Thinking about buying a new camera, DSLR. Anyone have anything they can share about the Nikon D3000 camera.
Thanks
John
Ive got a Canon Rebel Xti. Its a GREAT camera, dont get me wrong, but the only reason i got it was because i couldnt afford the compareable Nikon ;D Its not to say that there arent other good cameras out there, but I did a ton of research before i bougt mine and time and time again Nikon was the camera that came out on top. They are expensive, and might be a little overkill for an amateur(like me!) but if you can afford it and are looking for one of the best go with a Nikon!
disclaimer these are the opinions of somewhat who cant take a picture worth a darn even with a $700 camera and the only function i know how to use is the auto mode.
Hey Shawn, I happened to see this camera in Sams Club for $529.00 with a Nikor lens. Which I think is a really good price.
I did a lot of comparisons before buying my DSLR last year. I looked at the Nikon and the Cannon cameras extensively, read all the color comparisons, exposure variations, body weight, lens availability as well as professional opinions. What I was able to ascertain is the cameras themselves are very comparable and there is no clear winner.
What sets the cameras apart are the lenses. Cannon has a clear advantage and leads the industry for quality of their lenses. Back before the good cameras were digital the lens really made the difference in picture quality. Cannon realized this early on and focused their R&D dollars in to creating the best lenses. The tradition continues with the DSLR now.
Keep in mind it’s the “little things” that will make a difference. Can you frame a picture using the LCD screen or do you have to use the eye piece? How available are after-market accessories such as flashes? (and trust me you want a better flash then the pop-up that comes on the camera body). What kind of warranty? Can you buy non-digital stabilized lenses? How fast is the re-charge rate? Is there a burst mode for fast action?
Sorry - I realize this is a little long winded but photography has been a hobby for about 20 years now.
Thanks for the info. I am not very informed about photography, I am very much an amatuer. From what I have read about this unit, it’s a perfect match for someone like me. Again, I am going to be using this camera for shooting pictures of family , indoors and out. And of course, pics of my tank and corals. This is an upgrade from my old Nikon Coolpix 4 MP, which I never had a problem of any kind.
I will do some more reading about this camera and look for answers for the questions you have listed for me.
Thanks for your help, I am in no way in ahurry to spend alot of money just to buy a camera. Just looking for one that is easy to use for me and not very expensive.
Craig brought up probably one of the most important things about buying a DSLR. The lenses are what really matters. If you have a chance, regardless of the camera you pick, i would buy just the body and skip the kit lense. The problem is, at least when i bought mine, was that not every camera was sold with only the body and when they were the kits on sale were pretty much the same price. Dont get me wrong, the kit lense is fine for taking pics right out of the box and does a fine job for regular pics. However, its probably better to buy the body + a nice lense right from the get go if you can. Unfortunately, its pretty tought to find a place that will sell you a body and lense of your pick except for some of the camera shops which is usually much more expensive. Again, this was just my impression from all the homework i did a couple of years ago when i bought mine…and still havent learned how to use the damn thing!!
very comparable and there is no clear winner.Craig obviously has a lot more knowledge than i don on the subject and seems to have done more recent research. I will point out a couple of things though just to help you make a more informed decision. There are high quality 3rd party lenses available for both Cannon and Nikon. For some categories the third party manufactures are better reviewed than the OEM lenses. The Canon is a good camera. I love my Rebel Xti and wouldnt change it for anything. However, i noticed a lot of times that when reviewers compare cameras they often compare cameras that are in the same price range not the same class necessarily. What this means is that you can typically get more bang for you buck with a Canon, Sony, Fuji, etc over a compareable priced Nikon because its typically not in the same class. When comparing cameras of the same class, the Nikon is almost alwasy more expensive but also usually reviewed a little better as well.
One thing that i didnt mention before that Craig hinted at is that most of the little things that can make a Nikon better reviewed than a Canon(or other) probably would never in a million years affect you or I. My advice, is to compare the Nikon your interested in with the compareable Canon and Sony models. If you can get a well reviewed Canon with all the same features for a lot less then consider the Canon. If the price difference is negligible, go with the Nikon.
Another little hint. One of the best things about DSLRs is the “burst” mode that will allow you to rapidly take a bunch of pics in succession. This comes in really handy when taking pics of moving objects like fish and children. If this is a feature you think you will use then make sure you dont cheap out when buying your flash card. Most people only look at the storage capacity and base their purchase on the most GB for the least $. While storage is important, the write speed is much more important when taking pictures quickly. I bought a professional card that has only 1GB but a VERY high write speed. I also have a 5GB card for trips when i likely wont use the burst mode but will take a large quantity of pics.
I read a review of the NikonD3000 that I am interested in buying, and the pro said it was the worst camera that Nikon has ever made.Then I read from the same pro, that he loves using his Nikon D40 with 6MP, for his own personal everday pictures.Took a look at Nikon D90, really has the things that you guys talked about, but the body itself is @ $800.
I am going to start looking at some Canon cameras, and I really appreciate the help from all.
Thanks
Well, after doing alot of reading, I am now thinking of getting Nikon D90. It has 12MP, 4.5 FPS burst, and a 3" lcd screen. The only thing I am not sure about is spending so much money. I have found just the body for @ $760, and then have to still buy a lens. I am figuring that a good investment in a decent camera body is a good starting point, and it is able to use all of Nikon lenses.
Then, I can put all my attention on buying good lenses to use, because like everyone has said to me, lenses are what makes a good camera.
Anyone’s thoughts or advice about this purchase would be greatly appreciated
Ok I checked out Bestbuy.com where you can compare several models side-by-side.
I looked at the Canon XS, Nikon D3k, and Nikon D90
The first 2 are the similarly comparable models. I looked at these to see what the major difference is between the “lower priced” models as I personally think that unless you’re shooting professionally the D90 may be overkill.
Here’s what I’ve been able to find is the major advantage to the D90 over the other 2:
More megapixels
It takes movies
Face detection
ISO can be set to 3200 for exptremely low light photography
AC Adapter
Advantages of Nikons over Canons:
Larger LCD screen
5 or 20 sec. self timer delay
Advantages of Canon:
More white balance options
Better Lenses
Bulb mode for leaving the shutter open as long as you want to
Both the Canon and Nikon 3000 can be purchased w/ a kit lens for under $550. Most of the “technical specifications” are to get amatuer photographers excited. Like I said I think the D90 is overkill for all but wedding photographers. Hell even most DSLR have more options then you (or even I) are ever going to use.
If I had a choice I would buy a cheaper camera body and purchase a couple nice lenses with the difference. In this hoby you’re going to want a really good macro lens to get the ridiculously close-up pictures. The kit lenses are great for taking pictures of the dog and kids in the back yard.
Personally I am a Canon guy, but I can just as easily find 10 Nikon guys for every 10 Canon guys. Either way you’re going to be pleased. Each of the “lower end” DSLR I referenced above is going to be 1000 times nicer then any digital camera you’ve used to date.
You’re doing the right thing by reading the revews and comparing options. Just be sure you’re comparing things that actually matter to you. I don’t care how fast the car can go if I know I am never going to break 65 mph. Find novice reviews, people like oyu and me that have used each camera and are sharing opinions - don’t worry about the professional opinions - those guys will use the D90 (or better) everyday then test the D40 and tell you what garbage it is. But if I went from using a 35mm point and shoot to the D40 I would tell you how awesome it was. (ok well maybe not ME - but you get the point)
Here is a picture I took with my Canon XS right out of the box on full auto:
Thanks Craig for your time and your advice. I will buy a cheaper camera body and put the savings toward better lenses. My old camera is a Nikon coolpix4500 with 4MP, I like the Nikon brand, never had any problems with since I bought it about 6 years ago. Probally go with the Nikon D40 camera body for now and I hope you wouldn’t mind when I am ready to get lenses, if I ask you for your advice again. When you pass by me again down here, I would like to offer you a couple of freebie frags, your chioce.
Those are some pretty nice shots just on full auto
My pleasure. Really no need for frags, the idea behind a club and it’s forums is helping people.
Thank you for the offer though.
On that note… Don’t go with the d40 I think you’d end up being dissapointed. It really is missing some basic features that you’ll want to have as your skills increase.