Suggestions Please....Thank you!

[rbonaddict]

Hey Y'all....
I am a newbie to photography. I have several friends involved in photography and have asked them for recommendations for a camera. I've always used just a plain ole point and shoot, but now i'm ready to advance. What suggestions do you have....i've had people recommend the nikon d60, nikon d5000, nikon d80 and nikon d90, also a canon...which i can't remember which one she suggested. There is so much to choose from. I've learned a lot from this site, and don't want to overwhelm myself, however I do want a good camera that I can grow into as I learn. My daughter is wanting the Nikon P100 Cool Pix....I thought about just getting that one and slowly advancing. Also, the nikon d40, d60 and so on....is the only way to take a picture through the view finder? I've gotten so used to looking at the screen on my point and shoot, this will take some getting used to.
thanks
manda

[jml79]

So much info.... My fingers can't type that much... It sounds like you want to make an informed decision and get value for your money. Who doesn't right.

#1 define your budget and your goals.
#2 research a lot.
#3 Pick who you listen to very carefully. Salesmen want to sell you something and many people will recommend what they have because they don't know any different, think they made the best decision or it validates their decision.
#4 Realize how important this decision is now. You don't buy a camera you buy into a system and changing later can be costly.

I shoot Sony for a bunch of reasons. I also hate Sony for a few of reasons. I love Pentax cameras but hate thier lack availability and small shallow product line. I hate low end Nikon's because of the compromise Nikon made to make them cheap (most of the camera's you mentioned). I love all of the mid to high end Nikon's (except for the lack of one feature that sony and pentax have) but they are costly. I love certain Canon features and their very complete product line but I can't stand the Canon interface.

I know I seem like I am full of hate but each lineup has its pluses and minuses that you have to understand before you can drop $1000+ on a camera system. Do more research....

If all of the above is too much and you just want an advanced/better point and shoot with changeable lenses look into the Olympus PEN or Sony NEX. Or better yet get a great point and shoot with Raw and manual modes and worry about a DSLR when you can make that camera sing and understand it inside out. By then you will have a better grasp on what matters to your shooting. That's what I did and I still use that great Canon P&S camera.

There I go validating a decision I made almost 2 years ago.....

[faeriegodess612]

My suggestion? Of course depending on your budget. I went for the D3100. One because of a recommendation here, Two because it was within my budget. I love it, so I'm kinda biased. It does have Live View, but to be honest, I find myself not using it that much. It does help when your taking a shot of something and its hard to get down there where the camera is. The newer Nikon's also have Guide Mode. Which I have yet to use effectively as well. Mainly because I'm more interested in learning the Modes by trial and error, opposed to having the camera do the thinking for me. But, thats all just my preferences, yours might be different.

I agree with jml79's reply. Do your research. Pick something that you think will work for you, but remember that your kinda stuck with that brand, unless you want to switch all the lenses and other gear that are specific to that brand. Canon is known for their faster lenses, which is why some photographers go with Canon. It kinda depends on the type of photography your looking to get into.

Bottom line? Do your research. Go with something that you think would work for you.

You are the target audience for the new "mirror-less" systems out there. Olympus, Panasonic, Sony and soon Nikon and Cannon, have these new systems that are small and compact... yet have excellent image quality.

I am kind of partial to Olympus... here is their commercial for the E-PL1..
YouTube - The Amazing Olympus PEN E-PL1 Camera

Here is a photo that I took with the E-PL1. Yes, it has been edited (as pretty much all of my work has) Point is, the files hold up to heavy editing very well.

[TheEagleSpirit]

Originally Posted by rbonaddict

Hey Y'all....
I am a newbie to photography. I have several friends involved in photography and have asked them for recommendations for a camera. I've always used just a plain ole point and shoot, but now i'm ready to advance. What suggestions do you have....i've had people recommend the nikon d60, nikon d5000, nikon d80 and nikon d90, also a canon...which i can't remember which one she suggested. There is so much to choose from. I've learned a lot from this site, and don't want to overwhelm myself, however I do want a good camera that I can grow into as I learn. My daughter is wanting the Nikon P100 Cool Pix....I thought about just getting that one and slowly advancing. Also, the nikon d40, d60 and so on....is the only way to take a picture through the view finder? I've gotten so used to looking at the screen on my point and shoot, this will take some getting used to.
thanks
manda

I started out with a Nikon D90 that has plenty of very useful settings for any type photography you want to do. I also found out that lenses are very expensive no matter what brand you use. I have two lenses I get the best use from, a tamron F-2.8 17-50 mm lense for wide angle landscapes and group shots (reasonable price), a nikkor f-2.8 70-200mm (quite expensive) but more than worth the price.

I just bought a Nikon D7000 (upgrade of the D90) that uses the same lens as the D90 and added settings and better resolution and movies. I also bought my friend the Nikon P7000 that has the same or similar settings as the D7000 but not interchangeable lenses but cheaper.

Now I am looking closely at the Nikor f-1.4 85mm lense to use as a portrait lense and is recommended as a great primary lense but also on the expensive side.

To help me learn photography I bought "Mastering the D90" and a field guide for the D90 both much easier understood than the manuals. I took a lot of play around shots of architecture in the neighborhood following guidelines given making notes of the light conditions etc for each shot then changing settings of each new shot of the same things.
Helps a bunch.