I think I've finally realized that even though my iPhone does some decent shots, it will never measure up to what a "real" camera can do. My friends have gotten more and more into photography lately (one with a D5200, another with a D5500) and I'd like to get a little more serious too. Been looking around online and right now I'd say I'm between the Nikon D3300 and D5300. I don't want to get something too expensive just to start off with; hope I'm on a right path here (or if I'm wrong, please let me know ). From what I've read (mainly CNET), it seems like the Canon Rebel T5/T6 series is almost just rebranding older models so I'm not super happy to read that, and they say the Nikons are recommended over them for the same price/class.

As for the Nikons, my main thoughts between them are:

-I can live without built-in Wi-Fi to transfer photos for editing/posting or I can get the dongle on the D3300 if I think I absolutely need it. Geotagging is nice to have, but I hardly ever use it from what my iPhone has taken.
-Are the extra focus points on the D5300 that much of a deciding factor to upgrade to it (39 vs 11)
-Should I really worry about HDR being absent on the D3300? Would software/synthetic HDR be a damning alternative? (I realize it's usually for some more artistic effect - I've been happy with the Snapseed settings for what I've taken)

Judging from my photo collection now, it's really all landscape photos but I'd like to do some close-up macro shots so I'd almost rather put the money towards a better lens for that. Hope some of you guys can school me on how to start taking some real photos.

 

if you're doing mainly landscapes, really any of the mentioned cameras can do the job (so, don't need the extra AF points), I say for the money saved, you can put that towards good lenses.

as for HDR, if you're going to do HDR, forget the in camera HDR mode, and do it right with HDR programs. just my

 

You are pin pointing at a few bodies based on $$$. I suggest you get to a store and see if those bodies will be comfortable in your hands. For me, those are smaller bodies with controls in menus, not on the camera bodies. Such a PiTA to use.

 

Thanks for the input, guys! Ran into Best Buy and looked at the Nikons. They felt fine to me, just the D5500 has a weird grip that feels shorter, but I wan't really considering it since it looks like they really only added a touchscreen over the D5300. I am preferring the D5300 now after seeing how the screen looks so much bigger even though it's only .2" difference, and how it can adjust could come in handy for some odd-angle shots. I'll go take a look at Canon too (not sure why I didn't while I was at the store) but I'm not sure since some reviews mention the color temperature isn't as accurate and they seem lower spec for the same price (except adding a touchscreen but I don't think that's the "end all, be all" factor since it's a newer thing).

 

Look into a Sony A6000. It'll do everything you want and be much smaller and lighter than the Nikons. You can get one with kit lens for ~$600.

I recommend this one for anyone who is looking to get into photography.

If you are set on the Nikon, I'd get the cheaper one and spend the difference on lenses. The focus points don't matter unless you're shooting sports or racing, the gps tag/wifi are gimmicks at this point, and you should definitely not be doing any HDR in the camera. Don't buy any lens more than the one kit lens, anything that Best Buy will sell you is garbage. Use the kit lens, figure out what you desire more about that lens, then pick up a new one that's much higher quality and meets your expectations.

If you end up getting into this, all I can say is prepare your wallet.

 

Want to buy a nice Canon t5i with 3 batteries and 3 lenses?

 

Kinda forgot to update this. I ended up with the D5300 since I ended up practically needing the rotating bigger screen and I've been using the wifi to edit some of the photos on my iPad (even though they're only JPEG through their app for whatever reason). Also started buying some things and I might have gone a little overboard.

-Tamron 10-24mm
-NIKKOR 35mm 1.8G
-NIKKOR 55-200mm (don't use a zoom too often and it was cheap as a refurb)
-Tamrac bag to keep it all in (the freebie was was barely big enough for the body and lens)

Figure a macro lens and good tripod (the one I got from Micro Center was crap and is going back) should round out what I need for most situations. Slowly learning more and more so hopefully I'll have some good stuff by the end of the summer when I can actually get outside.

 

congrats. not a bad setup to start with.