Digital SLR Canon & Nikon help please...?

I am not a photographer. I have a Kodak digital with 12x optical zoom and take some ok pics.
I am thinking of upgrading to a digital SLR. I have my eye on a Canon 50D. Could you please let me know what you think of that camera? Also how would it compare to a Nikon D90?
Finally, the Canon EOS Rebel is WAY less than the 50D. Is it way lower in quality?
Thanks for any help or suggestions you may offer.

Answer by Jt C
You are looking at some cameras with some very different features. Maybe a good start would be to write a list of what you want the camera to be able to do. If you want video and stills the D90 is certainly the way to go. If you wouldn’t use it you are paying for something you don’t need. I recommend the Nikon D40 to new DSLR owners its easy to learn and give great pictures. The low cost lets you buy lenses and such sooner. And by the time you have learned enough to need to upgrade your camera body there will be a whole new group of them to choose from but the Nikon lenses will still work on whatever Nikon camera you buy next.

Answer by fhotoace
You have just jumped into the deep end of the pool.

The Nikon D90 is a sub-$ 1000 DLSR which has the distinction of being the only DSLR in its price range that can produce very, very high quality video as well as perform as an advanced DSLR camera.

The Canon Rebel DSLR’s are called “entry level DSLR’s and as such are not as sturdily built and cannot take the constant pounding most advanced amateur and professional photographers can do to a camera and lens. And actually the Rebels are still more expensive than the Nikon entry level DSLR D40(x) and D60 cameras.

BEFORE you spend a dime, do some research.

Here are some good links that will supply with a lot of good information.

http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech.htm

After spending a few weeks reading all about photography (P&S cameras are really photography on training wheels but with no way to remove them), you will have a much better idea of what you want to do, how much time you want to invest and what budget is going to be realistic for your wants and needs.

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Nikon N60, Canon Rebel 2000, Canon Rebel XTi


Image by SoulRider.222
9/16/09. Nikon Coolpix S50. Tripod used. SOOC.

TOP = Sunpak Auto140/ Quantaray AF-LD 70-300mm 1:4-5.6 Tele-Macro (1.2).

I’m a graphic designer who is really into photography. I’ve been using a 35mm film SLR camera up till now and want to switch to digital, but not sure what to buy since there are so many choices out there these days. I’m thinking to buy either a Nikon or Canon because I have proven that they have good quality cameras. I have a Nikon 35mm SLR and Canon IXY point-and-shoot.
I want a camera that is beginner friendly, not too fancy, has no shutter delays, etc. My budget is $ 900.
Which one is better Nikon or Canon? Do you have any recommendations?
Thanks!

Answer by fhotoace
Since you already have a Nikon 35 mm camera, you will find that 1) the complimentary DSLR’s metering system is identical, so you will not have to learn any subtle differences found with Canon or other metering systems. The traditional Nikon center weighted meter has continued to be consistent since first introduced in the Nikon Ftn.

No shutter lag means a DSLR.
What ever Nikon lenses you have now will work on the new Nikon DSLR’s
At present, the Nikon D80 is within your budget, but the newest Nikon DSLR is the D90 .. it has some features new to DSLR’s you may find interesting enough to spend the little extra … $ 999.
All the photo skills you have been using with your Nikon 35 mm SLR are directly transferable to Nikon DSLR’s, so the user friendly aspect is not really an issue .. the added features, while many, are easy to learn while shooting normally as you would your 35 mm.

Link:

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/compare_post.asp?method=sidebyside&cameras=nikon_d80%2Cnikon_d90&show=all

http://www.nikonusa.com/Find-Your-Nikon/Product/Digital-SLR/25446/D90.html

Answer by Jt C
What you do want is a good quality Digital Single Lens Reflex camera. That will give you great color, clarity and quality photos. Both Canon and Nikon make great cameras and in truth it usually comes down to personal preference. So look at both, go and get them in hand to see which you like the feel of better and you’ll not be wrong with either brand. Since you already have a Nikon SLR then getting another Nikon will let you use lenses and accessories you already have. You do not have to start from scratch

As to a recommendation IMHO Dollar for dollar there is no better entry level DSLR than the Nikon 40. Do not let the low megapixel count concern you. If you do not make very very large prints you will never notice it. It is easy and fun to use. It gives great quality pictures. I have both a D300 and a D40 and I often grab the D40 for family shots just because it is so fun to use and light. The D40 will let you grow as you learn more about cameras. Nikon makes a number of lenses for the camera as do third party lens manufacturers.

A great review on it can be found here

http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d40.htm

http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/mpmyth.h…

If you can afford a little more the D60 give you a number of things you want. It has newer firmware and image processors, designed for the 10 mp sensor. It has an “Active Dust Reduction System with Airflow Control “. Nikon not putting a system on the D40 to deal with dust is one of the biggest drawbacks I see to the D40 ( though I think its still a great camera for the money) If you change lenses dust will get in and the camera needs a system to deal with it. With the D60 you get a VR lens. That will help with low light situations ( they may offer that now with the D40 but originally it was not) . The D60 has Adaptive Dynamic Range. Nikon calls it “Active D-Lighting,” it lets you save some highlights that my otherwise be lost. It has a newer better metering system than the D40.

Some people will try to make a big deal about the fact that some older design lenses will not autofocus on the D40/D60. The AF-S and AF-I will autofocus. Other lenses will work great also you just have to manually focus them. There are plenty of lenses in the nikon line that will autofocus so you will alway be able to find a lens in the range you want that autofocuses. But if you don’t mind manual focusing you can get some great lenses alot cheaper. The autofocus in the lens is faster and smoother than autofocus in the camera body. With the silent wave motors in Nikor lenses giving some of the fastest focus times

Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!
Photography Tips: Lenses 101 (Yahoo! News)
Yahoo! News – Post by Katherine Gray: Okay, so you’re ready to upgrade from a compact point-and-shoot camera to a digital SLR. You’ve decided on a camera body… and now a whole new, confusing world of lens choices has opened up. Zoom, prime, …
Read more on Yahoo! Tech Blog

Canon combines high quality still photographs and video recording with their EOS 7D Digital SLR. Chris Hardwick and Kevin Pereira review its 18 mega pixel C-MOS sensor, the ISo range of up to 12800 and full HD video recording, all available for only ,7 For more from Gadget Pr0n, go here: g4tv.com
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