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Lookin to buy the missus a new camera for christmas this year. She wants a spendy ass fancy one (they all do). Any one here know much bout DSLR cameras? I got my mind set on a Nikon D3100. From what ive read, it takes great pics and has everything a beginner needs. Still costs bout $650 Any advice?

And here I'm hesitant on pulling the trigger on a $49 digital camera purchase so I don't have to use electrical tape to hold the battery door closed on my current camera...

Adopt me...

rad14701 wrote:And here I'm hesitant on pulling the trigger on a $49 digital camera purchase so I don't have to use electrical tape to hold the battery door closed on my current camera...

Adopt me...

LMAO rad, I still have my Pentax K-1000 and trying to find digital that will use my lens. Great lens it is 28-200 mm manual focus.

MuleKicker wrote:Lookin to buy the missus a new camera for christmas this year. She wants a spendy ass fancy one (they all do). Any one here know much bout DSLR cameras? I got my mind set on a Nikon D3100. From what ive read, it takes great pics and has everything a beginner needs. Still costs bout $650 Any advice?

mulekicker, i use this site for comparative study: http://www.dpreview.com/news/1008/10081 ... nd3100.asp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow . you can find almost everything made since the '90's. what you've read is true for most brand name dslr's made. be glad it's a camera and not diamonds. cob

Azframer wrote:

rad14701 wrote:And here I'm hesitant on pulling the trigger on a $49 digital camera purchase so I don't have to use electrical tape to hold the battery door closed on my current camera...

Adopt me...

LMAO rad, I still have my Pentax K-1000 and trying to find digital that will use my lens. Great lens it is 28-200 mm manual focus.

pentax k10d and k20d will take all pentax screw mount lenses using a pentax "B" adapter. you loose auto focus, but the anti shake is in the camera body.

before you buy online search brooklyn store fronts for BAD sales practices from more than 1000 fraudulent and / or shady internet camera sites. do your reaserch well. the lowest online prices are almost always associated with a brooklyn store front selling grey market, or out of box merchandise.

edit; 7, yes 7 spotmatics, all lensed up, with no place to go.

sweet. thanks cob

I have the Nikon D5000 and think it's fantastic, it's the first Nikon I've owned and I really like the software it comes with and how easy the camera is to operate, as well as the quality of shots it takes once you learn how to operate it.

I'm guessing the D3100 wouldnt be much different.

Cheers.

cool. she really wants a D90, but i dont think she needs something that kickass. She aint no professional photographer. i have been looking at referbs on ebay, and dont know what to get. You say the d5000 is easy to use? i have read the 3100 is a little difficult if your a beginner, maybe the 5000 is the way to go. alls i know is its a shit load of money no matter what way i go.

Being a DSLR it has a lot of functions that takes a while to get your head around, I've had my D5000 for about a year now and still dont know how to use it to it's full potential but I'm not too concerned about it.

I've worked out the settings I need to take the shots I like taking, and there is a great iphone app you can get that gives you setting you need for the conditions your in.

So maybe it's not really that easy, but nowhere near as difficult to operate as some other brands in it class.

If you did go for the D5000 I think you would love it and it should serve you well for many years, I dont regret buying mine and have gone and bought a tripod, another zoom lense, remote control etc etc.

It's addictive

Great..... All I need is another addictive/expensive hobby Cool. Thanks fer da info man.

I just found a Referb D90 body for $675. Might be a good deal, but still gotta get at least 1 lense to get her goin.

When I would build computers I would check pricewatch.com for prices. They have camera section, I should check there myself.
http://www.pricewatch.com/cameras/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

Edit= Look to left side you can shop by brand name

Mulekicker, unless it's new on ebay I would stay away from it. I learned my lesson buying my wife a nice used jewelery box for her birthday....I still haven't lived it down.

Surprised nobody mentioned the Canon's. I think their color is better...just in general (nikons tend to over saturate...particularly reds). Canons have the most natural color to my eye. But, you can take great pics with any of them if you have the right controls and a good eye. Just depends on what you like really.

NIKON for sure. had a couple canons...hated em.
i've had a few nikons, loved every single one. the one that i use for work stuff (and the pics that i post here) is a d40x. had it for a few years now. it's just an entry level dslr...it was pretty cheap, bought it at costco, came with 2 lenses. bought a nice lens for it that cost more than the kit/body+2lenses. it's an 18-200 dx vr...it is awesome. my image sensor is shot from life in the workshop, but other than that, it's been a great camera.

i will never need a high end dslr, i just don't have the time to learn how to use it. the d40x was/is perfect, and when i finally kill it (should be soon, i'm hard on my stuff), i'll prolly buy another one.

costco has this one, looks like the same kit that i got, just with a different body...guess they don't make the d40 any more:
http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.as ... 83&topnav=

Each their own. I sent two Nikons back....colors over saturated and reds look like a stop light. (glowing).
http://www.digitalcamerainfo.com/conten ... rmance.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow
D5000 looks a little better in that regard. To each his/her own.

Usge wrote:To each his/her own.

indeed. i have quite a few friends that LOVE their canons, and they take GREAT pics of the same type of stuff that i do.

for me, the biggest factor is ease-of-use/interface...the second biggest is whether or not the camera makes the same choices that i would in the auto modes (know what i mean...like if i knew how to use all of the manual settings, would i choose the same thing as the camera does in auto mode). both of these factors, the nikon wins hands down (for me!).

...also, it should be said, that for me, the camera is a rough tool. i always photoshop everything, so i'm mainly concerned with the basics of image capture...depth-of-filed, lighting, composition, focus, etc....i always do color-corrections, contrast, saturation, etc., in photoshop.

i have a rebel g film slr that i got about 15 years ago, i had an s400, and an s200 (my wife's). i was very disappointed with them, so i never bought another canon.
i didn't say "canons suck," i said, "had a couple canons...hated em." it's all a matter of opinion...and my opinion is NIKON makes the best camera out there (for me!).

MuleKicker wrote:Great..... All I need is another addictive/expensive hobby Cool. Thanks fer da info man.

I just found a Referb D90 body for $675. Might be a good deal, but still gotta get at least 1 lense to get her goin.

hey dude, i actually have the lenses that came with the kit i posted a link to above...i have never really used them, prolly never will. if you end up with a body and need a lens, gimme a holler...i'm sure we could work out some sort of a trade fer somthin...

I have no problem at all with any color on my Nikon, I absolutely hate Canon camera software and found the camera functions a bitch to use.

Cheers.

edit: quick pic of Santa on auto focus without adjusting any other settings.
No problems here with colour I dont think.

I'm another Nikon fan. I currently have a D200 and a bunch of Nikon film SLRs. I wouldn't go for an older camera like the D90 even if it is refurbished. The reason being that camera technology is continually improving so you will likely get better quality results from a newer model even if it is slightly lower spec. Most people also wont generally miss the more advanced options.

Having a quick look at the D3100 it looks like a nice camera. The main downside to this camera that I can see is that it will only autofocus with the newer AF-S lenses. This more than likely wont be a problem for you as you probably dont have any older AF lenses lying round and AF-S is quieter and quicker anyway but just something to note.

I see the D3100 comes as a kit with either an 18-55 or an 18 - 55 and a 55 - 200. If its cheaper to get the two lenses as a kit (probably is) and you can afford it I would suggest getting both as they are about the only two lenses you are likely to need

Apart from that as a general rule it is better to spend less on a camera body (which will date quickly) and more on good quality lenses (even getting a new body and second hand lenses).

One site I do read a bit is http://www.kenrockwell.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow he does review the D3100 here http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d3100.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow I find that he is very picky about cameras and lenses so if he says something good about a camera then its generally pretty good. He has reviews of both canon and nikon gear but generally uses nikon.

Thats about it but I will note that its interesting how different people view their cameras. Someone mentioned in an earlier post about a camera being a rough tool and photoshop for everything. I view it completely the other way round. When I am taking photos I try to get the best image I can out of the camera and only touch up in minor places if I really have to. I'm not saying there is anything wrong with either approach but thats just my view and for me the fun and the skill come in getting the camera to capture the moment in just the way that I want.

treka wrote: Thats about it but I will note that its interesting how different people view their cameras. Someone mentioned in an earlier post about a camera being a rough tool and photoshop for everything. I view it completely the other way round. When I am taking photos I try to get the best image I can out of the camera and only touch up in minor places if I really have to. I'm not saying there is anything wrong with either approach but thats just my view and for me the fun and the skill come in getting the camera to capture the moment in just the way that I want.

yeah, that was me. i am definitely NOT a photographer, but i also look to get the best out of my camera as i can...and the best cameras for my needs have proven to be nikon. 99% of what i take pictures of is documentation of my artwork, and once i capture the image, i just give it a quick shopping...just fading auto-levels and auto-color, with a little fine tuning to get a good representation of the work...and i have a dirty image sensor, so i always have to touch up specks on the final stuff.

the sh*tty thing about digital is that the image sensor is susceptible to the environment that i use it in...where as film, you get a fresh "image sensor" with every shot. mine is totally wasted...tried a few different methods of cleaning it, and just made it worse. installing a new one is pretty spendy, so i'll prolly just use it as an excuse to get a new body.

dammit..... you guys aint makin this any easier I got a buddy whos got a higher end cannon. about the same price range as im looking for. i thought it took good pics too, but the old lady is stuck on nikon.... just like everything else expensive

Nice santa Austin

Con, may be lookin ya up fer tose lenses

MK - I bought a D3000 early this year. Nice camera, great picks, easy to use.Got a package deal at Best Buy so I got a 55-200 zoom with the camera. I think you'd be good with the D3100.

Big R

OK. I got the D3100. I wasnt gonna post it till after I gave it to her, well... cuz didnt want her to see the post. But, well in the event of taking pictures of the little one today, Thought it was just a shame that that baby was sittin in the basement hidden away, while we were takin christmas pics with the POS. So I excused myself for a moment, came back in the room and threw it at her.... dont you think this would work better? The funny part was, she thought I was gettin her a gun. She dont like guns I am a techy kinda guy, so I hated having that thing sittin there when I could be figgurin out how to work all those fancy buttons.

I'll be looking forward to seeing some photo's from you now.

Good choice of camera and I'm sure you wont regret it.

yeah... after i figger out how to use the damn thing... this sob has more bells and whistles than a guy knows what to do with. Hell the user manual is a damn novel...

MK - ya gotta do it like I do; put it on auto and hope for the best .