Looking for a camera recommendation

[Scotty]

Just looking for something nice for a beginner, nothing too fancy, something that the wife & I can take high quality pics or our son & of course our doodle. Not looking to spend a fortune would like to keep it around $500 or less. Really I guess first I need to know if I should do a DSLR or what I've read is called a Bridge Compact Digital Camera?

So I guess my first question is with my budget is a DSLR even an option? And if it is, is it something that is going to have a very steep learning curve compared to a BCDC? I wouldn't mind getting some kind of a starter pack and adding additional lenses etc. as we find we need them/can afford them. I'm not a huge fan of lugging a camera bag around, but it almost seems like with the size of the BCDC's you're going to have to do that either way if you want to take good quality photos.

Any advice is greatly appreciated. 

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I had a D5200 which is an earlier version of the one your are looking at.  I liked that camera very much.  I think my husband's D90 is a better camera though even used - if you can find one.  https://www.adorama.com/us%20%20%20%20978615.html?gclid=EAIaIQobChM...

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I have a Nikon D7200. I began with the D60,  then moved to the D 5200. My husband bought a used D90 right here on doodlekisses. He loves it. His came with a 50mm Sigma lens that is very good. He and I both purchased the Sigma 18-300 lens. I mostly take photos at our dog romps. 

Because we both are older and a bit shaky, we needed cameras with good stabilizers.  Viewfinders are superior to LCD screens when you are outside. 

[Scotty]

First of all thanks again for all the advice. It's been incredibly helpful. So I've decided on the Nikon D5500. So now on to lenses I think I want the 50 MM prime lens as well as some sort of zoom lens. I don't need something that I can take photos from a mile away or anything, just something that I can take decent close up shots of my son playing sports from the sidelines. Is like a 70-200 mm zoom lens sufficient? Also I read somewhere that I could get the sigma lenses cheaper than the manufacturer. But everywhere I'm finding them they are just as expensive as the Nikon ones or more.

Is there a good place I should be looking for the best prices on lenses. Thanks again for all your help.

[F, Calla & Luca]

The 70-200 s a great lens but it is big and heavy. I bought one and returned it because it was too heavy for me. I have a 28-300 zoom. It is not as good but it covers my needs and I use it all the time. I saw that Costco is selling both Canon and Nikon with kit lenses. You might want to check those out.

[Nancy and Georgia Brown]

70-200 would be a good range for soccer. 

If you are shooting action I would stick to the same brand for camera and lens. Autofocus can be really fussy and adding a third party lens will make it more complicated. 

If you are comparing lenses make sure you are comparing the same features. The biggest feature would be the f-stop. That is pretty critical as each f-stop lets in twice as much light. So an f2.8 is letting in 2 times the light of an f4. Also twice the weight and twice the price. But there is a reason people shell out the extra money (me included).

The other thing could be image stabilization, or in nikon terms VR. This is not critical for action shots. But extremely helpful if you are shooting a still at the 200mm range of your zoom lens. The camera is like a folcrum in that if there is a little microscopic shake when hand-holding the camera and taking the picture, the longer the distance to your subject the more magnified that shake is. This is why image stabilization is very important in telephoto zoom lenses but not so critical in wide angle or short focus lenses. 

Best places to buy a used lens: I have bought and sold at fredmiranda.com. a great community. I have also bought and sold on craigslist, but I live in an urban area. You can get some great deals on both but you have to be patient and do your homework.

For online I stick to B&H and Adorama. 

Costco can also have some good deals. The kit may not be a bad place to start if it is cheap, especially if you purchase the nikon 50 prime so you have something to compare it with. The nice thing is that they have a great and easy return policy.

[DJ & Chance]

That was the camera I started with and it is very good!  Unless you are going to focus on landscapes, I would get a zoom that has a bit less range and better low light performance for sports and dog action shots.

[Anne & Mr. Haley]

I also have the Nikon 28-300m lens tha F has.  It stays on my camera most of the time.  I find it a very versatile lens.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I started with a Canon T3i and LOVED that camera. I hate reading manuals, etc., and found the Canon very easy to learn and use. I have since upgraded to a full frame camera, but I still love that Canon T3i (Rebel series). I also invested in some good lenses and when I upgraded to the Canon 6D was able to continue to use those lenses. I see I am late to the game and you already selected a Nikon. Good luck and have fun!

[Scotty]

Well I just wanted to stop by to thank everyone again. I finally went ahead & made the purchase, I actually went ahead & got the 5600 I found a good deal on a certified refurbished with the 18-55 lens and a 70-300 (the non VR version which so far hasn't been an issue) and I am very happy with my purchase. I've had the camera for a week today so I figured I'd share a few of my early pics.

Again all your help has been amazing, it made a very complicated decision much easier, so thanks again. So here come the pictures. I will add that these are the 2 megapixel versions that snapbridge (which I love btw) sends to my phone so I'd assume the files loaded off the memory card may be better. The little boy in the pictures is my son, the little girl is my niece.

 

[F, Calla & Luca]

You are off to a great start, congratulations. Adorable kids. We have some tips and lessons in the group index on the main group page, as well as monthly lessons and assignments too. Do as much or as little as you like.

[Scotty]

Thanks, I definitely plan on doing the homework & reading the lessons as I get time. (this is the start of busy season at work) I've already abandoned any of the auto modes & everything I posted was shot in manual mode. It's honestly not as hard as I thought.

[DJ & Chance]

Congratulations, and continue to enjoy taking photos of your kids and doodle!