Best camera for a new photographer?

SantaCruzRunner

Senior Member
Just looking to see what the best camera would be for a new photographer. i want to start on my way to becoming a professional photographer. since christmas is coming up im hoping i could get one at a better price. im looking for something that will be HD of course and take good videos as well. any imput would be greatly appreciated!
 
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Since they all have a full-auto mode, even a feature-laden DSLR is a viable choice. I would get something like a lower-tier Nikon or Canon DSLR with a nice zoom lens that will give you some range to play with. You can use the auto feature to help with exposure while you're learning, but you'll have other options at the ready for experimentation. For example, shutter-priority and aperture-priority are handy modes that point-n-shoots won't have. Definitely stick with the big names for best quality, both for the camera and the photo quality--while others may be fine, with a Nikon or Canon you're pretty much guaranteed of getting good stuff. Also, get a heavy-duty tripod (avoid really light ones--not stable, and probably not durable, either). Good padded camera bag and proper lens cleaning kit should go without saying. Have fun--it's a great hobby!
 
You'll certainly get different opinions on brand, but don't buy a camera that you haven't held. How a camera feels in your hand and how intuitive the controls are will make more of a difference in your photography than specifications will.

That said, I have a Nikon D3000, which is the most entry-level DSLR that Nikon has made recently. The current iteration, the D3200, will shoot 1080p video (mine does not). This entry level version also includes a 'Guide' mode that will step you through some of the more manual adjustments that BucknutBob mentioned, like shutter speed and aperture, for different kinds of shots.
I would certainly recommend a DSLR over a point-and-shoot since you're wanting to eventually upgrade. Most lenses that you'd buy for an entry-level DSLR could also be used as you upgrade the camera body.

Good luck with your purchase decision; let us know what you end up with.
 
Nikon. One you can add lenses to later is nice, but around 500 for the cheapest. I have a 35mm and several lenses, hoping for a digital at Christmas.
 
I am no professional photographer, and do not have a lot of experience with higher end cameras.

That being said, I love my Sony A55 and it has been a great learning experience as well as making me look far better than I am in the auto and scene modes in the mean time.

As far as shooting video, a still Camera can do an okay job but still isn't as good as an actual video camera. I don't use mine often for video, but have heard complaints from others about it re-focusing too fast making the video a bit difficult to watch. (I have also heard the Cannon and Nikon focus slower than the average video recorder.) I know with mine the other problem is the image stabilization will heat the camera up in a hurry doing video, so a tripod for video is a must have.
 
any dslr will do, but i say buy one you can grow into and may even have a hard time growing out of.


you're getting ready to make a big decision if this is something your going to get into this hobby and that is which camp you want to be in and it basically breaks down to nikon or cannon as lenses aren't interchangeable from manufacture to manufacturer, so once you start on a platform and get some lenses together it will be very expensive to switch to the other company....

take a look at it, any of the good lenses will cost more than you paid for the camera itself and there's waaayyy more going on there than weather sealing for that price, the lenses are the key to the whole thing, the quality of camera is meaningless without good glass as the lens is the eyes of the camera and is what actually captures all of the light for the camera to process , think of it as a rev limiter at 1.2k rpm's on an alcohol funny car...

so don't do that, get a good camera but get better glass and glass that will last, imho, this is a bigger choice than which body to get...depending on how long or how much you plan on getting into this...


personally i think if your going to buy a dlsr plan on being in it a long time, i currently use a cannon 60d which is an awesome camera for the money and a cool little secret among the techies , it's one of the few crop sensor cameras that have basically full weather proofing like that found on the higher end full frames like the 7d , the only difference is a single gasket around the sd card door which can be fixed for 20 cents ....anyways i digress, i'm a fan boy of my camera....the point i was making is i bought my first "real" SLR camera in 2000 the cannon elean 7ne, 12 years ago, in that time i acquired a number of lenses for it and built my little collection

then the digital SLR's came in and took hold and most film cameras became obsolete... i didn't buy my first DLSR until 2 years ago,i was able to use all of my old lenses without issues which really saved me alot of money, i hope be using all of my lenses for the next 12 years or more to come as well..... so it may be a hobby that you may not really be all that into but may be in it for the long haul anyways, i was kind of over it once developing film and mixing chemicals became a lost art and anyone could make good photo's using instagram or the like , but i still use all of my old equipment with the new stuff and get great results; so even though i'm not really into photography any more the investment has served me well in the long run, especially on vacations or family events.

i've had my current camera in almost every condition imaginable and it has never let me down, i was really surprised in Thailand and Doha during the monsoons and dust storms that it didn't even flinch, i bought the camera right before that trip with the best buy return plan thinking i would put the camera to the test, the camera won,lol, since then it's been on various road trips,ski trips, and all of the rest . i paired it with a clik elite camera bag and haven't looked back!
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bahaha...cool story bro...sorry bout the novel..:p
 
If I was in the market for a new DSLR , I would 110% buy Nikon D7000.
You will grow into it and will take you years to outgrow it.

I bought a D5000. As much as it does the job, the more I learn, the less it can keep up with me.

if you are willing to learn photography and not just use the Auto button, DO NOt buy an entry level. just my IMHo
 
That said, I have a Nikon D3000, which is the most entry-level DSLR that Nikon has made recently. The current iteration, the D3200, will shoot 1080p video (mine does not). This entry level version also includes a 'Guide' mode that will step you through some of the more manual adjustments that BucknutBob mentioned, like shutter speed and aperture, for different kinds of shots.
I would certainly recommend a DSLR over a point-and-shoot since you're wanting to eventually upgrade. Most lenses that you'd buy for an entry-level DSLR could also be used as you upgrade the camera body.

I agree 100%. I was in your exact situation and went with the same camera and love it. It takes wonderful pictures. I have them blown up to any size and printed on giant canvas and displayed in galleries for sale. The lens are swapable with different ones which is awesome. And despite it not shooting 1080 it does shoot 720 HD video up to 10 minutes.

Give a quick read through my thread HERE
 
If you have plans of becoming a pro, buy a decent used body (no point in investing in a new body since your future will be to replace it with a pro body) and invest your money in full-frame lenses. Then when you can afford a full-frame camera, you'll be ready.
 
Just looking to see what the best camera would be for a new photographer. i want to start on my way to becoming a professional photographer. since christmas is coming up im hoping i could get one at a better price. im looking for something that will be HD of course and take good videos as well. any imput would be greatly appreciated!

Just remember, it's not the camera, it the person behind the camera! Having said that, I would suggest you head over to Digital Photography Review

When I was shooting professionally, I was using Hasselblad and Canon. Once I switched over to all digital, I stayed with Canon. If I had to pick a camera for you to start with, I would suggest the Canon G1X. here's why:

1) fully automatic

2) fully manual

3) hot shoe for a flash

4) This camera is commonly referred to as, " the professional's point & shoot camera."

5) there are very few camera that out preform this camera, including image quality.

6) A bit more expensive, however, with point & shoot cameras, you get what you pay for,,,

7) It's a Canon! I have the older G10, and will soon be replacing it for this newer version!


Many will try and talk you into a buying a SLR; and that is an option for you. However, starting out with the G1, it's simple, fits in your pocket, will do everything you could ever want!

Lastly, if you buy, order online from New York from B&H and do not buy "gray."

Best of luck!

Jay

Connecticut
 
Just get yourself the Sony NEX-5N 16.0MP Compact Interchangeable Lens Camera with 18-55mm Lens $430 and call it a day.

Sony NEX-5N 16.0MP Compact Interchangeable Lens Camera with 18-55mm Lens $430 + Free Shipping - Ebay.com Deals, Coupons and Promos

41JkpUxOo6L._SL500_AA300_.jpg








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I love my canon t3i. It's my first dslr and I had it for about a year. I compared it with its competition I think it was a Nikon d3000 or something like that.

I didn't like the way Nikon felt in my hands so I went with canon.
If you'll ever be using it for video as well, I would go with the new canon t4i.
IMO canon beats Nikon for video, ask the pros
 
If I had the chance to start over, I would invest in a canon 7d instead, but not worth the loss for me now.

But more importantly is the lens you buy for them in the future.
 
What is your budget? Nikon just released both the D800 and the D600 which made the D700 drop in price considerably. It's a good time to get into an FX camera.
 
I think that you need to get something nice...the above mentioned are excellent choices. BUT, this is only if you're planning on doing this seriously.

For me, if i were to buy today, then i would get the Sony RX100...but then again, i like compact design. My brother has the Canon D5 or D6...the $3000 one. Lens put him at $6000+ i think. That is way too hardcore for me. RX100 is a P&S with manual controls and a relatively huge-ass sensor (and nice lens).
 
I think that you need to get something nice...the above mentioned are excellent choices. BUT, this is only if you're planning on doing this seriously.

His plan is to try to become a professional photographer.

If that is your goal, you need to think SLR because you need to think big sensor. That's the bottom line. That article above is very interesting and great, but for the time being, there is no substitute for a big sensor. Period.
 

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