Finally made my choice and just placed my order for a Nikon D5200 with an 18-55mm lens and a 55-300mm lens, (telephoto and wide angle too). Great kit I found at Cameta thanks to several posters who recommended the site. I now have to wait for it to get mailed to me but so excited to get started. THANK YOU everyone for your input in helping me to pick out my camera.

Thanks everyone for your replies. I may be leaning toward the D5200 from Cameta as their kits are a good buy on the refurbs (thanks, great heads up on this)- they are now sold out on D7000/7100 - bummer. Now I just have to decide which kit/lens to purchase. The D5200 comes with Nikon 18-55mm and 55-200mm or Tamron 70-300mm. I figure I will buy a kit then in a year or two if I am still really into photography I can step up on my lenses. Again everyone has been so helpful and I appreciate it.

My fear was I would put it in program mode then find it too confusing to "learn" on whereas a D3200 or D5200 would be easier to learn with - admittedly this thought came after reading some reviews that pointed beginners to the lower end cameras. When I first decided to get a camera I leaned toward a Canon T3i (my hubby has one for work) but after research I leaned toward Nikon and wanted a D7000 or D7100 but thought after reviews why spend the money on a camera I may not use because it is too difficult to learn on. But yours and other comments are making me rethink that, thanks.

I didn't know I could sell those lenses, thanks for the tip. I will go dig the camera bags out of the closet. I know I have several different cameras and lenses I inherited. I know my mom's was a Pentax but can't remember about my dad's camera. Maybe I will get lucky and get enough to supplement my camera budget and get the D7100 : )

I don't think I have checked out the D5300 at all, not sure how I missed it. I'll try to research it this evening. Thanks.

I'm planning a vacation in June so hope to have my new camera soon so I can start learning how to use it. I'll try to get some pics posted especially after my vacation. Can't wait to get back into photography.

I was aware that the D3200 and D5200 don't have a motor in the camera but since I have to start from scratch with lenses the AF-S lenses will work for me (looking at purchasing a body and lens kit to start out -thanks to posts on here that recommended refurbs I can get a great deal on the kit) But I am still torn which camera. I haven't held a 3200 but have tried out the 5200 and 7100 and liked them both. I read that the D3200 has a guide is this something useful and can it ever be turned off?

Thanks for sticking up for me. It is the weekend and all kinds of stuff to do : )

Wow SteveR, you are not friendly to new posters. Calling me a troll, I'm suspect because I'm not answering in what you consider a timely manner (it is the weekend you know) and commenting on me saying the same thing in 2 different post. One post I made was introducing myself, then I answered a couple of reply's I got. One of the replies welcoming me to the HOG suggested I go to the main discussion and post about my camera search (which I did) and you are faulting me for that. I am a newbie and may make some "mistakes" at first but you are off putting for new users of this site. Glad others have been more welcoming and tolerant.

My previous camera is a Minolta xg9 with several lenses and I inherited a Pentax and lenses from my mom (never used it myself so not sure what is in the camera bag) So I am starting fresh with digital not sure if Minolta or Pentax 35mm lenses would fit any digital cameras.

Hoping to get some input on what camera to buy. I have narrowed it down to Nikon D3200, D5200 or D7000. I have found a great deal that the D7000 is only $100 more than the D5200 but I am worried that it may be too hard for a first timer and I will lose interest, but worried I will quickly outgrow the D3200 and I have a hard time going with the D5200 since I can get the D7000 for only $100 more but guess I should be more focused on usability than price difference. If anyone has any advice I would appreciate it. Not a novice photographer but last time I had anything besides point and shoot (Elph) or cell phone camera was back in the 35mm days. It’s been 12 years since I used my 35mm camera. My interests include: landscapes/nature, animals, flower close ups, my dogs - least favorite is portrait. I also would like to try my hand at night photography one day. I used to live in Alaska and loved the Northern Lights and always wanted to photograph them but never did. I live in Oklahoma now out in the country and sometimes we have spectacular moon and clouds that would be awesome to try and capture. Any input between the 3 choices would be so helpful. I keep reading reviews and one day it’s one camera then another review makes me lean toward a different one, sigh wish it was simpler to make up my mind. It’s a lot of money to spend and then regret. Thanks in advance for any advice, input, direction, command...etc.

[quote=Meives]

Thanks, David. I haven't used my new Christmas present yet but I will keep your tip in mind. Wow 4 years? Don't know if I will have the patience to do that : )

Thanks, I think I have narrowed it down to Nikon after talking to a few friends and spending days - weeks researching online. Went to the store and held a few too. Now just need to decide which one. That is now the confusing/hardest part. Totally lost trying to make a choice. I may post asking for input on the 3 I have since narrowed the list down to. I keep changing my mind based on reviews I am reading.

My name is M L, I used to be into photography back in the 35mm days : ) I have a Minolta xg9 and a couple of Pentax cameras, and all kinds of lenses. I took classes in college, learned to develop etc. After moving from Alaska about 12 years ago I got out of photography, now I want to start again but not sure where to start. Been using an "Elph" I inherited a few years ago but ready to step up to a "real" camera. I miss capturing awesome outdoor moments. I used to be into nature photography. One of my new goals in photography is to get a camera where I can take close up photos - my inspiration is Georgia O'Keefe paintings, where she would choose a flower and focus on one part of that flower and make it the entire painting.

My husband bought me a scanner where I can put my negatives onto my computer and any old photos I have, next is to start learning digital photography. I plan on signing up for a class at the little local college so I am now on the search for a camera. So confusing to know which to buy, think I have narrowed it down to the Nikon brand after talking to a few people and researching online now the hard part is which one. Choices, choices.

So glad to find this site. Info, encouragement and shared interest all in one place.