Nikon D3000 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm VR Lens - Black

This is probably not the right camera for someone who is an uber-photography hobyist. This is the right camera for someone who enjoys photography and wants to step up from a quality point and shoot digital pocket camera. I wanted an SLR because I wanted to improve the photos I was taking of my 18 month old daughter. My Canon SD750 pocket camera takes great photos, but not the same quality as an SLR would. The D3000 is great because it has an auto mode that essentially turns it into a point and shoot camera. There is no shutter lag and - with the right memory card - you can hit continuous shoot to take 3 shots per second. (This is ideal for shots of my daughter going down a slide or kicking a ball in the backyard.) If you end up "getting into" photography and want to futz with the settings, this camera has everything you could need. 11 point multi-focus and fancy light metering will keep anyone busy. That said, you can also just leave it in auto and it will take phenominal photos. One of the best features is the "?" button. On any screen, you can push the "?" button to get a quick description of what the different setting options will do. For example, when selecting a manual metering mode, it will tell you the difference between multimetering and spotmetering. The Guide feature is another helpful option that guides you through questions about what you are shooting and adjusts the settings accordingly. To be frank, I find I don't use that very much. The camera comes with an 18-55 lens which is perfectly adequate for 80% of shooting. I also purchased a 35mm f/1.8 lens so that I could take more shots indoors without flash. I might also consider a 70-300 or 55-200 at some point down the road. For now, I have not had a need to do much telephoto work. I find that I can take the photo with the lens I have and then just zoom and crop on the computer. The image sensor has enough quality that you can really do a significant crop and zoom without a noticable loss in image quality. Here are some negatives: 1) Shooting above 800 ISO tends to yield grainy photos. I try to keep it at 800 or below. That is another reason I bought the Nikon 35mm f/1.8G AF-S DX Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras lens. 2) You need a fast SD card to avoid shooting delays. The camera has an image buffer. I found that using a standard Sandisk 15mb/s card, I was able to shoot (on continuous shooting) about 6 or 8 photos before hitting the buffer. I bought a Sandisk Extreme III 30mb/s card, and I have not been able to hit the buffer. There are also some shooting effects that involve post shot processing, and these can slightly slow down the camera. 3) I sort of wish I could have bought this with only the body and then added the lenses I wanted. The 18-55 is a very good lens, but I probably would have just ended up buying an 18, a 35 and maybe a longer zoom. Conclusion This is a great camera. It is a very good value and is the natural step up from a pocket digital. In my opinion, all of the criticisms I have seen online are from people who expect an entry level camera to have all of the bells and whistles found on models 2-10x the price. UPDATE: Nearly one year later . . . I still love this camera, but please be sure to check out the updated version Nikon D3100 14.2MP Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF-S DX VR Nikkor Zoom Lens or the body only Nikon D5000 12.3 MP DX Digital SLR Camera with 2.7-inch Vari-angle LCD (Body Only) plus Nikon 35mm f/1.8G AF-S DX Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras

the camera is from 2009. photos are pretty grainy. just spend the extra money and get something newer.

Hey potential buyers! I recently upgraded to the d3000 as my first DSLR. Earlier this year, when we were preparing for our first baby, my husband convinced me to purchase one of the Nikon point-and-shoot super-zoom cameras to save money (he said DSLRs are too difficult to use, anyway). After using the super-zoom for the past few months, I ended up buying this camera anyway because even the super-zoom left me disappointed and wanting. This camera is WELL WORTH the money and the effort, especially now with the release of the d3100. I'll preface this by saying that I am a quick learner and technologically savvy, but this camera is very easy to use. The guide and scene modes are great, but straight out of the box, I found the manual modes (I mainly use M or A) very easy to use. When I ordered the camera, I read up on a few of the important terms that are necessary for understanding how to take good manual pictures. So, while you're waiting for your shipment, google DSLR blogs that explain aperture, shutter, exposure, ISO sensitivity, metering, etc., and it's also helpful to go ahead and take a look at the manual online to get a sense of all of the options you have for focusing. If you understand these basic photography concepts, you'll have no problem getting GREAT pictures in a variety of settings. I've taken superb pictures indoors, outdoors, in good lighting and poor. The auto focusing capabilities are just amazing. Anyone frustrated with point-and-shoots is going to love the control you get. The camera is stable and sturdy, not cheap feeling. The buttons are accessible, convenient, and also feel like quality. I don't have much to say about the flash.... the few pictures I've taken with flash turned out fine, but I honestly don't really use it because you can easily manage exposure with the other settings. Here are some things that aren't issues for me, but be aware of when you purchase the camera: 1-No live view: you must look through the viewfinder. I think it's great. 2-Any extra lenses you buy must have AF-S in the title. This means that the auto-focusing mechanism is IN THE LENS, not the camera body, so if you want auto focus, you must get an auto-focusing lens. You can still use other lenses, but you'll have to focus manually. I kind of like manually focusing just because it's fun to learn, but the autofocus is great on this camera. If you have any questions or want to see some samples, feel free to contact me.

After a trip to Biltmore Estate and the resulting disappointment with my point-and-shoot photos, I decided to take the plunge and purchase a quality camera. Being new to DSLR cameras, I didn't want to spend a lot of money but wanted a camera that would allow me to take better photographs while learning the basics. This was the perfect choice for me. I researched other models (Canon, Sony, etc.) and decided on the Nikon based on other users reviews and cameras my friends use. Other reviewers have gone into great detail on the features so I'll just provide a quick overview. Although the camera doesn't have all the bells and whistles of, say a Nikon D300s, if you're new to DSLRs you don't want too much too soon. Too many options and features may very well turn you off to photography. There have been times when even figuring out the features on this camera is overwealming. Be warned that you will not get a user's guide detailed enough to cover every feature and setting on the camera. I ended up buying David Busch's D3000 Guide for a more thorough understanding of the camera. There is a built-in step-by-step feature on the camera that was awesome, but it can't possibly be expected to cover everything the camera does. The D3000 has a full auto mode, and "quick modes" for portrait, children, landscape, and the typical point-and-shoot settings, perfect if you have a signifcant other that just wants to take pictures, but not worry about manually setting aperature or shutter speed. Then there are the "big boy" settings: aperature priority, shutter priority, programed auto, and full manual (arg, arg, arg!). These settings are the key difference between a pont-and-shoot of the kids you never look at again and a picture you want to hang above your fireplace. If you're new to DSLRs try to grab one of these cameras. I've been using this for about eight months and have yet to hit the mark where I want to move up in camera. I do however want better lenses. The kit lens you get with this camera is great for starting out, but at about the two month mark I hit the plateau of what the camera can do with the kit lens. A colleague of mine has loaned me his Nikonr 18-55 2.4, Nikon 60mm 2.8 prime and Tokina 11-16 2.8. What a difference. Although the camera is still holding its own, the lens will quickly become something you'll want to replace. Be warned, once you begin shooting and reach the limitations of the kit lens, you will want to begin exploring other lens options. Be prepared to spend mucho bucks! The difference between the kit lens (18-55 f3.5-5.4) and the Nikon 18-55 f2.8 is staggering. The 2.8 is faster and sharper than you can possibly hope for with the kit lens, especially in low-light situations. Overall, this camera is a great primer for DSLR photography. I recently learned that Nikon wil no longer carry the D3000. If you want to take the plunge and learn about DSLR photography, I strongly recommend you try to find one. Even used, this camera will hold its value and may increase in value. I would urge you to buy a different strap though. Nothing says "steal me please" more than the Nikon strap that is included. Grab yourself an Op/TECH Pro strap and shoot away.

My good old point-and-shoot camera (one of the Canon PowerShot series) had served me faithfully, but I was growing frustrated with its limitations. It seemed SO slow -- I was always missing great shots of my kids. The low-light performance was not particularly good. And I knew if I ever wanted to take more than basic family snapshots, I was going to need to bite the bullet and buy a DSLR. But they seemed so intimidating! After doing a ton of research online and trying out my sister-in-law's slightly older Nikon D40, I settled on the new D3000. And I love it! It really is easier to use than I could've imagined, and the shots I've gotten so far are amazing. I have no photographic training, but I am really delighted with the pictures I've been getting so far. I never could have imagined there would be SUCH a huge difference. I've actually gotten -sharp- pictures of my toddler in motion, rather than just kid-shaped blurs! I took it to a local park last night for a couple hours and took some really nice photos there, too. Some things you might want to know if you, like me, are new to DSLRs: * Everything you need is in the box (flash, lens, camera body, camera strap, manual, etc.) -except- for a memory card. You'll need to get an SD or SHDC card to use with your camera. These are quite affordable. Of course, you may WANT more lenses, etc., later, but the kit lens is very nice, and offers a decent amount of flexibility. I would suggest, however, get a lens filter to help protect the lens, * The D3000 comes with a "Guide" -- it helps you choose what effect you're looking for (freeze motion, blur background, etc.) and then helps you pick the right settings. But even just on "auto" mode, it takes some really fabulous pictures. * Even as a relatively small DSLR, it's definitely bigger and heavier than most point-and-shoots. This wasn't a big issue to me, as I mostly plan to use it at home, but if you want something you can stick in your pocket, a DSLR may not be for you. (I plan to keep my old point-and-shoot as a backup for times when I want something I can just stow in my purse.) * The D3000 does not have "Live View," where you can frame your shot in the LCD screen. I was a little concerned about this at first, but surprisingly, I've found that I really don't miss it at all. It also does not have video mode (which I find I don't miss, either, because I've always hated taking videos with a camera! They come out all shaky for me.) * The included printed manual is pretty short and sweet. There is a manual on CD included that is much more complete. Neither, of course, really explains DSLRs in depth or photographic principles, so if you'd really like to learn more about using your camera to its fullest, I'd suggest Digital SLR Cameras and Photography For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech)) and Digital Photography Workbook For Dummies (For Dummies (Sports & Hobbies)) . The former does a great job of explaining how your camera works, why DSLRs are different from point-and-shoots, how to care for your camera, and what accessories you may want. The latter has tons of hands-on exercises to help you learn your way around your camera and improve your photography. In short, if you'd like to jump into the DSLR pond, the D3000 is definitely an excellent introduction. Come on in -- the water's great!