what is the best digital SLR camera for good quality professional pictures under $1,600?

by Nagesh Kamath

I want to buy a digital SLR camera that will take really excellent quality picture, under $ 1,600. I wanted to know if anyone knew, if you do delight post an answer to my question.

Answer by fhotoace
Nikon D200 … I did a lot of research before I bought mine. I have two of them.

Answer by antoni m
start with the lens first then get the body, spend on the lens not the body,

lens quality effects quality more than any other factor – set alight goes down the lens first,

D200 are a fine camera, as the Ace says, I would get a lens first -

money spent doesnt mean better pix, just as a excellent hammer a builder dont make

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Answer by brian_rmsy
It’s hard to take a photo with just a lens, with 1600 you can get a Nikon D80 and used lenses.

Answer by Dr. Sam
Consider the Nikon D80, 10.2 Megapixel, SLR Digital Camera with Nikon 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6G ED-IF AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor Lens and Two SanDisk 2GB Ultra II Secure Digital (SD) Cards available from B&H Photo for under $ 1,200, inc. shipping. Add a Nikon SB600 speedlight (sparkle) for $ 185 and a decent tripod for about $ 100-125 and a spare battery and there goes your money, but it would be well-spent.

I like my D200, but the body lonely would use your entire budget, so I can’t recommend it to you.

I’d also say that you might prefer a better lens, but then we are talking about lenses that would eat up enough of your budget that you couldn’t afford the D80. If by “professional,” you mean that you will be promotion your photos, you will be able to justify export a better lens or two in a few months. The 18-135 is excellent enough to get you started without embarrassment.

What do you reckon? Answer below!

Participant enthusiasm was unbounded. Digital Photo Walk at Montana de Oro’s Hazard Reef Tidepools, led by Jerry Kirkhart, 09 Jan. 2009. 25 people attended


Image by mikebaird
Participant enthusiasm was unbounded. Digital Photo Walk at Montana de Oro’s Hazard Reef Tidepools, led by Jerry Kirkhart, 09 Jan. 2009. 25 people attended this most standard event. Event description says: Bring your SLR Digital Camera and a Macro Lens or a Point and Shoot that has macro capabilities. Beginners Welcome. A Marine Biologist will show techniques of macro photography of tide pool organisms, and the safest seats to walk. Wear non-skid shoes so you will BE ABLE TO NAVIGATE IN TIDE POOLS! Meet at the Hazard Reef Parking lot 1.6 miles past the MDO lobby sign by the Pecho Valley Road . See Photomorrobay.com for more info. (S) 1 mi., 1.5 hr. Reminder that on Friday, Jan 9th, there will be a -1.61 low tide DPW walk for anyone attracted in macrophotography of intertidal organisms. The walk will start from the Hazard Reef parking lot at 2:15PM (notice slight time change from original posting), in order to give time to work the tide out and photograph all intertidal life possible. The tide and we will not wait for late comers, sorry. Instruction will be given by a marine biologist on how to use your macro lens and to photograph and ID marine organisms. Instruction will also be given on everywhere the safest house is to step and what algae to not step on too, for best safety. Any camera with macro capabilities can be used. We should see Chaffey Limpets, Gum Boot Chitons, some nudibranchs, hopefully Octopi, and many others. Wear warm clothes in layers. Park about 1.6 miles from the MDO lobby sign in the Hazard Reef Parking lot, and we will hike to the ocean. Delight call Jerry Kirkhart (805) 534-9198 or email if there are questions. Mike Baird will also be available for camera questions, plus other local photographers for suggestions on camera settings and sparkle use too. Beginners are welcome.
Tech note: The un-level horizon here is an intentional design element to try to convey action.

I have been by a basic manual 35mm camera but it is becoming quite expensive to process and get prints. I am kind of an idiot with technoloy but would like a excellent SLR digital camera that has a manual feature and can be fitted with different lenses. What would be a excellent one for a beginner that may be affordable?

Answer by Jeroen Wijnands
Affordable is very relative. I reckon the Nikon D3100 is a very excellent buy at the moment. But, perhaps you got lenses with your film camera you’d want to reuse in which case you will need to tell us a bit more about your current camera and lenses.

Answer by keerok
Pentax K-x. Shoot just like you were by your 35mm and learn digital as you go along.

Answer by Jack F
Get a used one off eBay. Sony A200, Nikon D40 type camera.

New? Sony A230 or A290. Sonys take each Sony/Minolta AF lens since 1985, as well as those from Sigma, Tamron, Tokina etc. Plenty of cheap lenses on eBay.

You can spend the extra on a Nikon/Canon if you want to fall into that trap, but it isn’t going to produce better images as dSLR images are very much the same at the budget end.

Answer by DigitalPhotography
Hey,

And what’s the price of your soul? We can’t know specifically, so it’s harder to recommend.

I recommend Canon EOS XS, XSi and Nikon D3100.

Here’s a post called ‘Export a DSLR, what’s vital, megapixels, features, brand, price and which one to buy – http://www.the-dslr-photographer.com/2009/03/which-dslr-to-buy.html

Excellent luck! The site has many more tutorials, tips, reviews and guides!

What do you reckon? Answer below!
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