OSusannah said:
Each event/concert/ceremony/formation has its own challenges and I need to get and learn to use a camera that will capture these memories for me. I also do a little video, mostly indoors, low-light.

Get the 85mm 1.8G lens instead. Would be a better choice at this point.

I myself spent a fair amount of time shooting with a D5100 and the D7000. The D3100 which I also shot a lot with, I finally decided it was not a good camera for me even for remote field use. Of the three, the D7000 is the right one I am convinced and the other two I find has some real shortfalls. I also wonder about our quest for that small light and packed with power goal. Recently I did some slideshows from a D200 and the 18-135mm lens and then TRIED to add shots taken from the same trip with a Canon Powershot fairly expensive P&S. The images from the point and shoot were VERY poor compared to the D200. D90, D300, D7000 all are quite a step up but the D5100 is probably currently my pick as the minimum quality point I would trust to an important event.

Oh, on a related note, if you can, you might want to wait 1 week to see what the specs of the D3200 end up being. Perhaps that might be a good match for you. As of right now I felt that the D5100 was ideal, much better sensor and features than the D3100 and significantly less expensive than the D7000.

Good luck!

As a V1 owner, I don't think I'd recommend it to somebody who hasn't previously owned a DSLR. I only say this because the lens selection is very lacking on the faster end. I use the adapter and my 35mm 1.8 for low light situations, but if I didn't have that luxury (and the other lenses when feel like doing something stupid), I'm not sure how happy I'd be w/ it. It just isn't quite there yet in the lens department.

That said, if you shoot mostly in good lighting, its an amazing camera. My go-to for casual landscapes. Now if I could just superglue the mode selector...

OSusannah said:
What I'm looking at right now is the 5100 with kit lens 18-55 plus 55-300 lens, total $1000 (or $900 if I go with the 55-200). Purchasing from local camera shop for the help they've given and promised in the future. I know I also need a memory card, class 10, any recommendation on brand/size? Do I need a protective filter for the lenses?

OSusannah, this is exactly the place I was in just a month ago. I bought the D5100 2 lens kit (18-55mm & 55-300mm). I probably could have afforded it, but I felt the extra $500+ wouldn't have been worth it for the D7000 at this point for my use. The D5100 has the same sensor, so you can get the same image quality. Who knows, maybe in a few years I'll want to upgrade to the D7500 or whatever is out then, but I think the D5100 is a great camera.

Best of luck and I am sure you'll enjoy your new camera, whatever you get!

Hi,

After reading the thread, it appears that Susannah is more of a shutterbug that some might give her credit to be. She has specific complaints about over and under exposure that will only be corrected by adjustable cameras, not point and shoots (although +/- compensation can do the trick).

I also think that either the D5100 or D7000 will work for her, but the D7000 will offer more lens choices. What I might suggest, is stay with the D5100 and wait to see what might happen with the D7000 replacement.

I notice that Susannah is in Indiana, and attending some of the Nikon classes could be fun (for anyone) who might be interested in learning more about the cameras and how to use them. I've done it more than once over the years, in more than one location, and found it worthwhile.

My best,

Mike

TaoTeJared said:
It sounds like you would be happier with a J1 or V1. Anymore, unless you want a large hobby of photography, DSLRs are a bit of an overkill. Many get DSLRs because they think they "need" to but for kids, vacations and the like added that you are used to compacts, the J1 or V1 would probably be more of your cup of tea. Worth checking out and trying it. The image quality is great on them.

Yup, Unless you have a very special reason to have all the versatility of a DSLR, the V1 or J1 as Tao has suggested might be the way to go. These are a more logical upgrade from a P & S than a DSLR. And you can carry them around so much easier... available for every event. Check these out, and see.......

Don't worry about the articulating screen. It's just one more thing to break. Don't look at what your needs are now. Take a little time and think of what you might want to do in the future. If you're shooting simple scenes stay with the D5100. The D7000 will give you easier control over a wider range of photo types. Coming from point & shoot you will enjoy either. Good luck.

It sounds like you would be happier with a J1 or V1. Anymore, unless you want a large hobby of photography, DSLRs are a bit of an overkill. Many get DSLRs because they think they "need" to but for kids, vacations and the like added that you are used to compacts, the J1 or V1 would probably be more of your cup of tea. Worth checking out and trying it. The image quality is great on them.

Would it be a "mean" thign to say get none of those and just go for a used D300(s)???

It is a lower res camera, but it has that "special" something that D70,D80 had, and that got lost on the way.

If you can stretch you budget, just go get a used D700, but beware of the lens compatiblity and also reach.

I think you should use D7000 because it is very handful. D5100 is smaller than D7000. You really liked D7000.
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OSusannah said:
Oh, I can see it now, they would so do this. Ages 10-21.

I will add a flash to my Christmas list if I haven't gotten it before then (wow, way more expensive than I thought it would be) and I'll also look into the lens InTheMist recommends. I like that it is good for low light but most of my low light shots are from a distance. Beautiful photos, I looked through your Flickr pics yesterday.

I have the DX 35mm f/1.8G and while it is a good lens, the 18-55mm and its vibration reduction are better for low light in a way. Using the VR, you can shoot at smaller apertures and slower shutter speeds and lower ISO and get a greater depth of field / cleaner image than you would get with the 35mm f/1.8. With the 35mm f/1.8 you are limited to opening up the aperture and increasing the ISO to keep shutter speeds reasonable. However, the faster aperture lets you open up the aperture to f/1.8 and keep your shutter speeds fast to freeze motion. Since you have kids and it sounds like you are photographing their events, maybe this would be a helpful lens for that.

Example: I use the 24mm f/1.4 and 16-35mm f/4 VR. I use the 24mm f/1.4 for its fast aperture to keep shutter speeds high and stop motion while shooting dances, or to create shallow depth of field at wide angles. I use the 16-35mm f/4 VR to let me shoot as f/8 and ISO 100 at shutter speeds of 1/4 second or slower (1 second at 16mm, 1/4second at 35mm), without getting camera shake in the images.

On Flash cards, here's good advise.

http://www.cameratips.com/d3100/nikon-d3100-memory-card-advice

I think class 10 8GB Sandisk cards can be had for about $16 online. I typically check Sandisk and Lexar pricings and buy Sandisk if they're the same price.

Filters (I like Nikon NC) are especially useful if you go near oceans (mist/spray from salt water breaking against rocks).

El_Pickerel said:
... they will probably try cleaning it with a t-shirt other undesirable materials.

Oh, I can see it now, they would so do this. Ages 10-21.

I will add a flash to my Christmas list if I haven't gotten it before then (wow, way more expensive than I thought it would be) and I'll also look into the lens InTheMist recommends. I like that it is good for low light but most of my low light shots are from a distance. Beautiful photos, I looked through your Flickr pics yesterday.

Ah what the hell, here is another one from my D5100.

Good luck, you're gonna love it. Just one thing: In your budget, consider the 35mm f1.8g. Its super cheap and just fantastic and helpful when you're at those night-time parties and want to get a shot.

Learn about framing, composition and exposure.

Here is one picture I took wiht my D5100:

In fact, all the car pictures in my flickr page were taken with the D5100 because I had a telephoto mounted on my "main" D7000 which was basically useless.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/inthemist/6988021861/in/photostream/

If you are concerned about people poking at the lens, UV filters are not a bad idea. Not sure how old your kids are, but even if they are older and using your camera they will probably try cleaning it with a t-shirt other undesirable materials.

Lenses and other peripherals... you have to decide what they're all worth to you and how much you'll use them. I bought an SB-700 to upgrade from my cheap (actually free from a friend) Sunpax flash. That and my macro lens are my least-used pieces of kit, but I don't regret having them because when I need them, I need them.

You don't really need a prime lens for portraits. You won't get too much background blur with the 18-55, but if you're the right distance from your subject and shooting with the aperture wide open, you will still be able to isolate your subjects. The woman I was traveling Iceland with just used some Canon entry-level DSLR, and when she wanted me to get shots of her from her camera, I just used the kit lens at 55mm and f/5.6. Filling one side of the frame with her head + shoulders, the depth of field was shallow enough to get some blur. Maybe not the results I would get with my 70-200, but for a tenth the price I don't think anyone was complaining.

I really appreciate the time everyone took to offer their suggestions/opinions. Everything y'all said is helpful. Mostly all of this started because of the unsatisfactory photos from my Canon Powershot SX10is -namely blurry ballerinas, washed out son in his dress whites, and really grainy video of my daughter's guitar solo on a dark stage with only a blue spotlight. The powershot did a fair job at our last graduation, no blur, but pretty grainy. Video/audio on all of the DSLRs in my price range sound a little disappointing.

It sounds like I should stick with the 5100 over the 7000 and canons (didn't like the reviews of canon lenses compared to nikon). PB PM, I looked at the cameras you recommended but the 5100/lens promo seems too good to pass up. Since I'm just starting out, there will be learning on whichever system I go with, I'm just planning on spending a month learning the basics then work on the specifics for each event as it comes up. Is that a good plan?

What I'm looking at right now is the 5100 with kit lens 18-55 plus 55-300 lens, total $1000 (or $900 if I go with the 55-200). Purchasing from local camera shop for the help they've given and promised in the future. I know I also need a memory card, class 10, any recommendation on brand/size? Do I need a protective filter for the lenses? Do you recommend David Busch's Guide and/or Field Guide or something else? What else do I need, I have amazon store credit. Several have recommended tripod and flash, but when would I need them? I thought I would skip the flash, but if I want to take a really good portrait outside in shade, would I need it over the one on the camera? Will I want a prime lens for portraits?

Thanks again everyone, this site has been invaluable!

OSusannah said:
Is it naive of me to think that I won't have to change the settings after I get them like I want? I'm thinking that if I have a condition such as a dark theater, then I wouldn't need to change the setting until we leave. I mainly use the pre-set programs now, but I could learn to make adjustments.

I am not sure how you shoot, but most of the time this won't be an issue. Like I said, I am very aggressive with the camera and frequently am using it on the move or in rapidly-changing situations and this is something important for me.

If the 5100 doesn't have a 100% viewfinder, does that mean I will have to frame my shots with more than I want because I see less in the viewfinder? or the other way around?

The D5100's viewfinder covers less than the area of the sensor. Not by much, but for someone that likes to fill the whole frame without cropping, getting 100% coverage is nice.

I got D7000 over D5000 primarily for the video and the capability to use old lenses.

Unlike Canon, Nikon continues to support screw driven lenses and even manual focus. Nikon's USM-like AF-S lenses are newer and more expensive, so I was able to get old lenses that give me good optics relatively inexpensively and re-use some old lenses to reduce my spending. This aspect of D7000 vs. D5000 was tremendously useful to me. If I tried to get AF-S lenses instead of the cheaper AIS or AF-n/AF-D lenses, I would have ended up spending many thousands more on lenses.

The video side of things ended up more complicated than I thought because the DSLR gives you a core capability to do video, but I found severe motion issues with I tried to hand-hold. My impression is if you want to pan you need a good fluid head for tripod (>$130) or a good video monopod ($300); you need a good mike (>$100) and/or an off-board audio recorder ($300); you want a graduated ND filter or an ND filter set so you can do wide aperture whenever you want (>$150 though the ~$250 Singh-Ray looks amazing). So even keeping away from the doo-dads of true DSLR videography (Viewfinders, Rail Systems, Focus Pull) you end up having to spend alot more to get a clean movie-quality image and sound. Of course you can keep it on a tripod on a ball head in a fixed position, but that cuts down how much you can use it. In retrospect, I suspect a cheap ($300) HD camcorder with zoom and image stabilization may have been a smarter way to capture important memories unless one is willing to invest time and effort in DSLR videography. I'm taking that path right now but it's more investment in time and money than it looked when I was looking at the D7000 stats... Anyways D5100 seems to have same or better video.

Re: your comment on learning curve, I didn't find a learning curve on D7000 since the basic button layout is like my film cameras and while you CAN go into menus to change alot of things, the only NEW button you need to learn is ISO (which used to be coded on the film). I think in your case, sticking with Canon is the best way to reduce a learning curve if you were very comfortable with the button layout and labelling of Canon film cameras. I find Canon layouts and labels perplexing since I've used Nikons for half my life.

I also just came from the Canon side, and found the D5100 had more then sufficient features and a good price point. I could have gone with the D7000 as well, but I like the smaller size. Getting to the settings is really not a big deal, there are customizable short cuts to get to the main functions you would use quickly. The image quality is significantly better then my Rebel XSi, especially shooting in low light.

I got a great deal on a "Factory Demo" package from Cameta that closed the deal for me. So far no regrets.

Honestly, based on the OP's first post, (most prominently the point about the least learning required) I don't think a DSLR would be the best choice. I never recommend a DSLR to a snap shooter. Maybe a micro four thirds camera or Sony NEX or Canon G1X would be better for the type of user described.

I was in the same boat recently and I chose the D5100. (I had a Canon dSLR previously.) I could have afforded the D7000, but the difference in features didn't justify the increase in body price. More money in my pocket (or for other stuff like lenses) is all good to me!

Both have the same great sensor and thus both have the same image quality. The extra buttons and controls might have been nice, but I do like Nikon's menu system and I find it easy to change settings. I also think that the smaller D5100 body does have some advantages as well, smaller, lighter weight, etc.

I got the D5100 bundle with the 18-55mm and the 55-300mm. If you buy that combo it is $250 off for this month. I thought that too was helpful to get that range of lenses and also save $250. I probably wouldn't have gotten the telephoto right away had that instant rebate not been available.

Best of luck in your choice, I am sure you are going to like whatever you get!

JForhan said:
THIS!

I loved the D7000 when I had DX. The wife did not so I sold it (body only) and got her a D5100. Fits her hands much better. The D7000 was a handful and then some for her.

Locally, I can't find a D7000. The store I went to had the 60D and the D5100. I do remember one being smaller and seeming a little easier for me to handle although the larger one wasn't overly cumbersome for me, can't remember which was which now. I've seen and read so much and been to the store 4 times, I am getting a little overwhelmed. Dumb, I know because I'm just adding to my own confusion.

El_Pickerel said:
I considered upgrading to the D5100 from my D5000, but I am glad I went with the D7000. I use the camera very aggressively and really appreciate having quick access to almost any setting I could possibly need to change in the middle of shooting without going in to a menu. Shoot, I don't even need to look at the camera to change most settings! I also prefer the larger 100% viewfinder - even though I crop way more often now than I used to, I enjoy using the entire frame and composing shots right to the corners.

Is it naive of me to think that I won't have to change the settings after I get them like I want? I'm thinking that if I have a condition such as a dark theater, then I wouldn't need to change the setting until we leave. I mainly use the pre-set programs now, but I could learn to make adjustments.

If the 5100 doesn't have a 100% viewfinder, does that mean I will have to frame my shots with more than I want because I see less in the viewfinder? or the other way around?