Re: Which camera?

In the next few days I'm getting a HUGE chunk of money. After bills, car repairs, new fencing, carpets, etc, I will probably have some left over, around $500, to buy a new camera. So, which one?

Congratulations on your big chunk of money. Don't spend it all in one place

What kind of camera to get, depends a lot on what you're going to be using it for.

Flowers. Birds. Landscapes. Anything that looks nice.

The D3200 is nice.

That one has 8 times the megapixels that my current camera has.

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Dave
That one has 8 times the megapixels that my current camera has.

You'll probably notice a difference.

The one I have now is at least 10 years old. Anything would be an improvement.

I really like the Canon 550D (T2i). Here.

The Canon T2i is a great camera but maybe a little difficult to find since it's been superceeded by the T3i, T4i and T5i. The T3i can be had for around $500.

I think it's going to be the Nikon D3100. I can get it refurbished, from the Nikon site, for $369.

I'm sure that Nikon does a great job refurbishing cameras. But is it worth the $20 or so dollars that you will save (assuming that the refurbished camera is only coming with the 18-55mm lens)? A quick google search will show that the Nikon D3100, new, can be purchased for $389. Example. If it were me, I would prefer a brand new product--unless you're getting an assortment of lenses (18-55 & 55-200mm).

Just a thought.

Thanks. That one with the two lenses looks good. I'm not sure if I need the wifi on the other one.

If you are going to be using it in the backcountry a lot you might consider the Canon G16 or its Nikon sorta cousin (I think the P330). I pretty much leave my DSLR at home for backpacking trips and have been quite happy with my Canon (the G1X, really the G13 but I guess they didn't want to use an unlucky number). Anyway, no lenses to change, easier and generally more compact, and it does nearly everything that I want it to.

This camera will be used mostly for birding trips, car camping, and rockhounding trips. I tend to leave the electronics at home when I go into the back country. I go there to get away from that stuff, not bring it with me.

D3100 with a 200mm lens:

That's what I bought, the D3100 with the extra telephoto. It should arrive on Thursday.

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Dave
That's what I bought, the D3100 with the extra telephoto. It should arrive on Thursday.

And how is it?

It's great! I'll post some pictures from it soon.

Nice Photo! Here are a few of mine. These were all taken with a Canon T2i, with a 300mm F4.5 Zoom-Nikkor ED Nikon Lens.

Prior to the eclipse:


Almost Fully eclipsed:


Reddish:


More Red:


Congratulations on your new camera, Dave. Enjoy--and make sure to share your photos!