Dblunt76 Loc: Richmond, VA

First of all Congratulations on your retirement and Secondly, the good news is your budget will easily allow you to purchase a camera that will give you lots of enjoyment. I personally use a Nikon D3100 which has a sister model D5100 with a few more megapixels and flip out LCD and a few more $$. Both cameras usually come with a kit 18-55 lens and a 55-200 or 300 can usually be obtained for under $300. Be sure that the lens has some sort of Image Stabilization such as Nikon's VR or I believe VR2. I have seen packages with first generation long lenses that appear to be great deals from a $$ standpoint but the lens may not be IS or VR. With my less than steady hands I appreciate the VR feature. Best of luck.

Mark Bski Loc: A sleepy little island not far from Seattle

Just like going out and buying more expensive guitars never made me a better musician, buying expensive cameras will not make us a better photographer. Start with your love of looking through the lens of what you have and take it from there...

And this is a great site to get advice and have people kindly critique your work.

Indi Loc: L. I., NY, Palm Beach Cty when it's cold.

There ya go. I think I actually bought it when there was a $200 off promotion. Good price. Good camera.

pbmelvin

There are a number of DSLR cameras on the market, all with various features, but the two mainstream brands are Canon and Nikon. Most of the popular accessories are manufactured for these two brands. Most of the pros use Canon in my area. News Photographers, Portrait Photographers and those that shoot for advertising here, all use Canon. That tells me something. On top of that most all of the tutorials on YouTube are posted for these brands. Good Hunting

Dale Fiorillo Loc: Seattle

Yeah, retirement. Tried to and was repossessed. Now I can afford anything I want but haven't enough time to use it. But I have used the flip-up lcd enough to know I wouldn't be without it. For animals, kids, and creative stuff it is great.

tramsey Loc: Texas

Well if you're not completely confused by now let me add my two cents. First congrats on retiring. I am myself and the first while is scary or at least it was for me. I asked basically the same question you did only I was upgrading a little. I intended to spend a grand or so. I got a massive amount of recommendations and settled on two. I went to a camera shop and he did me a favor. He sold me a Nikon 5100 with a Nikkor 28-300 F/3.5 lens. It was about twice what I wanted to spend. Just the lens was what I wanted to spend on the whole thing. Anyway he threw in lessons on how to use it and a bag. then he said that after a month of following his lessons and doing what he said if I thought it was still too much; he would take it all back and refund the entire purchase price. It has been one of the best investments I've made in myself in quite some time. I can take macro or telephoto and they are crystal clear. I am working on composition etc now and having a great time. It's been a long time since I've enjoyed doing something like this. The wife is into it to, I suppose in time that will mean another outfit.
Got the whole setup for twenty three hundred. I won't take that for it now.
Good luck == keep shooting,
Ted

Overly Hackled Loc: Still in Siagon

This sentence is some of the best advice you will get. sinatraman gifted me with the same advice when I first was looking around for what camera to hook up with.

Welcome to the family.

I have no data to prove it but I think this site leads the net for retirees ( myself included) as members looking to start or get back into photography.

We also have a great group of folks that have a lot of years behind the lens to help us out.

Indi Loc: L. I., NY, Palm Beach Cty when it's cold.

Of course! Who else but retirees would have the time during the day to read & reply to the forums?
:D