it, we're not pros and if you already have your budget saving for the cameras you listed, your not going to be going out to buy the high end lenses anyway.

All of the camera listed are excellent and take great photos when used properly. However, if your brother has lenses that you would like to borrow -- and he is willing to do that -- the Canon would probably be your better choice. But if you're wanting to expand on your own, keep shopping and find one that has all the features you prefer over the others within your price range.

Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga

Several people have brought up the theme of you & your brother sharing lenses. Since his camera is a Canon, not all Canon lenses can be used on all Canon DSLR's Here is an except from a Wiki article that sheds some light on lens compatibility among Canon mount lenses & bodies... Note, the older Canon FD manual focus lenses cannot be used on any Canon AF camera as they changed the mount. Now you may be able to find an adapter that will allow you to mount the older manual focus lenses, but with adapters, there are limitations.

"Canon EF and EF-S lens mounts
The electronic contacts (gold-plated) of an EF mount lens.

Canon introduced the EF lens mount in 1987 as part of the EOS system. It broke with the most common technique for implementing autofocus at that time by not having a mechanical connection to a motor in the camera body, having instead only electrical connections and requiring a motor to be part of each autofocus lens.

The EF-S lens mount is a newer subset of the EF standard, introduced in 2003. EF-S lenses can only be used on Canon digital cameras that use the APS-C sensor, for example the 400D (EOS Digital Rebel XTi) and the 40D. EF-S lenses can be distinguished by a white dot on the mount ring, as opposed to the red dot seen on standard EF lenses. Note that while an EF-S lens can not be mounted on a camera that uses the EF mount, EF lenses can be mounted on cameras designed for the EF-S standard: for this reason, EF-S cameras carry both a red dot and a white dot on the mount.

As noted above under focal length, Canon makes DSLRs with various sensor sizes, and all using the EF or EF-S lens mounts. This leads to the interesting phenomenon of the same EF lens providing different angles of view depending on which camera it is mounted on.

Third-party lenses compatible with Canon's EF and EF-S mounts are manufactured by Sigma, Tamron, Tokina and Zeiss. The manufacturers of these lenses have reverse engineered the electronics of the EF lens mount. The use of these lenses is not supported by Canon. However, many users find these lenses to be cheaper (with the exception of Zeiss), and sometimes superior alternatives to Canon lenses"