SLR Camera Pick?

[Anonymous]

If you had to choose between the Nikon D5000 and the D3100, which would you pick and why? I'm looking for a family camera that can handle just about anything from macros to fast movement, low light, etc. in the $800-$1,000 range. Thanks!!

 

[kenny]

I'd start by reading Ken Rockwell's reviews.

http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d5000.htm

http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d3100.htm

Here under "Best SLRs
" he mentions the 3100 not the 5000:

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

 

[Anonymous]

Great article! Thanks!!

 

[Clairitek]

I can't give advice about the technical aspects of DSLR cameras myself as I only just got one but the best advice I received once I had narrowed it down was to go "try on" the cameras in the store. See how the body feels in your hands. Elledizzy was the one to tell me and and I am so glad she did. The Nikon I was considering didn't fit well in my hands. Reaching the buttons was awkward for me and not at all ergonomic. The Canon T2i I ended up getting fit me well and I can reach everything without looking at it (now that I've used it enough to know the location of the buttons I need).

Enjoy your new camera when you get it!

 

[kenny]

Compare Nikon and Canon cameras, lenses and accessories with an eye on future purchases.
They are very competitive and many people feel very strongly that one is better than the other in certain ways.

When I bought my DSLR body I didn't bother researching the differences since I already owned a bag of Nikon lenses.
If you are starting from scratch and think you may eventually build a larger collection of lenses and accessories, NOW is the time to research this.

 

[PinkTower]

I think it depends upon whether this is your 'forever' camera, and how heavy you want it to be, and how big your hands are. My daughter got the D3000 in July. It gives her a nice camera, does not weigh a ton, does not have features she did not want, and is a step below in price to what you are looking for. Having said that, for Christmas, she got two new lenses, a fisheye, and one for distances. She still uses the lens it came with a lot.

 

[kenny]

I think it depends upon whether this is your 'forever' camera,....

Forever is a long long time.
Some buyers of a less expensive body may outgrow it in time as they fall in love with the discipline.
I did.
I could have saved a lot of money on cameras, diamonds and pianos had I just bought my last one first.

One priceless feature for macro is mirror lock up.
There are ways around it for bodies without it but if you are serious about macro and get seduced into the desire to get closer and closer with sharper and sharper pics you will get to a point where mirror lock up is invaluable.
I suspect it is only available on Nikon's more expensive bodies (like over $1000 body only) - but check this out, I may be wrong.

As long as were on it I saw a clever suggestion for cameras without mirror lock up.
It said to just stop the lens down to a smaller aperture, or example f16 instead of f5.6.
This will result in a longer exposure to get the same amount of light.
The vibration from the mirror flipping up takes (reportedly) about 1/15th of a second to die down.
A longer exposure, like say a full second, results in that 1/15th of a second being a more negligible part of the exposure - 85% of the exposure will be with a vibration-free camera.
Clever.

I think Laura The Partier posted another smart trick, but I forgot what it was.