What's the best nikon camera for photography?

snehs123

New member
D90?
D3X?
D300?
D700?
D5000?
im looking for a great camera that takes great portrait photos and photography photos, and i need a reasonable price as well. Although i would be willing to pay a lot for a good camera. Anyways tell me you're suggestions on which one i should get. I have the D3000, but i'm looking for something more advanced, it's a good camera but I need a camera for photography!!
I was thinking of the D90 or the D300 but I'm not sure, Anyways tell me what you think!!
 

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KennethHamlett

New member
OK, let me ask a question. You currently have a D3000, what is preventing you from taking the kinds of pictures you want to take with your current camera? The camera has 10.2 effective megapixels, shoots in full auto and full manual modes and has an ISO range of 100-3200. When it comes down to it, if you aren't shooting for professional reproduction purposes, what will any of the above mentioned cameras do for you that your D3000 will not do? Taking great portraits is not a function of the camera, it is a skill of the photographer. Henri Cartier Bresson was one of the greatest people photographers ever. His camera didn't matter, it was his technique. I urge all would be photographers to become photographers FIRST and then worry about equipment later. Cameras don't take photographs, people take photographs. I'm sure this isn't the answer you wanted to hear and I'm not trying to belittle your desire for new equipment, but learn to shoot first. When I went to photography school we learned 35mm film photography on the Pentax K1000. A completely manual camera--no autoexposure, no autofocus, no auto anything. We learned to shoot first with the most basic equipment before we progressed to something better.
 

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Curt

Senior Member
Ken is right, I have a Nikon D80, but I shot a lot of my best pics. With my Canon G10.
It is small and easy to carry. It’s not the camera, it’s the person behind the camera.
I had a D3000 it’s a great little camera, it will do everything you need it to do.
It is nice to have a fancy camera, but as Ken says learn how to use it first.
 

Danny17

New member
My grandfather was a photographer.My mom and us children were his favorite subjects.Back them the cameras had more of a newspaper quality,which is why I practically love my D3000.It has a quite slight newspaper quality under the glossy finish.If this is your thing it is quite an adequate purchase.It's like when you feel something was made for you if you like your images a little sandy without a heavy look.I am not very good at buying appliances so getting the right camera this time felt really good to me:)I also like the d90 for some reason.That will be my next cam when I am ready for it.
 
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Curt

Senior Member
Nothing wrong with the D3000 it is true it is a entry model camera, but it does every thing you need it to do.
I understand that professional photographers need top quality camera models,
one that stand up to constant use, and has features that a professional needs and knows how to use. That is why Nikon makes so many different models of cameras, one for everyone’s special needs. If you are a person wanting to just enjoy taking pictures as a hobby, and even for a bit of income (weddings, etc.). Nothing wrong with the D3000.
It does not shoot video, like the D5000 or D90, but that should be left up to a camcorder anyway. A DSLR should be just that a still camera?? I know some people like the video feature, but for me I use a camcorder for that.
 

dragulajez

New member
Learn the craft of photography and then keep on learning. The camera is only a tool, Its whats between your ears that really matters. When you get that right any camera will do. As Ken said "Cameras don't take photographs, people take photographs"

Cheers Jeremy
 

dragulajez

New member
Learn the craft of photography and keep on learning. The camera is only a tool, its whats between your ears that really matters. As Ken said "Cameras don't take photographs, people take photographs"

Cheers Jeremy
 

dragulajez

New member
Mate the camera is only as good as you are. Learn the craft of photography and keep on learning. Ask yourself what you want to shoot and then think about it. You shoot portraits are they going to be on billboards? Go the D3x $10000 oz. It all goes back to my first statement and what ken said too "Cameras don't take photographs, people take photographs" Master the craft think about where you want to take it!

Cheers Jeremy
 

zx7dave

Senior Member
As a D3000 owner..it is all you will need 90% of the time...what lenses you need for what type of shooting you plan to do is a great place to invest your $$
 

Curt

Senior Member
It is very true that it’s not the camera, but the person behind it…lol.
I think cameras are like cars, there are many makes and models. It gets you from point A to point B, how you get there is up to you, in style, fast, slow, etc. It’s up to the driver. So pick the camera that suites you and just start taking pictures….lol. The question of which camera is best will never really be answered, except by youJ.
 

Photoman7mc

New member
The advice you have been given here, for Free, will save you £/$ if you adhere to it.
You are the Photographer the Camera is the Tool you work with, when you know it inside out then Maybe & Just Maybe it could be time to upgrade if you have exhausted the D3000's capabilities. You also have earned money in the process.
 

Greywoulf

New member
The "best camera for photography" is the one that you take good pictures with...
I love my Nikon D40, but five months in so far and my learning curve is just now beginning to catch up with the great shots (IMO?) I was able to take with my previous "lowly" P+S style Fuji F30!

It's my opinion that until you stick with a camera that feels okay for you (and ANY decent camera will do, it ain't gotta be expensive!), until you've learned this camera thoroughly, until you've learned how to wring almost everything out of it that it's capable of, you needn't be worrying about top-of-the line gear! -It probably won't do you much good anyhow, and indeed it might even make things more difficult for you... -Because all the fancy technical do-dads and gadgets that are on top-line pro gear will do absolutely nothing to make you a top-line photographer until you learn the basics, and this is more easily done without all those gadgets!
 

Snap Happy

Senior Member
Learn the craft of photography and then keep on learning. The camera is only a tool, Its whats between your ears that really matters. When you get that right any camera will do. As Ken said "Cameras don't take photographs, people take photographs"

Cheers Jeremy

I couldn't have put it better myself. Well said.
 
As a D3000 owner..it is all you will need 90% of the time...what lenses you need for what type of shooting you plan to do is a great place to invest your $$

I believe that you've hit the limitation of the D3000 right here. The focusing motor isn't in the body of the D3000, therefore a LOT of lenses that don't have an internal focusing mechanism won't auto-focus on the D3000. They'll work fine as manual focus lenses, however.
 

Photobug12

New member
I agree with the comments. What worked for me which resulted in a quantum leap was to "stop and smell the roses" so to speak. Keep your photographer's radar up at all times and think how you would compose this scene with this subject, what's in the background, are there shadows, what if I just changed the angle of the photo by 5 or 10 degrees etc. It is amazing how many more photo ops you will come up with. And with practice and just a little bit of thought about your technique etc, your skills will increase tremedously.
 

Batlise

New member
I have to have that auto focus to back me up - since some photos that look sharp to me - have come out blurry - I don't trust my eyes any more. I have a D40 - I can't use the preview screen for a current view........something I hate when it's the only option - but sometimes I need that option - like when i want to digitze slides. Don't get me start on the 18mm - 300mm lense I want. $650+ That's a lot.
 

cal41

New member
+1 to everything said. I've got a picture on a billboard right now and it was shot with a 2003 5MP point and shoot camera through well scratched aircraft plexiglass. You can't see the pixels or aberrations when driving by at 90 km/h though.

And if you want to spend more money, spend it on glass. Lack of an in-body focus motor isn't as much of an issue as it has been, since most new Nikkor lenses are AF-S anyways. I'd rather have good glass and a crappy body than the other way around. Lighting, composition, and technique are better than any lens or body.
 

zx7dave

Senior Member
I would upgrade to the D3100 only because it is a greatly improved unit and it does video clips which mote and more customers are becoming to expect at events. One last consideration might be the D7000 so the lenses you buy don't have to have a internal motor. It opens up a lot more opportunities for what glass you buy.
 
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