Camera advice for a newbie

As I'm sure most of you do, I get questions from those just starting out about what camera to buy. Typically their budget is under $1,000. Unfortunately, I'm way beyond that price range, shooting a 5DIII with all the assorted L lenses. So I don't know the best options to tell them. Does anyone have good advice I can pass along for starting photographers for landscape & possibly some wildlife? Best new cameras under $1,000? Buy used to get more resolution & features? I'd love to steer them to something that shoots RAW to start out with.

Thanks for any advice.

I tell people that if they aren't sure, then they should stick with Nikon or Canon and they can't go wrong. Digital cameras are the one thing in the world that you get more the more you spend. I also advise that if they aren't going to use the camera a lot to get one that takes AA batteries so they don't have to worry about a dead rechargeable when they want to grab the camera and go.

As a Canon shooter, I'd look at the Rebel T5, T5i bodies. Solid performers with plenty of growth potential that won't break the back. Have to disagree with Loren's comment about dead rechargeables. If the batteries are Li-Ion they can sit for a LONG time without much drain. Back in the NiCd days, the batteries did discharge rather quickly.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?N=10945054&InitialSearch=yes&sts=pi

Li-Ion batteries last a long time but they still go dead and then you can't use the camera. For those occasions picture takers, being able to grab AA batteries anywhere is one less thing to think about.

Hi Wick, just for fun I went to B&H to see what they offer in camera's under 1K. The DSLR ranks are pretty thin although I expect that any of the ones offered would work well. I also looked at the mirrorless offerings and there are quite a few more possibilities there. As I think more, my inclination would be towards suggesting a body and one or two lenses that offer the most flexibility (including close-up, landscape, and wildlife). That way the person can explore their vision to see what they fancy and gain some understanding of the limits that cameras and lenses impose. I wonder if going mirrorless might be the most efficient cost wise.

Mark

When my wife got her Canon Rebel T1i, I was impressed. When my daughter got her Canon Rebel T3i, I was impressed. They are small, lightweight, and capable. I expect that the current model, the T5i is impressive, too.

But... don't forget about lenses. The kit lens that come with these cameras isn't going to cut the mustard for wildlife photography.

Neebies starting out need to test their vision, ability, and interest. Is there a passion for photography or a only a passing interest. The quality of a Canon rebel or 12 mp mirrorless with a couple kit lenses for under $1,000 can serve that purpose of self-discovery. I hate recommending kit lenses...because re-sale is such a price reduction...so I would recommend checking out craigslist or camera shops for used lenses.

Hi Wick; if you want to recommend a camera system that will give someone high quality results and interchangeable lenses at a price range anywhere near $1,000, I think your best choice, by far would be a mirrorless system. There are the micro 4/3, led by Panasonic and Olympus, a few 1" sensors such as Nikon V1 series and a number of APS-C size such as Sony, Fuji and Samsung plus many others.

I can personally vouch for the Sony ILCE-6000 (a6000) as it is my current system. I caught a couple good sales and got the body plus the SEL16-70Z and SEL-55210 lenses for approx. $1,200. Those lenses give me a range of 24mm to 315mm (35 mm equiv.) With filters, spare batteries, memory cards and a sensor cleaning kit the total came to approx. $1,500. The camera can shoot 24 mpixels raw at up to 8 fps and full size jpegs at 11 fps plus it has an incredibly fast and accurate hybrid (phase and contrast) focusing system. It also gives pretty good quality at high ISO and does 1080p video. If you want to see what kind of photos are being made with the a6000 go to 500PX and search for "ILCE-6000" or browse my gallery here and look for photos shot with the a6000. The resolution is very impressive and at 24 mpixels you can print very large and very sharp. Quite a few professionals are switching to mirrorless so it definitely would be a fine choice for a beginner.

For a $ 1,000.00 a person can go to one of the wholesale clubs (BJ's, Costco, Sams, etc.) and pick up a decent camera with usually a few lenses and other starter equipment that they will need.

tell 'em to get on eBay and pick up a Hasselblad 500 body and three lenses (150mm, 80mm and a 50mm), a light meter and a couple of film backs. They'll have change for buying and processing films (although doubtless they'll learn to develop themselves).

tell 'em to get on eBay and pick up a Hasselblad 500 body and three lenses (150mm, 80mm and a 50mm), a light meter and a couple of film backs. They'll have change for buying and processing films (although doubtless they'll learn to develop themselves).

Yep, this would sure be a great way to learn photography! High quality medium format (6x6, 6x4.5, 6x7 cm) cameras and lenses are readily available at very reasonable prices. The downside is that the film would have to scanned, which would add to the cost.Take a look at KEH for used gear; both film and digital.

--P