Thinking about buying a DSLR camera to get my feet wet with. Anyone have any recommendations?
The most important consideration is to buy with your ultimate photographic ambition in mind. Is photography just going to be a hobby, an enjoyable experience used to scratch that creative itch? Or do you think the potential is there that you might want to try to make some money with your shots at a table at an arts & crafts show? Chances are, you have no idea. In that case, DO NOT buy a new camera.
I highly recommend trying a few cameras out before buying, and trying them out in different conditions. I'm sure a friend or family member has some kind of DSLR. Borrow it. Do some homework on basic things like aperture and ISO. Then go try shooting landscape shots in early morning light, grab some urban shots in the afternoon, and try your hand at longer exposures in the evening (don't forget to borrow a tripod for this, thought it is possible to take longer exposures w/o one). It's pretty much impossible ex-ante to know what you'll want out of a camera. A little bit of experience goes a long, long way. Like taking shots at night? Well, you're going to want something that performs well in low light, so shutter speeds and ISO are primary considerations. Want to take action shots of family, or at s sporting event? Frames-per-second becomes a deciding factor. Basically, if you haven't f*cked around with a DSLR long enough to have an inkling of what features you want your camera to have, DO NOT buy one. If you're going to drop good money on a camera, it needs to be the right camera for you. If you don't know your photographic tastes and instincts well enough to answer the question, "What do you want out of a camera?" you shouldn't be buying one. At least, not a DSLR.
If you think you know what you want out of a camera, then it's time to shop. I do not recommend buying anything other than a Nikon or Canon. Not because other cameras are bad, but because in the DSLR world it's all about lenses. Nikon and Canon have considerable more lens options than Sony and other competitors, and because the body-quality and implicit features of Nikons, Canons, Sonys, etc are quite comparable, it will make photography much more rewarding down the line to not unnecessarily constrain your ability to get cool shots or grow as a photographer down the road. Nikon and Canon cameras - in addition to being the highest quality - offer more growth and higher resale, and I have heard from others who bought something other than a Nikon or Canon considerable regret.
The most popular entry-level Nikon is either the D3100 or D5100, and the most popular entry-level Canon is one of the series of T1i, T2i, or T3i. You can find older models of each online (Nikon D50, Canon xTi series) that, while still very good cameras, lack much of what makes later models superior. Any of the former models, if purchased new, come with a standard lens generally referred to as a "kit lens." The lens is usually sufficient, but, frankly, doesn't offer a whole hell of a lot. A notch above the D3100/D5100/T_i series is the Nikon D90 or Nikon D700, and Canon EOS 60D. If you think you might want this much camera, I would recommend keeping tabs on Craigslist, and buying only the body. It will probably run you about a bit less than what a new entry-level DSLR body/lens combination would cost, and it would allow you to buy the lens you want rather than the one the manufacturer gives you.
To sum it up: know what you want to get out of a camera before you buy one, be cognizant of the fact you don't know how - or whether - your tastes and ambitions will change after you start taking pictures, and be smart about your purchase. Try cameras out, buy a machine that offers you the most flexibility, and be patient to try and find the right camera.
FWIW Peter - and I'm not well-enough acquainted with either to know for sure - I've heard some photographers equate Nikons with PCs and Canons with Apples.
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