My parents are getting me a new DSLR for my graduate school graduation gift. They have told me to go ahead and pick it out now and they will pay me for it. YAY!!
I currently have a NikonD40 and love it. I was looking at the D3100, that is reasonably priced and offers more features.
Does anyone have a DSLR that they love or can recommend?
I am NOT a professional nor do I want to be. I want to take great shots (in my opinion) of my quick moving kiddo's. Plus we travel a lot and the kids are active in sports, so a good camera is necessary in my world.
my uncle is a pro photographer & he swears by Nikon for one & all. Visit a reputable camera shop & ask for their help.
I love my Canon Rebel!
Regardless of which camera you choose, though, make sure you get a UV filter and a polarizer. The UV filter will help protect your actual lens from any damage regardless of where you're taking pictures, and the polarizer will (obviously) help in the bright sun situations!
I have the D3100 and love it, although it's my first DSLR, so I don't have anything to compare it to. I'm very happy with it, though.
I just got the D7000 and love it. So many features.
But from what you say, you probably don't need that much camera.
It also depends on how picky you are about the quality of the action shots.
You might want to consider the Nikon D5100. It also has a vari-angle LCD monitor that is great when you need to take a shot from above or any odd angles. I chose Nikon over Canon for the simple fact that I can use my old Nikon lenses on my new camera, whereas with Canon, their lenses are not always interchangeable. Something to consider should you break your camera and you have a few nice lenses.
Also, when considering your purchase, see if the store you buy from offers any free classes. I believe Ritz Camera offers basic classes to help you get familiar with your purchase.
You should probably go to camera store and talk to them. The sales staff shouldn't be pushy at all. They can probably lead you to the perfect camera for your family.
Best of luck in your decision.
Updated
I just got the D7000 and love it. So many features.
But from what you say, you probably don't need that much camera.
It also depends on how picky you are about the quality of the action shots.
You might want to consider the Nikon D5100. It also has a vari-angle LCD monitor that is great when you need to take a shot from above or any odd angles. I chose Nikon over Canon for the simple fact that I can use my old Nikon lenses on my new camera, whereas with Canon, their lenses are not always interchangeable. Something to consider should you break your camera and you have a few nice lenses.
Also, when considering your purchase, see if the store you buy from offers any free classes. I believe Ritz Camera offers basic classes to help you get familiar with your purchase.
You should probably go to camera store and talk to them. The sales staff shouldn't be pushy at all. They can probably lead you to the perfect camera for your family.
Best of luck in your decision.
I have a Canon Rebel T3 and I love it! Very easy to use and I get great shots of cheer tumbling and jumps. It also takes great videos. I recommend getting the package with the big lens for higher zoom abilities. We purchased separately and I'm having to add on now, it is much more cost effective to get it all at once.
