Which DSLR camera?

Hello

I'm thinking about investing in a decent camera to better document my and my friends adventures / climbing / lives.  I am not the slightest bit techie so didn't know what to look for therefore I have looked to friends for assistance.
As I am not very techy I don't want a complicated camera or one that's heavy however having looked at both reviews, both appear to be light weight .
I have had compact/bridge cameras in the past and enjoy taking photographs so I am wanting to get more creative with photography but more importantly want a clearer more detailed photogrpah.

Although I will have an everyday lens I will use 80% of the time l will also buy a long distance lens as I will want to use my camera to photograph animals and for use on safari. I understand this lens would make the camera heavier however as this lens would only be used occasionally I am fine with this.

My friend recommended the Nikon D3500
He's explained the difference between this camera and the DSLR. This has wifi which is a good feature I would use.

Any thoughts or suggestions welcome.

Update: I have been hesitating these days, until today I decided to choose Nikon digital SLR camera series. I hesitate in the following cameras. Which one do you think is better? https://thedigitalcamera.net/best-nikon-dslr-camera/

Website DPReview has many useful buying guides. Consider a mirrorless camera, much lighter and there are some awesome options. An Olympus mirrorless might be a good option, em10 model was just released with an update, so you could get a previous gen for cheaper. They also have some good lens options that don't break the bank. There are some pancake style lenses that are really low profile too. 

Budget? Do you want to do video or just photos?

The cheaper Nikon models like the D3500 that you mentioned will take great pictures and it is really good value. Also consider the 5x00 models if they are on sale.  There are a ton of deals usually, so I would check slickdeals camera section regularly.  Refurbished models from an authorized seller are almost always perfect and save you $$$ too.  The sensors on any of the current Nikon models are really good and you really don't need more than that as a beginner, however as always if you spend more you get more.  Personally I like more knobs, so the increased manual control on the higher end DX 7x00 models is where I went eventually.  Plus the autofocus and build quality gets better.  

The Nikon dx camera + lens kits often come with the 18-55 af-p vr and 70-300mm af-p vr lens (make sure to get the VR version) which are really good lenses in general.  That 70-300 is a great range for Safari as long as you're not trying to fit larger animals in the shot like giraffes and elephants.  I found myself continually swapping lenses on safari for that reason.  Those new af-p models are quick focusing, cheap, light and have really good image quality, so overall unless you need a wider aperture they are a bargain.

Having said all of this - the Nikon mirrored cameras lineup may not last that much longer and so you might be buying into a dying ecosystem.  Mirrorless is the future, but you don't have to jump into it now and for something like safari, a mirrored nikon dx camera may still be one of your best choices - the D500 is king of this category for a reason.

Personally I have a D7500 and mainly use the nikon 16-80mm lens but that's mainly because I got started with Nikon and so I have other lenses and flashes that has kept me in the nikon dx ecosystem.  If I was starting all over I'd be choosing between the Fuji XT-3, the Nikon Z6, but all of those are quite a bit more money and are more based on what I want to do, not what you want to do. Fuji and Olympus have some great mirrorless cameras right now, particularly older models that are often on sale for cheap.  It all depends on the exact shooting you want to do though and how much you want to spend.  Bear in mind that technology changes rapidly and if you're not sure what you really need then the chance is that you won't buy something optimal, so if in doubt, save the money and get the cheaper models and treat it as a learning experience.  After a few years you'll have a better understanding of what you need/want.

I switched from several Canon DSLR bodies and lots of lenses to the Fuji XT-2 (mirrorless) and could not be happier. Lighter, great lenses, etc. Sold all DSLR equipment and don't miss it.
Joe

I would suggest either going mirrorless (Fuji or Sony) or getting a canon. Canons have way better glass (lenses) than Nikon, they are way sharper and the autofocus is better.

I teach a Dig. Photo Class and love this question ...
My advice is buying a nice DSLR that is durable and up to date on technology without complicated extra features that would be unnecessary and often costly.

Currently I am very excited about Cannon's newest SL2 . Great tech for its price point. I normally advise people to get something like the Nikon D3500 Or the Cannon Rebel T7i. It is hard to suggest the prefect fit without price points because I would love to spend $5000 on something myself, but these are great for price and function.

The important features to know are the Megapixels and Digital Sensor for a noobie. The Frames per second (FPS), Iso-Sensitivity, and Auto-Focus Points are your next specs I would look to upgrade from there. The reason I Like the SL2 is because it has that 24.2 MP and Digital sensor of the next price point up in the cannon series 80D or Mark II's. It just lacks some of those professional specs you might not need as a non professional photographer.

The Cannon Rebel T6's are what I use for my students. It offers great quality and simplified versions of very complicated features offered today. This camera is the baseline for photographers who expect to produce semi-professional work. Most others in the price range higher offer wifi and some fun features but won't change the actual quality on the capture.

These cameras often come in 'Bundles' that offer lots of extras and different lenses, accessories, etc. These are great for saving money and getting everything you might need and then some.

Adding a 75-300mm lens would be the next upgrade I would suggest if you wanted to allow for great photos at a long distance, close up, etc. I would hesitate to buy Wide Angle and Telephoto adapters separately, but they can be useful in unique settings.

Maybe to break down price and list of my top cameras under $1000.

in order:
> Cannon t6i
> Cannon SL2 (Cannon's best deal)
> Nikon D3400 (Nikon's Best deal)
> Cannon T7i
> Nikon D7100
> Cannon EOS 70D  (from here down w/ lens and bundles it will be over 1k)
> Nikon 7200
> Cannon EOS 80D

I'm throwing a lot at you, hopefully it all makes sense and is helpful. If you want any more feedback or have questions, let me know. I enjoy talking about tech stuff and cameras

I would check out the sony a6300 (or anything else in the a6--- line). I know you said you are looking for a DSLR, but based upon what you are hoping to use it for, I would recommend going with a mirrorless camera. I shoot with a Canon 6d and love it, but it is so bulky and heavy that often times I choose to leave it behind to cut weight.

I've recently been using a mirrorless camera since it's a lot lighter and less bulky in the pack when hiking. They also have a lot of great features compared to a mirrored camera (dslr), like the fact that you're seeing the picture you're taking in real time, knowing if it's over or under-exposed.

I've found thewirecutter.com to be a really good resource:
https://thewirecutter.com/reviews/best-mirrorless-camera-for-beginners/
https://thewirecutter.com/reviews/best-mirrorless-camera/

If you do decide to go dslr:
https://thewirecutter.com/reviews/best-budget-dslr-camera/

For those talking about mirrorless being lightweight you may not know how light/small the D3500 is - the mirrorless sony a6300 is ~400g, while the mirrored nikon D3500 OP asked about is ~360g.

In the SLR range, the canon rebels or either of the Nikon 3x00 or 5x00 series would be awesome and perfect for what you need. Sony a6x00 series and the Fuji cameras are great too for APSC mirrorless. Consider M43 system as well for ultimate portability; olympus and panasonic make great cameras and lenses are plentiful and super light and super quality. All these have been suggested above and are all great suggestions.

There are a few great deals out there right now on camera packages that would suit you really well:

Canon Rebel T6 with 18-65 and 75-300, cards, bag, filters etc. for $450
Canon SL2 with free card for $450
Nikon D5600 with 18-55, 70-300, bag, card, filters ect for $700
Sony A7II with 28-70 for $1000 if you REALLY want full frame (you don't...)

Honestly don't get too bogged down in the review sites. Most are filled with straight garbage and fauxtographers who shoot test charts for a hobby and debate "microcontrast" and a bunch of other crap at a pixel level. WHO CARES! Any of the entry level or mid-range cameras from the big companies listed above are going to be awesome and do way more than you'll ever need, especially as a beginner.

My only caveat would be that if you plan on shooting JPEG straight out of the camera, take a look around and compare the shots to see how each company handles this. Nikon, Canon, Sony, Fuji all have (slightly) different color renditions in this format. Choose what looks best to you. Take a look for yourself via some googling and trust your eyes; don't trust what anyone else says. If you can't see a difference don't worry about it!

If you want the ultimate in simplicity, a Nikon FE or Canon AE1P with a 50mm 1.8 and a few rolls of velvia, portra, and tri-x will create award winning images for less than $100 :) You'll learn an awful lot too.

Cabot Steward wrote: Canons have way better glass (lenses) than Nikon, they are way sharper and the autofocus is better.

Quite the bold claim. Got any proof there holms? 

Not trying to start a pissing match, but you see a lot of these crazy sorts of things thrown around the internet that simply aren't true (read review sites for a lot of this kind of garbage). Buyer beware.

Mutani Mutani wrote: Hello

I'm thinking about investing in a decent camera to better document my and my friends adventures / climbing / lives.  I am not the slightest bit techie so didn't know what to look for therefore I have looked to friends for assistance.

The camera is the least important part of the equation.  The lens is where it is at, and with most kit cameras, the lens is a slight upgrade from a chew toy (OK, I kid, but it just isn't that great).

I have been shooting Canon SLRs since I bought my first A-1 with my bar mitzvah money almost 40 years ago.  I then went to a Canon autofocus and then to two Canon dSLR bodies.  Every modern SLR is fine.  There are some that are better at some things than other, but that usually comes down to things like video, extreme low light photography or high speed action sports.  You can't go 'wrong' with any dSLR kit from a major manufacturer built in the last 3 years or so.  Unless you are getting into making huge prints, you don't even need the 24mp sensors that are getting to be standard.

All that said, you are buying a tool that you will probably never learn to use, and you are not going to buy the lenses to get the most out of the camera.  I have lenses that cost almost $2,000 for one lens, and it only covers a small range.  I want even more expensive lenses.  If I go on safari, one of the costs of the safari will be the purchase of a $3,400 lens.  You, one the other hand, are going to buy a kit with a 75-300 f/4-5.6 lens for a grand total of around $600 and not realize that you are limiting yourself. I am not insulting you, I am just telling the truth based on my experience with other folks.

So my advice is to skip the dSLR hype and buy yourself a Sony mirrorless camera.  The a6000 is on sale right now with 2 kit lenses for $600 ( bhphotovideo.com/c/product/…).  It is smaller than the dSLR, so it is going to be easier to climb with than a dSLR.  You are limiting yourself in one regard because there are way fewer high-end lenses available for the Sony alphas then there are for Nikon or Canon, but you are not going to be buying $1,000 or $2,000 lenses, so don't worry about it.  Unless you want to shoot 4K video, you don't need to upgrade to the a6500.

The website Used Photo Pro is an excellent resource. For under $300 you can get a used Canon Rebel T6 body with a battery and charger and a cheap lens and be off to the races. This is where I got a T6 that I am stoked on. Super cheap but at 18mp it is still awesome quality. It has the wifi function a lot of people have talked about which lets you transfer photos to your phone for easy social media posting but also to use your phone as a remote control for the camera. Yeah, it's not a true full frame dslr but for the money I feel much more comfortable taking this outside, near water, off the ground, etc.

I suggest reading reviews from camera experts like Ken Rockwell not Mountain Project where you get unfounded opinions on which camera/lense is better. https://www.kenrockwell.com/ 

I have a Nikon D3300 that I have taken up walls, whipped with, been deluged by ocean waves, offwidth, squeezed, and rained on for 2.5 years and it refuses to die. Just get a couple solid UV filters (for lens pro) and maybe a tiny lens hood and you should be fine. Whatever you get, know how to use it and be  careful. I clip my camera strap to a back gear loop (when hung over a shoulder) with a QD when I don't want it getting in my way on a pitch.

Ska Ggs wrote: I teach a Dig. Photo Class and love this question ...
My advice is buying a nice DSLR that is durable and up to date on technology without complicated extra features that would be unnecessary and often costly.

Currently I am very excited about Cannon's newest SL2 . Great tech for its price point. I normally advise people to get something like the Nikon D3500 Or the Cannon Rebel T7i. It is hard to suggest the prefect fit without price points because I would love to spend $5000 on something myself, but these are great for price and function.

The important features to know are the Megapixels and Digital Sensor for a noobie. The Frames per second (FPS), Iso-Sensitivity, and Auto-Focus Points are your next specs I would look to upgrade from there. The reason I Like the SL2 is because it has that 24.2 MP and Digital sensor of the next price point up in the cannon series 80D or Mark II's. It just lacks some of those professional specs you might not need as a non professional photographer.

The Cannon Rebel T6's are what I use for my students. It offers great quality and simplified versions of very complicated features offered today. This camera is the baseline for photographers who expect to produce semi-professional work. Most others in the price range higher offer wifi and some fun features but won't change the actual quality on the capture.

These cameras often come in 'Bundles' that offer lots of extras and different lenses, accessories, etc. These are great for saving money and getting everything you might need and then some.

Adding a 75-300mm lens would be the next upgrade I would suggest if you wanted to allow for great photos at a long distance, close up, etc. I would hesitate to buy Wide Angle and Telephoto adapters separately, but they can be useful in unique settings.

Maybe to break down price and list of my top cameras under $1000.

in order:
> Cannon t6i
> Cannon SL2 (Cannon's best deal)
> Nikon D3400 (Nikon's Best deal)
> Cannon T7i
> Nikon D7100
> Cannon EOS 70D  (from here down w/ lens and bundles it will be over 1k)
> Nikon 7200
> Cannon EOS 80D

I'm throwing a lot at you, hopefully it all makes sense and is helpful. If you want any more feedback or have questions, let me know. I enjoy talking about tech stuff and cameras

Ska,

I picked up an 80D a few months ago to replace the ancient XTI my dad gave me when I moved away. Any recommendations on how to carry it climbing (and skiing if you do that too)? 

Chris Johnson wrote:

Ska,

I picked up an 80D a few months ago to replace the ancient XTI my dad gave me when I moved away. Any recommendations on how to carry it climbing (and skiing if you do that too)? 

 The 80 D is a great camera! With the heavier box and potentially different lenses, I would just use the over the shoulder strap and let it rest  on your upper spine while you climb.  I usually have a short leash  attached in case I drop the whole thing. One camera I use has a small carabiner on the box for quick clipping  to my harness that comes in handy. 

 When I take my camera out snowboarding, I never ride with it in my backpack connected it to the lens. It’s awkward and bulky  when it’s connected and potentially dangerous to the camera if I take and awkward fall.   I also like to carry multiple lenses so I just have a small soft pouch that I Store my two lenses and box side by side in my backpack.  This keeps everything safe and I have only once had an issue with temperatures fogging up my lenses when I swap them.  

 Hopefully that makes sense and might help.  Happy shooting 

I would definitely recommend the Sony A7iii or the A7riii. The iso on this camera is absolutely stellar and the high shutter speed allows you to capture the movement very well. 

Ska Ggs wrote:

When I take my camera out snowboarding, I never ride with it in my backpack connected it to the lens. It’s awkward and bulky  when it’s connected and potentially dangerous to the camera if I take and awkward fall.   I also like to carry multiple lenses so I just have a small soft pouch that I Store my two lenses and box side by side in my backpack.  This keeps everything safe and I have only once had an issue with temperatures fogging up my lenses when I swap them.  

What is a box?  Do you mean body?  You take your dSLR out in the cold without a lens on and have only had one issue with it fogging up?  What 2 lenses are you taking in a small pouch?

Dyllon W. wrote: I would definitely recommend the Sony A7iii or the A7riii. The iso on this camera is absolutely stellar and the high shutter speed allows you to capture the movement very well. 

A $2,200 full frame mirrorless as a first camera?

I would not even recommend the A7ii, with is $1,000 right now with the kits lens (which happens to be what I am transitioning to from my Canon dSLR) for a beginner.  I read that the a7ii was too slow for sports but I tested it out and it is perfectly fine for shooting long sequences of stills as jpegs for sports like climbing.  You may have an issue with college and pro football and basketball, but I guarantee it is more than enough for anyone shooting climbing or youth sports when paired with the right lenses, ant it is half the price.

Matt Himmelstein wrote:

What is a box?  Do you mean body?  You take your dSLR out in the cold without a lens on and have only had one issue with it fogging up?  What 2 lenses are you taking in a small pouch?

Yea, sorry when I say box I mean the camera body. And normally I’ll grab a normal 35-85 lens and then a 75-300 telephoto lens .... the fog can occur if I’m not good about swapping my lens and letting snow or moisture get inside the body and condense on the cold glass lens, but conditions have to be just right for it to be annoying I think. 

I pack all three items in a line...  lens body lens ... stacked on the inside pocket on the spine of my backpack vertically. So it doesn’t move and has plenty of padding if I somehow fall. 

Aaron Nash wrote:  

Canon Rebel T6 with 18-65 and 75-300, cards, bag, filters etc. for $450
Canon SL2 with free card for $450
Nikon D5600 with 18-55, 70-300, bag, card, filters ect for $700
Sony A7II with 28-70 for $1000 if you REALLY want full frame (you don't...)

Why's that?