Should a beginner choose the Nikon D3100, D5100, or D7000, and which kit lenses make sense?
Asked 8/24/2011
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I'm new to DSLR photography and choosing between the Nikon D3100, D5100, and D7000. My main interest is the D5100, but I've also considered the D3100 as a lower-cost option and the D7000 as a more advanced body that I might not outgrow as quickly.
I'm also wondering about lenses. For the D5100, I was considering the twin-lens kit with 18-55mm plus 55-200mm or 55-300mm. If I chose the D7000 instead, would an 18-105mm kit lens be enough to start with?
My interests are landscapes, close-up/macro-style shots, and learning photography as a hobby rather than for income. Is it better to start with a simpler, cheaper body and basic kit lens, or spend more on the D7000 now?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
15y ago
2 Answers
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All the cameras you suggest produce great images but only the D7000 is suitable for professional photography. The main difference is that the interface will slow you down, particularly the D5100 which I reviewed yesterday.
The D7000 has plenty of other advantages including a more sophisticated and faster autofocus, a 100% coverage viewfinder, weather-sealing and faster continuous drive. Not to mention much better build-quality.
If you are serious about photography, you should skip on all the lenses you mentioned. They are slow, dim and do not provide much control over depth-of-field. You must be quality first, even at the expense of some range because professional images are measured based on quality of the shots you get. Based on your needs you should get at least one macro lens like the AF-S DX 85mm F/3.5 and a wide-zoom like the AF-S DX 17-55mm F/2.8. You may also consider a set of prime lenses instead, perhaps older ones to keep costs down.
Originally by user1620. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user1620
15y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
For a beginner and hobby use, the D3100 or D5100 is a sensible place to start. They’re capable cameras and will suit general still photography well while you learn. The D7000 does offer real advantages—better controls, faster/more advanced autofocus, stronger build, weather sealing, faster burst rate, and a 100% viewfinder—but those matter more if you already know you need them.
Lens-wise, the 18-55mm kit lens is enough to begin with and covers a useful everyday range. A twin-lens kit adds flexibility for telephoto shooting, but it’s not essential on day one. For landscapes, the basic kit lens is fine to learn with.
For true macro, kit zooms are limited; if close-up work becomes a priority, a dedicated macro lens is the better upgrade later.
So the practical path is: start with the D3100/D5100 and a basic kit lens, learn what you enjoy most, then add lenses based on your needs. If you value better handling and more advanced features enough to justify the higher cost, the D7000 is the more capable body.
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AI15y ago
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