Looking to buy first DSLR and stressing to the max!

[HarryChaseLemont]

I am looking to buy my first DLSR but stressing over options with each brand. I am really looking for that company I can invest in for a long time. The cameras I am looking at are (Canon Rebel EOS T5i, Nikon d5200). I am really looking for something I will not have to upgrade soon yet is not crazy expensive. I want the great picture quality of the Nikon but in the Canons comfortable body (tried it in the store and loved the feel) also I hate this whole dx and fx thing. If I go Nikon I do not want to upgrade lenses that much. I am very lost and to the point where I just want someone to tell me exactly what I should get.

I enjoy shooting nature,wildlife, and citys. Thanks! Please help!

I wrote more about the struggle on my Tumblr blog harrychaselemont.tumblr.com if anyone would like to view it.

 

[Derrel]

Get the Nikon and buy a GOOD DX lens for it: the 16-85mm DX. Problem solved. DX and FX is no big deal: ALL of Nikon's DX lenses can be used on ALL of Nikon's full-frame cameras, either in automatic DX crop mode, or with reduced image circle, or reduced image circle over some but not all of the zoom range. On a Canon, their EF-S lenses are useless on all of their non-APS-C bodies...will not even mount onto the cameras. If you want a camera with an outdated sensor designed sometime before 2009, buy a Canon APS-C Rebel like the T3 or T3i...those have the same sensor Canon was using in 2009.

 

[HarryChaseLemont]

Derrel Thank you!

I really appreciate it! I did not know that about the Canon. Again thank you!

-Harry

 

[Derrel]

Harry, Check out this page from the web's single most knowledgeable Nikon expert. Current Nikon DSLR Reviews | byThom | Thom Hogan

Please read what he has to say about the D3300 and the D5200. The NEW D3300 review is a major review article. Don't stress too much on this. Most of the issue with a d-slr involves having a GOOD lens, and learning when to press the button. It's more about YOU after you learn how to shoot. You will become the deciding factor, not your camera. I've seen a LOT of newcomers on TPF stressing out, and getting to the paralysis through over-analysis stage. I'm suggesting the 16-85 because it is one of the best DX lenses Nikon has, with the best overall focal length range.

http://www.bythom.com/Nikkor16-85lensreview.htm

 

[trojancast]

Get the Nikon and buy a GOOD DX lens for it: the 16-85mm DX. Problem solved. DX and FX is no big deal: ALL of Nikon's DX lenses can be used on ALL of Nikon's full-frame cameras, either in automatic DX crop mode, or with reduced image circle, or reduced image circle over some but not all of the zoom range. On a Canon, their EF-S lenses are useless on all of their non-APS-C bodies...will not even mount onto the cameras. If you want a camera with an outdated sensor designed sometime before 2009, buy a Canon APS-C Rebel like the T3 or T3i...those have the same sensor Canon was using in 2009.

What a pile of rubbish.

 

[ShaneF]

you cant go wrong with Canon or Nikon. I'm a canon man myself so i can offer you this advice since i see you were looking at the T5i. The T4i is IDENTICAL to the T5i EXCEPT the T5I mode wheel will spin all the way around and the T4i's wont. So if you decide on that camera save yourself some money and buy the T4i and save even more and buy it used. There are lots of them floating around. Use the money saved towards more gadgets like an off camera flash or a nice lens.

I have a T4i and its a good entry level camera.

Thats my 2 cents, please keep it we don't use pennies anymore in Canada.

 

[HarryChaseLemont]

Okay, that site was really good! I think I learned more in about 5 min than anywhere else. Really great reviews. Thanks!

 

[HarryChaseLemont]

Shane
Thank you! My only problem with the Canon is it has 18mp. Just seems kinda low. Is there any better cost effective option I am not seeing? Thanks!!

-Harry

 

[ShaneF]

Unless you plan on enlarging your images to massive sizes or extreme cropping of your images, 18 megapickles is lots.

I think if you let the nice people around here know what kind of budget you are working with it might help find you the best suited camera.

 

[Vince.1551]

As always I'll recommend the Nikon D5300

 

[IzzieK]

Just buy a Nikon and get over it. :waiting:

 

[SCraig]

My personal opinion is that if you don't want to upgrade any time soon then don't buy anything in the Nikon D3xxx or D5xxx series. I emphasize that there is NOTHING wrong with those bodies other than the fact that they lack some features you will be wishing you had at some point. Look at the D7000 / D7100 and go from there. If you want less expensive look at the venerable D90. If you want full-frame look at the D610 or D800.

Either Nikon or Canon would be a good choice. My personal opinion, again, is that Nikon tends to have better sensor arrays but that isn't founded in experience since I've never used a Canon, just read about them. Buy what feels best to you, learn to use it, and never look back.

Edit ... Forgot to mention: If you like to get up early I can put a D7000 or D7100 in your hands that you can use for a little while. I'm usually at Radnor Lake, or some place similar, early most weekend mornings chasing birds.

 

[acparsons61 1]

My personal opinion is that if you don't want to upgrade any time soon then don't buy anything in the Nikon D3xxx or D5xxx series. I emphasize that there is NOTHING wrong with those bodies other than the fact that they lack some features you will be wishing you had at some point. Look at the D7000 / D7100 and go from there. If you want less expensive look at the venerable D90. If you want full-frame look at the D610 or D800.

Either Nikon or Canon would be a good choice. My personal opinion, again, is that Nikon tends to have better sensor arrays but that isn't founded in experience since I've never used a Canon, just read about them. Buy what feels best to you, learn to use it, and never look back.

I recommend buying a used camera so that you can test it out. If you don't like it, you can recover more money from reselling it than you can from reselling a new one. I've used an array of both Nikon and Canon DSLRs. I recommend the Nikon D80($100)/D90, simply because I find the menus easier to use than a Canon. Additionally, some older Canon lenses that I had were no compatible with the new DSLR that I bought, due to the chip being too old. Never had any compatibility problems with Nikon, except vignetting with a DX lens on my film camera, which I knew would happen when I bought it.

 

[JoeW28]

As Derrel said, don't stress it. I shoot Nikon and am very happy with Nikon. But you could choose either brand and you'll have a good camera with a lot of good options.

Your concern about not wanting to upgrade....here's the deal, any camera you buy (unless you plunk down a couple thousand dollars just for the body)...there will be a better, more technologically sophisticated option out there that does more than what you just bought. So it's silly to stress over that. You're not trying to buy the most recent, most sophisticated camera out there. You're trying to buy a reliable body that fits your needs and budget.

Take a look at the ergonomics and feel of the camera and see which one you have the most comfort with. I will say this about the Nikon D5200...b/c it relies on the lens having the autofocus motor in it (it's not in the camera body), that means that the D5200 is smaller and lighter than comparable cameras. For instance, specifically against the Canon you're considering, the D5200 is smaller in size (so usually a bit easier to carry around if you're not a camera addict like many of us who don't mind schlepping a body and 4 lens every where we go) and it's lighter. Someone who has big hands may prefer a bigger body. Others prefer one that is smaller and lighter. Also, the D5200 has an articulated screen. Has absolutely no value to me. But for some kinds of macro photography it's a huge plus and for anyone who is used to doing a lot of photography with a phone or iPad, it will fill natural (again, not me).

Consider the factors that are important to you. But whatever camera you buy will have more features and technological capability than any bigger will ever tap in to.

 

[PropilotBW]

My personal opinion is that if you don't want to upgrade any time soon then don't buy anything in the Nikon D3xxx or D5xxx series. I emphasize that there is NOTHING wrong with those bodies other than the fact that they lack some features you will be wishing you had at some point. Look at the D7000 / D7100 and go from there. If you want less expensive look at the venerable D90. If you want full-frame look at the D610 or D800.

Either Nikon or Canon would be a good choice. My personal opinion, again, is that Nikon tends to have better sensor arrays but that isn't founded in experience since I've never used a Canon, just read about them. Buy what feels best to you, learn to use it, and never look back.

Edit ... Forgot to mention: If you like to get up early I can put a D7000 or D7100 in your hands that you can use for a little while. I'm usually at Radnor Lake, or some place similar, early most weekend mornings chasing birds.

I can second this first paragraph. I am shooting the D5100, and while I like it a lot, I do wish I had purchased the D7000, mainly for the focus motor in the body and the cross-type auto focus points. Now with the D5300 having been released, some review sites say the 5300 is a "winner" as compared to the D7000, I would still pick the d7000 over the D5300 because of that focus motor.