nikon d5000

[tommac]

I have found that I am slightly interested in photography and looking to get a beginners camera ... something better than my point and shoot canon camera that I have. I was looking at getting the nikon d5000 camera as it was recommended to me by someone.

Does anyone have this camera and/or can anyone give me a few pointers on what I should look for in a beginners camera for someone who wants to get into some amateur photography?

[HenrikOlsen]

I bought a Canon EOS 1000D as my starter, because I found a very good offer with two lenses, 18-55mm and 75-300mm at what looks to be about 2/3 the price of a D5000 with one.
I don't have a use for the movie feature or a tiltable LCD screen (to be honest I consider that one a minus as it's too likely to break) which looks like the main differences, so, for me, the Canon gave by far the best bang for the buck.

Instead of looking at a specific camera, try making a list of things you'd like it to do first, then try to find the camera that best fits the requirements.

[Swift]

Sorry, I have no experience with that particular camera, or even with the Nikon line.

I don't have a use for the movie feature or a tiltable LCD screen (to be honest I consider that one a minus as it's too likely to break) which looks like the main differences, so, for me, the Canon gave by far the best bang for the buck.

Actually, I really like the tiltable screens. My 7+ year old digital (Canon G2) has one, and it still isn't broken, and I have found it useful. But I don't consider it an essential feature and the Canon 50D I bought early this year doesn't have one (though I understand the 60D will).

Instead of looking at a specific camera, try making a list of things you'd like it to do first, then try to find the camera that best fits the requirements.

That's very good advice.

And as far as features, not only look for what you want, but look for what you don't want. Particularly if you have little or no experience with cameras beyond point-and-shoot, the higher end digital SLRs can be overwhelming in all the features they have. Sure, you don't want something that you'll outgrown in 3 months, but you also don't want something you'll never figure out, and does a bunch of things you don't care about.

The other suggestion I have is to go and actually physically try out any cameras you are considering. Even if you are going to eventually buy the camera on-line, you need to actually pick up the camera and try it. Small differences in weight, ergonomics, or how the controls are positioned, can make a huge difference in how well you like the camera.

[Spoons]

Definitely, as Swift said, go to a store and hold the different cameras. Different cameras suit different people - you want to find your match, not what someone tells you to get.

That said, I wouldn't ignore the Pentaxs. I got a K-x earlier this year, so of course I love it, but depending they do have some pretty good spec cameras for reasonable value too, and one added bonus is that their modern cameras are still compatible with the older lenses so it's possible you could pick up a good deal there. Keep in mind the lenses are where the money really goes, over time.

Henrik's point about listing needs is a smart one. There is a site, dpreview.com which does very convenient multiple comparisons of camera specs, side by side, which is quite handy too.

[Swift]

That said, I wouldn't ignore the Pentaxs. I got a K-x earlier this year, so of course I love it, but depending they do have some pretty good spec cameras for reasonable value too, and one added bonus is that their modern cameras are still compatible with the older lenses so it's possible you could pick up a good deal there. Keep in mind the lenses are where the money really goes, over time.

Yep, lenses are where you can really spend your money. Though I will say that backwardly compatible to the old lenses really only matters if you have the older lenses or if you are planning to buy used lenses. And don't get me wrong, I have bought many used lenses. But they may not have some of the features that newer lenses do.

One other piece of advice is to stick with the mainstream camera/optics makers: Nikon, Canon, Pentax, etc. The optics are still the most important part of these cameras, and I personally don't trust the electronics manufacturers to do as good a job as the companies that have been making optics for decades.

[PetersCreek]

D5000 review on DPReview.com

x2 on checking the cameras out in the store. Ergonomics matter.

x2 on focusing (no pun intended) on the glass instead of the camera.

I'm not saying that one camera body is just as good as another. Outside of the core modes that all DSLRs provide, there may be some functions/features that are more important to you and your style of photography. But where it finally matters the most, buying an excellent (or crappy) lens will make more of an impact on image quality than the difference between 12.3 and 12.9 megapixels. Typical kit lenses (unless you buy a premium kit) vary from 'pretty good for the money' to 'what a piece of junk!'

[HenrikOlsen]

Yep, lenses are where you can really spend your money. Though I will say that backwardly compatible to the old lenses really only matters if you have the older lenses or if you are planning to buy used lenses. And don't get me wrong, I have bought many used lenses. But they may not have some of the features that newer lenses do.

I spent 14$ on an adapter ring so I can use the Nikon F lenses from my sister's old SLR camera, which gave me two extra lenses and about $200 worth of filters.

[slang]

I bought a Canon EOS 1000D as my starter, because I found a very good offer with two lenses, 18-55mm and 75-300mm at what looks to be about 2/3 the price of a D5000 with one.

As a beginner, if even that, in photography, I really only started to get beautiful shots when I got my 70-300 telezoom lens. This may be because of my favorite subjects (wildlife), or my inexperience with anything beyond point and shoot, but it was a big factor in really having fun with my camera (a Sony A200 DSLR). So, another thing to keep in mind is: what do you intend to do with your camera? What are you likely to be photographing?