Which entry level DSLR? - 1
My dad is giving me the choice of a Nikon D3100, Canon 1100D or Sony A37 for Christmas. I'm leaning towards the Sony right now but I'd like some second opinions.
What are your goals?
If you want to shoot any action or sports at all, you need a camera with an optical viewfinder, that eliminates the Sony
It is also true that Nikon and Canon have the most available lenses, current and legacy.
Here is a link that will let you see which of the cameras provide the best sensor performance.
http://www.dxomark.com/.../List-view
Too bad your dad did not include the Nikon D3200. Its sensor performs better than some of the full frame cameras.
Canon
I have heard that Nikon cameras produce natural colours. Cannon can pleasantly accentuate colours. I have a Nikon D5100 and I have just started to learn photography. My experince with my Nikon D5100 is that it produces colours with utmost fidility but at times it produces dull pics too. Before buying my camera when I was reading the internet the general perception was that sony cameras are very fast and good for burst shooting however Sony cameras are behind that of Nikon and Cannon in low light photography.
Another point - Only high end Nikon DSLR ($1000 and above) cameras display a exposure graph after capture but I believe any Cannon DSLR will have it. My old Cannon point and shoot even has it. An exposure graph is a great feature to have as by looking at the graph you can easily say whether you have got the desired exposure or not otherwise you will only be able to discover later that a photo has been underexposed or overexposed when you view the pic on the computer screen. Sometimes you might want to intentionally overexpose and underexpose pics and then too the exposure graph come in handy.
Just like you can install apps and software in your cell phone/computer it is easy to install extra software in Cannon DSLRs cameras. Lookup Green Lantern on the internet.
Personally I feel that Nikon as a brand has a more uber cool quotient.
Do not forget to lookup reviews of your camera in youtube. It greatly helped me.
Forget the Sony - it's a dead end for potentially serious photographers. For pros and advanced enthusiasts, in this range and format, the reality is it comes down to Canon or Nikon. As you are buying into a system, it's worth taking time over your decision. Once you commit to a manufacturer you'll probably build up a substantial kit based on their standards, and it's expensive to switch later.
As the D3100 and 1100D are not wildly dissimilar in specification, I would base your decision on handling. Go to a well-stocked camera shop and try operating all of the controls on both of these cameras, preferably side-by-side, to discover which works most intuitively and positively for you. Personally, I prefer the ergonomics of Canon equipment and many of their design features are now copied by other manufacturers. However, you need to find out which suits YOU. Trust me; this really is more important than a couple of megapixels or the odd function.
The best camera in this class is the Pentax K30, it's certainly the cheapest system to buy into. Up to date sensor ensures really good image quality, low noise - even in low light, great weather sealed build, the best backwards compatibility with older, cheap K mount lenses which will all be image stabilised as 'IS' is built into the camera not the lens, all will meter correctly and work as originally designed.
The ergonomics are probably the best, I find them very quick and easy to use. They have All the functions.
Match them to one of the Pentax Limited Prime series of lenses and you have a combination that will give you image quality that will be on a par with medium format cameras and will beat any older FF sensor at a fraction of the price.
Side by side review here
Stick with Canon or Nikon mainly because they have a lrger selection of peripherals and it. Easier to rent for those brands if you have to.
I had the same decision a couple of years ago, I narrowed it down to the Canon 1000D and the Nikon (in my opinion 2 of the best camera manufacturers). I used both before deciding and they were near enough identical, there were slight differences in the colours, but only noticeable if you're looking for them. In the end I chose the Canon purely because I had access to more lenses (by Dad's a photographer with multiple Canon lenses). I've had it for 2 or 3 years now and it's a fantastic camera, not one complaint!