Looking for a DSLR camera and the reviews of the Nikon D3200 camera seem very good. Prices are around £370ish - is there any other cameras I should look at in the same sort of price area?

I have the D3200 

 

Cannot rate it highly enough, just dont look at the price the next time you walk through duty free 

I have the D3200 and I really rate it.

 

With the exception that it doesn't autofocus on a moving target in video mode so you go out of foucus and keep having to press a button to focus again.

Which seems a very strange omission from it's spec... maybe I am missing something?

Or, if you can really push the boat out, try to run to the D5200 - tiltable screen, 39 focus points etc etc

I have the D3200 and I really rate it.

 

With the exception that it doesn't autofocus on a moving target in video mode so you go out of foucus and keep having to press a button to focus again.

Which seems a very strange omission from it's spec... maybe I am missing something?

 

 You are missing the fact it is a DSLR and not a camcorder... 

 

 

 Nikon or Canon you can't really go wrong, I think the 650D might be the latest Canon equivalent. My preference is Canon, I find them easy to use, a good array of lenses (although Nikon might also have the same) One thing I do know, if you are going DSLR after having a point and shoot you will need to be patient as it is quite different. Whatever manufacturer you go with it is worth investing in the best lenses you can as these make the most difference to your photography and not the body as described here by the guy from digital review.

 

 

 

 

 

 Here is a website that allows you to compare all cameras against each other DPREVIEW

 You are missing the fact it is a DSLR and not a camcorder... 

 

Before this I had a Cannon Bridge camera and it was much easier to make decent videos with as it did autofocus.

(like my phone and all the basic Nikon Coolpix things)

The 3200 is my first DSLR...

My DSLR does not take video, I have a G10 that does video though, rarely use it.

I was playing with a friends brand new Bridge camera tonight; although it is a really nice bit of kit, I dont think it is as good as my older, obsolete D40 DSLR, even the "Auto" settings werent as flexible, despite costing a fair wodge of money.

I've got a D90 and love it, however being a DSLR you have to work at getting a good picture from it. The Panasonic bridging camera that I have in it's "Intelligent Auto" mode is brilliant and will produce a decent, impressive picture 98% of the time from just letting the camera do the work.

 

That said, when you do manage to great shot with a DSLR it takes the finished image into a different league altogether. 

+1 on James's comments about lens choice. My preference is for Canon, but either Canon or Nikon will provide good results. Try both in a shop to see how they feel, handle and how easy it is to access the functions you will use. See what lens options you get. IIRC nikon has a conversion rate of 1.5 and Canon 1.6 so multiply that by the wide and telephoto ends to see what the real world 35mm equivelents are. The standard telephoto lenses will be fairly slow around f5.6 so image stabilisation is worth having to avoid camera shake, but that wont stop blur caused by the speed of the subject. Good luck

I've owned a few Nikon cameras and currently have a D90. 

 

For the money, I think the D3200 is a pretty decent camera. But the 18-55mm lens they bundle with it is a little limiting with regard to zoom power, so I'd get one bundled with the excellent 18-105mm lens. It'll cost you more, but you'll soon be wanting more flexibility than the 18-55mm lens offers. 

 

My preference would be for Nikon, purely because I have been using them for years. In the past Nikon was king of the SLR cameras, but for the last 20 years or so Canon have been producing SLR cameras on a par with Nikon, and there is not much to separate them these days apart from personal preference.   

Thank you for all the information guys.

 

Just a note that Nikon is now offering some cash back as well if you buy from they're approved retailers - details below;

 

http://www.europe-nikon.com/en_GB/news_room/news_presentation.page?Period=New&Quarter=0&SY=0&ID=templatedata\en_GB\news_article\data\GB_NR-CashbackXmas13

As a curve ball, if this is your first DSLR have a think about getting the previous model the D3100, for 90% of what you will probably want to do the D3100 will match the D3200 (if you like pixel peeping and are a master photographer ignore this whole post). More pixels doesn't necessarily mean better and can at times be a hindrance. I really like Nikon's and think you would be happy with both, I also think though in side by side testing most people couldn't distinguish the two when looking at well taken photos off the 3100 and 3200.

The saving you make could be put towards an additional lens (which is really wothwhile on either) or just left all snugly in your wallet

Or buy something even older that will still be 90% as good (unless shooting in lowlight or blowing up to above A3 or if a pro photographer), save even more money and spend some of the savings on learning how to get the best out if your camera and how to create (as opposed to capture) photographs.

Priority spending should be (in order from most important): Photographer > Lenses > Camera.

That's why I'm still using a body that was released almost 10 years ago, some decent lenses and have spent at least as much again on training my skill set in that time period.

Any camera released by Nikon, Canon, Sony, Pentax, etc. in the past five years will be good enough 95% if the time.

Knowing why its not the other 5% means you probably deserve a better lens.

A significant issue in the Nikon Canon debate is the choice of Nikon to use a focus motor in the camera on their higher range cameras.  As a result, by buying the D3200 (or 5200 for that matter) you need to check very carefully to ensure that the lens you are buying has an in-built focus motor compatible with the D3200 - otherwise you are focusing manually.  All Canon lenses have the focus motor in the lens and interestingly it doesn't make them any more expensive than Nikons motor-free lenses.

 

If you intend to use just a couple of lenses then this won't matter - just bear it in mind.

 

The Canon equivalent of the D3200 is the EOS1100D - both are priced around the same on Amazon.

Before this I had a Cannon Bridge camera and it was much easier to make decent videos with as it did autofocus.

(like my phone and all the basic Nikon Coolpix things)

The 3200 is my first DSLR...

This is down to the focus method used by DSLRs where the focus detector(s) is on a different optical path to the sensor.  When you are videoing the reflex mirror flips up and the curtain shutter opens to expose the image sensor so light by-passes the focus sensor.  In a bridge camera there is only 1 optical path with the image and focus sensors both permanently in the optical path. 

 

Early DSLRs didn't even have liveview (where you can use the rear screen as a viewfinder) and the workaround for the focus makes the early ones unwieldy for autofocus.  On my 450D (no video!) I have to press a separate button to auto-focus in live view - it is VERY slow and very inaccurate! 

 

Video was added to DSLRs as something of an afterthought.  Canon entry line models from the EOS600 on have in-video autofocus but you have to use one of their new range of STM (STepper Motor) focus lenses.

I've been using the D3100 for a year now - bought it for the reason someone's already stated - cheaper than the 3200 and to someone newish to DSLRs the spec is close enough to the more expensive model.

 

I've found the vibration reduction a big plus over my last camera. As others have said the 18-55mm lens is a bit limiting so I've added a 55-300mm, again with the VR.

 

What hasn't been mentioned so far is the "Guide Mode" on the Nikons. It's really useful when you want to try out a new or little used feature, can't remember how and the manual's back at home. You just switch to "Guide" and all the info is on the display screen. Maybe this is common on DSLRs, I don't know but on these it's really clear.

 

By a second battery too. They last a long time and don't take long to charge but it's handy to have one ready charged.

Probably a minority voice, but I love Pentax kit. Currently shooting with a K10D and love the fact that you can put pretty much any k-mount lens from the last 60 years because the anti shake is in the camera bodies and not in the lense... This makes all the lenses cheaper so you get the same glass at a much lower price...