Average cost of photography camera?

I bought a manual 35mm SLR (brand: Pro Master) for $200.

Now I need costs for a DIGITAL photography camera. Brand can range from Canon to Nikon to Pro Master to anything else.

The Canon Rebels are a step below professional grade which are a few hundred. I graduated a photography college and we used Canon 5D MARK II which is $5, 000 with the lens. I use a Canon EOS 7D which was $2000 with the lens. So it depends on what you want to use it for I guess.

DSLR cameras come in three grades:

entry level (consumer) $550 to $1, 000
Semi-professional $1, 000 to $3, 000
Professional $4, 000 to $45, 000+ (Body only)

Both Canon and Nikon make nice cameras. The best thing to do is visit an actual camera shop (not bestbuy/walmart) and try the different models within your budget to see which feels the best to you. I bought a Canon for its ergonomics/feel/menu and control layout and a fellow photog chose Nikon for the same reason… It is about personal preference.

The one thing to remember is to budget in extra money to cover an extra battery, memory cards, camera case, a USB memory card reader, and taxes (these can add another $200-$250 to the camera price).

Also, most camera shops offer free beginner camera/photography classes (and free prints) when you buy a camera there.

My thoughts on photography/cameras…

1) Photography is roughly 70% photographer skill/experience, 20% lens quality, and 10% camera body
2) I would rather have a $600 camera with a $1, 500 lens than I would a $1, 800 camera and a $300 lens
3) Photography is NOT a cheap hobby or profession ("Buy cheap, buy often")

HA HA HA HA HA AND HA SOME MORE you need to win the lottery in your state if you wanna go DIGITAL well sweet heart the price ranges are all over the place you people think buying the camera the bucks stop there keep adding up all the equipment you will need plus the computer… And books and magazines and courses and editing etc and stuff keep adding up the money… I prefer film cameras myself but mass production is here to stay.

The camera is not the main cost of going digital the computer, monitor and software is, plus the calibration so that what you see on the screen is what comes out of your printer, and a printer too of course.

All in all around 5 times the cost of any entry level DSLR, around $1000+, and you could easily double or treble that to get speed and quality, going for a Mac will increase costs dramatically.