///M5

Buy something disposable then and start there. Grab a new 1.4 50mm and a $100 camera body. Worst case you are out $100. The way you are shopping is confusing things. The websites that do reviews normally do so in a way that is biased for a particular reason to show off their preference (imagine that). All of that is somewhat useless without some practical experience. There is a strong maturation curve when using a DSLR as well. ie, you start out wanting to take pictures which is fine, but understanding and setting your aperature and shutter speed is huge. To learn the tradeoff's just set your ISO to 100 and start playing locking one or the other. That is also the beauty of the 50mm in that it is such a short focal length you can use relatively low shutter speeds and still be effective which is great when you are first playing in the SLR world.

Matt can fill you in better where the used consumer market ones would fit. Canon/Nikon both have the problem of the leapfrog. Release new prosumer, next year or 2 the consumer leaps it in some aspect. For instance at somepoint between the 40d and 70d there is a good used buy. Not my thing though, I'll take the shutter life of the better body and controls. For a temporary try out a hobby though they could be good.

50d isn't much of an upgrade, 60d too close in price to the 70d And I do feel the pro-sumer bodies are better, but mostly for control. They get rid of the stupid auto crap you should never use and focus on the settings you will.

If you are really budget limited a used 40D is a ton of body for $180. Allows for some nice glass.

Perhaps one other bit of clarity. D3300 with kit 18-55 10yr old Canon XTi with 50mm 1.4 The Canon will rape the Nikon in every important aspect at 50mm. Hell even with the 17-55 2.8 I have on that camera I'd much rather shoot it than the D3300. A body can help glass, but can't make up for not having it. Just say no to Kit Lens.

I opted for a bit more money in glass for flexibility and bought the 17-55is. L quality shots nearly in a plastic body. I do have the 50mm 1.4 and the 11-16 2.8. I generally shoot things though and not people. My kids change that and for portraits the 50mm is great. In the school and with lots of other kids I need the wider lens. The 11mm is fun if you go anyplace with big views.

Ok, /soapbox

If you told me you picked Nikon because of this lens or that lens and needing those I'd be fine with it. Doing it based on a body is bassakwards. The body is a transient, the glass not so much. Resale follows logic.

Compare at 100, that is where you should shoot. Only turn that up when you have to, it is the last thing I adjust if I can. That being said ANY pic that compares ISO better do so in ridiculously low light otherwise the test is super dumb.

For $1000 you could grab a used Canon 70d, 50mm 1.8, 24mm 2.8 STM. I'd bet for $100 more you could even get the 1.4 50 instead. Add any of the L 70-200 down the road to it and there is NO situation you can't take amazing shots in. You'd be out nothing trying to sell any of the above as well if you buy them right. WAY better to buy used now and figure out what you like and don't. Real expensive otherwise. The "Kit" you are looking at is a throw away in 5 ish years where what I threw up will still have a ton of value. Doesn't mean it won't take great pictures though. That is more the photographer. One thing I'd bet though, you won't be using your point and shoot anymore. I still wouldn't rule out mirrorless though. That platform will continue to grow.

Do not buy anything with a kit lens. They all suck donkey. Buy an older body and better glass for the same dough

The first thing in ANY situation with funkiness like that is to check EVERY connection. Sounds like the complete install is jacked and you should really disconnect everything and reconnect it all. While you are in doing that you should fix all the funky stuff the shop did.

Yes, think I have the same, but paid about $130 each with coupon/sale

Seth - I bought my last two lenses on CL.

I bought a craftsman with some super Sears coupon and it was uber cheap. The OE that makes their belts always is ranked highest for reliability.

Cheap belt drive. Not worth spending more.

Nice work. The Candy looks great....and like a LOT of work.

Like most things I'd recommend used. Easier to figure out what you want as it will change. In particular with glass. I'd also avoid Sony like the plague...

If you want the adult version I can't say enough about fat bikes. Holy pucking fun. Go ride one. My Mt Bike is sold and my road bike may follow.

I owned a few different bikes: PK Ripper, Haro, Hutch, Kuwahara, Mongoose Pretty much everything but the Redline and GT. Tons of great old bikes, but they haven't depreciated.

Just test the focus speed. I think that is about the last frontier for the little guys. I am also really used to a viewfinder, but most people seem to prefer not.

4/3 lenses have killer fstops for the price...and that makes bokeh easy.

I used to race...been thinking about a retro bike for the boys

Mongoose was sold a LONG time ago. Buy something you know from the past.

Probably. I bought the one in my truck I believe in 1989 and it has been in use since.