Camera advice: best for budget

[Elkaintmoose]

Hi everyone! It's fallen to me (an English teacher) to handle the Journalism class at my high school—I do my best, but lack a ton of experience in some important areas, like photography. Recently our two old FujiFilm S9000s bit the dust, and I've been given $1000 (for now) to find a replacement, but I'm not really sure what would be my best bet. The FujiFilms didn't really serve us well at all, so I'm thinking we should upgrade to a DSLR.

Here are some constraints:

(1) Students 15-18 years old, generally with little photography experience—they can only take the class for a max. of 2 years. I'd like something flexible enough to get most of them up and running, but deep enough so those who are interested might experiment.

(2) We end up taking a lot of pictures inside, in low/florescent lighting, gym, theater, etc. So decent low-light performance is a must.

(3) I'd like to be able to catch decent sports shots, too—which we haven't really been able to do in the past. But at this price point, that might be asking too much.

(4) Something cheap enough so that I could afford a flash attachment as well would be awesome. Advice for what features to look for there would be welcome, as well.

(5) I'd like to be able to shoot video, but that's not high priority right now—getting decent photos is. On the off-chance that it's possible, though, something that allows for a remote mic would be a plus.

Thanks for any help—I've been kicking around looking at reviews for Canon D60s and T3i's and T4i's and Nikon 5100's and D90's and such, but I'm bewildered, and especially would like to get the best bang for my admittedly limited bucks. (I don't know if I should go for a cheaper body and extra lens, or whether a decent flash is more important, etc., etc.)

Thanks for any advice you can offer!

 

[kathyt]

Does Canon offer an educational discount? If so maybe the T3i with a flash?

 

[goodguy]

Best bang for the buck is the Nikon D3200 with the 18-55mm VR lens, its a modern entry level DSLR its perfect for people new to photography, very reasonably priced and produces good quality pictures, good low light performance (530$ for the camera with its kit lens)
To that you can add a 50mm 1.8G prime lens for night photography and portraits (200$)
After market flash with TTL for around 100$
OR you can get for 450$ the Nikon 70-300mm VR for telezoom

There are cheaper lenses you can consider.

 

[Designer]

Excellent list, goodguy!

 

[brunerww]

Dear Elkaintmoose - I like my friend goodguy's list - and the D3200 is a great entry-level camera - but I would be a little concerned about giving a plastic camera to teenagers for a photojournalism class. I would also want something that wasn't going to melt in a little rain. That is why I would give them something like a new Nikon D7000 with a factory US warranty for $833 via getitdigital on eBay plus a $179 Sigma 18-50mm f2.8-4 lens from Amazon.

This camera has a metal, weatherproof body and will survive a field trip or a rain shower a lot better than the D3200.

The D7000 will max out your budget, and you won't have enough left for an external flash or telephoto, but your students will have a camera that can take low light pictures indoors without a flash at the wide end - and you will have a camera that will be able to stand up to the rigors of photojournalism - plus the rigors of high school.

If you prefer an external flash and a slower lens, you can get a brand new US warrantied D7000 body with the Nikon 18-55mm kit lens plus a third party flash for $970 from the same store.

Hope this is helpful.

Best,

Bill