My girlfriend's birthday is coming up and she wants some sort of a DSLR camera. She is new to this and wants one to take pictures of family occasions, special events and such.

I am mainly looking for a Canon or Nikon due to their good resale value just in case we plan on not using it anymore, but if anyone has other suggestions, please chime in. I was recently looking at a Canon T2i and the Nikon D90. Both seems to be a good buy, but I'm not set on it yet and want to have opinions actual owners.

My budget is around $700-$1000. Could you please opinions on both the T2i and D90? Or if you think there is a better camera within that price range, please name it and give your opinions.

Thanks in advance.

 

Repost!
LOl jk.

check these threads.
https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...highlight=dslr
https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...highlight=dslr
https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...highlight=dslr
https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...&highlight=D90

 

For the two you are looking at, at that price range, you're good. You can't go wrong.


I purchased the D90 for my wife, I have used it more than her and I'm very happy with the results.

 

Can't believe you're bashing on a fellow Texan! Haha I kid.

Those threads I have read already and only the last one give good opinions on the D90. How about the T2i?

 

I think there is only one user here with the T2i. It's a good camera and has been compared to the Canon 7D, w/o the higher features.

 

I havent heard anything bad about the T2i. If you want to read more in depth about it, check out http://photography-on-the.net/forum/index.php

there should be a ton of info on the T2i for you there

 

I'm not a Canon shooter so I don't know much about the T2i. However, I've been a Nikon shooter for decades (god I'm old) and currently use a D200 and D90 (D7000 soon I hope!). For under a $1000, you could get a D90 but not much of a lens (if any). Remember, you need to get a bag, extra battery, memory card(s), etc. too and that will add up quickly! Since this is your GF's first DSLR, I'd recommend more of an entry level DSLR such as a D3100 or D5000 (or Canon equivalent). The D90 is more of an advanced amateur DSLR not really intended for a newbie to the DSLR world. She could learn to use it but the learning curve is much steeper.

Also, keep in mind that camera bodies are updated and become obsolete relatively quickly so if she were to get really serious about photography in the future, she'll want to put her money into lenses not camera bodies.

 

A D90 and a 35mm 1.8 would be about $1100 and a D90 w 18-105 about the same.


The D3100 would be a great starting camera, but won't be out for awhile. D5000 again good starting camera.

 

Thanks for the info guys!

What would be the Canon equivalent of the D3100 or D5000? The GF just prefers Canon over Nikon for whatever reason I do not know. I'll just get the starting lens kit for now and will get better lenses later on and I'm sure that's a whole other topic to be discussed about.

 

Canon T1i

 

Take her to a store and feel out the different cameras. I chose to go Nikon because I didn't love the feel of the Canon. Also, I was not a fan of their menus. I recently had an opportunity to sell my Nikon stuff and switch over to Canon gear, and when I went to go feel them out, their menus still were not to my liking. I think the Nikon is an easier camera to learn on personally. I know with the entry level cameras that there is a feature in which you press a button and it describes what the mode you are in is used for. The D90 might have this also. Maybe Jupitersolo and confirm if it does or doesn't. It's not a must, but for a beginner it is a nice feature to be able to check what something is on the fly.

 

to me the D5000 is kinda like the 60d (w/ look a like possible breakable swivel LCD screen and lesser pixels.) But Canon is more user friendly imo, but nikon is more vivid in their pictures. but to each person its to their preference. in before threads, we always tell new photographers to go somewhere like best buy or any electronic store and try feeling the camera. play with it, then when you find something, go search it on the internet since its cheaper in most cases on there.