Canon or Nikon?

I've heard Nikon products are compatible with more lenses and accessories than Canon products. I have a Nikon D5000, which is over your price range... I'm not sure what you should get, but I'd say something Nikon based off past recommendations. Good luck

Edit: Wait, I reread the 4-500 part (I missed that somehow) and you could buy it for that much depending on where you go. It's a smaller camera and is very lightweight.

 

Both brands of camera's are great, but I personally prefer Canon camera's over Nikon. I don't really have a particular reason for liking Canon more, but some of my associetes I've asked said they prefer Canon more just for the quality hardware they have. Canon camera's are great for novice all the way up the the professional levels. It honestly depends on what kind of photography she is interested in. Although a camera with a lot of megapixels is good, you'll likely never even need that many. What really costs money is the lens for the camera's. Whatever default stock lens the camera comes with is a piece of **** so I recommend investing in a better lens depending on the needs of the photography.

I specialize in portrait/cosplay photography so I often travel around to different Anime Conventions and other events taking photos of people. My freelance business I started for myself started gaining popularity in what I do so I now often travel to the cons with a Media Pass to cover convention events. My camera is hardly the best but it does it job thanks to some extras that make it pretty boss for what I need it to do. I shoot all of my photos with the, 'Canon Rebel T2i' which is a fairly decent camera and then I have various lenses for different needs.

The 'Canon Rebel' series of camera's are made for beginners - mid-level photographers in mind so there is some room to grow. I still use the camera now as I know I'm not even close to the professionals but eventually I hope to get a better camera. But, when I first started out using it I was completely new to it, and shot almost always in the 'full-auto' mode where the camera just does everything itself. The full-auto' mode is pretty awesome and many people will want to stay in that mode since the camera does all the hard work. Eventually I started experimenting in the other modes of the camera to where I now almost always shoot in, 'M' (Manual) mode. Learning to shoot in the Manual mode was a extremely long process with many lost shots in between.

So after that little story about myself and my photography, I suggest to try getting the, Canon Rebel T1i/T2i if that is sightly upgraded camera is in your price range on Black Friday. I hope my suggestions and the little story provided will help you choose a good camera to start with.


//end long message.


tl;dr: Canon Camera's are great and you should go for the Canon Rebel T1i or the better Canon Rebel T2i, if possible.

 

What do you know, Matt comes out of lurking to talk about cameras. ;D

 

Everything that needs to be said was said by Matt. I personally prefer Canon as well, but I know many people that disagree with that and prefer Nikon. One word of advice though, don't ever buy Kodak. My first camera was Kodak and it was trash.

 

I've never gotten such good cams but always wanted to. Based on some people I know I would get the Nikon.

 

14.1 is good, especially for beginner/intermediate levels.

 

I bought a used Canon EOS 300 film camera, which works perfectly fine.

Also, film cameras are always an option if she's starting out.. they cost way less too. Though I'm not sure about used digital SLR cameras

 

I'm 90% sure all SLR cameras have interchangeable lenses. DSLR would mean Digital Single-Lens Reflex. Basically, a film camera would have these and you'd have to get your images developed (you can't view them instantly like a digital camera).

It may sound like it sucks but it's a cheaper option.

Although I don't know much about used DSLRs and you can look further into that as well.

 

Although film cameras are nice, go ahead and spend the money and get a good DSLR-camera. Waiting to get the images developed is not an option in this time now if your going to photography. They do take some nice photos, but most prefer being able to view the images as soon that their taken and takes the guess work of the picture being blurry.

Buying a refurbished camera is a really hit or miss game. Cause you really don't know what your getting and what kind of photography the last owner might have been in. I've never tried any refurbished cameras or talked with anyone but me honestly, I would not want to go with a refurbished DSLR-camera because of how sensitive some of the mirrors/lenses are for any DSLR-camera.

Finally, I still stand by my opinion of Canon camera's. They are quite expensive but I actually talked to a few of my other friends who are photographers and they agree with going for Canon camera's. I know a Nikon user who has a better camera then mine in fact but wishes when he was looking to get camera's he would have chosen the Canon brand. When you buy a Canon camera you are buying a brand that in my opinion makes some amazing camera's and always puts the best hardware inside from the processors, to the crucial mirrors needed.

 

My girlfriend is a photographer and she constantly goes on about Canon being better than Nikon. I wouldn't know too much, but I think she would. She bought one of those $500 Canons and it has become her best friend and from my standpoint, the quality of her pictures look excellent.

I can probably find the model if you'd like.


EDIT...but it looks like it's too late
EDIT2: aaaaaand it was the Rebel T3i that my GF has too

 

Nope brand new. She got it from where she works so she got a 10% discount, and maybe she got it on sale or something.

...and wow, you must really love your girlfriend