I need to find a camera fast because my sister is getting married in like three weeks and her photographer just bailed on her. I told her I would try to step in even though I literally have zero experience with anything besides my iPhone 13 but I really want to do a good job for her. My budget is super tight right now maybe $550 tops since I gotta pay for travel too and I stay in a small town so I have to order online.
I have been looking at a couple of Nikon bundles because they seem easier to learn on. Option one is a used Nikon D3500 bundle I found on eBay that comes with a 18-55mm and a 70-300mm lens for $475. It seems like a solid deal but I’m worried it might be too old or the seller is sketchy. Then there is the Nikon Z30 which is mirrorless and newer but the bundle I found at a local shop is $650 which is pushing it for me. Is the Z30 worth the extra money for a beginner who needs to learn in like ten days? Or should I stick with the older D3500 since it comes with two lenses and is cheaper? I'm kind of panicking because I need to order this by Friday to have any time to practice before the wedding... what would you guys do?
Just saw this and honestly, be careful with those random eBay bundles. I once bought a kit that arrived with a broken shutter right before a big trip. Total nightmare. Quick question tho, is the wedding indoors or outside? Lighting is everything. You might want to consider a used Nikon D5600 24.2MP DSLR with 18-55mm Lens instead. That flip screen is a lifesaver for getting shots over the crowd.
> Is the Z30 worth the extra money for a beginner who needs to learn in like ten days? Or should I stick with the older D3500 since it comes with two lenses and is cheaper? Unfortunately, the D3500 autofocus is not as good as expected for a wedding. I had issues with it hunting in low light constantly. The Z30 lacks a viewfinder which is a huge pain outdoors. Tbh, you should grab a used Nikon D7100 24.1MP Digital SLR and a Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G. That setup is way more reliable for real events and stays under your 550 limit.
