Please School Me on Photography [Which Camera to Buy]

Well, I think i have spend enough on other photographer to come take pictures of my beautiful daughter and after adding up the last 4 session over the last year…im close to a Nikon D3100. LOL!

Anyway i have no clue of what kind of camera to get so someone fill me in on what is the best bang for my buck taking highest quality picture etc!
Price budget under $700

Give me some insight!

School me on these bad boys!

i’m a Nikon shooter, so maybe i’m biased…i picked up my D90 a year or two ago for about a grand, but today’s 3100 is priced way below that and can probably do just as well/better. cameras are like computers, you buy the biggest and best one and 6 months later it’s obsolete. i think for 700 or so you can grab a 3100 (which comes with a kit lens), a 55-200VR (good zoom lens) and maybe even a used flash (SB600 or SB800). just remember, it’s not about the equipment, it’s about the photographer. learn the science of it first before spending massive money. if you don’t want to spend a ton, especially if you’re just starting out, just get the 3100 and the kit lens and learn from there.

http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/recommended-cameras.htm

not exactly what youre looking for but i have a brand new in box nikon coolpix here. its just a point and shoot digital camera, would sell it for 80 bucks.

I got like 3 of these point and shoot camera…time for a upgrade.

D3100 is my choice with 55-200mm lens good deal going on at delaware camera lol

i found my d90 body with 2 batteries and a grip via craigslist…had the original paperwork, box and 7600 actuations for $600…

I have a D3000 which I’m hoping to upgrade for a 3100 sometime in the near future. The 3000 series are good cameras, and the 3100 is plenty for a beginner to tinker with for a few years. Quality pictures, good speed, extremely user friendly.

As 96V6Bird said though, a camera doesn’t make the picture, the photographer does. I obviously don’t know you, but if you’re planning on picking a 3100 up, throwing it on auto, and snapping pictures in hopes of getting something of professional quality just save your money and continue the point-and-shoot. On the other hand, if you understand some basics of composition, aperture, iso’s, and shutter speed; and would like to learn more or enhance those skills, then the 3100 would be PERFECT for you imo.

nikon. yes i am biased.

decent body, with good glass. glass is the key to getting a good picture.
IIRC micah shoots with a D40.

I have a d60 I baught off a for member with case, 18-55vr 55-200vr and extras like new for $500 I think 5 years ago. Works super good.

I have a D5000 and love it. As others said above, a telephoto lens and flash will be what to get with it but your own skill will be what makes the photos. Also, don’t forget some kind of photo editing program. Post processing can make or break a photo.

MS Paint

thats the wrong way to approach it.
once you get the talent and know your camera you should barely have to edit your photos.

i also have a d5000 and love it, bought it off ebay from Adarama or something like that for 550 and it came with a 18-55 vr lens. then bestbuy had the 55-200 vr on sale for 239. so for around 800 i think i have a decent setup with no worries about it being used… every month or so the store have refurb nikons on ebay, thats how i got it for 550

You can get a D40, 35mm 1.8, SB600 and you’ll be at budget :wink:

Lipstick on a pig.

Nikon is cool because you can pick up decent quality lenses on a budget. 55-200VR was a touch above 200 when i got mine, you can also ditch the kit lens and get a 35 1.8 or a 50 1.8 and have fun all day long. Cameras are like cars. you can have a massive budget, not know what you’re doing, and be scratching your head as to why your results look like shit/having fun. Or, you can learn the science/art, start with something simple (even a used D40 is great–i shot with one for a few years) and have fun all day long. The example of this which comes to mind is when a user on here (can’t remember who) took his old shitty rattrap red Audi 4000 out on the frozen lake for the Ice Racing event, and raped the guy with his fancy new 335i

Lifehacker has been doing a “Night School” series on tips/techniques of photography. They have about 4-5 different articles up now. Here is the first part:

yea good luck finding a 35mm new ANYWHERE, and if not new you are going to pay more than MSRP lol that being said, i stole one a month ago for $125 lol

yes, i agree 100%

i’ll just put in my .02 buying a nice camera isn’t going to give you the pics you are looking for right off the bat, you are going to have to work at it and learn, dont expect the same quality pics just cause you spent 1K on a camera

Dont know how much they want at Delaware… but here are some links

http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=nikon+d3100&hl=en&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&biw=799&bih=386&wrapid=tlif130891935841010&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=1880600673401024319&sa=X&ei=g4cETqvuKsfc0QGbi5XBCw&ved=0CGUQ8wIwATiqAQ#

http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=nikon+d3100&hl=en&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&biw=799&bih=386&wrapid=tlif130891935841010&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=11848412621773698634&sa=X&ei=g4cETqvuKsfc0QGbi5XBCw&ved=0CIYBEPMCMAM4qgE#

bestbuy right now has a d5000 with a 18-55 and a 55-200 zoom lens for 699. they say its $250 off the origional price

If you can find it at best buy for that, you can probably find it on the interweb for the same price minus tax.