$450 to spend on a Camera and have no clue what to get.

[Sw1tchFX]

Get a Mamiya 645 with the 80mm f/2.8 and a bunch of Portra. Awesome kit.

 

[Mully]

Nikon d5000. Used with decent lens

 

[StandingBear1983]

until 500$, the Nikon D3100(if you want new) the Canon T2i is 700$(!) while the Nikon D3100 is 495$ (there on the same level more or less)..with the used market you have a bit more options...you could get maybe a D5100 with kit lens or a used t2i if you want canon.

I would go with those 2 camera maufactors becuse there the main ones with the most lens options and most likely they will not go bankrobbed ...so go check them out both and decide what is better for you...

Amazon.com: Nikon D3100 14.2MP Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF-S DX VR Nikkor Zoom Lens: Camera & Photo

Amazon.com: Canon EOS Rebel T2i 18 MP CMOS APS-C Sensor DIGIC 4 Image Processor Full-HD Movie Mode Digital SLR Camera with 3.0-inch LCD and and EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens: Electronics

 

[StandingBear1983]

Get a Mamiya 645 with the 80mm f/2.8 and a bunch of Portra. Awesome kit.

He said 450$, not 45,000$ :mrgreen:

 

[Mike_E]

Pick out some lenses that you think that you can realistically swing and then get a body that will fit them.





Really, buying the camera first is backwards.

 

[Fred Berg]

Sigma have just upgraded their Foveon chip so at some dealers here the SD15 with kit lens is currently going for under 350 euros, down from close to 1,500 euros. I imagine the same thing is true where you are. That's a lot of camera for the money.

 

[Sw1tchFX]

Get a Mamiya 645 with the 80mm f/2.8 and a bunch of Portra. Awesome kit.

He said 450$, not 45,000$ :mrgreen:

You're thinking of the Phase One's. The Film ones are cheap as chips. B&H or KEH has a 645AF body for like 200 or 300 dollars

 

[Buckster]

Get a Mamiya 645 with the 80mm f/2.8 and a bunch of Portra. Awesome kit.

He said 450$, not 45,000$ :mrgreen:

You're thinking of the Phase One's. The Film ones are cheap as chips. B&H or KEH has a 645AF body for like 200 or 300 dollars

OP specifically said he wants a DSLR and would like help picking one out in his price range.

When someone says they'd like help picking out a banjo, and you recommend a fiddle because that's what you prefer to play, you're not really helping them.

 

[jake337]

So you might spend $100-150 more than $450.

So let's just make the budget $600 then?

D90 for $499
Nikon Digital D 90 12.3 MEGAPIXEL WITH CABLES, CD, BATTERY & CHARGER (SD CARD ) REFURBISHED, DIGITAL SLR INTERCHANGEABLE LENS CAMERA - KEH.com


Nikkor 50mm f1.8D
Nikon Autofocus 50 F1.8 D (52) 35MM SLR AUTO FOCUS STANDARD ANGLE LENS - KEH.com


You could also drop back to a D80 for around $250-300 and add a second lens.


There are also plenty of used kits for around $600.

http://www.keh.com/Camera/format-Di...-Outfits?s=1&bcode=DN&ccode=1&cc=80172&r=WG&f

 

[ghache]

get a used d90, thats all i have to say.

 

[StandingBear1983]

I would get a D5100 instead of a D90, IF i didn't have old lenses (which i presume the OP doesn't)...why would one get an older DSLR?, when you can get the sensor of the D7000 in a simpler body?, OK the D90 has a few more buttons like dedicated ISO button and a built in motor, but if one is starting out, anyhow you won't necessarily need those things at first(new lenses got AF-S)...maybe after a year or two and then one would very likely to buy a more sophisticated body anyhow...also there is a function button under the flash button on the D5100 that one can program for ISO or other things, so part from the motor in camera that the D90 has, i cant see another good reason to buy it...not now...its already 2 generations old - the D5100 has a much better sensor + Full HD video + Swivel screen (if your into a lot of video).

 

[Sw1tchFX]

He said 450$, not 45,000$ :mrgreen:

You're thinking of the Phase One's. The Film ones are cheap as chips. B&H or KEH has a 645AF body for like 200 or 300 dollars

OP specifically said he wants a DSLR and would like help picking one out in his price range.

When someone says they'd like help picking out a banjo, and you recommend a fiddle because that's what you prefer to play, you're not really helping them.

You should try skiing!

 

[orb9220]

I would get a D5100 instead of a D90, IF i didn't have old lenses (which i presume the OP doesn't)...why would one get an older DSLR?, when you can get the sensor of the D7000 in a simpler body?, OK the D90 has a few more buttons like dedicated ISO button and a built in motor, but if one is starting out, anyhow you won't necessarily need those things at first(new lenses got AF-S)...maybe after a year or two and then one would very likely to buy a more sophisticated body anyhow..

Sorry to disagree but many like myself became frustrated with "Lack Of" the entry cameras. Me 9 months. So now buying and learning two camera bodies my first year? For me anything that can minimize work,time or lessen frustration in getting the shot is for me. And a more capable camera like the D90 adds to my Joy and lessen my frustration of the missing that I find I need on a daily basis.

I see many touting the newer sensor being the all end all of the why going with a less capable body feature and controls-wise. Touting higher Iso ability. Well looking at their works you wouldn't know it as majority of their works are shot at 200 iso. And rarely see images taking advantage of that High ISO ability. Sure some doing a lot of night,indoor,clubs,etc... shooting may really be able to take advantage of the newer sensor. Most tho there first year or two not.

Give me a Bigger Brighter Viewfinder of the Pentaprism of a D90 vs. the smaller darker Pentaprism of those entry cameras. Give me built in motor for more lenses choices older yes but some will still blow the socks off of most of the newer AF-S lenses. Built in flash commander mode for controlling flashes off shot. Dual Command wheels and dedicated buttons so I can change settings without my eye leaving the viewfinder to go menu digging and missing the shot.

It is not always about max sensor performance. Or High ISO which I may only occasionally need. Would rather have the D90 with the features and controls I use everyday and everytime I shoot compared to needing that High Iso for those 10%-20% times lower light situations.

Just my opinion take it like the rest with a grain of salt. And good luck on whatever you decide to get.
.

 

[jake337]

I would get a D5100 instead of a D90, IF i didn't have old lenses (which i presume the OP doesn't)...why would one get an older DSLR?, when you can get the sensor of the D7000 in a simpler body?, OK the D90 has a few more buttons like dedicated ISO button and a built in motor, but if one is starting out, anyhow you won't necessarily need those things at first(new lenses got AF-S)...maybe after a year or two and then one would very likely to buy a more sophisticated body anyhow...also there is a function button under the flash button on the D5100 that one can program for ISO or other things, so part from the motor in camera that the D90 has, i cant see another good reason to buy it...not now...its already 2 generations old - the D5100 has a much better sensor + Full HD video + Swivel screen (if your into a lot of video).

I would still get the d90 over the d5100 simply based on how it felt in my hands. The baby Nikon felt like a toy. Yes I know it is just as capable. The image quality of either camera will be pretty much the same. I doubt anyone would be able to tell the difference looking at identical prints from both camera hanging next to each other. Based on that I would choose based on build and feature set.

 

[jake337]

But seriously I would just save a bit more and get the d7000 as it has the great new sensor, build and feature set. I mean it even will meter ai, ais lens which makes me want one!