Best Professional camera for a beginner?

My wife LOVES to take pictures. She is very interested in Photography but works full time and for x-mas I wanted to get her a great camera. She will definitely get into this as a hobby so I do not want to get anything that lacks in quality. She is always complaining that the lighting stinks when she takes pics from her iphone 6. I was researching and read about the Nikon 7100. Can someone recommend something good? I want to keep it under $1100 if possible. (with lens)

My wife LOVES to take pictures. She is very interested in Photography but works full time and for x-mas I wanted to get her a great camera. She will definitely get into this as a hobby so I do not want to get anything that lacks in quality. She is always complaining that the lighting stinks when she takes pics from her iphone 6. I was researching and read about the Nikon 7100. Can someone recommend something good? I want to keep it under $1100 if possible. (with lens) There's no professional camera for the beginner.

A dSLR would be great but she would need to study photography to get the best out of it. If you think she has the time and is willing to exert enough effort, the D7100 would be a good choice. Now, if she's not ready to go into all that, you can still get her the camera but she will be limited to using it is full Auto mode which would just be a slight improvement over her phone. At least photos will come out clearer but lighting will still be bad. That's because picture quality depends on skill, the camera is only a tool. If she wants to improve her photos, she has to be mindful of the light, all the time. Photography after all is the act of recording light. In a way there's no such thing as a "professional" camera. But certainly pros do tend to use upper level DSLRs with a range of lenses, which takes you beyond $1100.

Although you might like to surprise her with a loving gift, I suggest you consult with her before spending over $1000. She will doubtless have her own ideas of what an "ideal camera" might incorporate, which might not be what we suggest.

In a way there's no such thing as a "professional" camera. But certainly pros do tend to use upper level DSLRs with a range of lenses, which takes you beyond $1100.

Although you might like to surprise her with a loving gift, I suggest you consult with her before spending over $1000. She will doubtless have her own ideas of what an "ideal camera" might incorporate, which might not be what we suggest.