Which Nikon?

Tommyboy

My neighbor wants to buy a Nikon DSLR. I'm trying to advise him, and can do that with general principles, but I don't know the Nikon models very well.

This is for a new baby, family vacations, etc. He's not a photographer at all, but he appreciates good quality.

I'm advising that he gets a body, a medium zoom, and an off camera flash. He's got a budget of about $2,000.

3200? 5100? D700?

What are your suggestions?

DsrtVW

The new D3200 for what you are describing would be quite adequate well within budget and leaves room for accessories. It is a awesome camera. You still have money to buy another lens and flash.
D3200
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/856049-REG/Nikon_25492_D3200_DSLR_Camera_With.html

Tommyboy

The 3200 is definitely a contender.

We're also looking at the 5100 and the 7000.

He likes the articulated screen. Most of the specs seems to be nearly identical, otherwise. The build of the 7000 seems a bit more stalwart. The 3200 and the 5100 are compacts.

ziggy53

Yes, the Nikon D7000 is the best body of this bunch. The problem is that your neighbor may skimp on the lenses if they spend their budget on the body.

Working with this small a budget I suggest purchasing the lenses first.

The Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di-II LD Aspherical [IF] is still a very high quality standard zoom, capable of professional level work.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/550954-REG/Tamron_AF016NII_700_17_50mm_f_2_8_XR_Di_II.html

http://www.adorama.com/TM1750NKAF.html

Then I suggest the Tamron 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di LD Macro for a telephoto zoom. Yes, it's soft at 300mm, but from 70-200mm, stopped down a bit, it's a very capable outdoor and good-light telephoto zoom at a bargain price.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/550953-REG/Tamron_AF017NII_700_70_300mm_f_4_5_6_Di_LD.html

http://www.adorama.com/TM70300DNKAN.html

The very next thing to recommend is a decent external electronic flash. A very nice flash for the money is the Sigma EF610 DG Super flash for Nikon. This flash has a focus-assist light which projects a pattern of light, vital for accurate and fast indoor AF. Also allows outdoor fill light and control over ambient contribution (via HSS/FP mode).

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/741718-REG/Sigma_189306_EF610_DG_Super_Flash.html

http://www.adorama.com/SG610NK.html

Then add a couple of DIY flash modifiers for around $3 each, to get much better light quality.

http://www.fototime.com/inv/908195739C4C0D3

Better Bounce Card

Joe Demb also makes an interesting device for sale (reasonable):

http://www.dembflashproducts.com/flipit/

I own a FlipIt product and it works well and is very well made.

All of the above will run ~ $955USD. With the remaining budget, either purchase a new:

Nikon D5100, identical potential image quality to the D7000 but lighter and still leaves a little budget for a 50mm or 35mm prime. Does FullHD, 1080P video. My recommendation if purchasing new.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/764100-REG/Nikon_D_5100_Digital_SLR_Camera.html

http://www.adorama.com/INKD5100.html

Nikon D7000, upgrade body over the D5100 with better AF, better build and dual card slots. Just over budget and no money left for prime lens. A good used D7000 would better match the goals.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/735002-REG/Nikon_25468_D7000_DSLR_Camera_Body.html

http://www.adorama.com/INKD7000.html

If they follow the advice of high-quality light first, then high-quality lens, then body:

Tommyboy

ziggy53 wrote: »

. . . and dual card slots.

Thanks for the comprehensive response, Ziggy. That really helps to clear up some differences.

What, exactly, is the advantage of dual card slots?

ziggy53

Tommyboy wrote: »

Thanks for the comprehensive response, Ziggy. That really helps to clear up some differences.

What, exactly, is the advantage of dual card slots?

Dual cards means:

Redundant storage for security. (The cards used as parallel storage.)
... or ...
JPGs on one card and RAW files on the other.
... or ...
Twice the capacity. (Serial storage with automatic rollover when first card full.)
... or ...
Eye-Fi card in one slot for wireless transmission to a computer.

The security option is mostly important for photographers who earn a living by photography, and for once-in-a-lifetime events.

The other options are mostly convenience. There is also the option of disregarding the second slot when it's not needed.

For your neighbor's applications it might not matter at all.