Help buying first dslr camera please!

<p>Thanks Jim :)</p>

<p>Hello, I too am looking at buying my first DSLR and appreciate reading all the comments to Kristi. I also would appreciate some input - have been a Canon fan for years and have several of the older lenses which I do not think would work with anything new. After researching, I am (somewhat reluctantly) looking strongly at Pentax K-x, adding Penatx 16-45 mm and Pentax 55-300mm lenses. I am going to Alaska end of June and would like something for a) landscape and b) wildlife. Would also use for sports action (baseball - spring training). Found the three items for a total of close to $1,100. Is that a good price and have I made good choices? It's very overwhelming and I thank you in advance for any input this community can give me. Barbara Bennett</p>

<p>Barbara, it is very overwhelming, and you really don't want to regret your purchase when you are spending that much money.<br>

It appears the price on the Pentax has gone up overnight. Hopefully it will drop back down. Some places also show it being out of stock.</p>

<p>Yes, I've seen that. Since reading a little more, have dropped the 16-45mm lens since I found several people who think the 18-55 that comes with the camera would be adequate. Have found a reasonable price for the camera and zoom at Amazon, but also found a lower quote at Adorama, although they are out of stock. Debating on pulling the trigger at Amazon, but would really like to pay less! It's a timing issue for me - since we leave 6/29 for a 13 day Alaska adventure, I'd like to be sure to have it and learn how to use it before leaving! Not sure how long it takes to restock at Adorama... anyone have any thoughts? It's a price difference of $35 - that's not a lot until one considers my Alaska trip cost over $2K! :-) Thank you!</p>

<p>Is that through Amazon directly or one of their secondary sellers? Anyone have any input on using the secondary sellers? </p>

<p>Ah, research is such a dangerous thing for me. I have read so much about buying used everywhere that I am now looking at the Nikon D40 and D60 used on Amazon. Any input? Still wary about buying used!</p>

<p>Kristi --</p>

<p>If you're considering used, check out Adorama via the store link on this site. Then check out the used and refurbished section. You'll find a huge selection and great pricing. I stay away from fleabay for various reasons, mostly because you never know who you can trust.</p>

<p>Large retailers are different since most have a warranty, either through the manufacturer or through the store.</p>

<p>I shoot Nikon, so I have a strong bias that way. I can't tell you that any of the major camera manufacturers are better than the others...they all have their own strengths and weaknesses. You will likely find the D5000 the easiest to use, but fastest to outgrow. Nikon and Canon have the largest selection of lenses in the USA. Both have an equally good selection of "PRO" lenses, but I think Canon has better "mid-level" lenses and Nikon has better "entry level" lenses. </p>

<p>I don't know where you live, but I would really suggest checking out a real camera store. Most will spend some time with you, let you handle the different cameras and play with a few lenses. Most camera store salespeople are also at least advanced amateur photographers, so you may get some additional help thrown in if you buy the camera there. Please, though, if you spend a lot of time with a store salesperson, buy the camera from them. They will likely match or come close to the price of big online retailers, you keep money in your community, and the salesperson gets to make the commission they earned by spending their time with you.</p>

<p>Hope this helps,<br>

RS</p>

<p>Richard, I was looking at Adorama, I believe they have the refurbished by company? I also looked on Amazon, I too fear buying on ebay. <br>

Unfortunately no camera stores around here, so I am stuck going the online route.<br>

I just don't know if i'm better of going used Nikon d60 or new Pentax. </p>

 

<p>I disagree with Richard about "outgrowing" the D5000 the fastest. I'd say the D3000 is likely to be the one you'd outgrow the fastest. I have the D5000 and I haven't seen anything that I absolutely can not do with it except for firing an external flash off camera, which isn't something I've needed to do yet. And I can use a remote to fire my two studio lights (white lightning X800) wirelessly, so no problems there for me. It's actually very comparable to the D90 and won't cost you as much.</p>

<p>My two cents.</p>

<p>Looking at KEH.com, I'm thinking used Nikon and spend my money on lenses. Now to figure out if I want D40, D50, D60, etc. I see KenRockwell.com recommends D40. Any help?</p>

<p>Best Buy has the D40 new for $399</p>

<p>Finding some good prices on the Nikon D70s as well. </p>

<p>sorry!<br>

Nikon D5000 refurbished for $519.95 w/18-55 lens</p>

<p>Anyone ever order from Butterfly Photo?</p>

<blockquote>

<p>Looking at KEH.com, I'm thinking used Nikon and spend my money on lenses. Now to figure out if I want D40, D50, D60, etc. I see KenRockwell.com recommends D40. Any help?</p>

</blockquote>

<p>Ken Rockwell is kind of a minimalist (and he's writing a crowd that is mostly just beginning). I wouldn't recommend a D40: it's a good camera but for just a *little* more money, you can have so much more. The D40 is also very old... the only advantage the D40 has going for it over anything else is its (shockingly) fast flash sync speed, but most new photographers don't even know what that is!</p>

<p>A D5000 is a fantastic camera, it has more megapixels than the D40, better high-ISO performance, more autofocus points, and exposure bracketing. As Luc says, it does many of the things you want a camera to do, whether you're a pro or a beginner... except off-camera flash.</p>

 

<p>A few drops of rain for this parade. But just a few. Some hopefully helpful hints too. Besides this forum and it's articles on choosing cameras, etc., there are a number of sites that do a good job of consistently reviewing the always growing numbers of cameras. Dpreview ( avoid the forum, it's difficult to sift the good info out of the arguments) and Imaging Resource do a good job of reviewing new cameras - there are others as well. But as others have suggested, once you narrow down the info, it can be extremely helpful to actually get your hands on the different cameras because the fit and feel and control layouts do vary from camera to camera and what "fits" me may not fit you.</p>

<p>The entry level cameras these days are actually quite good, a good deal better than those in the past and they weren't "bad" either. A word of caution about reviews and the internet, "old" information doesn't always go away. So laudatory reviews from several years ago still exist so something saying "good" things about say the D40 when it was new may still be out there and even if you found one "new," it is several years behind the power curve on features and performance. All the bars have been raised since it came out.</p>

<p>There are cameras which fit some interests better than others. The entry level cameras are good generalist cameras. But "sports and action" uses are very demanding. The faster things you want to shoot are moving, the more specialized the camera/lens combos must be to do a good job of keeping up. The less expensive cameras have less complex focus systems, as in fewer focus points and fewer of the most precise focus points. Indoor sports and sports at night under the lights are often quite poorly lit. It doesn't seem like that to the viewer, but in camera terms, it's an unfortunate fact. A consumer body and lens will do reasonably well in outdoor good light situations, indoors and under the lights, it's going to struggle. here are reasons professionals use the fastest bodies and big, expensive lenses when shooting sports for publications. If you accept the limits imposed by your budget, you should find that consumer gear does a pretty good job.</p>

<p>A lot of the results also come from practice and knowing how to "work" sports subjects for the best images.</p>

<p>BTW, personally, I wouldn't buy a used camera unless I knew the owner, there older it is, the more potential for problems and new cameras come with warranty protection and at least some measure of dealer support. As to on-line buying? B&H is established and well regarded. If you find prices that are substantially better (not that there may not be some that may be a bit better at times), that's often a signal that the source may not be completely "safe." It's just difficult to compete with as big and effective a business so substantial savings over them are not really all that likely.</p>

<p>Thanks Craig. I've gone round and round, and i'm going with my first instinct and getting the Pentax K-x with the 18-55 and 50-200 lenses. Now that I am at peace with that decision, B&H and Amazon and a couple other places are out of stock! Abe's of Maine has it in stock, cheaper than Amazon and B&H. They seem to have good reviews, but I worry! Has anyone here ordered from them?</p>

<p>Ok, just did a search here and saw the reviews for Abe's! The other reviews definitely paint a different picture (cnet, etc). I will wait for B&H to have it in stock!</p>

<p>Nikon D5000 is a good choice !</p>

<p>Ordered the Pentax k-x this morning, 2 day air, will be here Tuesday. Can't wait!! Thanks all for your help.</p>