Digital cameras: Canon vs. Nikon
Canon vs. Nikon
by knaranjo - 5/10/07 7:49 PMI was looking to get a dslr. I had narrowed it down to Canon Digital Rebel XTi or the Nikon D80. This will be my first digital slr so I was not too sure which one is the best. I would prefer either a Canon or Nikon does anyone have any suggestions even if it is not the two cameras I have listed, or any comments suggestions on the two cameras I listed.
Canon vs Nikon
by hjfok - 5/11/07 12:41 AM In reply to: Canon vs. Nikon by knaranjoYou can read the review and compare yourself:
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikond80/page22.asp
Both Canon and Nikon have great D-SLR systems. I'm a Canon user, so slightly biased towards Canon. As least from the reviews, the Canon Rebel XTi and 30D both perform slightly better in low light at high ISO than Nikon D80. But Nikon has a slightly better flash system.
If you are going to consider the price range of Nikon D80, I would suggest spending just a little more to get the Canon 30D which is more rugged and faster, 5 fps instead of 3 fps.
But you will love any of these cameras. The slight difference in performance will not likely handicap you. You should go to a local camera store and try out the cameras and see which one you like the best.
heh
by fionndruinne - 5/11/07 1:18 AM In reply to: Canon vs Nikon by hjfokI'm not being critical of anyone in particular, but... I get tired of hearing the "well, I'm a little biased in favor of Canon, but...".
Any of the cameras mentioned will be great. Handle them all in store (check out Best Buy or somewhere similar). Many, myself included, feel that the XTi is a little too small, and a bit plasticky. The Nikon D80 has a better feel, and feel is, well, somewhat important - not all-important, surely, since you will adapt to any camera, but a more natural handling camera will prove more sure in the hand, and pull in a few shots that wouldn't have been handled so well otherwise. Again, only somewhat important.
Nikon has a better menu system, and yes, a better flash system. The XTi has better high ISO in terms of detail, but the Nikon, because it uses noise suppression processing after the shot is taken, will look cleaner out of camera, at the cost of some detail loss when viewed at full size.
There is no "better" or "worse", only different approaches to making a darn fine camera, and both of these companies succeed. Research the individual aspects of each (this will give you some advance knowledge of the camera you will buy, as well, so it's valuable), and pick your favorite, 'tis that simple.
Tired of hearing the same old thing
by hjfok - 5/11/07 1:42 PM In reply to: heh by fionndruinneYes, there are many people who ask the same question over and over again in forums like this and other ones. And of course, the replies are somewhat the same. For people who have been visiting and throwing out advice for some time in the same forum, the questions and answers may seem repititive and tiring.
But the person who asks the question is asking it the first time, and is genuinely needing some opinion. I have taught a number of bright students in the past (including Stanford and Harvard graduates), and believe me, they all ask similar questions no matter how bright they are. And they should, because those are good questions that perplexed the mind of many others. And I patiently give them the same answer with the same enthusiasm as if this is the first time I answer the question. Every person's opinion is biased, including yours. We all give our perspective because that is our experience. The inquirer will simulate these information and make his or her own decision.
The bottom line is you don't need a fancy camera to take breathtaking photos. Alex Majoli has been using Olympus PS camera to take professional photos that get published and get him awards. The master worries about the work, and the apprentice worries about the tools.
Focus on the work, not the tools
by hjfok - 5/11/07 7:00 PM In reply to: heh by fionndruinneIt is a good thing that Canon users are biased towards Canon, and Nikon users are biased towards Nikon. That means they are great products. Here is an interesting link to a famous photojournalist who uses PS cameras to make his masterpieces:
http://www.robgalbraith.com/bins/multi_page.asp?cid=7-6468-7844
Whichever you like better
by typezstg - 5/11/07 9:59 PM In reply to: Canon vs. Nikon by knaranjoI have used both cameras before, and there are things i like about each camera. I think it all comes down to which one you prefer and which one fits your budget/needs better. They are both really great cameras with great lens selections for each.
For me, i found that i preferred the Nikon, but you may not feel the same way. the best way to find out is to try each camera and see what you think about it.
Its not really about Canon vs Nikon in this case. Both companies make great cameras and lenses. I own a Canon Powershot 700IS and find that I like Canon point-and-shoots much more than nikons coolpix.
In the case of the XTi vs D80, really it's more about what fits your needs and wants better.
Facts You Might Already Know
by Hopeitworkx - 5/12/07 6:09 AM In reply to: Whichever you like better by typezstgFacts You Might Already Know
D80 Pluses:
-Nikkor lenses are best in the industry
-SD cards are slightly smaller (when you go hiking in the high peaks, every ounce counts...)
Canon Pluses:
-Self-cleaning sensor
-Canon lenses auto-focus on even their entry-level DSLR's, unlike Nikkon's D40
For what it's worth, Canon covered my S80 P&S on a minor issue a month beyond warranty expiration. As far as P&S's go, it'd be a clear choice- Canon, hands down. Nikon's Coolpix series has done dumb things like eliminate the viewfinder (not the only dumb thing). No viewfinder = more blur cuz you can't hold it against your forehead to hold it steady.
Tough choice, but u can't lose
by haf canadian - 5/12/07 11:12 AM In reply to: Facts You Might Already Know by HopeitworkxWhen I've shopped for cameras in the past, I compared features for months, both online and in the stores hands on. I nearly always end up with Canon. My first was bought in the 1970's, a Canon EF with 1.2 lens; stolen in a burglary in 1980, I replaced it with a Canon A1 and 1.2 lens. It is still my only SLR. My digital is a Canon S50, and I have 3 Canon printers. Each time I need something new, I carefully shop it, and 7 times out of 10 I go Canon, and for various reasons.
Only twice in 30 years has any of my Canon products needed service, and those were both my fault. The one complaint I have with the company is their owners manuals are consistently user-unfriendly, but then my last Sony camcorder and Panasonic DVR manuals are difficult to interpret also. If I knew, for instance, that a large part of the manual for one of my printers was on the included discs, I would have factored that into my decision and come up with a different unit; it's been a real pain to search for answers in user's guides that are only computer accessable. Paper manuals are quicker to search and don't require scrolling.
I can't speak to Nikon because I've never owned one. A lot of professionals use Nikon. Plenty use Canon cameras. I can only say that in the last 30 some years, for reasons germaine to each occasion, I've always chosen Canon cameras and never Nikon.
(Hopeitworkx: SD cards are smaller and a better choice for weight-smart hikers? What are you talking about, Dude? Get real! A micro-ounce ain't gonna make no never mind. But SD cards are too small for a man's fingers - I disdain them. Unfortunately they are becoming predominant, and I will stick with my camera that uses Compact Flash cards I can get a grip on).
SD Cards and Backpackers/Hikers
by Hopeitworkx - 5/12/07 4:02 PM In reply to: Tough choice, but u can't lose by haf canadianHaf Canadian,
Try a few days of backpacking over mountainous terrain, like you have in the Canadian Rockies, or in the Adirondacks if you're on the Eastern side, then you'll see what I'm talking about.
Or maybe you won't- either way, I'm not going to let someone disagreeing with me bring me to name-calling.
Heavy
by haf canadian - 5/13/07 2:48 PM In reply to: SD Cards and Backpackers/Hikers by HopeitworkxDone my share of packing 50 lbs aroung the Cascades. Reckon I'll have to pluck a couple hairs off my head to make room for the extra weight of my Compact Flash card.
Weight not an issue but durability is
by Screaminlizard - 5/20/07 12:00 PM In reply to: Heavy by haf canadianI can’t imagine the weight of a flash card ever making much difference to me, but there is one other consideration that is very important – durability! Not so much the durability of the card itself, but the pins that come in contact with them. I have had the Nikon D70 with compact flash and now own the Nikon D80 with SD card. I always worried about the Compact flash card bending the tiny pins inside the camera as I inserted it. If you look at the holes in the card you can imagine how tiny and fragile the pins must be. SD cards have a different setup that allows the cards to slide up against the pins. There are about 50 very small pins on Compact Flash and only 9 on SD cards. Maybe it’s just me, but I never worry about sliding in the SD variety because of this difference in design.
Part of the reason there are so few pin failures is...
by R. Proffitt
- 5/20/07 12:06 PM
In reply to: Weight not an issue but durability is by Screaminlizard
Because it's very strong along the lines of force that is applied to it. Much like a nail it bends only when the force is from the wrong direction.
The only failure I witnessed was some owner that stuck coins in there. You can only imagine why.
Bob
size
by haf canadian - 5/20/07 1:18 PM In reply to: Weight not an issue but durability is by ScreaminlizardI agree: the card bay in the camera aligns the inbound/outbound card such that there is little if any chance of any side force bending pins on Compact Flash cards. I have little concern about that. Again, it is the larger size that to me makes Compact Flash easier handling, and therefore that much less likely to get lost, overlooked, or accidentally dropped into or onto some card-inhospitable place, like water, mud, or inaccessible crevice. Downsizing electronics is great, but there is a limit at which, unless you have small fingers, things become clumsy to use, and the technique known as "human engineering" (making things physically manageable considering human body mechanics) comes into critical play. A compromise point has been reached where smaller lady's hands or a teen's hands have no trouble with SD cards, but men's typical fingers find Compact Flash easier; given that neither gender would complain about the manageability of CF cards, I should think they would be the proper choice for cameras in a family. In that circumstance card size should therefore be a factor in buying any digital camera.
self-cleaning sensor technology
by fionndruinne - 5/12/07 2:55 PM In reply to: Facts You Might Already Know by HopeitworkxFrom what I've seen of tests which have been run, sensor cleaning technology is largely ineffective. I wouldn't choose the XTi for just this reason over any other camera.
My friend owns an XTi, and has almost as much problem with dust as he would with a non dust-reducing camera model. The fact is, you'll still have to clean it out once in a while, until they create some truly effective technology for sensor cleaning.
Sensor Longevity Affected?
by Hopeitworkx - 5/12/07 3:55 PM In reply to: self-cleaning sensor technology by fionndruinneI wouldn't be able to comment on the effectiveness of the self-cleaning sensor, not even possessing a DSLR myself. I'm waiting until I outgrow all the capability of my Canon S80 P&S first. The concept makes sense to me- it vibrates the sensor every time the camera is turned on/off to "shake" off the dust. I can't see how it wouldn't reduce dust somewhat. But I'll defer my opinion to someone who already has one- any takers?
My concern would be as to the sensor life being affected by being shaken repeatedly over several years.
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