I enjoyed your comments. I started out years ago with a Minolta SRT101; then, eventually got a Canon EOS Elan II (both of these were film cameras). When Nikon came out with their first DSLR, I bought one and replaced my Canon, because Canon hadn't come out with a digital yet. Today, I have two - a Nikon D7200 and an Olympus OM-D EM5 Mark II (that's my grab-and-go camera because it weighs half as much and generally the pictures are as good). But, there are differences, and there are times I'm happier with the pictures I can take with my Nikon simply because it is an SLR and I'm not relying on the delays caused by my Olympus' electronic shutter. I think Nikon will survive in the camera business, and I think that Canon will too. Both of these companies' SLR's are aimed at a different market than cell phones. My Apple. 6 takes a decent snapshot, sometimes, and with Photoshop I can make it look even better. But I've taken some great pictures with my cameras I don't think I could duplicate with a cell phone. None of the major companies (at least Canon, Nikon, Sony, Olympus, Pentax, etc.) aims for beginner amateurs as their main market, except for some point-and-shoot models, and there will always be a market for some form of interchangeable lens cameras, whether DSLR's or Mirrorless. Just my 2 cents' worth.

Nikon has its own shutter count software: www.nikonshuttercounter.com. It will let you upload a jpeg and will tell you the number of actuation a on the camera.

I've purchased the Mack warranty before. They're not as big as Square Trade, but they are a big player in the business. I can't talk to customer service if you need it though.

I've bought a bunch of stuff from Cameta over the years, and never had a problem. In fact, when I'm in the area on business, I've actually gone into their store in Amityville as well las purchasing a bunch of cameras and equipment via the Internet, including three Nikons (D90, D7000, D7100) and two Olympus (EM 5 and EM 5 Mark II), several flashes and other stuff. They're good folks and will make it right if you call them or shoot them an email.

I do agree with some of the other posters here that I wouldn't buy the ancillary stuff that you can probably get closer to home just as easily, but it is worth a call to them to ask them to make it right.

I've used a Nikon D7100 for years, with a 50-200 "kit" telephoto lens. I travel for a living and found I was not bringing my camera along because of the weight, so I bought an Olympus OM-D-EM5 Mark II and a 14-150 MM lens. About half the weight. I thought I'd continue to use the Nikon, which I love, but I am finding that I am using the Olympus about 95% of the time because it is so easy to carry around. I'm not crazy about the electronic viewfinder, but the picture quality is comparable. I'd recommend trying out both a DSLR and Mirrorless camera and see what you think.

all of the above suggestions seem good, but you might also want to consider a "mirrorless" camera with one lens - the Olympus OMD-EM 10 with their 14-140mm m.zuiko lens would be about 1/2 the size of a DSLR and be pretty much fully automated for your daughter; you can easily find this combination within your price range, and it would be a good first "good" camera as well. I have the OMD-EM5 myself along with a Nikon D7100, and I find I rarely use the Nikon anymore.

I agree. I have both. A Nikon D-7100 which was my main camera, with the kit 18-200 mm zoom, and an Olympus OM-D M5 Mark II (which I just got to replace the original M5. I travel for a living and the Olympus weighs half as much, even with both the 14-40 "pancake" lens and the 40-150mm zoom, which together are the equivalent. U less you need the slightly smaller crop factor of the DSLR or the slightly bigger sensor, I usually can't tell the difference and find I'm using the Olympus MUCH more than the Nikon. But if the weight and size aren't a problem, I would suggest the DSLR in general, and either Nikon or Canon.a. Just my two cents worth.

As you can see from all the responses, there are numerous opinions. I have a Nikon D7100, which is a full size DSLR. I wanted something that I could use as a "grab and go," but wanted something uses a similar sensor to the Nikon and equivalent Canon, but then got an Olympus OM-D EM5. Half the weight, and takes pictures just as great. I have now upgraded to the new EM5-Mark II; looking at it in the camera store (Cameta in Amityville, NY), the salesperson and I felt there wasn't $300 difference between the new EM5 and the EM1. I would suggest this as a viable possibility. It isn't particularly cheap ($1,100 street price for the body; about $1,400 for the body and a kit lens), but it is a great camera; also weatherproof and well built.

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As you can see from all the responses, there are numerous opinions. I have a Nikon D7100, which is a full size DSLR. I wanted something that I could use as a "grab and go," but wanted something uses a similar sensor to the Nikon and equivalent Canon, but then got an Olympus OM-D EM5. Half the weight, and takes pictures just as great. I have now upgraded to the new EM5-Mark II; looking at it in the camera store (Cameta in Amityville, NY), the salesperson and I felt there wasn't $300 difference between the new EM5 and the EM1. I would suggest this as a viable possibility. It isn't particularly cheap ($1,100 street price for the body; about $1,400 for the body and a kit lens), but it is a great camera; also weatherproof and well built.

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