Nikon vs Canon

[VWVixen]

I see most of you all are buying Nikons...what are your thoughts on Canon?

Nikon D80 (http://www.nikonusa.com/Find-Your-Nikon/Product/Digital-SLR/25412/D80.html)

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi (http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=139&modelid=16303#ModelFeaturesAct)

A couple cameras that I am eyeing.

[EDM]

I just bought a Nikon D80 kit and I love it. The only problem is it has so many features that it will probably take me forever to learn all of them. :(

[ohheycheckmeout]

i currently own all canon gear, would i have or will i go to nikon possibly.

i shoot canon mainly because thats what most of my friends shoot, and the ability to interchange lenses when needed is great. i have over 5k into my set up, but recently have been found borrowing a friends flash more than a few times.

your best bet is to go somewhere, try both cameras, look at the glass that particular camera has to offer and than go from there. both cameras are more than capable and when you figure out what glass you want to get, what your friends shoot with, it will be much easier to make a decision

[BexSoCal]

You opened a huge can of worms. Nikon vs. Cannon is like

Chevy vs. Ford
Yankees vs. Red Sox
Democrat vs. Repugnicant

It's a very emotional issue. Me, I'm 100% Nikon all the way. :tup:

[themandillon]

im nikon all the way as well, my parents are canon which makes it hard becuase we cant change lenses or anything. but all of my friends shoot nikon and thats what my school uses so the decision was easy for me

[gtiador]

i run canon right now, but when it's time to buy a new camera i think i may go nikon

[xoutofstepx]

Nikon here, but they are both great cameras. :)

[Slapshotnerd]

nikon tends to be favored more by nature / landscape photographers, as it has better color saturation and pop out of the box.

Canon tends to be favored by sports photographers because it has better cache and burst modes, and longer lenses good for high speed work.

But at the hobbyist level, it's all personal preference. Canon lenses tend to be a bit cheaper starting out, but once you start to invest in a system, they both get spendy.

I went Canon because I had friends who were also canon who would help me with lenses and features on the cameras, and I'm now on my 3rd camera and probably my 7th or 8th lens. Never looked back.

[madajb]

You opened a huge can of worms. Nikon vs. Cannon is like

Chevy vs. Ford
Yankees vs. Red Sox
Democrat vs. Repugnicant

It's a very emotional issue. Me, I'm 100% Nikon all the way. :tup:

Dodge.
Cubs.
None of the Above.

-ajb

[aquabat911sc]

I'm Canon but like everyone else, it wasn't a real choice. My personal camera is a 10d and work supplies me with a backup 10d and 1d mkII. I can't really say that one is better than the other, it really comes down to personal preference.

Canon and Nikon have completely different controls. It seems like they have purposely reversed everything to be different from one another. If you have used Canon in the past and try to switch to Nikon everything will feel wrong, it obviously works both ways. It just takes a while to relearn everything.

Find a local camera shop that rents cameras. Take each one out for a weekend and see which one suits you better. You may end up spending a hundred bucks or so renting bodies and glass, but in the big picture, a hundred or two is nothing compared to what you will sink into gear.

[SoCalglxVR6]

CANON for me.

But theres nothing wrong with Nikon, they make amazing camera's / glass. You cant go wrong with Canon or Nikon but do stay with those two.

[VWVixen]

Went to Costco today- they had a Nikon D60 set w/ 2 lenses and some other things...around $800...hubby told me he would prefer me to get a Nikon...Eric, where'd you get your setup?

[idrivea2002golf]

Canon for me. My family and I use the D30 with a few different telephoto lenses for my brothers high jumping. it's been great for us. the ability to easily take .raw files as well as the 3fps feature. Great camera.


You opened a huge can of worms. Nikon vs. Cannon is like

Chevy vs. Ford
Yankees vs. Red Sox
Democrat vs. Repugnicant

It's a very emotional issue. Me, I'm 100% Nikon all the way. :tup:


Biased a little?

[EDM]

Went to Costco today- they had a Nikon D60 set w/ 2 lenses and some other things...around $800...hubby told me he would prefer me to get a Nikon...Eric, where'd you get your setup?

Wow that's a good deal for the D60. I picked mine up from Circuit City on sale. Look in the Sunday newpaper adds.

[sdsilverm3]

What your friends/family shoot with will most likely dictate which route you take. It is much easier to learn and easier on the wallet to be able to borrow or swap lenses and other equipment.

[180VARIANT]

I shoot with Nikon. between the The D80 and the XSi, I'd go with the Canon XSi

[paultakeda]

Let you in on a big secret:

1. 80% of DSLR buyers don't need a DSLR for the pictures they take. They buy a DSLR purely out of a desire to own one. This is not a bad thing, it is just something to keep in mind when you ask their opinion regarding a brand. I, by the way, am part of that 80%.

2. Because 80% of us do not need the functionality of a DSLR, ultimately ALL major brand DSLRs are superior to us, and therefore ranking them is beyond us. They are all of them far more capable of taking excellent photographs in the hands of an equally capable photographer. The fine points tend towards the extremes: which is more rugged for harsh environments, which has the fastest shutter speed to capture action, which has the best controls for nitpicky fine tuning. These fine points extend to the available lenses: which brand has the longest lens with the lowest mass, which has the sharpest wide angle, which has the perfect prime for the subject matter. Again, for 80% of us, this will never matter.

3. The best camera is the one you have in your hand ready to take your photographs.

So go to the store, manhandle every single one, and walk away with the one that feels best in your hand and is not heavy enough to discourage you from carrying it with you on vacation.

Summary: they're all good -- even Sony, Pentax, Panasonic and Olympus.

[aquabat911sc]

Let you in on a big secret:

1. 80% of DSLR buyers don't need a DSLR for the pictures they take. They buy a DSLR purely out of a desire to own one. This is not a bad thing, it is just something to keep in mind when you ask their opinion regarding a brand. I, by the way, am part of that 80%.

2. Because 80% of us do not need the functionality of a DSLR, ultimately ALL major brand DSLRs are superior to us, and therefore ranking them is beyond us. They are all of them far more capable of taking excellent photographs in the hands of an equally capable photographer. The fine points tend towards the extremes: which is more rugged for harsh environments, which has the fastest shutter speed to capture action, which has the best controls for nitpicky fine tuning. These fine points extend to the available lenses: which brand has the longest lens with the lowest mass, which has the sharpest wide angle, which has the perfect prime for the subject matter. Again, for 80% of us, this will never matter.

3. The best camera is the one you have in your hand ready to take your photographs.

So go to the store, manhandle every single one, and walk away with the one that feels best in your hand and is not heavy enough to discourage you from carrying it with you on vacation.

Summary: they're all good -- even Sony, Pentax, Panasonic and Olympus.

Well said:tup:
I carried my whole DSLR rig around everywhere I went for a long time. I quite often just carry a point and shoot now. I see these people at Disneyland all the time with their Costco combo specials shooting on full auto with the one lens they own, shooting their kids forty feet away into the sun with tiny little pop up flash and just shake my head. It doesn't matter how expensive your gear is if you don't have some knowledge.

I really do think there is a difference in brands however. But like you said, even for enthusiasts most DSLRs will do more than you need. A lot of what makes a camera "best for you" is if you like the way it functions and the way it feels in your hands.

[bugzy]

Well said:tup:
I carried my whole DSLR rig around everywhere I went for a long time. I quite often just carry a point and shoot now. I see these people at Disneyland all the time with their Costco combo specials shooting on full auto with the one lens they own, shooting their kids forty feet away into the sun with tiny little pop up flash and just shake my head. It doesn't matter how expensive your gear is if you don't have some knowledge.

I really do think there is a difference in brands however. But like you said, even for enthusiasts most DSLRs will do more than you need. A lot of what makes a camera "best for you" is if you like the way it functions and the way it feels in your hands.
agreed

a good quality point n shot is plenty for most people
and also, more than 6MP is excessive unless your printing over 8x11 sized posters or something

come on people ... 10MP/12MP is totally crazy unless your a professional

[ohheycheckmeout]

I hate having 10/12mp simply because of uploaded file size shooting raw.... it wastes TONS of memory. As said, its only good to have if you want to print very large prints

[paultakeda]

I really do think there is a difference in brands however. But like you said, even for enthusiasts most DSLRs will do more than you need. A lot of what makes a camera "best for you" is if you like the way it functions and the way it feels in your hands.

The difference is for the 20% that push their DSLR to the limit of their capabilities. 80% of us will never push.

I'd say ALL DSLRs from 2006-onward possess more than you will ever need if you are in that 80%.

[bugzy]

<------ is in the 95%

i dont even think 20% of DSLR owners use their cameras to their potential

[NaKoRuRu]

I agree with everything Paul has said. Including the statement regarding the other brands. I've bought 2 Panasonic SuperZoom camera's and are top top notch! I recommend them over any other point and shoot dollar for dollar. My current FZ-20 is up to the task of the kinds of pictures I am taking, and I'm sure I can squeeze a few more years of use out of it. But when I see friends with DSLR's and stuff can't help but want one just a little even if they/I will not take advantage of it to its full potential.

To the topic at hand I would go with Nikon. I like the way their camera's feel. And for some reason are cheaper than the Canon's and all my friends also have Nikon's so I can steal their lenses.

[SYNYSTAGLI]

My camera has been good for me..Nikon D80
I do need to take her in and have her cleaned of dust and checked for any issues. I've been doing a lot of macro work as of late and @ F16 and above...you will spend most of your time processing dust of your shots :P

I think I've been shooting with the D80 for 2 years or close to it and no problems with the camera. I also frequent some photography forums and like Linus said, most of todays DSLR cameras take some excellent shots. Try them all out and see what your hands feel comfortable with.

[GTi_01]

been a nikon user for about a year now. love it. i tried cannon at school, but didn't like it.

[VWVixen]

Thank you all for your input...I agree that just about any camera would suffice, I get enough feedback on the photos I take with my crappy, inexpensive P&S- any DSLR is going to work.

[paultakeda]

<------ is in the 95%

i dont even think 20% of DSLR owners use their cameras to their potential

I was trying to be kind. But hey, sure, I'll up it to 95%!