Advice and thoughts please.

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Martin P

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Martin.
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Good morning all. I want to take up photography as a hobby, something im hoping will help relax me from everyday stresses.

As a complete beginner (have ever only used a compact point and shoot) I am stuck as to which way to turn. I have been looking for a camera that I can grow into and at the same time not become bogged down in and frustrated with.

Looking at the D5200 and the D7000.

Not to sure what I want to specialize in at this point, so general photography use is what I require.

What I dont want to do is spend big and then wish I had gone for something more advanced but on the other hand i dont want to get something so advanced I cant use it and become bogged down.

Just how easy is the D7000 to use for a COMPLETE BEGINNER ?

Thanks in advance for your honest thoughts, kindest regards,

Martin.
 
You can always start by puting it on auto and get into picture taking straight away then advance from that. That bit is easy.
Cameras are nearly all quite complex now and then there are the technicalities of photography and processing to learn.
TBH, if you are a complete beginner you are bound to struggle a bit, but it does eventually all fall into place.
I'd recommend getting one of the many books for beginners in digital photography to help you get going. Nikon camera manuals are not the best for beginners. All the detail is in them, but they are not good at explaining why.

Google nikon d5200 video tutorial and you will be able watch several videos that will give you an idea what you are getting into.

All the best and fire in as many questions as you want.
 
For a complete beginner the 7000 is a lil overkill. Id say 5200 and a 70-300 lens for the money. Do you really need weather seals and a magnesium body? Alot on beginners get very wrapped up in the gear your better off buyin something that is t going to overwhelm you and enjoy it
 
I agree with arclight. On full auto you won't find any difference between the two cameras and it would get you some decent shots before you learn more. It depends how much you want to spend.

Does the camera have to be a Nikon? Nothing wrong with Nikon, they make excellent cameras but so do other manufacturers - Canon, Pentax, Sony.

There are lots of things to learn in Photography but and understanding of aperture, shutter speed and ISO, how they relate to each other and the effect they have on the final image is crucial.

There are tutorials on this site and all over the web, eg

http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/

Dave
 
Tringa said:
I agree with arclight. On full auto you won't find any difference between the two cameras and it would get you some decent shots before you learn more. It depends how much you want to spend.

Does the camera have to be a Nikon? Nothing wrong with Nikon, they make excellent cameras but so do other manufacturers - Canon, Pentax, Sony.

There are lots of things to learn in Photography but and understanding of aperture, shutter speed and ISO, how they relate to each other and the effect they have on the final image is crucial.

There are tutorials on this site and all over the web, eg

http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/

Dave
Click to expand...

:agree:
 
Welcome, you'll learn a lot here.

As others have said, the D7000 is way overkill and its going to be a while before the camera is the limiting factor and not the person operating it. I had a D3000 when I first started out and it was a good while before that started limiting me and even then it was generally the lack of buttons to quickly access setting that limited me rather than the image quality the camera was capable of. Even the base spec dSLRs are excellent these days.

Enjoy the journey.
 
Thanks so much for the replies everyone, they are proving most useful and they are giving me plenty to think about for sure.

I really appreciate your time in replying and the input.

Regards,

Martin.
 
Tringa said:
...Does the camera have to be a Nikon? Nothing wrong with Nikon, they make excellent cameras but so do other manufacturers - Canon, Pentax, Sony...
Click to expand...

Whilst I agree with this in essence, if you're looking at a dslr, I wouldn't consider anything other than a Canon or Nikon .
Not because there's anything wrong with the other manufacturers - there's not - but because the availability of both genuine and non genuine lenses and accessories and therefore your options is far greater than it is for the other brands.

A big thing that people don't consider when they buy a camera is that you're not just buying a camera, but actually investing in a photographic system.
 
philwillmedia said:
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A big thing that people don't consider when they buy a camera is that you're not just buying a camera, but actually investing in a photographic system.
Click to expand...

This is quite true. I started on a cheap Olympus e410, great little camera but ISO started to limit me a year in. I had to sell everything and move. I went nikon as I picked up the d7000 used at a good price. It was a great step up in terms of functionality (2 dials to change aperture and shutter speed) and ISO performance.

The d7000 would a little overkill at first but looking at the prices new I would recommend either a d3100/3200 or the d7000. If you are going to spend over £500 on a body why get one you are going to probably want to replace in a year or two for the sake of £50. The d3100/3200 would be a good option.

For a beginner I would suggest a d3100 and with the saving pick up a nice used tamron 17-50 f2.8. Good glass is better than camera bodies and will last you longer too. If a few years you could change the body yet keep the lens for the new body. Don't fall into the usual beginners trap of buying something because you think you need it too, buy it when you need it.
 
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