So with the rise of the phone camera, we don't really carry cameras around anymore. My wife would like to get one though, so she can take better pics than with her iPhone.

Whats a good camera for a beginner, with some features and adjustments that a noob can understand and play with and get some good shots.

Cameras are like handguns. A whole lot is going to come down to personal preference. I’m a Nikon guy. My first digital camera was a D5100. My work camera when I went to CSI was a badly abused but still functional d40x. I’m therefore a little biased towards Nikon simply because that is the system I’m most familiar with. My current primary camera is a D610 and I’m looking to replace it in the next year or so with whatever the current D800 series will be at that time.

The current iPhones actually make very good point and shoot camera. So good, in fact, that I tend to only take one of my real cameras along when I’m going somewhere specifically to take pictures. What the DLSRs offer that no iPhone can is the ability to directly control aperture and shutter. If you are always going to shoot in Auto, you are wasting a major bit of potential. Yes, there is also the advantage of changing lenses, but you can do some really impressive things even with the basic 18-55 kit lens that often comes with the cameras.

My standard advice is to start with something like the Nikon D3400. With a kit lens you are looking at $500 or so. That gets you a very solid camera to learn on. In fact, it’s a solid camera all the way around. Get some basic photo editing software and some basic tutorials and you’ll be shocked at what you can do. Once you figure out what kind of photography you enjoy, start building out a small kit of lenses to cover your needs. This is a DX format camera, and lenses are relatively affordable. I used 3 lenses for my DX format cameras. The 18-55 covered most of my needs. I had a 70-300 that gave me a bit more reach and a 35mm prime that went to F1.8 when I wanted to shoot something with a really narrow depth of field. Total cost of my kit and lenses was roughly $1k

Now if you decide at some point to step up to FX format with its bigger sensors and more expensive glass then you start spending real money. There is a reason so many photographers end up shooting weddings. I’m currently lusting over a 600mm F4 lens that costs more than my first car. The 600mm that I REALLY want costs as much as a new Harley.

Don’t let that scare you. It’s a great hobby that has brought me tremendous enjoyment. B&H Photo and Adorama both offer excellent deals on used and refurbished equipment and are trustworthy. If $500 is a bit rich for your blood to find out if this is a hobby you’ll enjoy there are plenty of older D3300s floating around. All Nikon DX lenses work with all Nikon DX cameras (and FX for that matter, although the FX cameras autocrop to DX format).

We use a Nikon D7100 in our PI business and for family and travel photos. The price of this genre of camera is reasonable and the quality of photos is extraordinary. A newer version is the D7200. With a couple Nikon variable focal length lenses you can have everything from macro to mid range telephoto capability in one bag the size of a large ladies purse. Add a tripod, Speedlight, and remote shutter release and you have covered the full range of basics. Don't forget UV filters for you lenses. I concur with Adorama and BH photography and repotable dealers, they have some good bundles as well.

Copaup has put things quite well. However IMO he is a bit of beginner in the Nikon world, my first Nikon was a NIkkormat FS and I have at least of the Nikon F Ftn's in my camera stash.

Nikon currently has what can be best described as two classes of camera, one class for Professional type use and one for basic consumer cameras that most will get started with. Sort of like how they used to operate when I started, however back then the Pro models were Nikons and the consumer models were Nikkormats. BTW, that 1965 vintage Nikkormat FS I picked up for just 50 dollars still works perfectly today. Point being Nikon's consumer models are still really good cameras and also very good values. BTW, don't overlook the much less expensive point and shoot line, some are half the size of an Iphone 7 and still capable of at least 2 times the resolution and the built in zoom lenses are very good in terms of range and image quality. My sister has a Coolpix that is only about 2 x 3 inches and perhaps 5/8 inch think that produces rather stunning images. In comparison my D750 with it's 24-120mm "kit" lens is a freaking battleship but it does have a bit of an edge in sharpness over that Coolpix and the low light capabilty is stunning. Another plus for the D750 is I can used Nikon lenses that were actually produced in the early 60's with full metering capability (note doing this requires those antique lenses be modified to the AIS coupling ring standard).

Sum it all up an Nikon offers a range of cameras that would prove useful for anyone between 12 and 90 years old with desires ranging from simple snapshots to full on Art Gallery quality images. What I would suggest you do is have your wife spend a few days going through the Nikon USA web site and once she has a good grasp on her specific needs head for a local camera shop for some hands on looking.

I recommend one of the better point and shoot cameras with a bolted-on zoom lens, and a reasonably large sensor. Just one box, with no need for any other component, except possibly a polarizing filter. Thanks to the optical zoom, and the larger sensor, photo quality is much better than you get from a phone camera.

Most of the point and shoot cameras have a full automatic mode if your wife likes simplicity, but they also have the option of partial to full manual modes. The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 is one example.

quote:

Originally posted by Pipe Smoker:
I recommend one of the better point and shoot cameras with a bolted-on zoom lens, and a reasonably large sensor. Just one box, with no need for any other component, except possibly a polarizing filter. Thanks to the optical zoom, and the larger sensor, photo quality is much better than you get from a phone camera.

Most of the point and shoot cameras have a full automatic mode if your wife likes simplicity, but they also have the option of partial to full manual modes. The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 is one example.

+1 for the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100. I have version III and it's an excellent little camera with great image quality.

The best camera is the one that she will carry around and use.

Magic Lantern makes guidebooks which take the camera manual and puts it into plain English for your specific camera model.

That said I like Pentax cameras as they will allow use of the old manual lenses which can be had for a song.

Look at keh.com as that is a great place to get used camera gear at great prices.

Good luck and have fun.

quote:

Originally posted by kingfish007:

quote:

Originally posted by Pipe Smoker:
I recommend one of the better point and shoot cameras with a bolted-on zoom lens, and a reasonably large sensor. Just one box, with no need for any other component, except possibly a polarizing filter. Thanks to the optical zoom, and the larger sensor, photo quality is much better than you get from a phone camera.

Most of the point and shoot cameras have a full automatic mode if your wife likes simplicity, but they also have the option of partial to full manual modes. The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 is one example.

+1 for the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100. I have version III and it's an excellent little camera with great image quality.

I went with the Sony DSC-HX90V myself for a walk around camera that fits in a pocket. With 18.2 mega pixels and a 30x zoom, it covers 80% of my photography needs.

https://www.sony.com/electroni...ct-cameras/dsc-hx90v

I also have a Nikon D5400 with numerous lenses and accessories that covers the other 20% of my needs.

In your shoes I'd start out with a RX100 or HX90v and see if that does everything you want for everyday photos. Both do a great job at that and they are very convenient and capable platforms.

Jim

I mean this in the nicest way possible, but I hope you and your wife understand that a "nice" camera will not make your wife a "better" photographer. The features on a "nice" camera give the user creative control, predictability, and greater capability in difficult to shoot situations. It does not, however, make "better" pictures. That's on the photographer, and spending a few bucks on a book or class will really jump start her skillset.

I haven't read this particular book, but I do like Tony and Chelsea Northrup in general. https://www.amazon.com/Tony-No...+digital+photography

quote:

Originally posted by Aeteocles:
I mean this in the nicest way possible, but I hope you and your wife understand that a "nice" camera will not make your wife a "better" photographer. The features on a "nice" camera give the user creative control, predictability, and greater capability in difficult to shoot situations. It does not, however, make "better" pictures. That's on the photographer, and spending a few bucks on a book or class will really jump start her skillset.

I haven't read this particular book, but I do like Tony and Chelsea Northrup in general. https://www.amazon.com/Tony-No...+digital+photography

The Northrups also have a bunch of helpful videos on YouTube worth watching.

Jim

I also recommend buying the largest sensor you can afford in the smallest form factor that you are willing to carry.

I generally advise against small sensor "point and shoots"--small sensors make it very easy to get massive zoom numbers, but in the end, it's just a small sensor.

Large sensor compacts (Sony RX, Panasonic LX, Nikon G) are better and make a great travel camera. But they're really just a hop and skip down in size from a tiny Micro Four Thirds camera or even an APS-C sensor mirrorless.

Personally, I'd stick with a compact consumer DSLR like the Nikon 3400 or the Canon Rebel T-whatever, or go with a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera like the Sony A6XXX, Fuji XT-20, or even wait to see what Canon does with their new mirrorless line.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Aeteocles,

If she's got some skill and understanding of photography and how aperture and shutter speed work, any of the full frame DSLRs are amazing. Check out Ken Rockwell's site for reviews of equipment. My wife has used a D700 for several years for her photography business (now closed). The step up from DX to full-frame sensors/lenses is really impressive, particularly for low light shooting.

quote:

Originally posted by Aeteocles:
I also recommend buying the largest sensor you can afford in the smallest form factor that you are willing to carry.

I generally advise against small sensor "point and shoots"--small sensors make it very easy to get massive zoom numbers, but in the end, it's just a small sensor.

Large sensor compacts are better and make a great travel camera. But they're really just a hop and skip down in size from a tiny Micro Four Thirds camera or even an APS-C sensor mirrorless.

Personally, I'd stick with a compact consumer DSLR like the Nikon 3400 or the Canon Rebel T-whatever, or go with a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera like the Sony A6XXX, Fuji XT-20, or even wait to see what Canon does with their new mirrorless line.

I think this is good advice.

I have two complete photography setups, one Nikon full-frame and one Micro Four Thirds.

I love the Nikon equipment, but if I'm going anywhere with photo equipment, it's almost always the Micro Four Thirds stuff. I can fit a lot more stuff in a lot less weight and space. (My M4/3 camera body and every M4/3 lens I own put together - 6 or 7 lenses - weigh about as much as my D800 and a 150mm f/2.8 macro lens or 70-200 f/2.8 zoom.)

There's a step down in performance from full-frame to Micro Four Thirds, but it isn't a huge one.

You have asked for input and suggestion without providing any info that would help to focus the input to make it useful.


Budget? I can give you a $200 recommendation or a $3000 one

Size? Want something that can fit in pocket, purse, or pouch or are you willing to carry a tote size camera bag?

Type? Looking for a high end point and shoot all in one, Mid-size M4/3 with interchangeable lens, or wanting to go full blown DSLR?

Use? Family snapshots, vacation, holidays or kids sports, macro bugs and stuff, Milky Way?

And +1 to the idea that it's not the camera that takes great pictures, it's the eye and the brain.

http://www.chasejarvis.com/photos/

All iPhone photos.

+1 for the Nikon 3000 series DSLRs.

If you don't want to spend a lot, find a lightly used D40 on ebay or wherever. Excellent camera for beginners.

Lots of good advice that I won't repeat. My one piece is she needs to learn to shoot in manual if she wants to see improvement in her photography. Automatic mode will leave her disappointed. I spent 2 years taking blah photos with my Nikon D3100. Once a friend took the time to teach me the basics of the exposure triangle, my photography took off. Now I'm seriously addicted.

Unless you are considering toting around a DSLR, and lenses, I’d go for something like a Sony RX100. I take mine everywhere...mine has dents and plenty of finish wear...never fails. Not a huge zoom range but quality of photos is great and it’s compact and easy to carry around...as already mentioned, the “best” camera is the one you have with you.

Im a long time Nikon fan as well but most of my efforts are out in the field where I have to carry it for some distance. This plus my focus is primarily wildlife and this is where a 4/3 camera shines. I'm currently getting ready to pull the trigger on the D500...

But, for a camera that is rugged and waterproof enough to take a real beating like skin diving, kayaking, camping I really like this..

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c...ital_camera_red.html

Newcomer? Perhaps, but I spent about 5 years learning on the job taking some very technical pictures of some fairly important evidentiary items on a beat up, obselescent compact sensor 10 MP DLSR with just a basic 18-55 kit lens and a ratty tripod. It’s not the camera that makes the pictures great, but compared to that D40x, my 610 feels like cheating.

I'm pretty sure many people know of Ken Rockwell's camera reviews. I don't know how he has enough hours in the day to review so many, but even so, I trust his reviews.

http://www.kenrockwell.com