Need to get a manual DSLR camera for a student. Help!

[photomamma]

Hi my son is taking photography 1 in college. We need to help him buy a DSLR camera, no point and shoot with raw file capability. I would like to find a kit on the inexpensive end. We really could use some good recommendations on some camera models. I would appreciate any input, thanks in advance.

[OsmosisStudios]

Ask the college what they recommend. Most will have their own collection of equipment that students can borrow from, which makes choosing things easier.

The main college in town with a photography degree uses and stocks Nikon exclusively, so they recommend Nikon to their students just so that they can borrow the gear (which ranges from D3s/D3x bodies to 600mm f/4 VR lenses, with almost everything in between)

[mattdm]

Originally Posted by photomamma

Hi my son is taking photography 1 in college. We need to help him buy a DSLR camera, no point and shoot with raw file capability. I would like to find a kit on the inexpensive end. We really could use some good recommendations on some camera models. I would appreciate any input, thanks in advance.

Is this just for the class, or is it potentially a serious interest? If it's just for the class, basically anything you can find will do fine. If it might be more than that, hey, let's talk to your son!

[BCampbell]

Any DSLR has the features you need.

Since you don't know if this will be something he continues to take interest in, I think an entry-level model is probably best.

I like the Pentax K-x as an entry camera; there are fewer upgrade options than Canon or Nikon but I don't think that's something to worry about now. The class will give some specific assignments so I think the kit should be kept as simple as possible to make things less confusing; i.e., he doesn't need five lenses. There are some nice two lens kits, though, that give a general purpose lens with a zoom telephoto; they're all the kit most people will ever need. When I took Photo 1 I had a film SLR with a 50mm and 28mm lens, and I probably should have only had the 50; simpler is better for this stage of learning.

Some to look into:

Pentax: K-x with 18-55mm lens or with 18-55mm and 55-300mm lenses. Unlike most DSLRs, this one comes in a few differnet colors too, in case he really wants one that looks like a stormtrooper.
Canon: T1i with 18-55mm lens or with 18-55mm and 55-250mm lenses. There's also the Rebel XS which is a step below, but I think the T1i is more than worth the slight price differential.
Nikon: D3000 with 18-55mm lens

I used Amazon links but you don't have to buy there; I would encourage looking around for better deals. 1001 noisy cameras is a great place to keep an eye on. Click on the "deals" link, right now I see a post about the K-x two lens kit, but if you subscribe to their feed or just keep checking some other stuff might pop up.

Now, you could possibly buy a used DSLR for a couple hundred less than something new. I wouldn't really recommend this unless you can find an excellent deal on a hand-me-down or something. An older camera will of course work but the newer ones have a few advancements that will make life easier.

[inkista]

Buying a used, older camera model can also save you money. If your son tends to thrash his equipment, it maybe be worthwhile to look for a metal-bodied mid-range camera, like a Canon 40D or Nikon D200. These are two generations back, but can be found cheaper than a lot of the entry-level cameras are new. Unless he's going to need video capability, these are great choices as well as the entry-level cameras.

But yes, definitely check and see what the class offers in terms of compatible equipment, and if they actually require a dSLR (some P&S cameras give both manual control and RAW capability, too). Getting a Pentax is going to be very frustrating if all the lenses/cameras/flashes that your son can borrow are going to be Nikon or Canon equipment.