Beginner Digital SLR

[CMoore]

I took the Beginner-Film-Darkroom class at my local college. In order for me to take the Intermediate Photo class, where i can continue with Film/Darkroom if i choose.....i need to complete the "other" Beginner Class, which is Digital.
I hate to ask this question, but.......i need suggestions for buying a Digital SLR for this class. I was thinking Nikon 3200, but i really have NO Idea.
I will probably keep the camera once the class is over. Seems like a decent 3200 with (i guess everything is a Zoom these days) and some kind of 20-80 lens can be had for about 300 dollars.?
So what say APUG.?
Does 300 bux buy an obsolete piece of junk that will no longer work with modern computers.?
Will the 3200 get me through this beginner class OK.?
Is there something "better" i should consider.?
Auto Focus speed is of no consequence to me, i also do not need "the best" meter, with a bunch of focus points if that is what they are called. I just need a Digital SLR that will put pictures into a computer so i can learn about Lightroom and Photoshop at my local college......if you guys get the gist of what i am saying.
Sorry if this is a Huge Questioin...sorry if i am not being much help with what i need......i simply have no knowledge about modern day cameras.
Thanks For The Help

 

[TonyB65]

A Nikon D3200 will be absolutely fine, as would any of the Canon Rebels. Don't overthink it, any modern DSLR will be good enough for what you need, and the files they create can be processed on pretty much any computer.

 

[Jim Jones]

Tony is right. Unless the school, instructor, and beginner digital class expect something different, the D3200 should be fine. I captured about 40,000 photos with a D3100 before giving it to a friend and moving on to a D5100 and D5300. The D3100 was certainly good enough for 12x16 exhibition prints. The later two cameras offered improvements more in features than in image quality. Any of these comes close in image quality to the Leica and Nikon film cameras I used for many decades.

 

[Chan Tran]

The Nikon D3200 is fine for a beginner DSLR. I wonder which camera does the OP use for the film/darkroom class?

 

[Ko.Fe.]

I'm still using consumer DSLR purchased in 2008. I was nominated in international contest, recieved prizes, used it to help with pictures with one local campaign and took so far around 100K pictures with it.
It is Canon 500D which is under 100$ now and kit lens with 24mm prime are around same price.

 

[Paul Howell]

I think the answer is a little more complex. What is your 35mm film system? If you shoot Nikon then you want to make sure the 3200 will work your lens set. Canon is more forgiving as EOS lens will work with both film and digital bodies. Pentax, some entry level digital bodies will not work with Standard K mount, but work fine with KA and later lens. If you shoot Minolta A, then both 5 pin and 8 pin lens will work all Sony A mount, but not newer E mirrorless mount. If you have Minolta A then you want to consider an older DSLR vs a newer model with translucent mirror and electronic view finder. Most Minolta film bodies will not work with Sony or Konica/Minolta micro motor lens.

If you shoot with MF Canon FD or Minolta MC/D then it doesn't matter unless you get a Sony or Panasonic mirrorless camera with an adaptor.

I shoot mostly with Minolta film and Sony Digital bodies, but I also use my Pentax K2000 an entry level camera when traveling, it takes all my Pentax AF lens, has a lot of features for the money.

Regardless of the brand you get a lot of bang for your money with an entry level camera.

 

[CMoore]

Film.?.......i am embarrassed to say how many different brands of SLR i have.
Minolta MC/MD
Canon FD
Olympus OM
and Nikon F mount

 

[4season]

Oh heck yeah you can do it for $300, and you don't have to buy secondhand gear either: Keep watching for special promotions and refurbished items from the likes of Canon (I have become more of a Canon fan) and Nikon's online stores. Manufacturer-refurbished items typically are indistinguishable from new and are covered by regular manufacturer's warranty, but may ship in generic packaging. Speaking of Canon, if it's a prime lens that you want, may I suggest Canon's 40/2.8? Wonderful thing, and it makes for an exceptionally compact and lightweight outfit.

 

[Chan Tran]

Film.?.......i am embarrassed to say how many different brands of SLR i have.
Minolta MC/MD
Canon FD
Olympus OM
and Nikon F mount

Since you don't list any Canon EOS or Minolta Maxxum I would recommend a Nikon D700 at the least expensive used DSLR. All the Nikon lenses you have will work the same way as your Nikon film camera.

 

[Paul Howell]

Film.?.......i am embarrassed to say how many different brands of SLR i have.
Minolta MC/MD
Canon FD
Olympus OM
and Nikon F mount

Out of the box, Sony A3000 mirrorless with adaptors for your different film mounts. I have one and use both Miranda and M42, don't like the EVF much, of course manual focus, use in A mode with stopped down metering, results are very good, the 20MP sensor does a good job, very little color fringing, with the crop the 50mm is more like a 70mm, with my Miranda 450 like a 900. On the other hand if your Nikon F lens are AF you still need to check to make sure if the 3200 will work with your lens. I recall that newer enter level digital bodies will not work with older gear driven lens and not at all with nonAF lens.

By the way no need to be embarrassed

Pentax M42, K,
Miranda
Petri
Kowa
Konica SLR and S3
Minolta fixed lens rangefinder
Minolta A mount Minolta MC/MD,
Canon QL 1.7
Sigma SA 7 and 9, down for count with the yellow viewfinder of death

 

[MattKing]

Does the class require you to use an SLR? There are some very capable fixed zoom lens digital cameras out there.
If you want to consider a used Canon EOS SLR camera, I have a very capable Canon Rebel XTi with 17-55mm zoom lens, a few CF cards and a CF reader you can have for $125 US plus shipping .

 

[CMoore]

The camera has to be able to function in manual mode...be able to select shutter speeds and aperture.

 

[Chan Tran]

The camera has to be able to function in manual mode...be able to select shutter speeds and aperture.

I don't know of any digital SLR that is not capable of manual exposure controls.

 

[Paul Howell]

You can still use a Sony E, but it is more of hassle than it's worth. All menu driven, not worth the extra step. I would look for a Nikon that can use your current F mount lens. You can get a D300 with a kit lens within your budget.

 

[MattKing]

The camera has to be able to function in manual mode...be able to select shutter speeds and aperture.

My Canon would be perfect .

 

[CMoore]

I don't know of any digital SLR that is not capable of manual exposure controls.

The question was.......Does it have to be an SLR.?

 

[MattKing]

Some of the older point and shoot options offer manual exposure.
And of course many of the newer mirrorless options do as well, but they aren't as budget friendly.
But a used ~ 10 megapixel DSLR with a kit lens is probably the easiest way to approach the issue.

 

[Paul Howell]

You have 3 choices,

Digital Single Lens Reflex
Sony Translucent Mirror
Mirrorless, Sony, Olympus, Panasonic, Fuji, Pentax, Nikon, Sigma, and Canon all make a version of a mirrorless camera with interchangeable lens. Down side is other than a traditional SLR all use electronic viewfinder. Pentax and Sigma's version use their standard lens set, KAF or Sigma SA. Sigma is recent on the market, but has a smoking good deal, the APS C version with a 34mm 1.4 Art under a grand. Down side uses a different sensor, the Fabeon,(?) that has great color and resolution but is not good in low light, really poor high ISO. The Pentax version is somewhat awkward to hold, very deep for a mirrorless camera. Olympus made SLRs then moved to mirrorless as did Fuji. Samsung made a version of the Pentax AF bodies then moved to mirrorless as well.

The thing to remember when buying digital, your not only buying a camera, your buying film.

As noted by Matt, some point and shoots superzooms have manual control, I have a Fuji Finepix, 15MP, really long zoom, 26X, image stabilized, down size is a really small sensor, dynamic range is poor.

 

[Chan Tran]

The question was.......Does it have to be an SLR.?

You tell me. Your tittle was Digital SLR for beginner.

 

[CMoore]

You tell me. Your tittle was Digital SLR for beginner.

You are trying Way Too Hard .......Matt ASKED if it had to be an SLR.
Good Luck

 

[Eric Rose]

Even a D90 would be just fine.

 

[Cholentpot]

I still use my T2i. In fact for video work it still punches up. You can get the Canon Rebel series, starting from the t2i and on they're solid cameras. Just get the 'i' versions.