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what DSLR is good for beginners?

GSMjohn2012

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what DSLR (canon/nikon) is good for beginners?

until now i'm still undecided which dslr i want to be.,

please help...

your dslr camera + recommended lens,.,

example: 650D + AF 50mm f/1.8D...,



thanks a lot.
 
Nikon D3100 + kit lens would be a good buy right now if you can still find one. A 1.8D 50 mm is a nice extra lens to have, they're very good and don't cost the Earth. A telephoto zoom (say 50 - 200 ish) is a useful extra too.
 
Sony/Nikon/Canon all have great entry level DSLRs these days... If you are just wanting to know a little more about photography and adjusting settings a mirrorless isn't a bad option.
 
I like the D3100 and similar. They're physically small, which strikes me as a big win over the more expensive DSLRs.

You could argue that one should jump in with a "good" model, which you won't outgrow, I suppose. My feeling is that the notion of outgrowing a camera is largely a fantasy designed to justify buying a shiny new toy, and I find the prosumer/pro models to be insanely huge and heavy for the most part. I held a D600 a couple weeks ago and was blown away by how simply massive it was.

I don't know why I think bigger is less suitable for newbies, though. Perhaps I am just rationalizing, myself!
 
ANY AND ALL DSLRs being sold today will be fine for a beginner. They all let you manually control an image and that is what a beginner needs to learn.
 
Honestly, I posted the same thread as you about a week ago, and I learned that it's really just personal preference.
I have heard a lot of good things about the Nikon D3100 for beginners, but really, anything will be just fine. I just ordered the Nikon D5100 and I heard it's amazing, so that's the one I went with just because it suits some of the needs I have. It's up to you! There is nothing against Canon, I just like Nikon.
 
How much do you have to spend?

D4 + Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8

That would be what i wished i started with...
 
I like the D3100 and similar. They're physically small, which strikes me as a big win over the more expensive DSLRs.

You could argue that one should jump in with a "good" model, which you won't outgrow, I suppose. My feeling is that the notion of outgrowing a camera is largely a fantasy designed to justify buying a shiny new toy, and I find the prosumer/pro models to be insanely huge and heavy for the most part. I held a D600 a couple weeks ago and was blown away by how simply massive it was.

I don't know why I think bigger is less suitable for newbies, though. Perhaps I am just rationalizing, myself!

Totally agree with you. For OP, it all comes down to your budget and which one you feel comfortable with in terms of learning experience and comfort. My puny budget only allows me with used gear and I picked the D3100 because it is comfortable in my hands and my learning experience with it is at least not complicated since I am a newbie and a slow learner.
 
The best one you can afford.
 
i don't get why everyone always suggests the brand new cameras. You could get a used camera that's been out for a few years like the D50 or D90 much cheaper and put a little into glass and have a good kit for a beginner.
 
i don't get why everyone always suggests the brand new cameras. You could get a used camera that's been out for a few years like the D50 or D90 much cheaper and put a little into glass and have a good kit for a beginner.

Used cameras can be good also, I usually recommend the new ones for warranty reasons and because it is easier for people to find training videos on the menu systems of the new camera.
 
The best DSLR for beginners is the cheapest one, Nikon or Canon. Those are the top two brands. The differences is in how the cameras work, meaning the controls. Don't worry about technology. Pros use either brand. What matters is what controls and features you like. But get the cheapest one because even it will be capable of more than you can get out of it. Invest in education. When you outgrow the camera, then worry about spending more.
 
I like the D3100 and similar. They're physically small, which strikes me as a big win over the more expensive DSLRs.

You could argue that one should jump in with a "good" model, which you won't outgrow, I suppose. My feeling is that the notion of outgrowing a camera is largely a fantasy designed to justify buying a shiny new toy, and I find the prosumer/pro models to be insanely huge and heavy for the most part. I held a D600 a couple weeks ago and was blown away by how simply massive it was.

I don't know why I think bigger is less suitable for newbies, though. Perhaps I am just rationalizing, myself!

You're mostly right, there are occasions where you need functions more readily available that the base models can't provide. Sometimes better autofocus is needed that the more expensive cameras have and the lesser ones don't. (Nikon excels here)

For the most part in a consumer grade camera the difference is that the newer one is shinier.


BTW, borrow a Pacemaker Speedgraphic for a while and your 'size issues' will go away. LOL
 
Oh, I have an F1 and an RZ67, I know from big ;)

The D600 just seemed huge because I can't figure out what on earth the extra size and mass is giving the user over my D3100. Do focus points and megapixels actually weigh more? Why do they make the body balloon up like some crazed zeppelin made out of lead? (har har har)
 

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