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06/02/2013 04:47:17 PM · #1 |
My son wants his own DSLR, and budget says this one fits. I think so, too, and I have other lenses.
Tell me why I shouldn't recommend this to him, other than "red is not a reason to buy a camera" ;>)
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06/02/2013 09:34:14 PM · #2 |
Not to stir the pot in your household; but how old is he, is this wanting a dslr a passing phase, blah blah blah.
The reason I ask is a friend's teenage son (16yrs) bugged his mom to buy him a camera (I think a D3100) a year or two ago. I asked how the teen was doing in photography. Friend said he hasn't touched the camera/ hasn't taken pics in a long time. The teen moved on to other teen interests...
I saw a D3200 costs about $550. Why not get your son a used DSLR?
Just saying...
Other than that, nothing wrong w the D3200 for an entry level cameras. |
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06/02/2013 09:48:24 PM · #3 |
Does he have any prior interest in photography?
Has he ever, in any media, shown a creative or imaginative side that would justify that expense?
Be realistic. If he wants to be a photographer, he has to start at the bottom and work up. There are a lot of point and shoots out there that take great photos and even shoot in RAW that he could find his 'niche' with. Let him go out and define what he needs for equipment by what he wants to photograph and how he wants to do that. And after that, equipment.
Just an opinion... |
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06/02/2013 10:06:17 PM · #4 |
I don't know anything about the Nikon line, but I second the suggestion for a used camera because accidents happen. I guess it depends on the age of your son, but my 10-yr-old son has been my sidekick in photography starting in April, when I got a new camera and handed him my old one - mostly so that I could go birding longer without complaints of him being bored. He is hooked. I even bought him a used 55-250 lens off Craigslist for $100. He takes the camera to a friend's home once a week and the two of them go on photo/nature walks.
Fast-forward to Mother's Day when he was with me and dropped the camera into the river. I was able to fish it out after about 5 minutes of submersion. Once dried out, the camera worked fine but the lens was toast. He went back to my 17-85mm but really missed the reach of the 55-250. So he helped pay for a replacement from Craigslist again - a huge part of his piggy bank. He actually offered all of it, but I'm a softy and wouldn't take it all. He's totally committed to birding now and has taken some online classes in photography. He gets it: Av, Tv, ISO. He's become quite adept with Photoshop.
If he hadn't shown this much interest, I would not have bought him the 55-250 to begin with and definitely would not have helped him replace the lens he dropped into the river. I did tell him that the next replacement or upgrade is on him.
Does your son show this kind of interest? Everyone's budget is different and perhaps yours is not as tight as someone else's. If your son really loves it, go for it. If you're not convinced, then ask him to show you his devotion.
Not sure if this helps, but good luck with your decision. |
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06/03/2013 02:34:07 AM · #5 |
Thanks for your considered replies.
I guess I could have been more clear. My son's in his late twenties. He likes photography and he states he's ready to move up from his (and my) point and shoot cameras. He handles my D1x responsibly. We recently attended a motorsport event, and he demonstrated a desire and ability to compose, pan, and shoot, but the limitations of P&S cameras disappointed him. He was pretty enthusiastic about the D1x's ability to maintain focus an a moving subject as it came toward us while he shot continuous images.
That evening, as we reviewed all the pictures and discussed the reasons for the results, he decided that he had to have a DSLR. We've been looking at used bodies and kits, and with his budget set at around $500, a new D3200 with kit lens for $550 may ultimately be as reasonable a choice as other used upper scale Nikon bodies that may also require buying batteries & a charger.
I've also been looking at used D1x's, but as most of them are ten to twelve years old, I'm wary of buying. Even mine is in need of some repairs, and there is no estimate less than $300 for that...
So, we were looking for input from the collective wisdom of the the group to help guide our decision. |
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06/03/2013 02:50:42 AM · #6 |
Aaah. Nothing wrong with the D3200. However, it's the entry level camera. If he want's one that he can "grow into," maybe look into a D90.
 Neil listed his D90 and D7000 for sale in this thread. The D7000 would be sweet if you guys could swing a deal for it.
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06/03/2013 10:01:01 AM · #7 |
Should be great
I would say he will outgrow the kit lens quickly but if yo have other lenses then it would be great
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