What is a good entry level camera?

Question

What is a good entry level camera for someone starting photography?

Answer 1

The Nikon D40 is a great little camera, very easy to use and quite reasonably priced. It will get you in the Nikon family which is a great place to be. If you buy accessories and lenses, you will be able to use everything on any Nikon that you might upgrade to later on.

Check out Nikon's "Picturetown" promotion, where they handed out 200 D40's in Georgetown, SC. http://www.stunningnikon.com/picturetown/

Here are a few reviews, in case you have not read them yet. Be sure to note that they are several pages long and some of the reviews also have some sample images that you can look at.

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikond40/
http://www.steves-digicams.com/2007_reviews/nikon_d40.html
http://www.popphoto.com/cameras/3756/camera-test-nikon-d40.html
http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d40/d40-recommendations.htm

I hate to see people slam the camera because it can't autofocus with older Nikon lenses. It is true that there is a "slight problem" with older Nikon lenses not autofocusing on the D40, but if you do not own a bag full of older lenses, it is not going to be a problem. It is barely a problem anyhow. If you check www.nikonusa.com for "AF-S" lenses, which are ALL 100% compatible with the D40, you will find 23 lenses, including 7 "VR" (vibration Reduction) lenses and one true macro lens with "VR". There are another 25-plus lenses in the current catalog that provide all functions except autofocus as well as many (possibly dozens) "out of print" lenses that will work just as well. In addition, although these lens will not autofocus, most of them will still give focus confirmation. From the D40 manual: "If the lens has a maximum aperture of f/5.6 of faster, the viewfinder focus indicator can be used to confirm whether the portion of the subject in the selected focus area is in focus. After positioning the subject in the active focus area, press the shutter release button halfway and rotate the lens focusing ring until the in-focus indicator is displayed."

The D40 only has 3 autofocus zones arranged horizontally at the center, 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock positions. This might be considered a limitation, but realistically, most people will find this perfectly adequate, especially if you are moving up from a point and shoot with only a center zone.

You can get the D40 with the 18-55 kit lens at B&H Photo (available through Yahoo! Shopping or at 1-800-622-4987) for $550 (May 2007) and this is with TWO Lexar 1 GB cards. You can get the same kit with one Lexar Platinum (higher speed) card for $560. Or - get the D40 with 18-135 lens and 1 GB Lexar card for $760.

Or you can see my eBay auction for Item No 200110531132...

Answer 2

With the price of cameras being what they are today, getting and entry level DSLR seems like a smart choice.

Either Nikon D40/D40x or the Canon Digital Rebel XT/XTi would be a great choice.

If, however, you want to stay in the under $400 category, the point and shoot offerings from Fuji, Nikon and Canon are all good.

Best thing to do is to look at all the things you want the camera to do. See which type of camera fits that profile. Then narrow down which camera type you want after that.

Honestly, thought, if you were to stick with the Nikon or Canon brands of either kind, you'll most likely end up with a great, usable camera.

Answer 3

I would suggest a low end digital camera with only a few options. When you get into cameras with all these options, you will get a headache. Kodak makes one. There are some cheap low end brands too for under $80 or go to a pawn shop. Start working with zooming and aperature and speed. Then comes lighting and head shots or what nots. I am a novice photographer so I don't know much but once you begin to master a camera and what you want to do with it then you can decide what camera you want to go with next. So if you don't like photography, you wouldn't have invested in much. But the next level cameras are like the Canon sure shot and Fuji's. They got some bells and whistle with a ton of manuals to read. It depends on what you want to do with it. Sure, the 35 mm manual cameras takes great pictures but with these digital cameras, you will have more precision with the light quality and red eyes. You can take stills and do panoramic views. There are so many things and this is only mid level cameras. There are so many cameras out there. You can only find a hand ful of manual 35 mm cameras out there so to pick from but you can manipulate shots better with a dig camera. Good luck to you!

Answer 4

A yr ago, I bought an Olympus Evolt E-500 Digital SLR... I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT!!!! Its a perfect entry level camra that you will easily get EXCELLENT PHOTOS out of. Thats my recommendation. It runs about $700-900 depending on where you buy it. I got mine at best buy and its the best purchase i ever made, GOOD LUCK with whatever you do.

Answer 5

It depends what your budget is but for $600 The Canon T3i is the perfect camera for entry-level users, and it will serve you well as you progress in the photography field.

Answer 6

Buy one that lets you adjust the shutter speed, aperture and ISO manually -- and *easily*.

Answer 7

sony cybershot T100