I've been shooting the past few years with a Sony HX400, a very nice bridge camera, but I am ready now to get my first DSLR. I mostly shoot wildlife and nature subjects, but also some indoor stuff. I think I have narrowed down my choices to either the Canon Rebel T6i or the Nikon D5500. The Nikon D5500 has twice as many focus points and twice as long battery life. It is also $200USD more expensive. (I actually can't believe I am about to spend $1K on a camera package!)
I have no lenses of any kind, so I am not invested already in either brand. The packages I am looking at come with two lenses each, a regular lens and a zoom. I also don't really know anyone who uses a DSLR, so the advice the buy the kind your friends have doesn't apply to me.
I am leaning toward the Nikon because of its perceived advantages mentioned above. Does anyone have any input for me? Also, does anyone have experience buying cameras at Costco? Is my local camera shop likely to match their prices if they are cheaper?
Bought my D5100 from Costco and have had no problems with it. Two lens, 18-55 and 55-300. Also got the adapter rings for my old film Vivitar lenses, you go manual but hey, marco and 600mm, you do what you can.
Usually what Costco markets is unique to Costco and I don't think you would find the same package anywhere else (I have been known to be wrong).
DPReview is one of the largest independent source for camera information. They run a yearly series of comparisons and recommendations in a number of categories. Here is the current 2016 in the 500-800 interchangeable lens range. In particular, you can see the D5500, T6i, and the Sony a6000. Others as well. I have shot a lot with Nikons of all types, some with Sony, the a6000 especially, and only briefly with the Canon Rebel lines, more with their full frame models. Except for the Nikon D5100 and D7100 all on weekend rentals. I like to try many different cameras and manufacturers.
I can only concur with the review summary "Which camera should I buy?" page at the end of the review. In this price range the Nikon D5500 is a super camera, far outpacing the T6i in technology, the sensor versatility, image quality and especially Auto Focus.
The Sony a6000 is a magic camera in the new "mirrorless" market at this price range. It still sells well although a big brother a6300 has reached the market. A few small things to wonder about with the Sony versus the D5500. Minor really. The relatively short battery life of any mirrorless camera, the complex and poorly arranged menu system, the lack of a touch-screen interface, the lack of an optical viewfinder (although its EVF is really good and does cover 100% of the frame, the Nikon only about 98%), and the relatively small range of "good" and versatile APS-C-specific lenses. A significant plus for the a6000 is the coverage of the AF points across most of the frame. If you are interested in shooting a significant amount of video as well as stills, the Sony wins hands down.
All this and more you can find in the review above.
@frankhymus thanks so much for directing me to that article. It is just what I needed. I'm going to look into the Sony a6000 and probably end up deciding between that and the Nikon D5500.
@annepann
Have a look at its capabilities in some of my project shots. It's superseded by the a6300 (in which I see no advantage) so the price should be good. I like its portability & have 4 lenses
@quietpurplehaze Just back from the camera store. No a6000 in stock. The guy told me that Sony stopped making them early (were scheduled to be produced until the end of this year) because of a supply problem due of an earthquake. I know I can get them online, but would want to handle first. They did have a nice used Nikon 7200 for the same price as a new Nikon D5500.
Oh that's a shame. I heard about that ;problem when I bought a small Sony for travel recently and was lucky to get one. (I shall treasure my a6000 even more now and agree, yes, you need to handle it.) Good luck with your new camera, whatever you choose!
@quietpurplehaze Update: I just bought a used a6000 on ebay for $750. It comes with the 16-50mm lens and the 55-210mm one. In the end the lower weight was a big factor for me. I hope I like it, since I have never seen one!
@annepann That does seem to be a decent deal Anne. Good luck with it. If you are new to DSLR-type cameras, you might find the configuration and shooting options a little overwhelming at first. Sony's myriad of options, not well arranged, might seem a little problematic at first. It is very configurable, perhaps too much for inexperienced shooters, so you might well consider this book. It has everything you need to know about the camera, and is written clearly and carefully. https://www.amazon.com/David-Buschs-ILCE-6000-Digital-Photography/dp/130526357X/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1471035782&sr=1-3&keywords=a6000+book
Sony's documentation is at best skimpy. I know that Hazel @quietpurplehaze purchased this book and was pleased with it.
I have the 2 lenses you will have with your camera, plus a macro lens and my favourite, a 50mm 1.8 portrait lens. Following you now, so shall see how you get on!
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Usually what Costco markets is unique to Costco and I don't think you would find the same package anywhere else (I have been known to be wrong).
my 2 cents.
Are you set on a DSLR? Have you thought about a mirrorless camera with interchangeable lenses such as the Sony a6000?
DPReview is one of the largest independent source for camera information. They run a yearly series of comparisons and recommendations in a number of categories. Here is the current 2016 in the 500-800 interchangeable lens range. In particular, you can see the D5500, T6i, and the Sony a6000. Others as well. I have shot a lot with Nikons of all types, some with Sony, the a6000 especially, and only briefly with the Canon Rebel lines, more with their full frame models. Except for the Nikon D5100 and D7100 all on weekend rentals. I like to try many different cameras and manufacturers.
I can only concur with the review summary "Which camera should I buy?" page at the end of the review. In this price range the Nikon D5500 is a super camera, far outpacing the T6i in technology, the sensor versatility, image quality and especially Auto Focus.
The Sony a6000 is a magic camera in the new "mirrorless" market at this price range. It still sells well although a big brother a6300 has reached the market. A few small things to wonder about with the Sony versus the D5500. Minor really. The relatively short battery life of any mirrorless camera, the complex and poorly arranged menu system, the lack of a touch-screen interface, the lack of an optical viewfinder (although its EVF is really good and does cover 100% of the frame, the Nikon only about 98%), and the relatively small range of "good" and versatile APS-C-specific lenses. A significant plus for the a6000 is the coverage of the AF points across most of the frame. If you are interested in shooting a significant amount of video as well as stills, the Sony wins hands down.
All this and more you can find in the review above.
Good luck in your search.
Have a look at its capabilities in some of my project shots. It's superseded by the a6300 (in which I see no advantage) so the price should be good. I like its portability & have 4 lenses
Oh that's a shame. I heard about that ;problem when I bought a small Sony for travel recently and was lucky to get one. (I shall treasure my a6000 even more now and agree, yes, you need to handle it.) Good luck with your new camera, whatever you choose!
https://www.amazon.com/David-Buschs-ILCE-6000-Digital-Photography/dp/130526357X/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1471035782&sr=1-3&keywords=a6000+book
Sony's documentation is at best skimpy. I know that Hazel @quietpurplehaze purchased this book and was pleased with it.
Anne, the book Frank recommends is great, plus I used this to go through the settings when I first got my a6000 https://photographylife.com/recommended-sony-a6000-settings
I have the 2 lenses you will have with your camera, plus a macro lens and my favourite, a 50mm 1.8 portrait lens. Following you now, so shall see how you get on!