What DSLR camera to get? 600 $ budget

[DVad3r]

Hey guys,

What is a good starter DSLR camera or kit? Max budget $ 600.

Costco here has a Canon Rebel T3 kit for 599 + tax. Any good?

Should I look at Sony or Nikon options as well?

Thanks,

 

[CuriousMike]

I'm a Nikon guy so here's my bias.
Consider refurb

For $429, this is a helluva deal
http://www.adorama.com/INKD5100KR.html

 

[blastingcap]

I've used pretty much every brand of camera out there and would recommend a used Nikon D5100 as an excellent camera, with the 18-55 kit lens. Canon has been asleep at the wheel for the last few years, having almost no hardware upgrades to their sensor tech, whereas Sony has been making significant improvements and using the sensors in their own cameras as well as selling them to Nikon, Pentax, Olympus, and even to some extent Panasonic. Canon vs. Sony sensors are no contest: Sony wins.

 

[nusyo]

In the entry DSLR market it comes down to user preference (Nikon, Canon etc)

As much as I love Costco deals, I would still try to get a Canon T3i as opose to T3 (the i represents some real nice upgrades) .

 

[artvscommerce]

i really love the T3i + magic lantern firmware.

 

[kbp]

I've got a Nikon D90 and a 18-105 for sale. Just over 3000 shots on it (which is very low). PM me if interested.

 

[JohnnyRebel]

Nikon D5100 refurb with 18-55 VR lens $459.00
http://www.adorama.com/INKD5100KR.html
http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d5100.htm

Nikon D3100 refurb with 18-55 VR lens $367.95
http://www.adorama.com/INKD3100KR.html
http://kenrockwell.com/nikon/d3100.htm

Add to either kit:

Nikon 55-200 VR lens for $134.00
http://www.adorama.com/NK55200VRR.html
http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/55-200mm-vr.htm

Add to the D3100 kit:

Nikon SB-400 external flash for $99.95
http://www.adorama.com/NKSB400AFR.html
http://kenrockwell.com/nikon/sb400.htm

 

[Kanalua]

Canon T3i with 18-55mm kit lens - $599 brand new:
http://www.amazon.com/Canon-T3i-Proc...dp/B004J3V90Y/

This is great deal. Takes pretty good video, as well. Install MagicLantern and you've got quite a powerful DSLR video rig.

Save up money at get the versatile 50 mm F/1.8 "Nifty-fifty": http://www.amazon.com/Canon-50mm-1-8-Camera-Lens/dp/B00007E7JU

Pick up a used 55-250 mm telephoto for ~$150: http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-list...dition=used&me=&qid=1353278205&seller=&sr=1-1

 

[iGas]

IMHO, the most important thing is how comfortable the camera in your hand... Any Canikon, Sony, Olympus, or Pentax that came out in the last couple of years till now will do.

 

[happysmiles]

Sony NEX-5N.

it's been on big discount as of late and from the photos I've seen, it's absolutely worth it, it's size/weight is a definite bonus.

I have a Canon 550D and I've extensively photographed with both and yeah if I had a choice I'd choose the Sony any day.

 

[bigrash]

Go with the Canon Canon T3i.

 

[alexruiz]

If you truly care about getting good pictures, Pentax K30

 

[gevorg]

Sony NEX-5N.

it's been on big discount as of late and from the photos I've seen, it's absolutely worth it, it's size/weight is a definite bonus.

I have a Canon 550D and I've extensively photographed with both and yeah if I had a choice I'd choose the Sony any day.

Another vote for NEX-5N w/kit lens for $430-500. Gives many DSLRs a run for their money. Its build-in HDR mode is amazing for a newbie. Compare here to Canon T4i, Nikon D5100, Sony A57, etc:
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/sonynex5n/13

 

[artvscommerce]

I LOVE my nex 5n, but if you don't mind carrying around the extra size and weight, there are some serious advantages to the T3i. The viewfinder is really nice to have. Same with the hot shoe and the ability to run magic lantern. I think the Nex 5N is just as capable, but the lenses cost more and there are less options available, it can overheat after taking videos over 20 minutes, and the optional viewfinder is VERY expensive.

 

[SithSolo1]

I'm kinda disappointed I went the Pentax route, glass is so expensive.

 

[CuriousMike]

Tell me the system where glass is unexpensive.

My friend has the Nex 5 and loves it...but Sony has some very expensive glass.

 

[gevorg]

but Sony has some very expensive glass.

True for most Sony lens, but there are some bargains like the Sigma E-Mount 30mm f/2.8.

EDIT: Sigma E-Mount is at $50 off on Amazon & B&H Photo!

 

[blastingcap]

Sony has jack for glass, that's why I'm still waiting. Oh sure, if you actually want the usual kit zooms or like one or two Sigma primes, you're set. But they are charging a fortune for their wideangle zoom, their 50mm OSS is nice but the price is way more than rivals' stuff, and OSS does not help you if the subject is moving around (like a kid running around) anyway. The Zeiss 24 is way the hell overpriced. The big 18-200 kinda defeats the purpose of going small and presents balancing issues with some NEX bodies. If you are willing to live with that, fine, but I looked at their lens roadmap and they will have no longer-focal-length zooms, bright telephoto, or bright midrange zooms, which is completely f***ing unacceptable to me. Don't give us a freaking macro when we can get macro filters or extension tubes. Give us a NEX 17-50mm OSS f/2.8, a NEX 70-200mm OSS f/2.8, etc. Since those kinds of lenses are not on the roadmap, they have lost customers like me.

I'm sticking to my existing Nikon glass in the meantime and will probably get a RX100 or Nikon V1 to supplement it.

CaNikon glass is way the hell more affordable than Sony's stuff, btw. Nikon examples: 35mm DX f/1.8 is sharp and cheap, at less than $180 used. Tamron 17-50 can be had for under $300 used; if you need stabilization then I can vouch for the Sigma 17-50 OS which is a great lens. You can get 18-300/70-300 lenses or similar from several lensmakers. You can get 70-200 f/2.8 glass as well. A good but cheap wideangle like the Sigma 10-20 f/4-5.6 costs way less than the Sony NEX wideangle and you basically give up a little bit of aperture, or none at all if you shoot at f/8 or smaller (which most people do with their wideangles). There still is no NEX equivalent of the Tamron 11-18 f/2.8 DX. Etc.

 

[iGas]

Canikon have great glass for relatively lower price than the rest of the competitors. IMHO, Canon have a slight lead on the quick focusing motor, and telephotos are very sharp at slightly lower price than Nikon. Nikon have the leg up on wide angles and macros.

That said, Samyang 14mm is a great inexpensive manual focusing lens (learn hyper focus and you will not need autofocus) that is available for pretty much all body mounts.

 

[Smoove910]

I'm kinda disappointed I went the Pentax route, glass is so expensive.

The glass may be expensive, but the beauty is you can take your pick of K-mount lenses through the past 30 years...

My vote = Pentax... my K7 has been great, but recent reviews has shown the K-5II to beat the image quality of ANY Canon body. Bold statement there!

http://www.pentaxforums.com/news/pentax-k-5-ii-1-says-dxomark.html

 

[Muse]

I'm kinda disappointed I went the Pentax route, glass is so expensive.

The say Pentax glass is cheaper than canikon, especially because the shake reduction is in the body, not the lenses.

 

[Uppsala9496]

Going to go with the Sony Nex-5N for my wife. B&H has it for $478 with a $50 gift card.

 

[alexruiz]

I'm kinda disappointed I went the Pentax route, glass is so expensive.

Canon / Nikon are cheaper on the cheap glass (50mm f1.8 for example) but once you get onto better lenses, they are more expensive. Find an equivalent to the Pentax limited primes in image and build quality for close to their price. Yes, if you want a cheap prime <$200, Pentax is more expensive, but once you start going up thye are not.

 

[alexruiz]

Another vote for NEX-5N w/kit lens for $430-500. Gives many DSLRs a run for their money. Its build-in HDR mode is amazing for a newbie. Compare here to Canon T4i, Nikon D5100, Sony A57, etc:
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/sonynex5n/13

I suggested the Pentax K30, and after seeing that comparison to the NEX5, I have to admit the NEX5 is right there with it for image quality
The NEX5 does better at 6400, the K30 does better at 3200. The NEX5 is not a bad suggestion.

 

[lykaon78]

I'm a newb. I took 1500+ pictures on a Disney vacation with my Sony Nex-5 with the majority on the auto mode and I couldn't be happier with the results. With the pancake lens the camera fit in cargo pants pockets.

In low lighting situations I'd switch to a more manual mode and snap some great shots or just use their anti-motion blur mode that snaps three consecutive photos and blends them in order to reduce blur. I'd highly recommend the Sony Nex-5 line for anyone that looking for flexibility beyond and P&S camera but not wanting to fully dive into the DLSR pool.