Digital SLR Systems for Every Budget

Find the ideal system for your budget ($500 - $1,000)

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Related articles: Digital SLR Buying Guide
Page last updated: 9 October 2011

Content: Introduction | $500 budget | $600 budget | $800 budget | $1,000 budget

Introduction

There is a digital SLR system for every budget. I know most people have a finite budget. In this article, I discuss prospective systems for some example budget ranges. This will give you an idea of what you can buy.

Of course, you don't have to buy everything within each proposed system all at once. For example, proposed systems for budgets of $800 and above include a second lens. You can buy that second lens over time and build up your system at your pace, without having to drop $800 in one shopping spree.

But on the other hand, several times a year, Nikon will run specials where if you buy a camera, you can buy select lenses at a substantial discount. If the offer includes a lens that interest you, it would be a better deal to buy the camera and the lenses at the same time. Read more.

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$500 Budget

It is amazing how much camera (image quality, performance) you can buy with just $500. Ten years ago, you cannot buy a professional digital SLR with the technical features (image sensor resolution-megapixel, low light sensitivity-ISO) that you find in entry-level digital SLRs on the market today. The main difference with professional digital SLRs is their ruggedness and seals to keep out weather and dust. Other than that, entry-level camera features get better and better with each two-year product cycle.

Right now, $500 will buy the Nikon D3000 digital SLR which is being discontinued with the introduction of its successor, the D3100.

Item	Key Features	Price
Nikon D3000 Digital SLR Kit	10.2 megapixel DX format 3-inch color LCD monitor user/novice friendly menus with Guide Mode, an in-camera documentation includes Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 VR zoom kit lens excellent value (performance / price) introduced in July 2009, replaced by D3100; now on clearance while supplies last	$430 (on clearance, while supplies last)
UV Filter, 52mm	protects your 18-55mm zoom lens from damage cuts down on UV haze for outdoor landscape photos	$19
Camera Bag	safely tote your gear around	$34
TOTAL		$483

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$600 Budget

For another $100, you can buy the current generation Nikon entry-level digital SLR, the D3100. Green font in the Key Feature summary below designates the improvements from the previous budget level of $500.

Item	Key Features	Price
Nikon D3100 Digital SLR Kit	14.2 megapixel DX format 3-inch color LCD monitor 1080p HD video user/novice friendly menus with Guide Mode, an in-camera documentation includes Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 VR zoom kit lens excellent value (performance / price) new model as of August 2010	$534
UV Filter, 52mm	protects your 18-55mm zoom lens from damage cuts down on UV haze for outdoor landscape photos	$19
Camera Bag	safely tote your gear around	$34
TOTAL		$587

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$800 Budget

At this budget level, there an opportunity to buy a second lens. Several times a year, Nikon runs a special with all of its authorized dealers. This is an example from Amazon.com:

Nikon Lens Special

Note: my annotations are in blue font. Otherwise, this is taken verbatim from Amazon.com, one of the authorized dealers for Nikon USA.

Buy select Nikon D-SLRs and save $100 or more on select NIKKOR lenses
For a limited time, save $100 or more on qualifying NIKKOR lenses with the purchase of a qualifying Nikon digital SLR camera [D3000, D3100, D5100, D90, D7000] from Amazon.com. The more you buy, the more you save.

DETAILS:
Buy a Qualifying Nikon Digital SLR and Save $100 or More on Select NIKKOR Lenses
For a limited time, save $100 or more on select NIKKOR lenses with the purchase of a qualifying Nikon digital SLR camera from Amazon.com. The more you buy, the more you save. See details below to take advantage of this offer.

Offer valid through October 15, 2011, while supplies last. Applies only to purchases of products sold by Amazon.com, and does not apply to products sold by third-party merchants and other sellers through the Amazon.com site. Amazon.com reserves the right to end or modify this offer at any time. See terms and conditions.

How It Works
1. Select one qualifying Nikon digital SLR from the list below
2. Select qualifying NIKKOR lens(es) from the list below
3. Add all qualifying products to your Shopping Cart and the savings will be automatically applied at checkout

Note on Availability: Select digital SLRs are in high demand and their availability may fluctuate. If you don't see the digital SLR you're looking for, check back periodically. Additionally, lens offers vary by digital SLR model; see available lens offers for each qualifying digital SLR below.

Instant Savings Amount by Lens:

$250 off Nikon 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S ED VR II Nikkor telephoto zoom lens.
$200 off Nikon 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED IF AF-S VR Nikkor zoom lens.
$150 off Nikon 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR AF-S DX Nikkor zoom Lens.
$100 off Nikon 85mm f/3.5G AF-S DX ED VR micro Nikkor lens.
$100 off Nikon 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED IF AF-S DX VR Nikkor zoom lens.
$100 off Nikon 55-200mm f4-5.6G ED AF-S DX [non-VR] Nikkor zoom lens.

Using this offer, you can get the following discounts:

Lens	Retail Price	Amazon Regular Price	Nikon Discount	Amazon Net Price
Nikon 55-200mm f/4-5.6 AF-S DX [non-VR] zoom lens	$200	$169	$100	$69
Nikon 55-200mm f/4-5.6 AF-S DX VR zoom lens	$250	$195	$100	$95
Nikon 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6 AF-S DX VR zoom lens	$400	$310	$150	$160
Nikon 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 AF-S VR zoom lens	$590	$490	$200	$290
Nikon 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 AF-S DX VRII zoom lens	$850	$803	$250	$553
Nikon 85mm f/3.5 AF-S DX VR micro prime lens	$530	$485	$100	$385

I would suggest you go with the Nikon 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6 AF-S DX VR zoom lens and adding it to the $600 system. This brings you right under the $800 budget.

Item	Key Features	Price
Nikon D3100 Digital SLR Kit	14.2 megapixel DX format 3-inch color LCD monitor 1080p HD video user/novice friendly menus with Guide Mode, an in-camera documentation includes Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 VR zoom kit lens excellent value (performance / price) new model as of August 2010	$534
Nikon 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6 AF-S DX VR zoom lens	very good telephoto zoom good for outdoor photos	$160 (with Nikon discount)
UV Filter, 58mm	protects your 55-300mm zoom lens from damage cuts down on UV haze for outdoor landscape photos	$20
UV Filter, 52mm	protects your 18-55mm zoom lens from damage cuts down on UV haze for outdoor landscape photos	$19
Camera Bag	safely tote your gear around	$34
TOTAL		$767

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$1,000 Budget

In this budget range, I recommend that you step up to the Nikon D5100 digital SLR.

Item	Key Features	Price
Nikon D5100 Digital SLR Kit	16.2 megapixel DX format 3-inch color vari-angle LCD monitor 1080p HD video includes Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 VR zoom kit lens new model as of April 2011	$744
Nikon 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6 AF-S DX VR zoom lens	very good telephoto zoom good for outdoor photos	$160 (with Nikon discount)
UV Filter, 58 mm	protects your 55-300mm zoom lens from damage cuts down on UV haze for outdoor landscape photos	$20
UV Filter, 52mm	protects your 18-55mm zoom lens from damage cuts down on UV haze for outdoor landscape photos	$19
Camera Bag	safely tote your gear around	$34
TOTAL		$977

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Hopefully the example digital SLR systems above give you an idea of what you can get for your hard earned money. One way to save money is to buy from online retailers like Amazon.com. You would get some of the best prices around, and would also save on state sales taxes and get free shipping.

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Where to Buy? Support This Site

If you find the contents of this web site useful and decide to buy equipment (or anything for that matter) online, please consider using my links to the merchants below. I get a small commission to support my efforts of producing this content. Thank you for your support!

Amazon.com - My favorite e-tailer, awesome selection, low prices. Anything you buy would help me! Camera, lenses, filters, flashes, tripod, photography books & magazines, regular books, Kindle e-reader, DVDs, etc.
Adorama.com - The photography people. Selling new & used photo equipment.
BestBuy.com - For all your electronics needs, online with shipping or same-day in-store pick-up.
B&H Photo - The professional's source for photographic equipment.

Other favorites:

Abt Electronics - Electronics & photo equipment
CompUSA - Computers & photo equipment
JandR.com - Electronics & photo equipment
OneCall.com - Electronics & photo equipment

Other offers:

Netflix - Sign up for a free one month trial. No risk.
Dropbox - simple, safe, secure file sharing over the internet. Get your free account for 2 GB of storage space today.

Have fun shopping for your digital SLR gear.

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Credits: Pictures courtesy of Nikon USA

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