Retired (Page 4): I entered the Camera world with much the same ideas as you about 2 years ago. Went on line (Craig's List) and found a Canon Rebel with little mileage, many...

budclem Loc: orcutt, ca

I entered the Camera world with much the same ideas as you about 2 years ago. Went on line (Craig's List) and found a Canon Rebel with little mileage, many accessories . It has the normal "rebel" kit but much more. Takes great pics and has many advanced features. Cameras are like exercise machines, many buyers, few users Good bargains to be had.
just look, look and look.

Reinaldokool Loc: San Rafael, CA

cardsfan wrote:

I am a recently retired teacher looking forward to... (show quote)

Fortunately that budget puts you in the range of great entry-level cameras with a wide lens choice. Both Canon and Nikon and Pentax have great cameras. For <$650 you can get a Nikon D3300 with two lenses from B&H Photo. My "Guru", Ken Rockwell reviews both Canon and Nikon cameras and says that this is the best camera available for general use by everyone beyond the poiint and shoot. It is light weight.

If one of your desires is to take photos of your grandkids, consider that occasionally you may wish to take videos of active children. The D3300 makes great videos and has a dedicated button which starts that without any fuss.

The Canon Rebel T5 is even cheaper--and also a decent beginning option--though I hate to send you to the "dark side". :twisted:

Bill Emmett Loc: Bow, New Hampshire

Hello, and happy retirement. First off, you need to be comfortable with your new camera. Go to a big box store, like Best Buy, and handle all the cameras, choose the one that fits your hands, and weight expectations. Try and go to a local camera store, which may or may not be close to home, and handle more cameras. Be sure to have the salesman mount a lens on the camera, and check for weight, and hand fit. Once you decide on the camera brand, and you'll need a lens. I suggest you buy a fixed lens, such as a 50mm prime lens. Take the camera and lens home, sit down with the camera in your lap, and go through the manual, and try every setting, and change outlined in the manual. As for learning the craft, buy some books that will help you understand how to take really good photos. I suggest Bryan Petersons "Understanding Photography, Field Guide" This book will give important basic information to start your new hobby.

B

Reinaldokool Loc: San Rafael, CA

cardsfan wrote:

I am a recently retired teacher looking forward to... (show quote)

To add to my previous post:
Buy Darrell Young's book: Mastering the Nikon D3300 if you decide on this camera.
Buy David Busch's book if you choose Canon.
Those books will help you unlock the features you will miss from the official manuals. Canon and Nikon have pretty good manuals, but there is just too much information in too small a space. Young and Busch do a good job of unpacking the settings most of us miss.

I am not a fan of the long zoom cameras. They use tiny sensors that seriously degrade if you crop a photo much or if you try to enlarge beyod 8x10 or so.
I had a wonderful Canon g15 as my "keep it in the car in case" camera and loved it. I used it to shoot some great photos. I even won a contest with a photo of the SF Bay Bridge's dancing lights at night. It was an on-line contest. But when I tried to print it to hang on the wall, 8x10 was the largest before it just fell apart.

I just got a good deal from another Hog on a Fuji x-e1 with an aps-c sensor. Haven't even received it yet, but I am looking forward to it.

EDH1943 Loc: Wilmington, NC

As a retired former Nikon D90 then D7000 user, I decided to sell both cameras and all lenses to simplify my retired life by buying a nice little Lumix ZS20 travel zoom point-n-shoot. Bottom line, as nice a camera as the Lumix is, a small sensor p&s just doesn't have the photo quality of a DSLR. Sooo, I jumped back into the DSLR world and bought a Nikon D5500 with the new collapsible 18-55 VR2 and 55-200 VR2 lenses and could not be happier. The camera is made from carbon fiber so it is unbelievably light and small but still feels like a Nikon, has wifi, touch screen, and a fully articulating LCD screen. The entire package was under $1000. (from B&H) for a camera that is easy to haul around, fun to use, and takes picture on par with, if not better than, the D7000.

Meganephron Loc: Fort Worth, TX

Several people have suggested the Nikon P900. Good luck finding one. I have been looking for two months and everyone is back ordered and has no idea when to expect more. You can get one on eBay at a premium price

Photocraig

bull drink water wrote:

I wish we had knowledgable members near each newbe. there are many ways to assist you,from used to entry level cameras. there are good cameras and moderately priced lenses for way less than $700.00. good luck.
a quick look at keh found a canon 50d aps-c for $300. 00 and a 17-85mm ef-s for $192.00 ,appears to be worth giving a look see.

I got my 50D 18 months ago from KEH. Its a great camera with 15MP's and I use my old EOS film lenses on it. It was rated EX and it looked brand new--certainly as nice or nicer than my film cameras that I've used extensively. It cost a little less than $400 with shipping and cards and a manual. You can upgrade as you go. Transition to Digital takes a little time. I just bought a Sigma 17-70 to replace a 30 year old Kit lens and my 20 year old 20-35. Sticking with the EOS system made it easier for me.

Sage36 Loc: Northern Wyoming

I shoot Pentax, and have been very happy as I progressed from the first one to the K3 and K30 I use now. First of all every Pentax digital except the first are image stabilized, so you do not have to buy IS lenses. In fact if money is an issue you can buy used Pentax lenses since every lens Pentax made with fit every SLR camera.

cambriaman Loc: Central CA Coast

I suggest you consider some of the mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras, I have an excellent Sony. But Nikon, Canon and others offer them as well. Don't overlook manufacturer refurbished cameras. I have an excellent CanonSX-50 I bought from Canon.

Sage36 Loc: Northern Wyoming

cambriaman wrote:

I suggest you consider some of the mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras, I have an excellent Sony. But Nikon, Canon and others offer them as well. Don't overlook manufacturer refurbished cameras. I have an excellent CanonSX-50 I bought from Canon.

The big problem with mirrorless cameras is having to hold them away from your face so you can see the screen instead of holding it against your face to look thru the viewfinder.

thephotoman Loc: Rochester, NY

cardsfan wrote:

I am a recently retired teacher looking forward to... (show quote)

Happy retirement Chuck. One thing to keep in mind is the weight of the camera. As we age we often wish or are unable to hold a heavier camera and lens combo. I am thinking of down sizing to a light mirrorless camera for that reason. Like most have said cameras today are all pretty good. I know one higher said to learn first but without a camera to practice with learning can be difficult. We joggers are always ready to answer your questions.

thephotoman Loc: Rochester, NY

cardsfan wrote:

I am a recently retired teacher looking forward to... (show quote)

Happy retirement Chuck. One thing to keep in mind is the weight of the camera. As we age we often wish or are unable to hold a heavier camera and lens combo. I am thinking of down sizing to a light mirrorless camera for that reason. Like most have said cameras today are all pretty good. I know one higher said to learn first but without a camera to practice with learning can be difficult. We hoggers are always ready to answer your questions.

INshooter Loc: Indiana

Sage36 wrote:

The big problem with mirrorless cameras is having to hold them away from your face so you can see the screen instead of holding it against your face to look thru the viewfinder.

Not true with all. The Sony A6000 I mentioned allows viewing a tiltable screen but also has the standard view finder (as I am sure some other brands also do).

Moles Loc: South Carolina

I started with a Nikon 5000, and it was a great choice. I have better cameras and lenses now, but I still miss the articulated screen the 5000 series has. I would take a look at the D5300 if I were you.

cardsfan wrote:

I am a recently retired teacher looking forward to... (show quote)

sirlensalot Loc: Arizona

JPL describes the Sony a6000 in detail. Has everything he recommends and easily within your budget.