Looking to get new camera. NEED HELP

[dahlinger66]

Hi,

I am new to this forum and I am in the process of getting a DSLR. Does anyone have any good recommendations? I am looking to spend tops of $700 new or used? Please help me out.

[Franglais]

Well, what do you need? Are you an amateur or a professional? What sort of pictures are you going to be taking, what subjects? Are you thinking of taking it seriously and building a full system or just staying with a basic kit? Etc. etc.

For $700 you can have:

- Nikon D3100 with kit lens.Small, light, easy to use. More MPix than you really need (14), good high ISO performance. Right for an amateur who just wants to do good snapshots. Wrong for a professional - viewfinder is small, body is too small to be comfortable with big lenses, no autofocus with older lenses

- Second-hand D200 + battery grip + 18-70. Big viewfinder, big heavy body for use with pro lenses, compatible with almost all older lenses. Enough MPix (10). Right for a professional on a budget. But limited to 1600 ISO - a problem indoors if the subject is in movement. Plus the body is really heavy..

[jorgemonkey]

I've got a used D200 + 18-55 for sale

[sic0048]

I'd recommend the D3100. I actually just picked one up and love it. There are a couple of minor items that prevent this from being a prosumer camera, but it is REALLY nice for a beginner. I'm not a beginner and the camera works great for me.

The only other worthwhile option right now is to spend the $$ to get a D7000. But that is $1200 body only right now and unless you are making money with your camera, it probably isn't worth the extra cost. Personally I would not buy an old body style. The new cameras have much better low noise characteristics. Even the D3100 does pretty well up to ISO 3200.

[volks]

Get the Nikon D3100 if it fits you hand ok. I found it a bit on the small size and settled for the more expensive D7000.