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Question

Ok , New Question ..what DSLR would be the best camera for m

Jun 2, 2011 10:47PM PDT

I posted before about finding a point and shoot would take great action shots and pictures.

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Choices
Jun 3, 2011 12:53AM PDT

There aren't any bad DSLR cameras, but some are a bit better than others. There are four manufacturers: Canon, Nikon, Pentax, and Sony. Canon and Nikon are the two most common. Pentax and Sony are often a bit better value, but harder to find in stores. With you budget, you are looking at the entry level mostly, unless you buy an older camera, used, or refurbished.

The D3000 is last year's model, the replacement is the D3100. Same with the D5000; the new model is the D5100. With Canon, the T3i is the current model; the T2i is the older one. Of those, the T2i is probably the best value. Every professional review has been good, ranking it at the top or near the top for its class...you could say it is the Honda Accord of DSLR cameras.

All DSLR's are sold either as a body only or with a "kit" lens. Buy it with the lens because it is cheaper than buying a body and specialized lens separately. The kit lens is almost always a 18-55mm, which is fine for general photography. But for sports, you would want a longer focal length. Usually you can get a two lens kit; the T2i can be had with both 18-55mm and 55-250mm lenses (but that would be approximately $1000).

Canon T2i review: http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canoneos550d/

If you want a body and two lenses for $700, a best buy would be the Pentax K-x with 18-55mm and 55-300mm lenses: http://www.buydig.com/shop/product.aspx?sku=PKKXKT255300K

Pentax K-x review: http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/pentaxkx/

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How different are the newer models?
Jun 3, 2011 2:39AM PDT

If I went with the D3000 ..how much different would the D3100 be?

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D3000 vs. Everthing Else
Jun 3, 2011 5:48AM PDT

The D3000 will take nice photos. It's pretty bare bones though...it does not offer Live View (you can't shoot using the LCD, only the viewfinder), and it has no movie mode at all; it's strictly a photo camera. That's why the Pentax K-x is a better value, because it has those features for the same price.

Unless you can get the two-lens D3000 for less, I'd probably spend the extra $100 or so for the two-lens D3100...$100 for HD video and live view (and a few other things) is worth the money, IMO.

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Thank you
Jun 4, 2011 10:57AM PDT

for all your help..I didn't realize that it didn't have a movie mode. I went today and checked them out. ...My friends were there at the same time and were considering the D3000 ..I told them that they couldn't use the lcd to shoot which they didn't know..Thanks pistoncupchampion!! ha.