Nikon D3000, opinions/reviews for using as portraits?
I have a Nikon D3000, I'm studing photography and learning about my camera, I've had for a yr now. I would love to turn my hobby into a little side job.
Some articles/reviews I've read said this camera is horrible in low light/indoor settings and I'm find all indoor photos are coming out blurry/ or too dark. I can't seem to get a crisp picture. Would like to know what I can change and your thoughts on this particular camera.
How many times are you going to ask the same question? The answer is, get a 50mm f1.8
Judging by all the questions you are asking about your camera, I would say you have never read your user guide.
It would do your photography the world of good if you studied the camera manual as well as a few books/tutorials about photography.
Yes, you can keep on asking the same questions on here, but there are already countless books and tutorials available that would answer every one of your questions and many many more.
YOU need to make the effort here, YOU need to learn.
Start here:
http://photo.net/learn/basic-photo-tips/aperture-shutterspeed-iso/
… Then get a copy of this book and STUDY it. We can't teach you all there's to know about photography in these little answer boxes.
The D3000 is an entry level DSLR. It's made for people to learn about using a digital camera, it's not really made to be a professional camera. It works great within it's limitations. You are planning on and trying to use it outside of its limitations.
Increase the ISO, and that will give you a higher shutter speed. You will get more noise, but less blur. Noise is easier to deal with.
The thing all of the "photographer wanna-be" people on here forget, most people will have an entry level DSLR. The photographer makes the picture, not the camera, it doesn't matter what camera a photographer uses, etc. Is true, except for when you are sitting in front of a client, and that client has paid you money to create images. They paid you for professsional results, they expect to see professional tools. And as you are seeing, you are not getting professional results, because you are not using professional tools, i.e. Good lenses, and an external flash. If you are planning on making money, with clients (if you go with stock, it won't matter, the client never sees you) then you'll really need to look at a good camera and REAL lenses. Why would someone want to pay you, when they have the same camera or a better one at home? You are using the two lowest level of lenses made by Nikon. They are kit lenses for a reason, they are cheap, and made to be replaced as you get more serious. I used the kit lenses, and they worked great, outdoors, or on a tripod. They got replaced as needed.
First, buy the 50mm 1.4 AFS lens, so you can use autofocus. Next, look at a D90, it's the lowest level of camera that would be good for professional work. The D300s is better, or the D7000. The D3s is for when you are making real money at it down the line.
Do you have a flash? Look at the SB-900. If your indoor shots are blurry, you need to add more light, a flash along with a better lens will do that.
If you said you wanted to take pictures for fun, and learn about photography, the D3000 is a great camera. You are stating you want to create income from your photography. You need to learn that if you want to make income in a field, you need to invest in the tools that other professionals in that field use.
The D3000 uses a CCD sensor rather than a CMOS (which is what almost all other DSLR cameras use). The CCD sensor is extremely inferior to the CMOS at ISO settings higher than 100.
To shoot good indoor photos, you need to buy a faster lens. The term "fast lens" means a lens that has a large opening in it for letting in light.
Most fast lenses are very expensive, but there are a few exceptions. The Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 is a very inexpensive lens for the optical quality and speed you're getting. It's about $150. Unfortunately, it will not autofocus on a D3000.
If you want autofocus, get the Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 instead. It is slightly sharper, about 2/3s of a stop faster, and will autofocus on the D3000.It costs closer to $500, which is still a very reasonable price for the quality of the lens.