Opinions on beginner camera

hedonaldson16

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I have been wanting to get a basic camera to take nice pictures and all for family and of nature and all. I was browsing Amazon and came across these two within my budget and wanted to see which you guys thought would be best. I'm new to this and wanted to get one where I can change lenses and all as well. Any help is greatly appreciated.


Amazon.com : Canon EOS Rebel T6 DSLR Camera Kit (New Model for T5), EFS 18-55mm, EF 75-300mm Zoom Lenses, Polaroid .43x Super Wide Angle, 2.2X HD Telephoto Lens, Canon Bag, Tripods, Memory Cards & Accessory Bundle : Camera & Photo

Or
Amazon.com : Nikon D3300 DSLR Camera (Black) with 2 Lenses: 18-55 and 55-200MM VR Lens + Tiffen Filters + Battery and charger and 32GB Accessory Kit : Camera & Photo
 
I'm a huge fan of interchangeable lens camera systems. For me, the answer would be obvious to go with a larger "system" camera like either of the two that you listed.

But, there's the warning that has to come for anyone buying such a system: do you want a "big" camera?

The *value* of a camera system is realized when you actual buy additional lenses, a tripod, a bag, and a flash unit or two and dedicate the time to learn it all. The *cost* of a camera system is easily 2 or 3 times greater than what is initially advertised. For some of us, we end up "upgrading" the camera body and continue buying more lenses until that cost is 10 times or more. By the time that you buy all those extra parts, will you still want to haul it around?

Another alternative for people that are just starting out are the "Compact System Cameras" (CSCs) or "mirrorless" cameras or "Interchangeable Lens Camera" (ILC) systems. For example, that would include some of the Fujifilm or Sony options. These systems are definitely smaller and lighter-weight, and offer some modern features.

If the answer is still "yes" (that you want a larger system camera), then either of the two you listed above are good systems. If the answer is "hmm, maybe", then you might want to look more closely at the CSC/Mirrorless options. (I have the Sony a6000 and it matches what many people look for when starting out.)

What kind of experience do you have with using a camera like that or being around someone who does?
 
I .. wanted to see which you guys thought would be best.
Welcome!

The Canon kit has more "stuff", but I'm a Nikon owner myself, so I would recommend the Nikon. Both kits have a bag, but either of those are way too small, IMO. If you keep looking, you can find Nikon kits that have things like a cheap tripod, and very similar stuff as the Canon kit.

Actually I would not recommend doing that. Why not save some money and get just the camera (and battery charger) with one basic lens? If you're like the rest of us, you'll soon want to pick out your own second lens, tripod, bag, etc. much of which can be had second-hand thereby saving money on that end of it.
 
I have been wanting to get a basic camera to take nice pictures and all for family and of nature and all. I was browsing Amazon and came across these two within my budget and wanted to see which you guys thought would be best. I'm new to this and wanted to get one where I can change lenses and all as well. Any help is greatly appreciated.


Amazon.com : Canon EOS Rebel T6 DSLR Camera Kit (New Model for T5), EFS 18-55mm, EF 75-300mm Zoom Lenses, Polaroid .43x Super Wide Angle, 2.2X HD Telephoto Lens, Canon Bag, Tripods, Memory Cards & Accessory Bundle : Camera & Photo

Or
Amazon.com : Nikon D3300 DSLR Camera (Black) with 2 Lenses: 18-55 and 55-200MM VR Lens + Tiffen Filters + Battery and charger and 32GB Accessory Kit : Camera & Photo

When I bought my Canon Rebel SL-1 I went the same kit route as you have listed. I ended up only keeping the camera body, 18-55mm kit lens, SD card, and spare battery. Oh, and the cheap filters. Everything else was absolute junk and waste of money, and since it was junk that everybody else buys with this kit I couldn't sell it and ended up giving most of it to Goodwill. If you check Craigslist it's flooded with these cheap tripods and 75-300mm lenses. Working with crappy equipment makes learning so much more frustrating and difficult.

My advice is to buy a body and one lens to start and get the best you can afford. Take the time to get familiar with your camera and shooting style, figure out what you really want and need in a lens, and buy in a mindful manner. Take the same approach to the rest of your kit like tripod and bag. It's cheaper in the long run to be patient and buy something once that is really going to meet your needs.

As for SD cards, Office Depot/Office Max frequently has SanDisk and Lexar cards on sale for better prices than Amazon. I've long since replaced the cheapy one from the original kit.


"Rule 408: Time is not the boss of you"
 
Ah yes, the "accessory kits". I also agree with the above comments that all the extras that get thrown in are generally poor quality. On the plus side, because of pricing controls, the "deals" with the accessory kits are often the same price as the options without. They can't change the price so they make you think you're getting more for the same price.

I was with my daughter and her boyfriend who had just bought one of those kits. We met at some park where he was sharing his new stuff. I literally took the "tripod" and threw it in the trash can. He was speechless for about 30 seconds, at which point I gave him a replacement tripod. For me, the tripod (that I gave him) was cheap but still better than the "tripod" that was in the bundle. (I had planned this all along, and it was awesome for that 30 seconds!)

It was one of those "Come on in boy, sit on down and tell me 'bout yourself. So you like my daughter...?" moments!

In thinking about the options, consider the body and lenses only. And the comment above about the Canon 75-300 lens... Yeah, it's one of the weaker lenses out there. But it still works within its limitations.
 
Im a Nikon guy so I say go for the Nikon. However BH currently has the D3400 with the tele lens for the same price as that D3300 kit and you will the latest and greatest iteration of that camera. I have the D3300 and its a great camera so you cant go wrong there.

In terms of comparing the two you will find loads of Nikon V Cannon debates on the interwebs but the reality is they both take great pictures and have more than enough ability to print very reasonable sized photos so either way you cant go wrong.

As mentioned here those kits generally contain poor quality stuff (read as "absolute junk") but snag people by making it look like they come with a lot. You are better off buying used gear on craigslist than the stuff these kits come with. With these cameras you dont really need a tripod, spare batteries are cheap as are 32GB memory cards. Those silly screw on filters for the lenses are terribly poor and if you opt for the nikon you can buy any number of really great older nikon lenses for next to nothing on ebay and mount them right up to the D3300.

Regards
Dave
 
I'd go with Canon except with a different 'kit' - look at basic Rebel models and 18-55 and 55-250 STM (forget that 75-300 )
And also look at the mirrorless camera options from Sony, Canon, Fuji, etc. they are often better than the DSLRs for family, travel, etc.
www.flickr.com/photos/mmirrorless
 
you-have-a-nikon-i-have-a-camera.jpg


#sorrynotsorry
 
Thank you everyone for their input on which camera I should go with and all the additional information. Definitely helped out with my decision of choosing one. I cannot wait to get out and start shooting.
 
I would go with a mirrorless system from Sony, Panasonic, Olympus, Fuji or Canon M5. The simple reason is these systems are much smaller than a DLSR system. You will be more likely to take a smaller system with you wherever you go and consequently more likely to take more photos.
 

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