What type of camera should I plan to get?

Impassioned · Feb 8, 2014

Hello,
This is my first post on this forum, and I was hoping someone would like to tell me what kind of camera would be best for me.
DSLR vs SLR? Type? Model?
I enjoy photographing:
Pets
Wildlife
Landscapes
People
Night time scenes.
Mostly, animals and landscapes which includes night scene, so a camera that could take good night shots without a flash would be good.
I'll be starting out with my father's old camera soon, though I have done mobile picture that I may post. His camera is a SLR, any tips for SLR's would be appreciated as well.
If anything else is needed to help get a better idea let me know!
Thanks in advance.

Nevermore1 · Feb 8, 2014

Budget????

robbins.photo · Feb 8, 2014

Impassioned said:
Hello,
This is my first post on this forum, and I was hoping someone would like to tell me what kind of camera would be best for me.
DSLR vs SLR? Type? Model?
I enjoy photographing:
Pets
Wildlife
Landscapes
People
Night time scenes.
Mostly, animals and landscapes which includes night scene, so a camera that could take good night shots without a flash would be good.
I'll be starting out with my father's old camera soon, though I have done mobile picture that I may post. His camera is a SLR, any tips for SLR's would be appreciated as well.
If anything else is needed to help get a better idea let me know!
Thanks in advance.

Given the types of pictures you mentioned some form of DSLR will probably be your best bet, but as nevermore1 mentioned it would help a lot in making a recommendation if we had some idea as to what your planned budget might be.

Impassioned · Feb 9, 2014

Well, I have quite a bit to save so probably around $800-$1,500. I'm not sure what a good price range is though.
I know lenses can get quite pricey as well so I'm not quite sure how much i should try to put aside if I really would like to go for photography. (I enjoy it a lot.)

goodguy · Feb 9, 2014

Impassioned said:
Well, I have quite a bit to save so probably around $800-$1,500. I'm not sure what a good price range is though.
I know lenses can get quite pricey as well so I'm not quite sure how much i should try to put aside if I really would like to go for photography. (I enjoy it a lot.)

Nikon D7100 with its kit lens 18-140mm VR or 18-105mm VR either one of these lenses is great.
To that add Nikon 50mm 1.8G for portraits and night photography
And a telezoom Nikon 70-300mm VR for birding and animal shots

Thats a great starting set that should cover your beginners needs.

As for SLR vs DSLR well thats a matter of personal taste, I don't like SLR, all the mess of buying film, processing it it too time consuming and expensive.
Also new modern cameras gives you much better AF systems but this really is about personal taste.

robbins.photo · Feb 9, 2014

Impassioned said:
Well, I have quite a bit to save so probably around $800-$1,500. I'm not sure what a good price range is though.
I know lenses can get quite pricey as well so I'm not quite sure how much i should try to put aside if I really would like to go for photography. (I enjoy it a lot.)

Ok, well actually with that budget you've got some really great options in the DSLR realm. As GG mentioned for wildlife really one of the best telephoto lenses to start with, especially on a budget, is the Nikkor 70-300 mm AF-S VR. The are usually right around $600 new or roughly $300 used. I bought a used on myself and it really is a fantastic lens - very sharp, produces great photos.

The D7100 is probably the best crop sensor camera currently on the market, and it has a lot of great features. Dual SD Card slots, weather sealed, 24 mp sensor, the works. The other camera you might want to take a look at would be the Nikon D5200 - it lacks some of the control buttons on the outisde (such as a dedicated ISO button and a few others) but it also has the 24 mp sensor and takes great pictures, they are cheaper than the D7100 and certainly a viable option if you don't need everything the 7100 offers.

I'd recommend you start with the kit lens first, shoot with that for a while and then once you get your feet wet look at purchasing a prime or two, again as GG mentioned the 50 mm 1.8 is a great value and a wonderful place to start for a prime lens.

goodguy · Feb 9, 2014

robbins.photo said:
As GG mentioned for wildlife really one of the best telephoto lenses to start with, especially on a budget, is the Nikkor 70-300 mm AF-S VR. The are usually right around $600 new or roughly $300 used. I bought a used on myself and it really is a fantastic lens - very sharp, produces great photos.

Here north of you fellow in the great country we call Canada the Nikon 70-300mm VR goes for around 470$ CAN and since Canadian Dollar has been going down compared to US Dollar that means even a better deal for our brothers south of us

http://www.blacks.ca/blacks/jump/pr...kon-Lenses-and-Flashes/product.jsp?prdId=8077

But I am always very pro buying lenses used.
All my lenses bought used and I am very happy with all of them, got my Nikon 70-300mm VR for 280$ used and I know of others that got it for even less but I agree with R.P that in average the going price is 300$ used.