Need camera help

[stardogs]

My little business is now busy enough that I can start taking a paycheck (!) and so I thought I'd treat myself by finally buying a used dSLR, only now I have so many options that I need help from all the more camera-smart people here.

These are the cams I found on our local craigslist in my price range.

Nikon D3000 - $315 (camera body itself, battery, zoom lens and 12v charger)
Sony Alpha 230 DSLR - $350 (camera body, 18-55mm lens, 2 years insurance, extra battery, camera cover, memory card)
Olympus DSLR E-420 - $288 (lens sold separately)

All three seem to have similar features and all are listed for less than I'm finding them used on amazon. I've always thought I'd try to get a Nikon or Canon, but want to make sure that I'm not missing something glaring with the others available. I don't *have* to buy one of the above cameras, but I would prefer to not have to wait months and months again (have been eyeing dslrs since January as it is lol).

Primary use would be photos of the critters with some nature photography and vacation shots as well. I will be signing up for a camera class at the local community college as well since I'm upgrading from a simple P&S and want to develop my skills with new equipment.

eta: I'm also looking on Adorama and am wondering if they might be a better option since the cameras are screened prior to sale. Thoughts? The prices seem quite competitive...

 

[Amber]

I have the d3000, so I can vouch for it being a good starter DSLR. I've had it for 2 years now, though, and I'm soo bored with it. I need to upgrade. Haha. So if you're thinking about getting more serious as you progress, that's something to think about.

What lens are they selling with it?

 

[stardogs]

The kit lens, whatever one that is - I'm guessing the 18-55mm.

eta: I don't think I'll ever want to go pro or anything, I just want a camera that can actually get action shots and has interchangable lenses for lens fun LOL.

I also just heard back from the Olympus person. Lens would be $100 and is a 14-45mm, both the body and the lens are basically new.

 

[Dekka]

I personally LOVE my pentax, my next one will also be a pentax. Its not as common and requires a bit of a steeper learning curve (from what I here... its the only one I have ever had) It was the one recommended to me by people in the biz

You might want to look at forums dedicated to photogs and to particular makes, they often have a used section where people sell stuff as they trade up.

 

[Amber]

Oh, well then that does sound like a pretty good price for it, assuming it's in good condition. I'll like other people who are experienced with the other cameras chime in.

Something that I do, to see how I like the pictures a camera takes, is go onto Flickr and search the camera's name, like if you wanted to see pictures by the d3000, you could just type in d3000. That should give you an idea of what the camera is capable of, but keep in mind the best pictures are probably taken with the best lenses.

 

[stardogs]

Oh great call on using flickr! Will do that now!

 

[stardogs]

So both the Sony and the Olympus are still available; I even got the price for the lens+camera body on the Olympus down to $350. Decisions, decisions. I think if the D3000 is still available I may seriously consider that given the price and all the good reviews I'm finding on it, but the others are still in the running, too.

 

[SarahHound]

I've got a D5000 and I love it, but from what I have heard, the D3000 is excellent. I am definitely a Nikon person, but I feel with any SLR, you can't really go wrong.

 

[Zoom]

Go to your local camera store (Wolf, Mike's, etc) and they should let you play with some of the models. I love my Nikon but it's really a personal preference when you get right down it.

Whoever said it though was right, your money and pictures are really settled in your lenses and sensors these days.

 

[skittledoo]

I can't vouch for the D3000, but I can say that my personal preference is Nikon. I used to be a Canon girl until I shot one of my dad's Nikons and I've been sold to Nikon ever since though I still own my old Canon. I'm actually trying to plan to upgrade to a nicer Nikon model within the next year hopefully. I currently shoot a D60.

As for the other two you posted... unfortunately I know nothing about either of them to lend you any comparison. I tend to be a creature of habit so I haven't ventured too far off the beaten path from Nikon and Canon.

 

[stardogs]

So upon more research it appears that the Sony and Nikon would be better in terms of lens selection - they can both use standard SLR lenses. Even better is that my mom has some old Nikon lenses from her days at the Chicago Tribune so it's possible that if I got the Nikon I'd already have a good lens selection!

We don't have any local camera stores unfortunately - the closest chain is 40 miles away. :\ Since all three cameras are in Charlotte anyway, I might just make a day trip out of it and drive to Charlotte (90 miles) to visit a camera store, and check out the craigslist leads from there.

Thanks for the feedback so far guys!

 

[Lizmo]

I love my Nikon, and personally I feel I'd rather have a cheaper-side Nikon (I have the D40X) camera and go for the nice lenses. Versus buying a $1000 body and only using the kit lens.

I do have to say, my photography buddy had a Sony and it had a problem where the view finder was 'off' from what the picture actually looked like. She always had to point it lower than she actually wanted the picture to be to get the right shot. Weird.

I'd go for the Nikon. hehe

 

[2pups622]

I would not go for any other brands besides Nikon or Canon. And i agree cheaper body better lens is the way to go.

 

[stardogs]

So the original D3000 is "sold" but I think it's actually a scammer trying to get traffic to a bidding site.

Further research indicates the Olympus isn't a good option, so I'm still leaning toward a Sony, Canon, or Nikon. I went into a Ritz camera store in our mall and held the D3000 and the Sony, both seemed very similar, though I liked the screen guiding on the Nikon better.

Sent out another 5-10 emails to craigslist postings, called a camera store in Charlotte a friend recommended I check (no used cameras in my price range), checked Adorama (no D3000s available right now), and browsed dpreview and amazon some more. I tend to obsess a bit - can you tell?! LOL

 

[SaraB]

I have a Sony Alpha200... I love it. I'm not sure what I'll go with when I upgrade though, Nikon or Sony again.

 

[RD]

I have never had problems with my Nikon D70 and I've had it for 7 years. I can vouch for Nikons, even though I haven't had my hands on the d3000.

Oh, I wanted to add that you may want to get a different lens besides the 18-55mm one. I honestly never, ever use that lens for dog photos, I just find it clumsy.

 

[stardogs]

The Sony guy just dropped the price from $350 to $300 if I pick it up...$300 is really what I want to spend and it comes with all the start up stuff...and there's a Minolta lens that goes up to 200mm available on cl for $30...

I still need to find out if any of my mom's lenses will work on a Nikon D3000 and hear back from the feelers I put out today. Argh! Patience is soooo not my strong suit.

 

[Lizmo]

Have you checked B&H? They have used and refurbished equiment.

 

[stardogs]

B&H? Umm I've not heard of them...

eta: looked them up and they didn't really have what I'm looking for in my price range unfortunately.