A friend asked me to recommend an used Nikon camera with a lens for around $400.  My recommendation would be the D90 with a 18-55mm VR or with the 18-70mm f3.5-4.5 DX lens.

Or a D3100 with 18-55 VR refurb for $289.

D90 if they want more control. D3xx if they want to shoot auto but DSLR quality.Steve

I have a D90 and 18-70The lack of VR is a negative. In every other respect its brilliant. I think the 70mm f4.5 is a step up from the 55mm  f5.6 for a touch of back ground blur and i like the extra reach. Almost everything my flickr area from the last year was taken with this combination

I had a D3100 as a backup camera, never liked the lack of control i.e. no exposure bracketing so no hdr and other lack of control so I got rid of it. My wife then decided she wants a good quality camera so I got her the D3200 for Christmas, she loves it - set it to auto and forget it. She gets the benefit of a large sensor, quick auto focus and the ability to grow but I think she'll have that D3200 for many years.So again it depends on what you want to do down the road. Either way you can use Nikon lenses so you'll have nice picsSteve

toomanycanons, tell him...

john Clinch wrote:I have a D90 and 18-70The lack of VR is a negative. In every other respect its brilliant. I think the 70mm f4.5 is a step up from the 55mm f5.6 for a touch of back ground blur and i like the extra reach. Almost everything my flickr area from the last year was taken with this combinationI shoot FX with telephoto lens, but when I travel on vacation, it's the D90 with the 18-70mm because of its relatively light weight and quality.  I believe I can get that combination in eBay for less than $400?  Here are two examples, in Europe, right now.  It's probably good enough for her.

Oh do we get to post examplesThese are from this year

john Clinch wrote:Oh do we get to post examplesThese are from this yearYea, but which camera/lens?  No EXIF data

Not enough info.Are they looking to learn photography or just want a camera for "snap shots" or vacation pictures in auto mode? Is $400 all they ever plan to spend or do they see this as a starting point into a system they will add to as they find more funds? Do they require high iso or is it going to mostly be used outdoors in good light? Are they going to focus on people or landscape type stuff?Too many unanswered questions given all the possible choices.

Stacey_K wrote:Not enough info.Are they looking to learn photography or just want a camera for "snap shots" or vacation pictures in auto mode? Is $400 all they ever plan to spend or do they see this as a starting point into a system they will add to as they find more funds? Do they require high iso or is it going to mostly be used outdoors in good light? Are they going to focus on people or landscape type stuff?Too many unanswered questions given all the possible choices.well, then give a recommendation for each of your questions. I can't imagine that there are that many "systems" when one spends $400 for a used camera/lens.  I made a recommendation in the thread, and now you can work around it.

Go with a D3100 off eBay with the kit lens. Go with the D90 if she is a seriousish shooter, though.

Stacey_K wrote:Not enough info.Are they looking to learn photography or just want a camera for "snap shots" or vacation pictures in auto mode? Is $400 all they ever plan to spend or do they see this as a starting point into a system they will add to as they find more funds? Do they require high iso or is it going to mostly be used outdoors in good light? Are they going to focus on people or landscape type stuff?Too many unanswered questions given all the possible choices."Why answer one question with another question?""Why not?"

wasserball wrote:Stacey_K wrote:Not enough info.Are they looking to learn photography or just want a camera for "snap shots" or vacation pictures in auto mode? Is $400 all they ever plan to spend or do they see this as a starting point into a system they will add to as they find more funds? Do they require high iso or is it going to mostly be used outdoors in good light? Are they going to focus on people or landscape type stuff?Too many unanswered questions given all the possible choices.well, then give a recommendation for each of your questions. I can't imagine that there are that many "systems" when one spends $400 for a used camera/lens. I made a recommendation in the thread, and now you can work around it.*sigh* Sorry I bothered to try to help.

wasserball wrote:Stacey_K wrote:Not enough info.Are they looking to learn photography or just want a camera for "snap shots" or vacation pictures in auto mode? Is $400 all they ever plan to spend or do they see this as a starting point into a system they will add to as they find more funds? Do they require high iso or is it going to mostly be used outdoors in good light? Are they going to focus on people or landscape type stuff?Too many unanswered questions given all the possible choices.well, then give a recommendation for each of your questions. I can't imagine that there are that many "systems" when one spends $400 for a used camera/lens. I made a recommendation in the thread, and now you can work around it.Then again, maybe she and some others of us don't want to make recommendations based on assumptions of what we THINK your friend needs. There are several cameras in the Nikon line that can fall into that price range, and even more if you start looking at other manufacturers which may be viable choices depending on your friends intended uses.

I forgo to mention that she only want to take photos when there are 2 or more people.  Will that make a difference in the recommendations?  Will the D90 make better photos than the D3100 in that situation?

like john mentioned, he almost exclusively shoots with a D90 and the 18-70. exif data is available if you view his images in his flickr account. click the link.

wasserball wrote:john Clinch wrote:Oh do we get to post examplesThese are from this yearYea, but which camera/lens? No EXIF dataAs Peter says its not that hard (thanks Peter). First of all I'd already said that I have the D90 and 18-70,, well thats all i have. Secondly they are all really high up in my Flickr stream

wasserball wrote:I forgo to mention that she only want to take photos when there are 2 or more people. Will that make a difference in the recommendations? Will the D90 make better photos than the D3100 in that situation?Actually you "forgot" to mention what she ever plans to use the camera for.And what she expects out of the camera very much will affect which camera and lens would be best. Your question is like someone posting "Which lens should I get for my new D7100?" with no other information. I have a hard time grasping why someone can't understand why people need more information to make a good recommendation.But OK I will make a "guess" at what would be the best combo for her, a D200 and a 50mm f1.8D.

wasserball wrote:I forgo to mention that she only want to take photos when there are 2 or more people. Will that make a difference in the recommendations? Will the D90 make better photos than the D3100 in that situation?No. The photographer makes better Photos. But I agree with Stacey. Good recommandations instead of guesses is based on informations of the needs, skills and wishes of the photographer and the Work she is planned to do. The more informations the better. Stacey tried to help you - not to blame you.BirgerH.