Two years ago my girlfriend bought me my first digital camera, yes FIRST It's a Sony Coolpix, IIRC. 7MP, 1080HD video, yaddi yaddi. It's been a great camera for me, considering what it is. But after viewing countless pictures you guys take using the "SLR" type cameras by Nikon, I want to be able to do that. I've gotten somewhat decent with it, I guess.

I have a small business where I snap a lot of pictures of the work I do to post online. I feel as if the P&S just isn't cutting it anymore. I need something that's going to show the same color and quality, in a picture, that is sitting right in front of my face. If that makes any sense lol I also take a lot of fast movement pictures (motorcycles, cars, etc) and it seems no matter what setting I try, the P&S I have just won't snap them "unblurred." But maybe I haven't even mastered the P&S yet

I've been considering a D3000, even though they do not record HD video. But, as I started looking at Best Buy's packages they offer, and 0% interest for 24 months on any SLR camera, it somewhat changes things. What do you guys reccomend for a good noob camera, yet as I get more experienced, the camera can "grow" with me, if you will.

I would like to keep it under $1000

What do you guys reccomend?

What are my options, as far as lenses? Are all Nikon lenses exchangeable between Nikon bodies?

Remember, I'm a noob to this shit but I love taking pictures

 

Forget the D3000, get the D3100, much more than the D3000 was. And it is only sold as a kit with lens. You could also find a D5000 used at a good price, even a used D90 and a lens under $1000.

 

Thanks for the reply jup. I was looking at possibly buying new from Best Buy, only because of their financing options and package deals. Might as well get everything at once; camera bag, memory card, extra lense, and what not.

Like this:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Nikon+12...99141200050010

 

The Nikon 3100 is a good choice for a beginner. It's supposed to have an in camera tutorial to help out beginners. The lens choices for the kit aren't the best but they should help you to learn DSLR photography. If in time you decide you want to get serious, you'll most likely want to upgrade and invest in better "glass" (lenses) which tends to be the most expensive part of photography.

As for fast action photography, as long as the sports you shoot are in good daylight, those lenses should suffice. Low light sports like indoor basketball (or fencing in my case) will require fast glass (larger aperture lenses) that cost MUCH more money in most cases. A single lens can cost thousands.

Not all Nikon lenses are interchangeable between Nikon bodies. Entry level Nikon camera bodies like the D3000, D3100, and D5000 don't have focusing motors built in the camera body so lenses without focusing motors built in to them will not autofocus. These cameras require lenses with the focusing motor built into the lens (known as AF-S lenses). The more advanced Nikon bodies like the D90, D7000 (what I use), D300, and up, have the motor built into the body so they can autofocus with just about any lens.

Also, keep in mind while DSLRs CAN shoot HD video, it's not really all that great. Yes, the actual video quality is great because of the large sensor and higher quality lenses used over a camcorder but the type of sensor in a DSLR also creates a "jello" effect when you pan. The focusing systems for video in a DSLR is also pretty rudimentary compared to a camcorder so it's easily fooled and slow to focus.

 

Thanks so much yakuza! I've never been one to shoot a lot of video so that part is nothing to turn me away from one. Im going to Best Buy after church today to have a gander im a little confused on the focusing area... with the 3100, I will be manually focusing, correct? Where as the more expensive models hav the autofocus feature? I don't mind to manualy focus, from dealin with the point and sheet, I prefer it lol

 

No. What he is saying is the more entry level DSLR cameras do not have an autofocus motor built into the camera. You would purchase lenses that have the autofocus motor built into the lens themselves. That is the AF-S lenses he was referring to. the kit lens that comes with the camera will be an AF-S lens and will autofocus. When you grow with the camera and wish to buy new lenses, you will want to look for AF-S lenses or you will have to manual focus. Is the financing a huge issue? The D3100 is supposed to be a great camera. I haven't used it myself. I have seen some great deals on the D90 now that the D7000 has been released, and is a great camera that does have the autofocus motor built in. Either camera would be a huge upgrade over the p&s. I really suggest the D90 because you can sometimes find great deals on old lenses that will autofocus on the D90 that will not on the D3100. It may save you some money in the long run down the road.

 

i bought my D5000 with 1 lens, nikon bag, tripod, and have room for a 2nd lens for under $1k

 

Like 2001AudiS4 said, you will be able to autofocus with the lenses that come with the D3100 kit. Sorry if my long explanation confused you! With camera technology changing so rapidly in the past 10 years, it's can be hard to explain clearly in a few paragraphs.

I think you have a tough decision to make. 2001AudiS4 mentioned the Nikon D90 (a camera I've shot with extensively the past year too) as a good choice. I agree mostly but keep in mind that that camera is aimed more at the advanced amateur so you'll have a steeper learning curve to learn how to use it well coming from a P&S. It could be too much camera for a beginner unless you're really willing to put in the time and effort to learn how to use it to its true potential!

 

I picked up the D3100 bundle which includes the VR 18-55 MM lense, VR 55-200 lense, and a bag. I've been playing with it quite a bit and reading the manual. WOW, so much to learn. I'm still learning, of course, what every term means and how exactly it all works.. as in which settings I need to use to take this picture lol

So far, I LOVE IT. I can already tell a night and day difference compared to my old P&S.

 

Do any of you have advice for a noob to photography, like myself

 

I would highly suggest (as many others would) buying 'Understanding Exposure' by Bryan Peterson.

Excellent book on helping you understand and grasp everything.

 

You know, I've been meaning to pick up this book as well. I want to ask if this book is better or more important then the other books he has in his series. I know he has Understanding Shutter Speed, Understanding Close Up Photography, and Understanding Photography (probably has more but can't think of them right now). Would it be best to get them all? I like portrait photography, landscape photography, architecture photography, macro photography. I'm just not that great at them and would like to learn more. Everybody recommends Bryan Peterson, just want to know if I should get all the books.

 

John, post up some sample pix!

 

Shoot a lot, get U.E. By Peterson, look at joining a local photo club. Also check and see if there are photo groups on www.meetup.com for your area.

 

I would shoot everything in RAW. The files will take up more space, and you will have to convert them if you wish to view them in normal photo viewing programs. They will give you the flexibility to alter the shot in post processing as if you had taken the picture with those settings. Think of it as a digital negative. I am still learning as I go, but I shoot everything in RAW so I have that flexibility later on.

If you want to have some fun with photography, try HDR's. They can really enhance a picture. Check out the HDR thread I started a while back. There are some amazing examples from a lot of members of this board (pay special attention to srika and drigo, they have great eyes and technicques). There is some decent info in the thread to get you going. I recommend using Photomatix. It is a really easy program to create HDR's. Other then that, I would say just shoot with the camera, experiment and you will pick up some techniques. That is basically what I am doing. My shots are hit or miss. I come up with some excellent pictures, and I also come up with some duds. Hopefully after reading some or all of Bryan Peterson's books I will drastically reduce the duds.

 

I can't comment on the other books as I haven't read them...I'm sure they're great, but those might be more specfic possibly?

The 'Understanding Exposure' book goes through pretty much all the core aspects of photography. Shutter speed, ISO, Aperture, White Balance, Composition (I believe), Lighting (natural...doesn't go into flash IIRC). It's more than just "exposure".

Terrific all around book to help you understand the core of photography.

 

Thanks for the extra info. I am definitely going to get it. My gf's mom was asking her for some gift ideas for me for christmas and I was thinking I might just ask for the series. I figure it can't hurt. The more knowledge the better I would assume.

 

I've been reading a lot online about understanding the shutter speed, aperture, etc and it's slowly, but surely, starting to make more sense. A good friend explained that it's best if I cam take the picture and not have to do any editing after it's on the computer. I'm assuming she means getting the ISO correct, aperature, etc right the first time so I won't have to edit the photo later to fix it. Although, I do know it will/can happen.

Of course, I already know to take several pictures of the same subject. DUH lol Maybe I'll look into a book soon. I do better just knowing what each setting is/means, then playing with it. It's just finding the time to freaking play!

Not sure about joining local photo club... but I have a few friends that I believe I can pick up a few techniques from. As gay as it sounds, I'm ready to spend a day just taking pictures.

 

One piece of advice = don't shoot in Auto mode. I spend about 80% of the time in Aperture priority mode. Shooting in other modes besides full Auto mode will help you to learn and understand the relationships between aperture, shutter speed, and iso.

 

I have been shooting in full Manual mode. I think I took a few pictures in auto mode when I first got the camera, then slowly worked my way around the dial. The only mode I've been using now is manual Here's a little pic I snagged just now. As you can see it's 3 AM and am just now getting to play with it Any of you reccomend a good image hosting site? Here lately Photobucket has been taking FOREVER

 

I still use Photobucket but I think a lot of people like Flickr

 

I use photobucket for bullshit stuff; funny pics and gifs that I post here or at other websites. I use flickr for my photography, you can get a free account from them. But you are limited to size and I think it's 200 pictures total.

 

I like photobucket because I can upload from my phone.. I believe I will make a flickr account, though. What do you guyz think bout mi pik?

 

^^^very interseting pic...i myself just got my first dslr.. a d3100 for xmas so im def a noob...but here is one of the first few pics i took messing around