I have never bought a slr camera, I am new to the world of Nikon. And I am looking at this camera to start off with. I want a camera that can take great shots for personal use (i.e.- landscape pics, nature, family functions, holidays) Can someone pleeeeease give me advice on what is the best camera to buy. Is the D3100 ideal? THANK YOU
First timer. Is the D3100 good for first timer???
- Thread starter seanie
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Don Kuykendall_RIP
RIP :(
The D3100 is a great little camera. You might also want to consider the D5100. A few more features that are nice.
You might also want to consider Refurbished Cameras. You could get a better camera for the same money or even less.
Refurbished Digital SLR Cameras | View All | Cameta Camera
I bought my D5100 refurbished from them and I can't tell it from new and it has the same 1 year warranty as a new one.
You might also want to consider Refurbished Cameras. You could get a better camera for the same money or even less.
Refurbished Digital SLR Cameras | View All | Cameta Camera
I bought my D5100 refurbished from them and I can't tell it from new and it has the same 1 year warranty as a new one.
Horoscope Fish
Senior Member
A factory refurb is not the same as buying a "used" camera. A factory refurb will have been gone over by the Nikon factory and brought up to factory specification and will carry a Nikon warranty so you'll have some buyer protection. The shutter count will, effectively, be zero. Refurbs are a great way to save a LOT of money on things like this.
As for the D3100 versus the D5100, I too would suggest you go with the D5100 if that's possible. There's nothing wrong with the D3100 it's just that that the D5100 is so much better in so many respects.
Lakeside Annie
Senior Member
I have the D3100 as my first DSLR. I consider it my "starter" camera (as far as DSLR's go.)
That being said, I got mine about 2.5 years ago when it was a relatively new model. There have been a couple others that have come out since then. You can do as the others above me have said and also look at the D5100.
You can check out my Flickr page to see the types of shots I can get with my D3100.
landscape pics... oh yeah.
nature... yup!
family functions... of course*
holidays... absolutely*
* if your photos are going to be shot indoors, or with low light, you'll also want to consider a faster lens than the kit lens.
I personally don't care for the look of shots using the camera's built in flash, so I tend to try my best to (indoors) really open up the aperture, bump up the iso, and get the best shot I can without flash. This works much better with a faster lens and for that reason, my Nikkor 50mm f1.8G is typically the lens that stays on my camera indoors.
That being said, I got mine about 2.5 years ago when it was a relatively new model. There have been a couple others that have come out since then. You can do as the others above me have said and also look at the D5100.
You can check out my Flickr page to see the types of shots I can get with my D3100.
landscape pics... oh yeah.
nature... yup!
family functions... of course*
holidays... absolutely*
* if your photos are going to be shot indoors, or with low light, you'll also want to consider a faster lens than the kit lens.
I personally don't care for the look of shots using the camera's built in flash, so I tend to try my best to (indoors) really open up the aperture, bump up the iso, and get the best shot I can without flash. This works much better with a faster lens and for that reason, my Nikkor 50mm f1.8G is typically the lens that stays on my camera indoors.
Somersetscott
Senior Member
Don't be scared of the full frames and D7000 & D7100 - my advice is buy the best you can afford.
I started with a Nikon J1 (csc) and quickly outgrew it, though it taught me a lot. I could have saved a few hundred pounds by just going for a decent DSLR in the first place.
I bought my body second hand from an online dealer that I spent loads of time researching on, happy I did
Best of luck, I hope you get the camera most suited to your needs.
Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 2
I started with a Nikon J1 (csc) and quickly outgrew it, though it taught me a lot. I could have saved a few hundred pounds by just going for a decent DSLR in the first place.
I bought my body second hand from an online dealer that I spent loads of time researching on, happy I did
Best of luck, I hope you get the camera most suited to your needs.
Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 2
Getting the best you can get is pretty decent advice. Now I am not directing this at anybody in particular and what I am saying here is not what you are thinking I am saying so read and think about this very carefully please. I really do think that there a lot of people nowadays who are "over-camera'd". What I mean by that is they own the latest and greatest unit and it does way more than they will ever need. Of course there are also those who just can't take a picture to save their souls but by golly they have a 10K dollar camera. Then there is me with my 300 dollar janky viewfinder old camera and I am pretty marginal and not very consistent. Don't try and keep up with the Joneses it ain't necessary. Don't try to be Steiglitz or HCB either because you never will be.
I would suggest looking at the bigger picture and asking yourself what you want out of your system because after all it is a system. Camera body. Lens(es). Flash. Tripod. Etc.
A really really good lens (or maybe two lenses) and a lower level camera body is way better than a crappy lens and a higher level body IMO.
Remember you are a first timer. Give yourself some time to grow.
I would suggest looking at the bigger picture and asking yourself what you want out of your system because after all it is a system. Camera body. Lens(es). Flash. Tripod. Etc.
A really really good lens (or maybe two lenses) and a lower level camera body is way better than a crappy lens and a higher level body IMO.
Remember you are a first timer. Give yourself some time to grow.
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ShallowShannon
Senior Member
Eye Level makes a great point. I have a D3100, I like it. Though I do wish I had bought something with a few more options (D90 or D5100). Only because I've taken a lot of shots (good and bad) and have a better understanding of how things work with this model. I'll add one thing though, at this point in my hobby a better camera body won't make me a better photographer. (at least that's what I have to keep telling myself )
You might also want to hold a D3100 it's pretty small, that may be a good thing or a bad thing depending on how it feels in your hand.
) You might also want to hold a D3100 it's pretty small, that may be a good thing or a bad thing depending on how it feels in your hand.
I no longer recommend entry level DSLRs to people who are in the market for a camera primarily used for point and shoot. That includes family remembrances, vacations and such. Why? 99% of the time, in my experience, that DSLR is going to remain on auto everything until it expires or is forgotten. Why spend the extra money for features that will never be utilized?
If someone expresses an interest in photography, that's a different recommendation.
If someone expresses an interest in photography, that's a different recommendation.
Don Kuykendall_RIP
RIP :(
mine came with a 0 shutter count. My first Nikon was a New D3100 and I then went with a refurbished D5100. The D5100 looks and acts like new. I sometimes think a factory refurbished might even be better. They have to be checked by a person and re-certified before they can be sold. I had problems with my D3100 and they ended up have to replace it when it was only a few months old, The D5100 has been perfect.
If you are able to stick with your hobby over a period of years then refurbs are a great way to go. My experience is similar to Don's. My first DSLR (and only one still dang it) was/is a D5000 bought last year for 300 bucks with 5K actuations. It now has about 20K actuations I think and has/does served me very well. I bet you money I could get 250 maybe even 300 for it right now on Craigslist. I am ready to move to another camera not because I am a better photographer now or because the D5000 is flawed because it is not it is great. My reason to upgrade would be solely for a better viewfinder. So the next one will be something like a D7000 or a D600. This camera body thing seems to work in cycles just like most other things. Seems like every couple of years or 3 one outgrows whatever they are using and there is a need to step up a notch.
I bet you next year or so Don will have a new refurbed camera anyone want to bet?
I bet you next year or so Don will have a new refurbed camera anyone want to bet?
As an entry level D3100 user, I can say this: I have several friends that are professionals in the field, and each of them had nothing but good things to say about the camera. Also, in the class I'm currently taking, the instructor is always pleasantly surprised by the quality of the photos.
Are there better? Do others have more options/features? Yes, quite a few, but you won't suffer at all by learning on this camera. It's the skill of the photographer, with DSLR equipment, that often makes the difference in good or bad shots, and this camera gives you access to manually adjust the "big 3" settings everyone needs to learn before dabbling elsewhere.
If you've got an open budget, and you're sure this is going to be a serious, long term venture, go for what you can get!!! Don't be afraid of this camera, though, because of the "entry level" tag. It's a phenomenal camera in its own right.
Are there better? Do others have more options/features? Yes, quite a few, but you won't suffer at all by learning on this camera. It's the skill of the photographer, with DSLR equipment, that often makes the difference in good or bad shots, and this camera gives you access to manually adjust the "big 3" settings everyone needs to learn before dabbling elsewhere.
If you've got an open budget, and you're sure this is going to be a serious, long term venture, go for what you can get!!! Don't be afraid of this camera, though, because of the "entry level" tag. It's a phenomenal camera in its own right.
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kirbfucius
Senior Member
If you haven't purchased it yet, I would suggest the D5100. It has a much nicer LCD screen, the same sensor as the D7000, and thanks to the D5200 you can get a used one for about $50 more than a used D3100. Also because of the D5200, it isn't going to depreciate any further than it already has when it comes time to sell it either due to outgrowing or disuse.
Edit:
That being said, the D3100 is still an excellent camera. It was my first one and the only reason I sold it was because I was able to buy a D5100 for the same price I sold the D3100. I'd still have the 3100 and be satisfied with it today if it wasn't for Craigslist.
Edit:
That being said, the D3100 is still an excellent camera. It was my first one and the only reason I sold it was because I was able to buy a D5100 for the same price I sold the D3100. I'd still have the 3100 and be satisfied with it today if it wasn't for Craigslist.
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Somersetscott
Senior Member
That fold out screen on the 5100 is useful too for unusual perspective shots in live view.
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Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 2