If you got to this page via a search, you might want to check out
the Photo Tips & Sug­ges­tions for New­bies Page
as this is where I explain a few things.

Click the Photo Tips but­ton above.

The links on this page will take you to a secure page to order from. 

Links to hard­ware will be updated as gear evolves and new prod­ucts becomes avail­able.  This page was updated Nov. 12th, 2011. Though I would have liked to post prices, they change too often for me to keep up with.

My ‘rec­om­men­da­tions’  were made after many, many hours of research­ing other sites and study­ing lots of user testimonials.

It should go with­out say­ing, I did not get to test every­thing I fea­ture here. These are my per­sonal picks and may not suit your own needs.  I strive for a bal­ance between fea­tures, func­tion, reli­a­bil­ity, cost and style. I always try to get the most ‘bang for the buck’.

In the end, you must decide what is right for you. Right?

Digital/SLR Cam­era Suggestions:

Cam­eras with kit lenses and  bod­ies under $1,000–

Canon EOS Rebel T3 and 18-55mm IS II Lens

12MP• FOV 1.6x • 18-55mm • 2.7″ LCD • 34.5 oz w/lens • 720p • In lens stabilization.

Eco­nom­i­cal entry level D/SLR. 3 frames per sec. con­tin­u­ous. Sup­ports Wire­less Eye-Fi cards.

Canon EOS Rebel T3 Dig­i­tal Cam­era and 18-55mm IS II Lens Kit

Canon EOS Rebel T3i and 18-55mm IS II Lens (or body only)

18MP• FOV 1.6x • 18-55mm • 2.7″ LCD • 35.3 oz w/lens • 1080p/720p • In lens stabilization

Step up from T3. Adjustable LCD. Intel­li­gent Auto Mode. Auto­matic Scene Analysis

Canon EOS Rebel T3i Dig­i­tal Cam­era (Body Only)
Canon EOS Rebel T3i Dig­i­tal Cam­era Kit

Nikon D5100 and 18-55mm VR Lens (or body only)

16MP• APS-C FOV 1.5x • 18-55mm • 3.0″ LCD • 25.2 oz w/lens • 1080p • In lens stabilization

Nikon’s entry level D/SLR. AF-s & AF-I lens com­pat­i­ble. In cam­era HDR & Spe­cial Effects.

Nikon D5100 Dig­i­tal SLR Cam­era (Body Only)
Nikon D5100 Dig­i­tal SLR Cam­era With 18-55mm VR Lens

Sony SLT-A35 Alpha 35 and 18-55mm (or body only)

16MP• APS-C FOV 1.5x • 18-55mm • 3.0″ LCD • 22.0 oz w/lens • 1080i • SteadyShot in body

Elec­tronic viewfinder-‘WYSIWYG’. Dynamic Range Opti­mizer. Auto HDR and 3D Panos

Sony SLT-A35 Alpha 35 Dig­i­tal Cam­era (Body Only)
Sony SLT-A35 Alpha 35 Dig­i­tal Cam­era + 18-55mm Zoom Lens

Sony Alpha SLT-A65V with 18-55mm Lens (or body only)

24MP• APS-C FOV 1.5x • 18-55mm • 3.0″ LCD • 26.6 oz w/lens • 1080i • SteadyShot in body

Elec­tronic viewfinder-‘WYSIWYG’. Dynamic Range Opti­mizer. Auto HDR and 3D Panos

Sony Alpha SLT-A65V Dig­i­tal Cam­era (Body Only)
Sony Alpha SLT-A65V Dig­i­tal Cam­era with 18-55mm Lens

D/SLR Bud­get Lens Suggestions:

Nor­mal Zoom–

Sigma 17mm-70mm F2.8 – 4 DC Macro HSM AF zoom lens

Fil­ter– 72mm • APS-C for­mat • 18.8 oz • Min­i­mum Focus– 8.7″ • Sta­bi­liza­tion in lens

Excel­lent gen­eral pur­pose lens. 35mm equiv­a­lent: 25mm to 105mm with good close-focus.

Sigma 17-70mm F2.8 – 4 DC Macro OS HSM Lens for Canon Dig­i­tal Cam­eras
Sigma 17-70mm F2.8 – 4 DC Macro OS HSM Lens for Nikon Dig­i­tal Cam­eras
Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8 – 4 DC Macro OS HSM Lens for Sony/Minolta Dig­i­tal Cam­eras

Tam­ron SP AF 17mm-50mm f/2.8 XR Di II LD AF zoom lens

Fil­ter– 67mm • APS-C for­mat • 15.2 oz • Min­i­mum Focus– 10.6″ • Sta­bi­liza­tion in lens

Bright, com­pact gen­eral pur­pose lens. 35mm equiv­a­lent: 25mm to 75mm.

Tam­ron 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di II LD Lens for Canon Dig­i­tal
Tam­ron 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di II LD Lens for Dig­i­tal Cam­eras

Tele­photo Zoom–

Tam­ron SP 70-300mm f/4 – 5.6 Di VC USD Tele­photo AF lens

Fil­ter– 62mm • Full frame • 26.9 oz • Min­i­mum Focus– 4.92 feet • Sta­bi­liza­tion in lens

Well rated tele­photo. 35mm equiv­a­lent: 105mm to 450mm with good close-up capability.

Tam­ron SP 70-300mm f/4 – 5.6 Di VC USD Tele­photo Zoom Lens for Canon Dig­i­tal SLRs & 35mm Film Cam­eras
Tam­ron SP 70-300mm f/4 – 5.6 Di VC USD Tele­photo Zoom Lens for Nikon Dig­i­tal SLRs & 35mm Film Cam­eras
Tam­ron SP 70-300mm f/4 – 5.6 Di USD Tele­photo Zoom Lens for Sony Dig­i­tal SLR Cam­eras

Wide Angle Zoom–

Sigma 10mm-20mm f/3.5 EX DC HSM AF zoom Lens

Fil­ter– 82mm • APS-C for­mat • 18.3 oz • Min­i­mum Focus– 9.4″ • Sta­bi­liza­tion in lens

Updated ver­sion of the lens I use. 35mm equiv­a­lent: 15mm to 30mm (extreme wide angle).

Sigma 10-20mm f/4 – 5.6 EX DC HSM Aut­o­fo­cus Lens for Canon Dig­i­tal SLR Cam­eras
Sigma 10-20mm f/4 – 5.6D EX DC HSM Aut­o­fo­cus Zoom Lens for Nikon DSLRs
Sigma 10-20mm f/4 – 5.6 (D) EX DC AF Lens for Sony Alpha Dig­i­tal SLR Cam­eras

Macro–

Tam­ron SP 90mm f/2.8 Di Macro AF lens

Fil­ter– 55mm • Full Frame • 14.3 oz • Min­i­mum Focus– 11.4″ @ 1:1 • No stabilization

Excel­lent macro lens, AF or man­ual focus. 35mm equiv­a­lent: 135mm true macro.

Tam­ron SP 90mm f/2.8 Di Macro Aut­o­fo­cus Lens for Canon EOS
Tam­ron 90mm f/2.8 SP AF Di Macro Lens for Nikon AF
Tam­ron SP 90mm f/2.8 Di Macro Aut­o­fo­cus Lens for Sony Alpha & Minolta Maxxum SLR

Just for Fun–

Lens­baby Com­poser Pro With Optic Kit

4 inter­change­able cells • APS-C for­mat • Selec­tive zone focus • Man­ual focus and Exposure

Cre­ate dreamy, sur­real images. Selec­table focus via rotat­ing col­lar.  Includes– Dou­ble glass ele­ment, sin­gle glass ele­ment, plas­tic glass ele­ment and pinhole/zone plate element.

Lens­baby Com­poser Pro for Canon With Optic Kit
Lens­baby Com­poser Pro for Nikon With Optic Kit
Lens­baby Com­poser Pro for Sony With Optic Kit

Notes Regard­ing Suggestions:

Most of my sug­ges­tion links will take you to B & H Photo Video of NYC.

I’ve been order­ing from B&H since the 1980’s. They are very trust­wor­thy and work to resolve any issues. In addi­tion to UPS and FedEx, they will ship USPS where most will not. On top of that, their prices are very com­pet­i­tive. You might find an item a lit­tle cheaper else­where, but is it worth the risk? A few links will take you to Ama­zon for things B&H does not sell like the VadoHD.

Com­mis­sions paid are very small and do not add a sin­gle dime to your order. The price would be the same regard­less of how you got there. Though this site is a ‘labor of love’ it is very time con­sum­ing. I would spend more time on it, if I could make a few bucks in the process.

Please think of me, the next time you con­sider buy­ing a camera.

Thanx, Roberto.