Digital Camera Gift Ideas

Nikon D3000 10 2MP Digital SLR Camera with 18 55mm f 3 5 5 6G AF S DX VR Nikkor Zoom Lens

10.2-megapixel effective recording * APS-C-size CCD image sensor (23.6 x 15.8 mm) * AF-S DX Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR (vibration reduction) lens (35mm equivalent focal length: 27-82.5mm) * 3X optical zoom (approximate) * 3″ color LCD screen with brightness adjustment * optical SLR viewfinder (with diopter adjustment) * Integrated Dust Reduction System to keep image sensor clean for spotless photos * Nikon EXPEED image processor for responsive shooting and high-accuracy photos * 11-point autofocus system for rapid, precise autofocusing * 3D Color Matrix Metering II for accurate automatic exposure control, plus center-weighted and spot metering modes * Active D-Lighting mode for better shadow and highlight detail in high-contrast shooting conditions * intelligent pop-up flash and flash exposure compensation * Guide mode makes selecting camera settings easy for beginning SLR photographers * in-camera image editing functions, including: D-Lighting, red-eye correction, cropping, image overlay, monochrome settings, filter effects, NEF (RAW) processing, miniture effect, color outline, and stop motion movie *

User Ratings and Reviews

4 Stars D3K great value
After using the Nikon D3000 for about a month, and over 500 pictures, I can only report that it is worth every nickel of it’s price ($500 on 12/4/09).

1. Easy to use.

2. controls well laid out

3. Kit lens AF quick and silent.

4. Size reasonable for small hands (mine).

5. Ability to take Nikon ‘F’ mount lenses (AF or not).

While there is the occasional ‘oops’ moment, errors are easily corrected, and, of course, being digital, errors deleted with no expense incurred. Can’t say that about film cameras.

In addition to the kit lens, I have bought from a friend his Sigma 70-300 lens. While it is designated as an AF lens, as it does not have it’s own motor, it isn’t on the D3K. Manual focusing is a bit of a pain, as is having to learn how to do it all over again. But when I get it right WOW! Nice crisp image.

The only real criticism is not about the camera itself, a star performer. It is that lack of a REAL manual. The 60 page ‘manual’ merely highlights the cameras’ many controls and menus and does not go into detail about them. The Main manual is a 216 page PDF file loaded onto a PC and called a Reference manual. I call it the Users Manual, and the little 60 page thing a Quick Reference. The ‘Dummys’ book I bought on the D3K has a lot of useful information but having a PRINTED manual would have been better than having to buy my own hard copy.

3 Stars Solid DSLR but the Canon Rebel won me over
This is a solid DSLR and was my first foray into that camera category. In the end, I returned it as I found the Canon Rebel XSi (EOS) to be a better camera. What was better? Image quality was #1, the difference isn’t night and day between them but definitely noticeable. The EOS also offers the Pint and Shoot style function of letting the user utilize the LCD screen as a live view finder. Lastly, Amazon had a great special on the purchase of the zoom lens (55-250) as a package with the camera, and this made the Canon a better deal.

4 Stars Impressed!
I knew I wanted a DSLR and after a few months of debate, I decided to go for the D3000. I was tempted to buy a used D40 but the improvements made to the D3000 were hard to ignore. I ended up buying the D3000 in a bundle on Black Friday which saved me about 150 dollars! As a college students, I was beyond happy to save the money.

The features include almost anything I need (there’s only one feature missing: a color selection tool that my dad’s Canon has but the D3000 doesn’t) and the portability is incredible. I am still in shock about how light the camera is.

For a beginner like me, having the D3000 with an extra telephoto lens is perfect for learning the ropes and hopefully taking a photography class with. I highly recommend this for beginners and perhaps intermediate photographers. Advanced and professionals photographers probably would require more heavy duty equipment.

4 Stars Nikon D3000 A Beginners First Step Towards the Photography World
I am a Beginner Photography with not alot of money and not alot of experience, i chose Nikon of Canon because of a few things.

1. User FRIENDLY, GUIDE MODE IS A MUST! The whole camera is FILLED with tips and EXAMPLES and settings of what to do and how to achieve such and such. Guide mode holds your hand for newbies to give you an idea of whats what, i love how the Nikon D3000 is Half a book and All camera! Thanks Nikon for making such a great quality camera.

2. Takes Great pictures, as an entry level dslr it takes great pictures but i think its the same sensor as the d60 just with 11 points of focus , the 11 point focus is definitely useful, theres more areas for your subject to be in, and Depth of field pictures are definitely easier to do with more focus points.

The Nikon d3000 with the 18-55mm lens is perfect for everyday use but not enough, i suggest it should be complimented with a 55-200mm, because sometimes you cannot get close enough to the subject without getting in the way of the people around you!

The Screen is big and wide and perfect for reviewing images and looking at settings, you dont have to look hard. The settings do get washed out in direct sunlight so try to keep it in your shadow

Also post processing of pictures comes out AWESOME!!! i could not believe the level of detail i saw on my computer, it wasnt blurry and zooming in is really pixel squares.

Nice camera for beginners, if your novice or pro this camera isnt for you, while a newbie like me appreciate the tips it does take a while to get around the settings but you get used to it, there is no quick access to any 1 setting but soon your fingers will be faster than any other photographer, once you get used to all the navigating.

ALSO this is a camera where you can customize the background of your screen! you can have a wallpaper of a picture or change the color.

I hope this is a comprehensive review that will satisfy you into buying the camera

5 Stars A++
We are new to photography and love this camera! Thank you for all of the other very informative reviews, we took your word for it and are grateful!

Buy/More Info

Nikon D300s 12MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera Body Only

12.3-megapixel effective recording * APS-C-size CMOS image sensor (23.6 x 15.8 mm) * high-def movie mode with sound * high-res 3″ LCD (920,000 dots) with Live View for composing shots on-screen in real-time * pentaprism optical SLR viewfinder (with diopter adjustment) * Dynamic Integrated Dust Reduction System to keep image sensor clean for spotless photos * Nikon EXPEED image processor for fast, accurate shooting and longer battery life * 51-point autofocus system for rapid, precise autofocusing * 1005-pixel 3D Color Matrix Metering II for accurate automatic exposure control, plus center-weighted and spot metering modes * Active D-Lighting mode for better shadow and highlight detail in high-contrast shooting conditions * built-in flash and flash exposure compensation * in-camera image editing functions, including: edit movie, D-Lighting, image overlay, monochrome, NEF (RAW) processing and more * AVI movie files (Motion JPEG) up to 1280 x 720 resolution at 24 frames per second with mono sound *

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Nikon D300s
I am an advanced beginner. Have a Nikon D50 and the D300s is an addition and an upgrade – tried some shooting indoors with it – terrific results. Great camera! Still learning to use it fully though…If my experience with the D50 is any indication, then the D300s will also be fulfilling and satisfying!

4 Stars D300s Medium Range Prosumer
this review is for the average person wanting to upgrade from the D40/D5000

With it’s magnesium alloy inner body and rubber sealed buttons, this camera is an excellent piece of equipment for wildlife photography when paired wig the correct lens.

It is well constructed in the areas that it needs to be strong but quite honesly there are some places on the camera tha have been reduced in quality to cut costs such as the switches, buttons, or the flash release. Those components are higher quality on the D90 to be honest wh you.

Speaking of the D90, this camera has the exact same sensor as the D90. I lke to think of the D300s as a D90 with features and processing from the D3. This camera can shoot 720p motion JPEG based AVI video from a Live View mode activated by a dedicated button. This camera does have a 51 point auto focus system and color 1005 pixel light metering.

Now the ugly truth. If you put this camera next to a D90 in the same conditions, the D90 will out perform this camera in low light. If the D300s is used past ISO 3200 it produces the most horrid smuged and noisy pictures I have seen. The D90 with all of it’s “auto help the novice processing” will help you out and rescue your photos the best it can. The D300s is a professional APS-C camera which means it won’t help you out like that. You absolutly cannot take pictures in inadequate light without the proper equipment.

I would go with the D90 if you want a decent camera that will produce sharp pictures without all of the fuss. With the money you save you can get the AF-S 18-200 VRI. That comes in the D300s kit. If you must absolutly have the pro features such as wired remotes, flash box control, and so on go with the D300s.

5 Stars Nikon D300s 12MP
After much research I moved from a Nikon D70s to the D300s. I was very happy with the D70s however I needed a larger pixel count for the large prints I prefer to make (13×19″+). I agree with many pro’s that have advised that you don’t need more than 8MP if you are producing 8×10’s or even 11×14 full frame in most cases. If you go beyond that print size or crop severely for 11×14’s, then a larger pixel count is where you need to be.

The D300s has been a perfect camera for me. I certainly put it in the prosumer category. It should not be your first camera. If you shoot mostly Auto or like to point and shoot, the D300s is not for you even if you have the money. It is very full-featured/complex camera and to get good pictures and your money’s worth you need to be willing to invest the time to learn its many modes and capabilities. It is capable of shooting great pictures in very low light or in fast moving scenes with its wide ISO range, very low noise and advanced focus system. The ergonomics feel just right to me unlike many Canons I have tried. It has good balance and a very solid feel (metal frame). I shoot often with a Nikon 70-200mm f2.8 VR that is heavy and a good grip and balance is important for me.

I have found the color and resolution to be superb. I easily get professional (saleable) 13 x19″ prints working through Lightroom 2.5 and Photoshop CS4 to a Canon Pro 9000 MkII printer. The D300s’ many focus, white balance and color modes are a great help in a rapidly changing shoot. I have programmed several custom settings for both studio and outdoor work. Its great to be able to shift multiple camera settings with one button push. The “Info” button alone should keep you from buying the D300 vs D300s.

The dual memory card setup is also great. I switch between using the second card as a backup for important shoots to using it in overflow mode when I’m out for a long shoot. I shoot RAW most of the time and the safety of the overflow mode keeps me in the shooting flow so I don’t have to stop, lose the mood and change memory cards. I often add a power grip when I’m using multi-Speedlight set-ups with a remote commander. The Nikon Remote Commander can draw down the main battery over the course of a long studio shoot. Otherwise the battery will easily do a full day and hundreds of shots. The Info button instantly shows you battery condition as a % in both the main and power grip. Nice upgrade so you don’t have to look at a little battery icon and guess.

I am very happy with the D300s and highly recommend it if you are looking for a solid, pro-level camera. It has performed flawlessly for me. Amazon (B&H Photo) remains perfect for me with great price and on time delivery.

5 Stars Nikon D300s: a great camera (but you need to read the manual)
I have been using this camera for a couple of weeks and taken about 5000 exposures. This camera is great; however, it took me a little while to figure out the autofocus (AF) system. I switched from Canon because I truly do not like the size of their files (18MP is way beyond what I need). I like shooting when the subjects are in motion–not necessarily action–and learning how to focus properly is crucial for me. After reading the manual and playing around with the AF, I feel much better with the D300S. I am not new to photography–started with Minolta SLRs and then moved to Canon dSLRs–but I can safely say that the D300S has allowed me to take my best shots. I am still a bit reluctant to use the 6400 ISO, but the 3200 ISO works fine.

This camera is not for beginners. If you are not familiar with photography lingo, reading the manual would be frustrating. Moreover, the Program Mode is not the greatest. The video feature is dandy, but you have to keep the camera still. I have used the video feature a couple of times, and the image quality is fine as long as you use a tripod and don’t move the camera too much. In my opinion, the video recorded with this camera needs a lot of editing, and I don’t really have much practice editing videos.

In sum, this camera is a great buy for those who enjoy taking the time to take pictures. I would not recommend this to a first-time dSLR buyer, an inexperienced/casual photographer, or someone who wants to shoot video.

5 Stars Nice improvements over my D300
I upgraded from a Nikon D300 to the D300S mainly for the video capability. The video produced is not super HD quality, but I didn’t expect that. The video is actually quite good especially if you use a tripod and it allows me to travel without a dedicated video camera. The other improvements have proved to be fun and useful. I like the new door over the data cards, easier to use that the D300 lever. The new location of the live view button is very convenient, the extra frame per second is useful and the focusing and image quality seem marginally beter than the D300. The rocker switch on the back has tactile feedback which is better. All in all I am very happy to have upgraded. The service from Amazon was fabulous. I ordered the camera on Sunday, it was shipped (free of charge) on Monday and I had it in my hand a couple of days later. After I ordered on Sunday the price dropped $75.00 on Monday. I called customer service on Monday and they agreed to credit my VISA account with the $75.00 difference. You can’t beat that! cm

Buy/More Info

Nikon D3000 10 2MP Digital SLR Camera with 18 55mm f 3 5 5 6G AF S DX VR Nikkor Zoom Lens

10.2-megapixel effective recording * APS-C-size CCD image sensor (23.6 x 15.8 mm) * AF-S DX Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR (vibration reduction) lens (35mm equivalent focal length: 27-82.5mm) * 3X optical zoom (approximate) * 3″ color LCD screen with brightness adjustment * optical SLR viewfinder (with diopter adjustment) * Integrated Dust Reduction System to keep image sensor clean for spotless photos * Nikon EXPEED image processor for responsive shooting and high-accuracy photos * 11-point autofocus system for rapid, precise autofocusing * 3D Color Matrix Metering II for accurate automatic exposure control, plus center-weighted and spot metering modes * Active D-Lighting mode for better shadow and highlight detail in high-contrast shooting conditions * intelligent pop-up flash and flash exposure compensation * Guide mode makes selecting camera settings easy for beginning SLR photographers * in-camera image editing functions, including: D-Lighting, red-eye correction, cropping, image overlay, monochrome settings, filter effects, NEF (RAW) processing, miniture effect, color outline, and stop motion movie *

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Nikon D3000 review
Have had this camera a week and its alot of fun! Way better than the little point and shoot digi.cameras. Have owned afew 35mm slr’s,but this is my first dslr and i gotta say it is very user friendly. As i get to know my way around its functions,new ideas keep driving me to experiment with the camera. This Nikon is a great way to get introduced to digital photography.

4 Stars Great gift for daughter
This camera has worked out well for us so far. My 13 year old daughter has a beginning interest in photography so we needed a camera that was more of a learning model. I don’t know anything about D-SLR cameras but so far this one has fit the bill for her. I recommend purchasing the dvd that teaches the features of the camera as well instead of relying on the manual.

5 Stars Great Camera
I love this camera. It is fairly easy to use, I have never even read the manual for it. It has a great range of feature and pretty good picture quality. Its a pretty small camera and its nice and easy to carry. I love the huge display screen that makes it really easy to look at picture. Its fun to use and has a great range of settings to allow to go from almost all automatic making shots quick and easy to set up and take, to fully manual.

5 Stars Lovely Camera From Nikon D3000
The Camera is excellant Love It To 1 Fault The View Finder Can Not be Used TO Take pictures You Have To Use The Eye Peice In Comparison To The D5000 Wish It Had That Feature But On the Hold It Is A Fantastic Camera I Got My Moneys WorthNikon D3000 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S DX VR Nikkor Zoom Lens

4 Stars Good but not great. Get D5000 instead.
I had this camera initially but since I’m an amateur photographer, the pictures weren’t really mindblowing. The pictures were specially bad in low light conditions unless you go into manual mode.

I then got a D5000 for comparison and was impressed with the pictures with that camera at low light settings. D5000 also has scene mode (more standard shooting modes like on beach/snow, pets, etc) and has CMOS sensor along with video at 720p.

So, while this camera is all right, I’d suggest D5000 if you can afford it (especially if you’re an amateur photographer like me).

Buy/More Info