Cows, Calves and Cameras: My Top 3 picks for entry level dSLRs

If you have been following along with the cows here on the farm, you might know I have a favorite, her name is Big Red and as far as I am concerned she is as close to dairy cow temperament a beef cow will ever get. (And yes, of as yesterday I also have a least favorite, that deserves it’s whole own post though, look for it tomorrow). We are all excited for her, and she has been taking great care of her little white faced calf.

I am kind of bummed because this is one of the last pics I took before my camera broke. So I am now searching for a new camera. Unfortunately, a new camera was a thought that would occasionally cross my mind, but I am not prepared to actually make a purchase. Nikon, Canon, Pentax they have different cool features. I want a camera like NOW, but don’t have time to actually do the shopping for the best deals. I have started comparing different models and this is what I have found so far:

*Some of these are not the latest models, they just happen to fall into my price range and be among the highest rated.

Canon EOS Rebel T3i 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera and DIGIC 4 Imaging with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens I really think an investment in a Canon is a wise choice when you look at the overall Canon system, they offer the largest range of lenses of any manufacturer ¹, and I am not going to lie 18 MP is so very appealing. Of all the cameras I have listed here in my price point, I worry I will be most likely to out grow this one. Which lands this camera in my number 3 position on my wish list.$599

Nikon D5100 16.2MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF-S DX VR Nikkor Zoom Lens This camera seems to be recommended to people who are interested in growing their hobby. It has more advanced features that will be useful down the road, as you develop your photography skills, but still takes great pics at at beginner level. This one comes in at a close second.$596

Pentax K-30 Weather-Sealed 16 MP CMOS Digital SLR with 18-55mm Lens (Black)This Pentax is my number 1 pick for a few reasons, the weather sealing is pretty important, I take my camera out into the cow pasture in less than ideal conditions, and I am not talking a few sprinkles I almost faceplanted in a pile of manure once, holding a camera. I need a sturdy camera and these are built like tanks. This camera has 81 seals sets and is built to be weather, dust and cold resistant with proven functionality in sub-freezing temperatures as low as 14°F. Another surprise from Pentax, higher customer satisfaction. A study found that Pentax ranks highest in online buyer satisfaction with a score of 899 (on a 1,000-point scale), followed closely by Nikon (891) and Canon (888)².$576

¹Canon and Nikon vs. Everyone Else: Buying Your First DSLR2 Pentax DSLRs top global consumer satisfaction survey

I would love to hear any thoughts or experiences you have had with cameras. Let me know what you think of my little list.