My wife is looking for a new camera. She wants something she can take better photographs with. I'm thinking digital SLR but I have no idea where to start.

 

I don't want to get crazy with this and would like to keep it in the 500-600 dollar range if possible. I would be OK with buying used if it were from a good source.

 

Any advice about what to buy or where to look?

 

Saw this one in action, very nice fixed lens.

 

$469.00

My wife is looking for a new camera. She wants something she can take better photographs with. I'm thinking digital SLR but I have no idea where to start.

 

I don't want to get crazy with this and would like to keep it in the 500-600 dollar range if possible. I would be OK with buying used if it were from a good source.

 

Any advice about what to buy or where to look?

This is a very good camera for that range. The seller also looks to be pretty reputable. The 18-55mm lens will be good to get her started. Though I'd say she would be wanting the 55-200mm lens very soon.

 

If you decide to buy new. I know every photographer I've spoken with says http://www.bhphotovideo.com/ is the best place to order from.

 

We got my mother this camera for Mother's Day in 2009...she has absolutely loved it. It only took one T-Ball season for her to quickly realize she wanted the 55-200mm lens though---which became part of her Xmas. My friend is a photographer specializing in SR photo's and highly recommends this model of camera (although he uses a higher end version himself).

This is a very good camera for that range. The seller also looks to be pretty reputable. The 18-55mm lens will be good to get her started. Though I'd say she would be wanting the 55-200mm lens very soon.

 

If you decide to buy new. I know every photographer I've spoken with says http://www.bhphotovideo.com/ is the best place to order from.

 

We got my mother this camera for Mother's Day in 2009...she has absolutely loved it. It only took one T-Ball season for her to quickly realize she wanted the 55-200mm lens though---which became part of her Xmas. My friend is a photographer specializing in SR photo's and highly recommends this model of camera (although he uses a higher end version himself).

Best Buy currenlty has the D40 for $399. Everything I read about this camera said it is definitely the way to go for starting out.

I'm dazed and confused by all the choices. Thanks guys for the tips.

 

A friend suggested I look at the Nikon D5000 online, how does the D40 compare to the D5000?

I'm dazed and confused by all the choices. Thanks guys for the tips.

 

A friend suggested I look at the Nikon D5000 online, how does the D40 compare to the D5000?

 

Here is a side by side comparison of the two. http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/compare_post.asp

Here is a review of the D5000. http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikond5000/

 

It seems to be more of a replacement of the D60. Best Buy has the D5000 listed for $699

I think it was the D3000 instead of the D5000 I was told to check out.

 

If the D5000 is the replacement for the D60, then is the D3000 the replacement for the D40?

 

 

I really want to start off simple and not overwhelm her. She is used to a point and shoot camera and she isn't getting the kind of results she really wants, especially indoors and at sporting events. I like the $399 tag on the D40, but if it is going to be replaced by the D3000, maybe I'd be better off with the newer model?

 

Another question is should I buy the extended warranty? Is it a good investment on a camera purchase?

For Mother's day my wife got a deal from Sam's Club. A Canon Eos Rebel XS that came with 75-300 zoom lens and real nice Canon camera bag, and a memory card for $599. At the time Best Buy was selling just the camera for $549.00. My wife has been really happy with it. The only drawback is that it doesn't shoot any video, like her previous Sony did.

We have a Nikon and it works wonders, it was around 400 or so if I remember right and it's amazing.

I think it was the D3000 instead of the D5000 I was told to check out.

 

If the D5000 is the replacement for the D60, then is the D3000 the replacement for the D40?

 

 

I really want to start off simple and not overwhelm her. She is used to a point and shoot camera and she isn't getting the kind of results she really wants, especially indoors and at sporting events. I like the $399 tag on the D40, but if it is going to be replaced by the D3000, maybe I'd be better off with the newer model?

 

Another question is should I buy the extended warranty? Is it a good investment on a camera purchase?

 

Just so you know, for indoors and sporting events, what kind of camera you have is not nearly as important as what type lens.

This is a very good camera for that range. The seller also looks to be pretty reputable. The 18-55mm lens will be good to get her started. Though I'd say she would be wanting the 55-200mm lens very soon.

 

If you decide to buy new. I know every photographer I've spoken with says http://www.bhphotovideo.com/ is the best place to order from.

 

We got my mother this camera for Mother's Day in 2009...she has absolutely loved it. It only took one T-Ball season for her to quickly realize she wanted the 55-200mm lens though---which became part of her Xmas. My friend is a photographer specializing in SR photo's and highly recommends this model of camera (although he uses a higher end version himself).

 

I got their summer catalog the other day. Looking through it was similar to how I felt looking at a Victoria's Secret catalog at about age 14.

Just so you know, for indoors and sporting events, what kind of camera you have is not nearly as important as what type lens.

 

I understand that and really that's why we want to go to an SLR camera so she can change lenses.

 

We are just scratching the surface though and really have everything to learn about photography. Lots of research left to do and lots of learning ahead.

If she's using a Nikon, then stick with a Nikon. If she has a Canon, then stick with Canon. The main reason I say this is that she's already familiar with the menu layout. We cuurently have a D90 and we're looking on upgrading to a D300. We bought the D90 off of eBay as a package with multiple lenses. The lenses aren't high end, but they were a good learning tool. As we got a better understanding of the camera and photography, we sold the lenses and upgraded to higher quality lenses.

Just my opinion.

 

1 - If you can find a D40 new - buy it. Save your money, buy this one, and get a good indoor lens.

2 - If you can find a good clean used D40 - buy it.

3 - D5000 is a good camera.

4 - Do not buy a D3000 over a D40 or D5000.

 

Two good places to do some research.

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

http://www.cameralabs.com/reviews/digital_camera_and_lens_reviews.shtml

 

The Nikon 35-70mm f/2.8 is Mrs C's favorite lens. She shoots basketball, cheerleading, portraits, almost everything with it. About the only time it comes off of her camera is for football or baseball. She uses a 80-200mm f2.8 for those. You'll have to buy it used, because they don't make it anymore. $350-400 on ebay. She rented a new 24-70mm f2.8 ($1700.00) said no way she would trade hers for it.

http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/3570.htm