Why buy a starter camera? (Page 3): I don't know any beginners who would start out with a 3000.00 camera. most will start with the lower priced cameras and move up as the gain more...

3dees

I don't know any beginners who would start out with a 3000.00 camera. most will start with the lower priced cameras and move up as the gain more experience. if photography as a hobby is not in their future, they still have a way to shoot family, friends, etc. more logical then spending lots of bucks and then deciding it's not for you.

radiojohn

Good comment. This discussion reminds me the old joke about the current photographer saying, "Imagine what great shots Ansel Adams could have taken if he had one of today's cameras!"

When I taught digital camera basics, there were always those who bought an advanced DSLR and spent NO time to learn ISO/shutter/f-stop relationships. One person bought a DSLR on Monday, came in for 60 minutes of tutoring on Tuesday and planned to shoot a wedding on Saturday. [When I coomented this wasn't a great idea, the person said, "It doesn't matter...the marriage isn't going to last anyway."]

I'd sooner see these folks buy a decent used Powershot and use all the modes, aperture & shutter priority, exposure compensation, etc, program shift and manual until they had a better idea of what they wanted to shoot and what they needed beyond the current camera to do it.

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

radiojohn wrote:

Good comment. This discussion reminds me the old j... (show quote)

"It doesn't matter, the marriage isn't going to last anyway." That's a good one.

Bobspez Loc: Southern NJ, USA

Lots of reasons. Price point is one. A beginner will get 90% of what they need at a certain price point. Getting 100% may cost 3 to 4 times more. The beginner doesn't even know if they will utilize the 90%. Obsolescence is another. The kit you spend $1500 for today may be worth $400 in 8 years. Or put another way, you can buy a used kit for $400 today that would have cost $1500 8 years ago. Finally, for a beginner, price probably won't equate to results. You need to know the basics and practice them. You can do that as easily on a low cost consumer model as you can on a high cost pro model. Finally, the time to upgrade your equipment is when your present equipment is holding you back. That is not likely to happen for a couple of years for a beginner.

Tinkerron

Would a Nikon D3400 DSLR Camera 24.2MP with 18-55mm and 70-300mm Lenses D3400BUND, be considered a good starter camera? I found one at a great price, or would you prefer another model? I can spend up to about $1200, but the D3400 is under $500. with lenses.

Bobspez Loc: Southern NJ, USA

Yes. Absolutely.

Tinkerron wrote:

Would a Nikon D3400 DSLR Camera 24.2MP with 18-55mm and 70-300mm Lenses D3400BUND, be considered a good starter camera? I found one at a great price, or would you prefer another model? I can spend up to about $1200, but the D3400 is under $500. with lenses.

BebuLamar

Tinkerron wrote:

Would a Nikon D3400 DSLR Camera 24.2MP with 18-55mm and 70-300mm Lenses D3400BUND, be considered a good starter camera? I found one at a great price, or would you prefer another model? I can spend up to about $1200, but the D3400 is under $500. with lenses.

Any would be a good starter because any can be. To me there is no such thing as starter or beginner camera. My first camera was the Nikon F2AS and my first digital camera was the Df.

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

Tinkerron wrote:

Would a Nikon D3400 DSLR Camera 24.2MP with 18-55mm and 70-300mm Lenses D3400BUND, be considered a good starter camera? I found one at a great price, or would you prefer another model? I can spend up to about $1200, but the D3400 is under $500. with lenses.

Wait until Black Friday. If you have up to $1200 to spend, I would get the D5500. I think there will be a two lens bundle kit for it. Be on the lookout.

Tinkerron

Thank you, Bob

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Bobspez wrote:

Yes. Absolutely.

Notorious T.O.D. Loc: Harrisburg, North Carolina

Yes, that sounds like a good deal...

Best,
Todd Ferguson

Tinkerron wrote:

Would a Nikon D3400 DSLR Camera 24.2MP with 18-55mm and 70-300mm Lenses D3400BUND, be considered a good starter camera? I found one at a great price, or would you prefer another model? I can spend up to about $1200, but the D3400 is under $500. with lenses.

Reinaldokool Loc: San Rafael, CA

OddJobber wrote:

Before I became addicted, I wanted to step up from point and shoot. I was blessed with $800 from the Oregon lottery and that was my spending limit. That bought a D3100 2-lens kit, an SB-400 flash and a few filters. Money well spent.

I watched my daughter take a great image of a deer down in Monterrey, CA with her iPhone. When I really looked at it, I could tell that she had a good, if untrained, eye for composition and moment. The image would have been worthwhile, but the iPhone didn't do it justice. A year later, she asked for a camera for her birthday. I bought her a Nikon D3300 at Ken Rockwell's recommendation. Her photos now are truly worthy. The D3300 and D3400 have everything that will make a great camera. Not as convenient as a prosumer camera, but the functions are there. It also provides so many "helps" built right into the camera. She doesn't know DOF, ISO, etc., but she does know a good photograph when it is there.

kdogg Loc: Gallipolis Ferry WV

I have been a film guy since the mid 60's and started with a Brownie. After getting a paper route I quickly moved up to Pentax. Have had various 35mm and medium and 4x5 cameras since then.
Never thought about going digital till through a series of health problems I lost almost everything I had, most importantly my darkroom.
So I decided to go digital about a year ago. I purchased a CanonT5 with kit lenses to test the waters. Since then I have added a used 7D because my main focus is wildlife and BIF. The T5 got me started but I was quick to figure out it wasn't doing the job I needed it to do. It is now a backup and I have GAS for a 7DII. When I finally get one the T5 kit will go to my sister. I gave her a Minolta X700 with motor drive full set of lenses etc. to start out on her photographic journey. She is just now learning to shoot (albeit only film) something other than her 10 yr old android phone. So by the time she get my T5 she will have a good knowledge base to draw from as she goes digital.

Kuzano

Actually there is a another price consideration. Never buy new, starter or otherwise. If you extend the wait for the D850 by two years from now (no time at all), there will be plenty of low shutter count D850's in the market, in excellent condition for $1000.

This is easily confirmed by checking sold prices on eBay for the model that was new, hot and long lines were forming for 2 to 2.5 years ago.

Over and over, this story persists in large numbers.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

kdogg wrote:

I have been a film guy since the mid 60's and sta... (show quote)

My first SLR was the FTb. One step up from the TLb. It lacked in nothing shattering from the F-1 except 1/2000 speed and a motor drive attachment.