I hope this is a once-in-a-lifetime bad experience for you. All of my transactions with KEH have been good. I had a problem with a Canon 24-105 f4 lens. I sent it back to them. Even though it was two months out of warranty, they said they would fix it no charge. I would get it in about two weeks. I explained that I was shooting an event at the end of the week. They sent me a replacement lens, 2nd day air, no charge. I am still using that lens two years later without so much as a hiccup.

Both brands are excellent. Also, both brands have a lot of quality lenses available for virtually all shooting situations. I am a Canon shooter (7D Mk II and 7D) and autofocus speed has never been an issue with me, even back to when I was shooting with the original Canon Digital Rebel in 2002-2004, when I used to shoot rodeos where action was fast and unpredictable. On refurbished cameras: This is a great way to get more bang for your buck. I buy all of my lenses either refurbished (directly from the mfg.) or used (from B&H or KEH). I bought a lens from KEH (they only sell used) and after 8 months, the focus and zoom locked up solid. Neither would work. This was on a 24-105 f4 L IS zoom. I had purchased the lens from KEH. It was two months out of warranty. In the end, they replaced the lens and shipped it to me 2nd day air so I would have it for an event I was shooting that weekend. Moral of the story: buy from reputable, long established vendors. Their reputation is everything to them, so they will bend the rules a bit to take care of you and they are very knowledgeable and helpful in helping you decide what is good for you and how you will be using your camera/lens. For Refurbished equipment, go to the manufacturer's website. Make sure it is the American website versus the international website (i.e. Canon/usa or Nikon/usa). Go to deals and then in the drop-down menu you will see "refurbished" or "deals". It is a way to get more for your hard-earned money. I have never bought a camera body used, but I have bought refurbished ones. Refurbished equipment is gone through completely by factory-trained technicians to make sure the equipment is operating to "as new" specs. The cameras you are considering are both known as "crop sensor" cameras where the sensor is smaller than a full-sized sensor. All of that is based on the old negative size when we all used film. Because of the "crop" on the sensor, the camera "acts" like you are using a lens about 1.5 times longer than what the lens would be on a full sized sensor camera. In reality, this doesn't matter much to you, because you will be using your camera and lens to whatever your combination works for you. The one thing that full size cameras vs. "crop size" cameras is better and smoother color gradations. For you this will probably not be noticeable unless you are using pro-quality lenses in extreme lighting situations. Again, to 99% of amateurs, this is not an issue. IF you are planning to do nature photography, especially birds, butterflies or animals that tend to run from humans, then you will be looking at long telephoto lenses. Here, Nikon has an advantage at the "non-pro" level and it is because of one single lens, their relatively new 200-500 f5.6 zoom. Usually, when you want a lens with 500mm of reach you either start moving into "pro-series" lenses or "off-brand" series lenses (lenses not made by the camera manufacturer). This one lens has made me think of buying a Nikon camera body just so I could have access to that lens. Yes, it is not a cheap lens ($1,396.96) but compared to a pro-series 500mm lens at $8,000, it is a bargain. Even 500mm off-brand lenses sell for a similar price as the Nikon. You will be happy with either camera choices that you are looking at, but, if you would like to move up a little, maybe to get a little more robust camera, or to get either of the cameras you are considering, I would consider the refurbished route. It might save you enough to allow you to upgrade your lens or even buy a second lens. Good luck and have fun.

"Refurbished" means, by definition, that a camera that has been returned for whatever reason or was used as a demo by a sales rep or at a trade show, etc., and was given to a factory-trained technician and completely gone through to make sure it operates exactly as the manufacturer specifications and tolerances say it should. I have been buying refurbished equipment for the last 8 years as well as used equipment from one of two very reputable vendors. I had one Canon lens that I bought used and the zoom and autofocus mechanism locked up solid. The focus ring would not turn and neither would the zoom ring. I called the company and they said it was two months past warranty (they were right, of course). I asked them, if there was something they could do since I had purchased multiple items from them over the years. They switched me over to someone who had the authority to make those kinds of decisions. He said that they would go ahead and fix it for free and would send it back to me in about 10 days. I explained that I was up against a wall with an event I was supposed to shoot in four days. He said he would get back to me. About ten minutes later, he called and said they would send another lens in the same condition, but working as it should. They even sent it 2nd day air, to make sure I would have it in time, all for no charge. The moral of the story is if you deal with a well established business that has a good reputation, you will be treated fairly. After all, that is why they are still around. They have been treating their customers fairly for those many years. I have to mention one thing. All of the equipment I use is Canon's professional stuff, so it is built to higher standards to begin with and is built to take more abuse, so I cannot speak for refurbished or used consumer-grade equipment, but a reputable business will treat you fairly.

I use Canon equipment and they "recommend" that you use only "Canon" batteries but I have used Watson and other off brand batteries in all three of them (all different battery types) and have never had a problem, other than they die a little sooner than Canon's do. Usually I find out they are dying because the blinking light on the Canon charger never goes to green to indicate that it is fully charged. If I were you, I would call B&H. They are very helpful and reasonable people. I have never had any reason to doubt anything they say or do in the16 years I have been doing business with them.

I like the last one, too. I would crop it a bit to make it more about the horse and rider - from an old rodeo photographer.

Cool shot. Too bad you didn't get a little higher to get the small plants at the bottom of the photo out of the shot. I love the black and white. It is perfect for this shot. Nice job!

This has so much to do with what you shoot and why you shoot. I used to shoot rodeos. a 70-200f2.8 was the mandatory lens. The action moves around so quickly both from left to right and in distance from you. Soccer is the same way. If you shot nature, such scenic photography, a prime is the way to go for the highest quality because you have the time and ability to move around to get the composition just right. Modern, pro series zooms are very, very good.