Recommended DSLR cameras?
I'm looking for a dslr camera, preferably by canon or nikon under 700$.It should be good for beginners, have decent manual focus and zoom as well as have a video feature.
Please leave links for cameras you recommend
Either of the current generation Canon or Nikon dSLRs will work out. You should go to a camera store and see what feels better in your hand. Another factor is staying with the same brand as any friends or family. I loan out my lenses to my friends with Canons. My friends with Nikons are out of luck.
http://www.adorama.com/...AT3IK.html
http://www.adorama.com/...3200K.html
http://www.adorama.com/...5100K.html
Get a Canon T3i, new or used.
Just so you know, manual and autofocus will be dependent on the lens that you get. Since you're a beginner, I'll just leave it at that. Get a lens that covers a good enough range for starting out. Later, you can spend more money on nicer equipment as needed if you do want to take your photography even further. I've also listed some good entry level lens for the "photographer on a budget".
Canon T3i
http://www.amazon.com/...zon.com/s/
Canon 55-250mm f4.0-f5.6 IS
http://www.amazon.com/...0011NVMO8/
Canon 50mm f1.8 II
http://www.amazon.com/...00007E7JU/
If you want to go Nikon, I'd say get the D3200. That's what my g/f uses. Again, find a lens that has good reviews and covers around the same zoom range as the canon lens I mentioned above. Also, get this camera with the kit lens.
Nikon D3200
http://www.amazon.com/...007VGGFZU/
Http://keerok-photography.blogspot.com/2012/09/what-is-good-dslr-camera-for-beginners.html
All lenses have manual focus but zoom is at most 15X only. The more zoom however, the poorer optical quality gets.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/...rtclk=sort
DSLR's were never meant to do video. If video is your primary concern, it would be best to get a digital camcorder instead.