hey guys,

I'm looking to buy a camera and I really dont know whats good. My photography skills are pretty basic too. i usually just take day time pics of the truck, I'd like to be able to do nighttime, family pics and I'll be taking a mega road trip next spring and would like to take it for that as well.

A couple years back I bought the woman a decent digital camera, water proof etc etc. and it works great but the picture quality is lacking, especially if the sun is setting at all, night photos...forget it. but for beach trips or whatever this camera has worked great...also...its not mine haha so I'm not allowed to touch it
FujiFilm Finepix XP20
I'd like to get a real camera though, I hear lots of good things about Nikon & Canon. my price range is definitely under a $1000, and i'd like to have a bag, maybe a couple lenses and whatever else is needed.

I was looking at the Nikon SLR D3200-kit cause it has really good reviews, seems to have good quality pictures and claims to do night shots even without a flash! I'd probly get the flasher too though. the only thing I dont like about that, is if I want to purchase any other lenses like a fisheye...its TONS of money! the price range is about right too.
there's also the Nikon SLR D3100 which seems to be well reviewed but it doesnt take the same quality of pics as the other one and why not spend the extra $100 to have something that takes better pics

the canon EOS 60D seems to have good reviews but at the cost of $1000 without any accessories thats a bit to steap for me.

so what can you suggest or whats worked for you?

 

Bump
There's gotta be some camera guys here or pro truck picture taker'ers haha

 

The Nikon D series is very common around here. If I had the money there is where I would go. The 3100,3200 and the older ones are 4000,6000 I think. That really depends on your budget and how in depth you want to go. Remember more money means nicer generally but it also means more complicated.

 

Well the thing about the 3200 vs the 3100 that I like is the ease of use. The d3100 and canon t3i are super complicated and lots of buttons yet the 3200 has better megapixels and more settings in the menu.
My skills are and probly always will be basic haha I'd like to learn minor editing but ill never be a pro photographer

 

I've recently been getting into photography a little more. There is so much to learn but it is a very fun and rewarding hobby. I have a d5000 I bought used from my brother, but I've found the most important thing about photography is having a nice lens. I've since spent over $1k on lenses- not saying you need to by any means. However, I would lean towards getting a cheaper or used dslr and get either a 50mm or 35mm af-s prime (meaning no zoom) lens for around $200. You will find that your pictures are much more amazing even if you shoot in auto. Next thing then would be to get a grasp of shutter speed, aperture, and iso as basics. Then you can start getting much better quality pictures by controlling those yourself.

 

its gonna be a combined gift from the family so I'm not to concerned about the cost haha but its not ridiculous at $600 for the kit.
It comes with a 18mm-55mm lens but I was considering buying an extra lense right off the get go so I can have a couple to learn with.
the 55mm would be more zoomed then the 35mm?
I may look into a beginners photograph class maybe at the local college on weekends or something

 

Yea the kit lens is decent, but for your second lens I would get the 35mm af-s. I have it and its awesome.

 

Ill check into that 35mm and maybe I'll just grab it at the same time.
Is there an editing software you'd suggest? Just for if I wanted to blur the edges a bit or put a filter on it. Kinda like the instagram app if you've ever used that on your phone. Its very point and click easy to use

 

Adobe Lightroom is great, and obviously Photoshop is awesome also (well out of my price range though). I'd image you'd be able to do most of the things you want with Lightroom.

Did you decide on which camera yet?

 

I'm gonna get the d3200. I went to the store and compared it to the 3100 and canon t3i and I liked thr feel and features of that one the most