What's the right camera for me?
I really want to get a nikon d3000. But I don't know if its right for me, I'm looking for photo quality. But I'm also only 14, and I'm saving up to get a nice camera. It would be my first nice camera ever. So what's one that is not TOO pricey, but reasonable and easy to use?
The D3000
it would be better if you got the D3100.It's just a better camera.
other options include the Canon Rebel T3 and T1i
all of these are under $700 with the kit lens
Your best bet is to actually go into a specialty camera store and have an expert show you the finer details and let you play with the cameras they have. Since it sounds like you are willing to spend about $500 on your camera, don't go into a big box store for this purchase. They are fine for a small point-and-shoot purchase, but since it sounds like you are interested in a DSLR, I would start at a specialty store that employs camera experts. They should ask you some very specific questions about what types of photos you are interested in taking, how long you'll plan on using the camera, what conditions you'll take your photos in, how much you are willing to spend, etc. With all that information (which you really haven't provided here), they'll be better equipped to guide you in the right direction for your first DSLR.
If you want to do some preliminary research at home first, start with the http://www.dpreview.com/...review.com website. They are a wealth of knowledge and reviews on nearly every camera out there. They probably have way more information and data on cameras than you realized existed, and it can be pretty overwhelming. To start, here's a link to their brief DSLR buying guide article:
http://www.dpreview.com/...ide_01.htm
And here's their 27 page article on the camera you mentioned, the Nikon D3000, complete with sample photos, comparisons to other similar cameras, etc.:
http://www.dpreview.com/...ikond3000/
I got my first DSLR about 3 years ago, a Canon Digital Rebel XTi. I love it and I always impress my non-DSLR friends with my photos. It was about $800 back then, which is a few hundred dollars more expensive than the D3000 that you mentioned. My brother is a professional photographer and his camera is the Canon 5D which was several thousand dollars for just the body alone. When comparing my photos to similar shots that he takes with his camera, I can really notice the difference between the cameras and lenses. But when comparing the shots you take with your first DSLR to the shots you used to take with a point-and-shoot, you will notice a world of difference.
Def get the NIKON - great cameras and great lenses. The D3000 is reasonably priced - check online price comparison sites (I'm sure you knew that).Id say go with the best you can get (reasonable in price + great photo quality - D300 scores well on both) - since you will keep this for a while. You can always upgrade the camera body and keep your lenses.
I just got a used D7000 and love it.
The Nikon D3000 is a new entry-level digital SLR camera designed to make photography simple and accessible. Aimed at the complete beginner, the D3000 is primarily aimed at anyone who wants to take photos without having to worry about what the camera is doing. The intelligent Guide Mode asks you about the image you want to capture and automatically optimizes the settings for the best possible results. When you've gained more experience, you can then use the Guide Mode to find out how to adjust the settings yourself.