DSLR Qustion? Any suggestions? - 1

I love taking pictures and hope to become a photographer and filmmaker when I'm older. I've wanted a DSLR camera for about 4 months now and during a family Christmas dinner, my aunt let me try out her Sony a300. I loved it! I looked up reviews for it, but it got a lot of bad reviews dealing with something breaking. I was wondering what is a good DSLR camera (I like Nikon or Canon products the best but I'm open to other options) that would be a great professional starter out camera? My maximum budget is $1500, and I'm curious to know your personal take on your opinion.

Like many intelligent but in informed people, you think you can shoot video using what is basically a still camera with a video feature.

Sure you can do that, but if your goal is to be a "film maker", you need to buy a real video camera to hone your skills when shooting scripts and editing them

Read this

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/camcorders/cam-cam.shtml

As you can see, you will be spending over $3, 500 just in the accessories you will need to make a dSLR a viable video camera

Here is a link to the video cameras we (videographers) use to shoot video shorts.

http://www.panasonic.com/...corder.asp

Since the cost of a proper video camera might make your knees weak, you will understand that when we have a script we want to shoot, we rent the camera for just the tie we need it.

The cost of a computer that is fast enough to do real time editing will exceed your complete budget, you may want to do one thing at a time.

While the Sony SLR cameras are more user friendly when shooting video, they are in the end a still camera with a video feature

Here is a link to a video shot using a Nikon D7000.

The crew who shot it knew a lot about lighting, following a script and using the camera as a tool to tell a story.

As you will see at the end of the video, there were four different lenses used to shoot this video

I suggest you buy an entry level camera like the Nikon D3200 or Canon T3i for use to learn photography. They cost under $650 during the after Christmas sales. With the balance of your money, buy a decent consumer level video camera to shoot practice shooting video scripts. You may be able to find a good 3MOS video camera using the balance of your budget. They have three sensors, so will produce better quality video than one with a single sensor.

Get yourself a Nikon D3200 to start. Buy a camera bag, extra battery and a polarizing filter. Do not buy a UV filter. If you want to spend a little more money and get a great lens that will last you a lifetime, get the 50mm f1.4.

I suggest you get either Nikon or Canon if your goal is to be a pro. The reason for this is that you can buy lenses that will last forever and you can grow with the brand. There's nothing wrong with Sony but you are not able to take that system to the pro level. At this point in time, I prefer Nikon cameras and lenses however, I could shoot just as well with a Canon system. For my style of shooting which is fast and under low light, Nikon is a better choice.

All brands are good including Sony. All dSLR's are basically the same. You already have set a budget. Good. That's all you need to know. Now march into the camera shop and get the most expensive dSLR you can afford. Just make sure you get one with a lens.

Here's what I recommend.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/...l_SLR.html

Here's the rest of your choices.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/...rtclk=sort

Take note that "Body only" means no lens. SLT is not dSLR.

Nikon D7000 would be perfect for you. It is considered as the most powerful mid-range DSLRs on the market.

This camera is perfect for advanced amateurs and has many features normally found on in a semi-pro model, such as a weather sealed magnesium and polycarbonate body, a 16.2 megapixel CMOS sensor, 39 AF points and continuous shooting at 6 frames per second.