how about the Sony a37 would that be any good even tho I'll be going over my budget a little bit because of taxes but it's OK it would come to 677.99 about.
i like this one better than the d3100 because the a37 has a external mic input and the d3100 doesn't and i don't like the auto focus when filming with the D3100.
and the lens is not important for me right now it can wait
On paper the a37 (which I hadn't heard of until now) could definitely be a very good choice.
However, definitely go and find one to try first. On several occasions, I've used a Sony a700, which is their best camera outside of their full-format options, but I can't stand the thing. I find it incredibly clunky to use and I hate the feel of the scroll wheels and buttons. Compared even to my entry-level Canon T3i and my friend's Nikon D7000, it feels like a piece of junk even though it's a far superior camera (especially to mine). Even the lenses feel
unsavory in a way. I just really don't like using it at all and I'd rather use even a basic Nikon (like a D3100) than it.
However, many people I know
love the general feel of it and its operation. They especially like how it feels (and is) more heavy-duty so they enjoy using it. Just because of my experience, I wouldn't buy the a37 blind whereas I'd feel reasonably comfortable buying a Canon or Nikon (*spit*) product without having tried it first.
But if you like it, I think
it could very well be the best DSLR for what you want to do with it. Don't take my experience as a knock on the a37, just as a warning that if you're just a hobbyist (and at this price point, you'd better be!), a "better" camera might be a worse option. It's hard to take good photos if you resent your camera, so make sure you pick one that
you like. Whether it's Nikon, Canon, or Sony, you're definitely getting a great product with very similar capabilities to other cameras at a similar price point. (***Note that other companies, like Panasonic, typically don't offer as many lenses etc. as the three I'm mentioning. That doesn't mean
avoid, but it could and should be a turn-off.) Consider what you're going to do with the camera. Remember that you probably won't exceed the limits of the body you pick unless you're going to do serious commercial work, in which case
no camera in this category is really a legitimate option. In my opinion, once you eliminate all cameras that have "non-starters" (eg. D3100 mic issues), then pick the one that's most ergonomic, regardless of minor variations in the bumf. You'll enjoy your camera more that way.
