Camera advice please EOS 650D, EOS M or Nikon D 3100?

thanks Rob.

I threw the Nikon in on the recommendation of one of the local camera shops I visited today and picked that particular model based primarily on it sitting in the middle of the Canons on a cost basis.

When you say kit lenses are pants do you mean they are just ok in comparison to the far more pricey after market lenses available? I think the extra $70 is worth the investment because where my existing lenses fall down is they don't have image stabilisation which, for canon at least, now seems to be built into the lens rather than the camera and they aren't designed for HD video work. This isn't a priority but the newer STM lens range are quieter than the older USM range, or so I am led to believe.

Looking further I could throw in the Nikon D5100 twin kit with Nikon 18-55mm VR and 55-200mm VR Lenses at about $630. Would that interest you more as a good camera for a young person just starting with photography as a hobby?

Thanks

Edit: Have added the 5100 to the comparison

http://www.dpreview.com/products/compare/side-by...

Looking at those comparisons, to a non camera person the M seems to be the pick of the bunch, is there that much of a difference to end picture quality between a 1.5 crop and a 1.6 crop? Remembering this is for a beginner and not someone that has a true passion for photography and could probably classed at the high end of the enthusiast category.

Maybe I was being too picky about the lenses

But you know what I mean. Kit lenses are built to a price. They typically have lower build quality like plastic bayonets and lower spec glass without fancy coatings, etc. I'm sure they will seem fantastic compared to pretty much any point and shoot.

For all intents and purposes 1.5 & 1.6 crop are the same so I wouldn't worry about that.

That Nikon kit sounds tempting but it is an old model.

All I'll say about the M is that I was all set to get a mirror less model and was talked out of it by a photog. And am now very happy about that - there's something nice about looking through a proper viewfinder.

thanks guys for the replies.

ps, the 1100D is not out of the picture and I am sure would be the CFO's camera of choice, we may end up with that yet.

Rob, I know exactly what you mean about the viewfinder but I think that is something about our generation, we grew up without the choice of a nice screen on the back of the camera, that was if we were lucky enough to have a camera at all. I thought that was what you meant with the kit lenses and at this stage am happy to work with that. If the passion grows as she gets older then better lenses can always come then.

Phil, as for the lenses I already have, well they are nothing flash. A Canon EF 28-80 1:3.5 - 5.6 II and a Canon EF 75 - 300mm 1:4-5.6 III USM which is fast and relatively quiet but as I mentioned earlier neither of them have image stabilisation and I have been told both "may" be too noisy for video work. They do though give her a greater choice out of the box without any initial extra outlay for us, this at least lets us spend a little more on a better body now.

Again thanks for the replies and the advice.

Kit, One other thing is that my daughter takes the stand every time she takes the camera to school and I think she ends up doing as many video's or still movies as straight photos.

btw we also looked at the 650 and essentially went with the 1100 because it was on special at the time. It meant she had the option of getting the stabilising lenses but has never actually asked for them.