Nikon SLR Cameras

What is the chapest way to buy a DSLR camera in America?

Nexx s
Nexx s

I want to buy a Nikon or Canon DSLR camera. Apart from the camera I would like to buy some starter equipment like a bag, some filters, a tripod and maybe some extra lenses. Since this isn't a small investment I would like to consider all possibilities and find a cheapest way to acquire this. Thank you in advance for all your help.

Added (1). I'm aiming for a entry level camera or upper entry level.

Added (2). Thank you for the answer Dr. Iblis but I was aiming more toward maybe finding a way to buy all together, maybe get a discount for buying more products at once, are the prices in all the stores the same, should I consider ebay, what would be advantages and disadvantages of that… Things like that.

Added (3). B.E.I_Thanx! Your answer has been very helpful, I will keep the thins you've said in mind.
Eric Len_At moment I'm leaning toward NIKON D5100. I'm mostly interested in buying a prime lens, 50mm 1.4f or 1.8f, not that interested in zoom lenses right now, thought of buying a better kit lens, 18-135mm maybe, not sure yet. I'm still saving money for it, but I guess I wouldn't be willing to spend more than 1, 500 dollars for everything.

Dr. Iblis
Dr. Iblis

New, the cheapest DSLR cameras are the Canon Rebel T3 ($500), and the Nikon D3100 ($550)

as for lenses, both brands have pretty much the same lineup, and those lenses that match in both focal length in quality are very comparable in price (i.e. Canon 100mm macro L lens ~$1000, Nikon 105mm Macro ED lens ~$1000)

if you want to spend more, you can also look at the Nikon D5100 as well as the Canon Rebel T2i and T3i

Guest
Guest

SORRY, but photography is NOT a cheap hobby or profession!

Everybody wants to buy their camera gear as cheaply as possible. They want a $600 camera kit for $300, and when they find it… They cry because they got scammed. You will find most reputable places are within about 10% of each other AND the MSRP.

There are two basic rules:
1) You get what you pay for.
2) You have to be rich to wear cheap shoes (Buy cheap, buy often)

Your best chance of getting a "deal" is to buy from a local camera shop. If you buy everything at once, they will have the ability to give you a discount and/or include some free stuff.

IMO… Buying from ebay is like buying at a flea-market. You are taking a strangers word on the quality/condition of an item.

Here is the breakdown of a basic budget for an entry level setup:

Canon T3/Nikon D5100 kit with 2 lenses (18-55mm & 55-200 or 75-300mm) ~$900
extra battery ~$40
2- 4Gb memory cards ~$50
camera case ~$70
2 UV(0) filters* ~$75
tripod/ball head** ~$250

taxes (10% for easy math) ~$139 --->Total $1524

*When you put any thing in front of a lens, it can degrade the image quality. I only use a quality optical glass filter, such as Hoya, B&W, Tiffen, or Cokin. A UV(0) is nothing more than a protective cover for the lens' front element to guard against fingerprints/scratches/dirt (it is easier/cheaper to clean or replace a filter than it is to send a lens in for repair to the front element).

**My tripod opinions:

If you value your camera, then you need a tripod that is sturdy and reliable enough to be able to handle the camera in different conditions (a tripod that shakes in the wind isn't much good if you do landscape photography) and any future lenses you buy.

You should factor in the maximum weight that both the tripod AND head can support (my camera loaded with flash and a 70-200 f/2.8L lens is ~6.6 pounds).

When I was looking for a tripod, I had some criteria that it need to fit:

1) It (tripod/head) had to be able to support 8 pounds. My camera/big lens/flash come in around 6.6 pounds
2) The total height (tripod/head) is at least my height minus the camera height (I'm 75" tall minus a 6" camera height equals 69").
3) The leg locks must be secure so that the tripod doesn't slip
4) It has to be a quality name… Manfrotto, Gitzo, Vanguard, etcetera.

There are certain things you can't just look at a picture in order to buy it, some things need to be handled. The best thing to do is take your gear to the local camera shop and try everything out. I took my camera gear to a local camera shop and tried the various tripods and heads before I bought a Manfrotto 055XPROB and a Vanguard head. That came to around $250, it is sturdy in the outdoors as well as in the studio and it will outlive me.

Eric Len
Eric Len

Unfortunately, most kits come with stuff you don't really want. Like a small tripod that breaks soon, a memory card that is slow and a bag that will hardly hold anything. It's better to buy camera + lens, then that stuff separately as you need.

Here's a DSLR Buying Guide - www.the-dslr-photographer.com/2009/11/wh…

Amazon is a great place to shop, and depending on your budget we could also recommend models. Canon EOS T3, T2i, Nikon D3100 and Pentax K-r are the best below $650.