Birthday present D7000 or D5100 for 15 year old, also what lighting equipment?

My sisters kid who is very interested in becoming photo journalist and loves portrait photography is turning 15 next weekend and the family has chipped in to get him some photography equipment. We just got the last check in and have nearly $2400. Ideally we would like to get him a camera body and couple lenses along with some good beginners lighting kit.

Can I get some help? It needs to be below $2400 or close to that amount to stay in budget. Thanks so much!

I have the D7000 and it's a nice camera.

However I am a firm believer that when one is starting out, they should get a entry level/low end DSLR camera. Not only that, it's a teenager, I would hope seeing this teen wants to become a photo journalist that he would be nicer to the camera then other teens...but who knows.

Personally I would get him the d5100.
The lens is more important then the body. If you get the d5100, you could buy him two lenses or one good lens... and of course the lighting kit.

Why did you decide on those two cameras?

I'd go with the D5100 body, a 17-50-ish f/2.8 zoom lens from Tamron or Sigma, and a SB-600 Nikon speedlight. If you have money left over they will need extra batteries, memory cards, a bag, a circular polarizing filter, and Adobe Lightroom or Photoshop.

invest in the 5100 and some good glass rather than the kit lens( a nice 18-200 mm lens or 18-270mm Tamron ) and an SB 700 flash . A good camera bag from Lowepro or Think Tank to protect your investment in his dreams and maybe a day at THE NIKON SCHOOL.. Also a subscription to a photo mag of his choice or a good basic DSLR text.

All great advice guys and gals, thank you. I picked those camera's just because I hear so much about them on the boards

Maybe see what he'd like, or go to a store where he can try them out. Has he used someone's else's camera(s) that he might have some idea what he'd want?

try backdropoutlet.com they have some decent prices..

If he likes portraits, I would get him a softbox in that package too

I have to agree the 5100 would be best and the lighting. Then you can direct him here for advice if he wants it.

Disagree. The D7000 is a better choice. It will work well for longer.

Better AF, better high iso etc. etc. They won't need to replace it for quite a while. AND it can possibly be used for paid work. It's also:
Weather sealed
100% viewfinder coverage (D5100 has 95%)
More cross type AF points (9 vs 1)
6fps vs 4fps
2 card slots
39 focus points (vs 11 for the D5100)

Get something they can grow into rather than something they'll grow out of and will need replacing.

As for the notion of the lens being more important than the body. This is generally true, but if a focus system sucks, no matter how good a lens is, an out of focus shot is... crap.

Go for a decent camera to start him out. He can get a 50 1.8 and some kit lens to start out. Then work out which lenses he wants from there. The D7000 will let him grow more as a photographer. Not stop him growing (later) because of it's lack of features/control. Basically the D7000 is a big boy's camera.

If you want to go cheap, get a Canon.

Stealthy Ninja wrote: Disagree. The D7000 is a better choice. It will work well for longer.

Better AF, better high iso etc. etc. They won't need to replace it for quite a while. AND it can possibly be used for paid work. It's also:
Weather sealed
100% viewfinder coverage (D5100 has 95%)
More cross type AF points (9 vs 1)
6fps vs 4fps
2 card slots
39 focus points (vs 11 for the D5100)

Get something they can grow into rather than something they'll grow out of and will need replacing.

As for the notion of the lens being more important than the body. This is generally true, but if a focus system sucks, no matter how good a lens is, an out of focus shot is... crap.

Go for a decent camera to start him out. He can get a 50 1.8 and some kit lens to start out. Then work out which lenses he wants from there. The D7000 will let him grow more as a photographer. Not stop him growing (later) because of it's lack of features/control. Basically the D7000 is a big boy's camera.

If you want to go cheap, get a Canon.

Agreed.

To continue from my previous post...

Here's what I would buy:
D7000 kit (with 18-105) $1500
Sigma 50 1.4 $500 (I own this lens myself and it's excellent)
SB-900 flash (he can control this off camera too using his camera) $470

Total: $2470 (surely you can go the $70 extra dollars).

Alternatively get the Nikon 50 1.8G ($220) and you'll be in under budget. It won't be as good as the sigma, but it's a good "growing" lens. If you get the Sigma he should be able to use that for many, many years.

Stealthy Ninja wrote: To continue from my previous post...

Here's what I would buy:
D7000 kit (with 18-105) $1500
Sigma 50 1.4 $500 (I own this lens myself and it's excellent)
SB-900 flash (he can control this off camera too using his camera) $470

Total: $2470 (surely you can go the $70 extra dollars).

Alternatively get the Nikon 50 1.8G ($220) and you'll be in under budget. It won't be as good as the sigma, but it's a good "growing" lens. If you get the Sigma he should be able to use that for many, many years.

My list would be a little different

D7000 body only $1200
Nikkor 80-200mm 2.8D MK-II .... used from KEH for ex is about $600
Tamron 17-50 2.8 ... about $400-500 new
AF Nikkor 50mm 1.4D ... About 300 new
And a tripod!

If he is into portrait work then two SB 700 units would be a good choice ans an * 85mm portrait lens from a major lens line would be good. I agree with Barry that the used lens market would be the way to afford better glass

Rob pix4u2 wrote: If he is into portrait work then two SB 700 units would be a good choice ans an * 85mm portrait lens from a major lens line would be good. I agree with Barry that the used lens market would be the way to afford better glass

Used lenses hold their value very well too, food for thought.