Forgot:
If you get either the GH-2 or NEX-5n above, then by ALL means get this ridiculously cheap and FANTASTIC lens:
It’s strictly manual, but ohhhhh man....wow. It’s originally made for security cameras, but it’s TOPS. Pro’s agree.
You put a cheap $5 adapter between it and either of the 2 cameras above.
GREAT LENS...!
1. Sony NEX-5n
2. Panasonic Lumix GH-2
3. Canon T3i (don’t screw it up and get the T3 —NO..!)
Any of those 3 are freaking fantastic. They have auto settings for dummies, but will relent and let a pro work his magic, too.
Look the key is at least get something that permits u to SWITCH LENSES:
Increasingly cameras are computers, and that means the camera platform WILL SOON CHANGE. When u discard that suckah in 2 years do u want to also throw away the lens? No.
Glass is forever, and you want to hold onto that and use it for the next platform, which is always coming down the pike in 1 year or less.
And do NOT get carried away with fancy proprietary full-auto lenses (even though I conceed they are quite nifty) cuz it’s a scam to get you permanently locked into ONE brand of (usually very expensive) camera.
On ebay you can get TONS of SUPER CHEAP adaptors made by Chinese slaves AS LONG AS your lenses are manual.
NOTE - People who work at Best Buy do NOT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT CAMERAS;
“It’s here, yes. It’s for sale. It’s really good, and uh.....it takes pichures..”