Entry level DSLR Recommendation

[onlyforyou22]

So I am ready to make the next move and move it up a notch to the world of DSLR.
Pretty much had my mind set on Nikon D3000 but then now I am getting side tracked by all the other stuff thats out there. So what do you suggest? Pricing is a factor to some extent but could be a little flexible.

Keep in mind, my first DSLR so moving on from Point and Shoot to the high tech pro stuff like all of you.... ha ha

Jason

[inkista]

Standard "a dSLR is not a P&S upgrade" lecture 101.

Moving from a P&S camera to a dSLR is not a straightforward upgrade so much as an entire shift in picture-taking paradigm, so there are a few questions you really really need to ask yourself about why you want to take the leap, because this can get really expensive very quickly.

So, ask yourself:

1) Does my P&S actively keep me from getting the photos I want? Or is it me?

Technique and composition can get you pretty far even with "just" a P&S camera. Most of us who shoot with dSLRs also keep a P&S or smaller camera around and handy because dSLR equipment can get to be big, heavy, and cumbersome. The analogy I constantly make around here is that a P&S camera is much like a swiss army knife while a dSLR is like a big red toolbox. But do you need to pound nails or saw 2x4s? Or do you just need to tighten a screw?

2) Can I afford to go with a dSLR?

Unlike P&S cameras, purchasing a camera body or camera kit is only the first step in what can become a never-ending purchase stream. Most folks spend two to three times the amount they did on the body on additional portions of the system. You have to buy tools for your big red toolbox. Lenses, flashes, a tripod, remote, camera bag, filters, etc. It all adds up. Are you sure you can afford this if you're not actually getting any income from your photo taking?

3) Am I ok with a steep learning curve?

P&S cameras do a lot of work for you, because most people don't like to take the trouble to learn how to do all the persnickety bits themselves, not only when shooting, but also when post-processing. P&S cameras do one-size-fits-all JPEG processing, increasing sharpness and saturation. dSLRs can, but by default don't, figuring that you might like to tailor your processing for the individual image, the way that folks used to monkey about in the dark room.

Are you willing to learn how to take charge of your iso, aperture, and shutter speed? Can you put in the time to learn lighting and flash photography? Are you ok with learning how to do post-processing on RAW files? Moving from a P&S to a dSLR can be a pretty steep learning curve, and far from you pictures instantly improving when you switch to your big expensive new camera, chances are you may be disappointed at first to get photos that look a little greyer, duller, and possibly even fuzzier than what you got with a P&S.

4) Am I ok with losing features I'm used to having on a P&S?

To go back to my overused analogy, you won't find many nail scissors or tweezers in a big red toolbox. You are actually going to lose a few features you're used to with P&S cameras.

Most P&S camera users long for the blurred-background look they are told they can get with a dSLR and a fast lens. And this is true--it's very difficult to achieve that look with a P&S camera. But what everyone forgets to tell you is that the reason you can blur the background is that you can get it out of focus. You can get ANYTHING out of focus. You now have to focus your camera. Accurately. This is not a skill you know from P&S cameras, where an extremely deep depth of field has kept you safe from mistakes like this.

If you're using a "bridge" P&S camera with a 20x zoom, you're also likely to lose the ability to zoom in a great deal (until you buy a telephoto zoom lens).

You're also going to lose your macro capability (until you buy a macro lens), because the larger sensor of the camera with the larger lenses also means a larger minimum focus distance.

You're also going to have to buy another lens to throw the background out of focus, because the kit lens doesn't have a particularly wide maximum aperture.

And yes, now that you're on information overload about camera models, you'll need to learn about lenses, too.

You ok with all this? Or is it a bit overwhelming? You may want to slow down and rethink this move a little bit. And you'll certainly want to consider keeping your P&S and still using it as you transition and acquire gear (especially if you're a macro shooter). If you're still eager to get a dSLR after all that, then welcome to the wonderful land of dSLR photography.

5). No. Really. It's about the glass/lenses.

The lens is the other half of the camera. There are only two things that touch the light: the glass and the sensor. Everything else is gravy.

As for which model to go for, you can compare the camera bodies, but typically around the same price point, bodies are going to be relatively comparable. And they're all good these days. There's a wealth of great cameras out there. Where the biggest difference is going to be is in the rest of the camera system. Lenses choices vary from maker to maker--especially among the exotic lenses. Flash systems vary. 3rd party support varies. The types of "specialty" lenses of each make varies.

Once you buy a camera body, you're locked into a mount system. You (mostly) can't interchange lenses between brands. And here's the part nobody tells you: the body/camera? That's the MOST disposable part of the system. Now that these things are digital electronica, it's similar to computers or phones--you tend to upgrade and move on every three to five years.

Your lenses are probably going to cost you more and last you longer than your camera bodies in the long run.

If you're still undaunted, good for you. What do you like to shoot? And what's your budget? That can guide you to a better fit.

[in2fx]

a great reply

Maybe Jasons head is still spinning because he hasn't come back to this thread again LOL

[onlyforyou22]

Yes, its spinning alright!

I got a Nikon D5000 instead and like it so far. There is so many different options in there that it will take me a while to make the full transition coming from Point & Shoot. I read it gives more room for a beginner to learn on this model so I figured I would stick it out and work hard at it. Learning is my passion so I take it as a challenge. Using the kit lens for now (18-55mm) but plan to buy a bigger lens in the future!

Jason

[Louise Mathe]

OMG! being a totally new user to this site and about to start a photography course after years of P&S cameras I'm now peeing my pants, eek! Like a challenge on a photographic basis but this sounds sooo daunting. The thing is, unless you give it a go you're never gonna know if it's all for you or not and i don't believe in letting someone elses's opinion deter me. Good to know the full truth of it but not in a way that may put others off. They have to find out for themselves or that little spec of self doubt could soon turn into someone's future being flushed down the pan before they've even tried to see if it can work.

[bruceliv]

Jason, stay with your "mind set." Just get the D3100. It's a wonderful entry level dSLR.

[Gaurav Prabhu]

Wonderful guide. Loved it.

[sixfreds]

I just got my 1st dslr for Christmas from a point and shoot.

I have the nikon d3000 and I love it.

People on this site will tell you how stupid you are bcause they are all so much better then someone who is just getting a dslr BUT I say go for it and get the dslr and like I said I have the d3000 and LOVE it!!

For a little more you can get the d3100 which does video but I didn't get a slr to take videos BUT some people like it.

For even more you can get the d5000 BUT for a 1st dslr I think t d3000 is a good option. I would get the kit, camera and lens and then add lenes you need later.

[onlyforyou22]

Sixfreds is right!
I dont remember where but I saw it on a website that for freshman DSLR users, D3000, D3100 and D5000 is the best option. D5000 was rated as the highest or most complicated for the beginner DSLR users. So I upgraded it to that thinking it should give me soem learning time before I have to upgrade to higher models.

There is a D7000 available as well but thats definitely out of my $$ range.

I like the results of my D5000. Its fairly easy to use and with a little bit of reading and manual and research, you can learn all the features. I use the kit lens now (18-55) but going to buy an extended lens in the near future.

Jason

[deaq]

Such a nice guide... i should read a lot of guide before buying a dSLR camera...