Printable View
Looking for a camera with easily changeable lenses, something with the auto focus feature built into the camera body, ability to do videos. Im vaguely aware of the 50 bazillion other features available these days! Good in low light conditions, close up, distance etc. Id rather buy once, cry once, than fight a POS for the next couple years out of stubborness.
Currently totoally overwhelmed with options available across a huge price spectrum.
Nikon or Cannon DSLRs. Do some research and handle some.
If you are talking "auto focus" in the camera body, do you mean the motor? That will up the price. Most mid-range cameras have the motor in the lens. Not so good for using older lenses.
Read up on lenses to cover what you want (close-up low light, etc).
You want video, get a video camera.
I have a Nikon D5000 and like it. Lots of options and comes with a decent lens. It it in the mid-to-lower price range but takes great pics. Video is ok but haven't been satisfied with it.
Edit: Ken Rockwell has some good reviews and info.
http://www.kenrockwell.com/index.htm
Get a Canon or Nikon DSLR, preferably a used one that's 2 or 3 generations old. Photo hounds are constantly upgrading to be the most current but the bodies from even 5 years ago are still quite full-featured. Canon and Nikon both have auto-focus settings on their bodies as long as you have a compatible lens.
You should be able to get a Canon XSi or even T2i with kit lenses pretty inexpensively.
I use a Nikon D3100, just the basic kit they offered. It does very well, it's smarter than me, and I don't need the pro quality stuff. There's a helluva lot to learn with one, and I've been into photography for many, many years. But I'm a geezer and electronic stuff befuddles me.
You should consider getting the auxilliary flash for whatever camera you get, that usually won't come with the kit but they're invaluable. And a good gear bag, get one larger than you "need", because you'll put more in it than you think. A good quality tripod is also a wonderful thing to have.
I don't know if the D3100 kit is still offered, it's likely been superceded by another "entry level kit", but those are usually just fine for most folks. I think the new version now has wireless ability, so you can shoot photos and upload/email them right then.
<edit> Sorry, I said D5100, it's actually a D3100. Had to correct that. Still a sweet little kit, I love it. It isn't a Pro setup, but it's still dandy for my needs. Kinda like a Rock Island Armory 1911 - affordable yet well-made and works great.
I got one of these last week for $300 from Amazon and it's been blowing my mind: http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listi...&condition=new
Looks like prices have changed though.
Mainly got it because I wanted something I could use my PVS-14 camera adapter on, and it works pretty good for that.
If the "easily changeable lenses" is a requirement you can live without, I would suggest a SONY RX 100 - II (or III if you can afford it). I bought one a year ago because I wanted something more portable than my EOS. The picture and feature are so amazing that this is the only camera i use now. Low light pics are amazing, with fast shutter speed and excellent HD video.
Attachment 47041Attachment 47049Attachment 47045Attachment 47047
What do your friends have? That's what made my decision. My friends shoot canon so I got canon, mainly because I can use/test/try/borrow their lenses.
Mostly focus on glass. Then body features. If you go with canon avoid rebel as the bodies are plastic. Get at least a 50d or 7d. If you want to get go full frame and buy a 5d3. (Hell I might sell my entire lineup for the right price)