need help deciding on my first dsl.

[DiskoJoe]

hello everyone my name is frank and i am completely new to the dslr world ( actually i haven't even entered yet ). so my question is which camera do you recommend so far i've looked at the d5100, slt a55, t3i, 60d, and even thought is pushing my budget by quite a bit the d7000.

im kind of leaning towards the slt a55 and the 60d because i don't like the d5100's auto focus and the t3i is only $100 less than the 60d when you account for the kit lenses. and the d7000 is quite a bit more expensive yet i can't find any defining feature which would make me buy it over the slt a55 or the 60d.

so which one do you recommend specially between the slt a55/a57 or the 60d i don't know why but it seems most pictures online taken with slt's aren't quite that good ( this might be the lenses the photographers or i don't know maybe just the auto focus) and the electronic viewfinder doesn't bother too much since i am a noob so im not used to anything in particular. also which cheap lenses do you recommend by cheap i mean the closest to $0.00 the better but under 300 maybe 400.

thank you

For sony I would recommend the a580. You can still use older minolta and sigma lenses with it. With the a55 you would have to buy expensive newer hsm versions of the sigma lenses. But even so lenses are less for sony since the focusing motor is internal and not in the lens.

 

[DiskoJoe]

i went to the local camera store yesterday ( B&H ) and held the d5100 60d and d7000 and i kind of fell in love with the d7000. it felt like the first time you sit on porsche 911 it'll be at least a few years before i can afford the Porsche but if i stretch my budget a bit i can get the d7000, so i think i'll go with that after all its not like i was going to anything with that money its just that the most expensive thing i've ever bought its $350 for a wacom tablet and spending $1200 makes me uneasy. im not completely decided however.

Its worth it. That is a good motor.

 

[frankgtrs]

If this is your first dslr, you'll be satisfied with a d3100. then you can spend some cash on decent glass.

theres quite a few things i din't like about both d3100 and d5100 specially after holding them and the lack of the small screen on the top right displaying things like iso aperture etc. im pretty sure i'd buy a 60d over them. i guess at this point im debating between 60d and d7000.

 

[apples]

i'd look over some comparison shots of the 60D and D7000 vs. entry level dslr from their respective company and see if you can see a noticeable difference in performance. if you cant, then you can save 50% and go with a T2i or d3000ish.

other factors such as feel are important, but im assuming you wont need a full size sensor or ridiculous burst speed on your first slr. and the 60D isnt that much of an upgrade from the rebel series.

 

[photographyxfactor]

Dont just read on them, go into a store and handle them, see which one fits you, see which one has controls that make the most sense to you....consider the lens line up..consider what type of photography you want to do....everyone has their opinions on the best camera(s)...but YOU will be the one using whatever it is you wind up with.