New DSLR

[Naki.]

Have done some photography in the past with an older Nikon but looking at getting into this more and I’m really a beginner . I see that Noel Leeming have the Nikon D3500 at the moment at $698 which seems good. I intend to do some aviation photography and will look at getting a bigger lense in due course. Any thoughts on this out there from those in the know on this camera? Has good reviews on line but will I get decent results at air shows? I guess that depends how good I am at taking pics too😄

[ErrolC]

Yes, mainly down to you! I use D7200's.

Do see if you can get a D3400 even cheaper, not much of a difference.
Per Thom www.dslrbodies.com/cameras/current-camera-database/nikon-d3500-specifications.html

Must use AF-S or AF-P lenses!

Bear this in mind when thinking about future lenses. I'd suggest the 70-300mm AF-P FX (not DX) model. These are quite compact, and work well with the simpler auto-focus system on the lower-end cameras. You can't use e.g. the 80-400mm. It will also do fine if you get a mid-range body in the future.

I would guess that if you are going to have issues they will be down to the 11-point Auto-focus system, and only the centre point being a crosshatch type.

[Naki.]

Great thanks for the advice Errol. Will pick up tomorrow probably and hopefully posting some pics here sometime in the future

[shorty]

In the days of film cameras I used to use Pentax and I still have several Pentax Takumar lenses. If I want to get a DSLR camera which ones can I use my existing lenses on?

[madmac]

Pentax does make some nice DSLR's (I have got a Pentax K-3) however the NZ agent is terrible, anything in-country (if you can find it) seems really expensive and they will not source parts for anything brought out of the country (the Ozzie agent doesn't care & will repair anything you send them).