What DSLR for under $1000

[chrismck97]

I need a camera for taking macro shots and regular shots.

[Misled]

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1503490

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1762095

[chrismck97]

ok but do you have any suggestions

[Misled]

DSLR's are personal. You can't have what I have at your price, but you can look at used. I don't know your expertise, what feels comfortable in your hands or whether you just want to take pics or want to get further into photography later. If you read the first link, most of todays DSLR's can take good pics. The second link discusses macros. No one but you can say what you want. Go to some photography stores and put the cameras in your hands.

[teesquare]

Jesse is right-

I shoot with both Nikon and Olympus DSLR's.

They both have strengths and weaknesses. If I am shooting outdoors, where bad weather is likely, or a really damp envirement - I use my Oly E-3, because I can pour a gallon of water a minute over it and the lenses, and - no problem.

But if I need speed, and have a low light situation, the Nikon D-300 is the better choice, at 8 frames per sec.

So, you really need to make a list of priorities that you want the camera to perform, then shop by those.
T

[RVANANO]

I am in love with my Canon 40D. I paid $900 for the body new on Amazon

Here is a link to my flickr. I use a Canon 17-85 lens

http://www.flickr.com/photos/14049800@N00/sets/

[IslandCrow]

I think that first article Misled provided has some very good information. Canon and Nikon both make excellent digital SLRs, even at the consumer grade level. As a matter of fact, I think the biggest difference between the consumer grade cameras and professional are features and durability. There actually isn't a huge difference in image quality. I point out Canon and Nikon because those are the ones I'm most familiar with by the way. Other companies are putting out digital SLRs (Olympus, Sony, Sigma), and they're probably all very good quality.

The second article Misled posted is where you'll really make your money, though. I'd much rather skimp on the camera body than the lens. Even cameras a couple generations removed can produce very high quality images when paired with the right lens.

What I'd recommend is going to your local camera and electronic stores and actually spending some time using the different models. Find one you're happy with and then shop online. I'm all for supporting my local stores, but they just charge far too much. I'm a big fan of Adorama and B&H Photo by the way. They even have a used equipment section where you can get some pretty good deals. I bought my 40D used for just under $800. That was 2-3 years ago.

Oh, and if you do end up buying Canon or Nikon, here's a great site for deciding on lenses: http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/. For most of the consumer grade cameras, I'd recommend buying the lens and body separately. Adorama seems to be doing a good job offering package deals with pretty decent quality lenses, but many of the "kit" lenses are not very good quality.

[ducklabdad]

Excellant information above. If I had $1000.00 to spend today on a new DSLR I would get a Canon 50d with the 28-135 IS Kit lens for $1098.00 right now through B&H.

and Best Buy here locally had it for less than that last week!!

But that is only what I would spend it on if it was me.

[returnofsid]

With the quality of the well known brands, the main deciding factor really becomes, what feels good in your hands? Get to a quality camera shop and hold each one. Take some sample pictures, mess with the settings. Then go home and read, read, read!! A couple good starting places are:
http://www.fredmiranda.com/
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/
http://www.dpreview.com/

Any of the well known DSLR brand, ie Canon, Nikon, Sony etc, will give you good results, once you learn how to use them. They all have "consumer level," pro-sumer level," and "professional level." Well, at least Canon and Nikon do. Any of these levels will allow you to take great photography. Once you start talking "Macro," you'll need somewhat specialized and expensive lenses. For instance, I shoot Canon. For several years, I shot with a RebelXt and a 100mm Macro lens. I recently upgraded to a Canon 7D body. I still use the 100mm Macro.

Now Canon has several consumer bodies, that offer a lot of the features that the higher end bodies offer, such as the Canon T2i. This would be a great "starter" DSLR camera, while still offering you a lot of the features that the "prosumer" bodies offer, for around $750.00 (body only). Unfortunately, even if you find a great deal, on a used 100mm Macro lens, you're still looking at spending $400.00. However, it's well worth the investment. The 100mm Macro is also a great portraiture lens.

If it were me, keeping my budget within $1000.00, I would look for a used Canon 40D (better than the newer 50D IMO) with a variable zoom lens, for around $600.00. Then I'd keep my eye out for a used 100mm Macro.

Another option would be a Canon T1i kit, with an 18-55IS lens, for $800.00 http://www.onecall.com/product/Canon/EOS-Rebel-T1i-w-EF-S-18-55mm-IS/Digital-SLR/_/R-96621

or

a Canon T2i kit with the same lens, for about $900.00 http://www.onecall.com/product/Canon/EOS-Rebel-T2i-Kit/Digital-SLR/_/R-103342

These are both great consumer grade DSLR cameras, with the main difference being in the megapixels. No one needs 18mp anyway...lol.

Either way, you'll still need to save up a bit more money, before purchasing a Canon 100mm Macro. Canon's newest 100mm Macro includes Image Stabilization (IS) and is an L series (professional series) and runs about $950.00. The non IS version, which I shoot with, and is still an amazing lens, though not L or IS, and runs about $500.00 new. Now that the L, IS version has been released, the older versions are much easier to find, used. With a little looking, you could find a used one for $350.00. They do hold their value, quite well.

[mpc]

Hi!

For under $1000 I would go Pentax (why? - because it is a great price/performance). I looked up the prices at bhphotovideo and you can get a decent kit for $980 plus shipping. It will include Pentax K-x with a standard 18-55 zoom plus Sigma's 105mm Macro - you will be able to shoot regular somewhat wide angle shots plus really great macros as well (Besides - Sigma is also great for portraits). So you might consider this as an option at your price range that will offer what you asked for.
Body (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/651671-REG/Pentax_16301_Pentax_K_x_Digital_SLR.html)
Sigma Macro Lens (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/341924-USA/Sigma_257109_105mm_f_2_8_EX_Macro.html)

BUT - there is some philosophy involved when choosing an SLR system. The main thing is that it is quite a lot of money - eventually you won't resist and you will buy more and more lenses. Lenses last a very long time - they will definitely outlive the body if you care for them. So at this point it is very important to choose the right system for you. You cannot stick Pentax lenses on Canon or Nikon on Sony. It is not a PnS camera - as I told - it is a system. So buying an SLR is like choosing a path in life - you have to be sure that what you buy is what you want. Yes you might change systems along the way but if you previously had acquired a bunch of lenses then you will loose part of their value selling them. So choose wisely.

Ok, enough with my verbal menstruation...

[Stenopus]

canon 550d unbeatable choice....

[Luiz Rocha]

Nikon just came out with a nice one, the 14 megapixels D3100 ($699), here is a preview of it:

http://dpreview.com/news/1008/10081920nikond3100.asp

[footballdude2k3]

i shoot weddings with a canon, honestly, i would say go to a store, play with a nikon and canon, which are really close to being the same thing. find which one seems more user friendly for you, then go find last years model used. then take the money that you save from buying a used body to buy your macro lens. done and done.

[teesquare]

i shoot weddings with a canon, honestly, i would say go to a store, play with a nikon and canon, which are really close to being the same thing. find which one seems more user friendly for you, then go find last years model used. then take the money that you save from buying a used body to buy your macro lens. done and done.

Good advice. The "sweet spot" from a value standpoint is never the latest and greates gear. Last years models still have SO much in capability, that you will never use all them by the time you are ready to move up in camera bodies.

And - pick a brand that has lots of lenses available for you. Nikon and Cannon are the 2 most popular, with Cannon being the largest seller.

T

[DustinB]

Very good advice.

My personal suggestion:

The Nikon D5000 is basically a D90 without a few features and things to make your life easier. It uses the same sensor so you can get the same quality pictures. Spend the extra cash on a good lens, you'll likely want a macro lens if you have a reef tank. Look at the tamron 90 lens.

[iceemn360]

Hi!

For under $1000 I would go Pentax (why? - because it is a great price/performance). I looked up the prices at bhphotovideo and you can get a decent kit for $980 plus shipping. It will include Pentax K-x with a standard 18-55 zoom plus Sigma's 105mm Macro - you will be able to shoot regular somewhat wide angle shots plus really great macros as well (Besides - Sigma is also great for portraits). So you might consider this as an option at your price range that will offer what you asked for.
Body (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/651671-REG/Pentax_16301_Pentax_K_x_Digital_SLR.html)
Sigma Macro Lens (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/341924-USA/Sigma_257109_105mm_f_2_8_EX_Macro.html)


I think this is a great kit to start with. the kx has some of the best low light performance among the full range of crop sensor DSLRs. Buying it used makes the kit even cheaper!

If you really arent into video or the dizzying number of color combinations the kx comes in (red, blue, white, black, green, purple, organge ect) then you might consider the k20d. You can find one used for about 500 with kitlens and then add on a macro (DA 35m ) or the sigma 105mm. either way they would both be great kits!