frontpageflyeagle8 posted Feb 18, 2026 04:10 AM
Item 1 of 3
Item 1 of 3
frontpageflyeagle8 posted Feb 18, 2026 04:10 AM
Refurbished Nikon Z 50 20.9MP DX Mirrorless Camera w/ Nikkor 16-50mm VR Lens Kit
& More + Free S/H$500
$900
44% offNikon
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Yes, some people screech loudly "Lenses Lenses Lenses! Glass Glass Glass!" when asked 'what is important in photography?'. And they're not wrong.
(You'll absolute see a difference between a $95 variable aperture kit zoom and a $2500 f/1.2 prime. And there are lenses that are real sinkers out there....but here's the thing, those are far and few between since mirrorless took over since the mid-2010s. Kit lenses used to mean "awful"...now, they're just "inexpensive". You don't expect a Toyota Camry to perform like a F1 racecar, but it's not a Flintstones car either.)
But when you're comparing entry-level, consumer, budget lenses (pick whatever name you want to call them), they're all about the same. Same with these bodies. Ranking them is like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.
Find a body and lens at a price point you like. Find something that fits your hand the way you like. Find something that has a button and UI layout that's not offensive to you. And just go with it. They ALL take excellent photos under 'normal conditions'. They all take average video. The amount of overlap between models is absurd, and it's not worth worrying about (especially for general consumer use).
You'll get more value taking a photography class than upgrading to a "slightly better model of consumer-tier camera". Now in 10-15 years, if you upgrade to the next budget model, you'll probably see worthwhile performance gains. Still, take that class. It'll help you now.
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Similarly the 50-250mm f/4.5-6.3 VR, if you opt for the two lens kit, is much better than the lower priced telephoto lenses from Canon and especially Sony.
Yes, some people screech loudly "Lenses Lenses Lenses! Glass Glass Glass!" when asked 'what is important in photography?'. And they're not wrong.
(You'll absolute see a difference between a $95 variable aperture kit zoom and a $2500 f/1.2 prime. And there are lenses that are real sinkers out there....but here's the thing, those are far and few between since mirrorless took over since the mid-2010s. Kit lenses used to mean "awful"...now, they're just "inexpensive". You don't expect a Toyota Camry to perform like a F1 racecar, but it's not a Flintstones car either.)
But when you're comparing entry-level, consumer, budget lenses (pick whatever name you want to call them), they're all about the same. Same with these bodies. Ranking them is like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.
Find a body and lens at a price point you like. Find something that fits your hand the way you like. Find something that has a button and UI layout that's not offensive to you. And just go with it. They ALL take excellent photos under 'normal conditions'. They all take average video. The amount of overlap between models is absurd, and it's not worth worrying about (especially for general consumer use).
You'll get more value taking a photography class than upgrading to a "slightly better model of consumer-tier camera". Now in 10-15 years, if you upgrade to the next budget model, you'll probably see worthwhile performance gains. Still, take that class. It'll help you now.
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The person you replied to was thoughtfully discussing learning how to use a camera and discover if you like it before worrying about which kit lens is best or spending a lot on higher end gear.
Phone cameras are great for many reasons but learning to use a dedicated camera is a fun hobby and experience. One that is vastly different from using a phone. I think that is 'worth it' for many people. There are many types of photography and images that are best suited to a dedicated camera for composing and capturing/creating them with. Of course some things are also better suited to be handled by a phone.
The person you replied to was thoughtfully discussing learning how to use a camera and discover if you like it before worrying about which kit lens is best or spending a lot on higher end gear.
Phone cameras are great for many reasons but learning to use a dedicated camera is a fun hobby and experience. One that is vastly different from using a phone. I think that is 'worth it' for many people. There are many types of photography and images that are best suited to a dedicated camera for composing and capturing/creating them with. Of course some things are also better suited to be handled by a phone.
There are so many very decent budget options out there which radically outperform even the best mobile phones -- Olympus/OM System, Sony, Canon, Nikon, etc. Folks could fill entire forums with suggestions. Like I said, there's a lot of overlap. There's no reason to feel the need to drop serious coin on a camera setup until you're able to clearly articulate the need for it.
And if a mobile telephone's camera works for you, by all means, use it. I sure use mine as a replacement for a point & shoot camera. It's with me everywhere I go -- I probably use it more for a camera than a telephone!
But you'll get a radically different level of control over one's results using a dedicated camera than a mobile. To best use that level of control, one needs to learn the basics of photography -- how's that saying go, "Knowledge is power"? If someone doesn't want to learn, the mobile gives the closest to the old Kodak Brownie experience... "press the shutter and we do the rest."
Also, while kit lenses vary in quality wide open, most are extremely sharp stopped down. Phones can't complete with the sharpness of a kit lens at f/8.
Sounds like you've never used a dedicated camera before.
We do an annual calendar and you can easily spot which photos are from a phone.
I tend to use my DSLR and Z8 for wildlife shots (cause of the lenses) and for landscapes, which need a large sensor.
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