Mulling a Camera Purchase! Advice would help THANK YOU

[camerateur]

Hello!!
let me first say that I have done research on my own, i'm not just asking here to have someone do my research for me i consider this a step in my research: asking advice.
I've found this forum is amazing and everyone gives such helpful information.

---- i have a D3000 and it's a very basic entry-level DSLR,
i outgrew it quickly but it was So fun to learn on.
now i'm starting to shoot portraits for friends' children and i want to begin shooting weddings (Low Budget ones first to get practice of course!!)
i want to get into this business, never loved/enjoyed anything more!! from the learning to the shooting to the post processing )

I want(need?) a new camera.

SO i'm considering the d5100 because i feel that it's a good enough step up without going into the 1,000's just yet..
better resolution, larger sensor, higher ISO with less noise,etc.
but i'm scared that i may be overlooking a better camera that is a similar cost (600 for just the body), and I don't want to "outgrow" this one quickly too.
i seem to just find this great quality camera and then the prices jump to 1,200!! is there something i'm missing?
I will consider a Canon, but only if it's better than a nikon for the price ( i already have a couple nikon lenses and the nikon sb800 speedlight, so don't really want to switch. but if i'm going to make the switch, i might as well now when i don't have a big lens collection)

MY QUESTION: does anyone know of a better slr that is better and either the same price range or not TOO much more expensive?
and a Sub-Question: should i possibly invest in better lens(es) first? ( i have the kit lens and a 50mm 1.8).
i kind of want a 85mm (1.4 or1.8) but don't know which would improve my wedding/portrait shooting better (first buying the new body or first buying a new lens)

i hope this wasn't TOO wordy. THANK YOU in advance.

 

[Big Mike]

It's typically not a great idea to upgrade your camera to the next highest model (or the newer version of the one you have). Well, it's not a bad idea, but you probably won't get much value...meaning that you're paying a lot for a few, relatively small upgrades.

So the question is....what is it that your current camera isn't doing for you, that a new camera will? You mentioned an increase in MP and better ISO performance, and those are very good points....but I think you should strongly consider/research just how much improvement you would actually see.

should i possibly invest in better lens(es) first? ( i have the kit lens and a 50mm 1.8).

When I read this...I heard a bell going "Ding! Ding! Ding!"
Yes, in most cases, the best way to improve your image quality (in terms of adding gear) is to improve the quality of your lenses. And if you want to be a professional, the kit lens is certainly not the best tool for the job. I'd suggest you look for something in that same range that has a larger maximum aperture. The 17-55mm F2.8 for example (or something similar from Sigma & Tamron).
You may also want to start budgeting/saving for a fast telephoto lens. For both (outdoor) portraits and weddings, one of my favorite lenses is a 70-200mm F2.8.

So that would be my suggestion...first invest in better quality lenses, then think about upgrading your camera body. And when you do upgrade your camera body, think about what options will give you an improvement that is worth the cost. For example, the difference between the D5100 and the D7000 is, I believe, greater than the difference between the D3000 and the D5100. In other words, I think it would be well worth it to upgrade to the D7000, where as the upgrade to the D5100, although less expensive, may not be worth it.

Lastly, if you are going to be shooting professionally, you're going to need two cameras anyway...especially for events like weddings. So do keep that in mind.

 

[jaomul]

Just to add to above the d5100 has the same size sensor as your d3000 and although newer and prob slightly better in quality its probably not a massive leap. The d7000 has similar sensor to the d5100 so image quality may not be as massive a leap as you hope, though it is better built an has more features, including a focus motor that will allow you use older nikon lenses

 

[NedZ]

I would agree with both Big Mike and jaomul. Invest in lenses first. Upgrade camera with something much better not just one step up. You might not (or rarely) use some of the features new DSLRs have and some of them look good on paper but not in real life. Important thing is quality of the sensor and lenses, special effects can be achieved in PP.

 

[2WheelPhoto]

I suggest get a good body first with a decent sensor. Don't buy nice lense to hit a crappy body sensor.

Don't do like me and get a D5000, then D7000 because the 5000 wouldn't do enough, and finally a D700 body when i half figured out what its about

 

[Big Mike]

I suggest get a good body first with a decent sensor. Don't buy nice lense to hit a crappy body sensor.

I'd say that they are all good sensors.

 

[2WheelPhoto]

I suggest get a good body first with a decent sensor. Don't buy nice lense to hit a crappy body sensor.

I'd say that they are all good sensors.

I agree depending on how one defines "good". Its common knowledge the 3100 sensor is not "as good" as the 5100 & 7000 sensors. Hopefully some don't take advice like i did "buy good glass its whats most important" heh it is but body is too.

 

[sovietdoc]

Sell your current camera, get a small long-term loan or sell a kidney or one of your kids.

Get a D800.

Never look back.