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Digital cameras: Which one shall I get !! Canon 40D or Nikon D80
Which one shall I get !! Canon 40D or Nikon D80
by mac&ching - 11/25/07 8:22 PMI'm a beginner in using DSLR !! Can anyone suggest or recommend which DSLR I should get ?? Canon 40D or Nikon D80 ?? Guys I really need your help in this... URGENT !! It's for my wife..
Consider the 2 model,
by jump1127 - 11/25/07 8:51 PM In reply to: Which one shall I get !! Canon 40D or Nikon D80 by mac&chingI'd say go for Canon 40D. In fact, you should compare Canon 40D with D200. Visit www.dreview.com for more information. Good luck.
Same Dilemma Here
by sunwatcher - 11/26/07 3:40 AM In reply to: Which one shall I get !! Canon 40D or Nikon D80 by mac&chingI'd also like to hear other opinions on this. I've been a fan of Canon cameras but I'm leaning towards the Nikon D80 since it consistently gets rave reviews.
Go Canon!
by MaidMay - 11/26/07 10:04 AM In reply to: Same Dilemma Here by sunwatcherI highly recommend the Canon 40D and a gift certificate to a local photography class so she can learn all of the fantastic features.
I have a Canon myself and simply love it. I hope to get a 20D one of these days.
The 40D isn't getting rave reviews?
by Kiddpeat - 11/26/07 12:21 PM In reply to: Same Dilemma Here by sunwatcherI don't know what you are reading, but the 40D reviews from knowledgeable people have been very favorable. Check DPReview for one of the latest I've seen. The D80 is simply not in the same class as the 40D as an earlier poster pointed out.
GO Nikon
by fgasparini - 11/26/07 12:53 PM In reply to: Which one shall I get !! Canon 40D or Nikon D80 by mac&chingWhat ever you choose, you can't go wrong. But for price (Canon 50% over Nikon) I suggest to you take Nikon. The D80 is an excellent camera as the 40D. I think if you compare side by side both cameras, the extra cost for Canon is not justified.
Anyway, the D80 is one of the best DSLR in the market today. And remember: is not the camera who takes good pictures, is the one behind it.
Good luck.
Think carefully
by formerlyPentax - 11/26/07 3:12 PM In reply to: Which one shall I get !! Canon 40D or Nikon D80 by mac&chingAm considering the 40D myself - but my dilemma is whether I can really justify it or should I just save $600 or so and get the Rebel XTi. Looking at many reviews of the XTi it seems like a perfectly fine camera and quite adequate for a beginner. The main advantage the 40D would have is better low light peformance and general robustness. If you or your wife are beginners you might be better off getting the Rebel XTi and spending the money you save on really good lenses e.g. a few hundred $ on a good prime lens rather than the cheap zooms that come with the kits. Later you could upgrade to a better body like the 40D if you felt the need and could continue to use your lenses.
I really liked this guy's analysis of the choice
http://philip.greenspun.com/photography/building-a-digital-slr-system
Of course if you're dropping down to the Rebel XTi the Nikon D80 might win that competition - but agreement does seem to be that the 40D beats the D80. The question only you can answer is is it worth it to you and your wife - and you might want to graduate from the beginner category before you want to answer that.
You, IMHO, are missing a biggie.
by Kiddpeat - 11/26/07 4:09 PM In reply to: Think carefully by formerlyPentaxThe 40D has live view. The XTi does not.
Live view on a tripod allows incredible macro shots which are perfectly focused. On second thought, stay with the XTi or the D80. I don't really want the competition.
Yes good point...
by formerlyPentax - 11/26/07 5:36 PM In reply to: You, IMHO, are missing a biggie. by Kiddpeat... all comes down to what features you want, and keeping what you spend within reason.
All I know is - the skis I ski on now are not those that made sense for me as a beginner.
Canon 40D vs Nikon D80
by hjfok - 11/26/07 6:28 PM In reply to: Which one shall I get !! Canon 40D or Nikon D80 by mac&chingIf your budget is not tight, the clear choice is Canon 40D. It is simply a class above Nikon D80. This is not to say Nikon has inferior camera. But Nikon D80 simply cannot compare with Canon 40D. Canon 40D has better high ISO performance, much faster frame rate for fast actions, and other not as important things like a more rugged body, live view, dust removable mechanism, etc. The comparable Nikon models to Canon 40D are the Nikon D200 and D300. I think Canon 40D is still better than Nikon D200 in performance with slightly better high ISO performance and faster frame rate. But Nikon D300 is a mighty competitor, with better features on paper. I have to see the reviews for actual test performance comparison. But the Nikon D300 is quite a bit more than the Canon 40D.
However you should not put all your money in the camera body. You need some good lenses to complement the mighty camera body. So if budget is limited, look into the entry level camera body (eg. Canon Rebel XTi or Nikon D40) with a good general purpose lens and a mid range tele lens.
iT'S ALL ABOUT THE LENSES
by joonbeams - 11/27/07 7:03 PM In reply to: Which one shall I get !! Canon 40D or Nikon D80 by mac&chingI don't know if others have told you this, but once you make a choice (canon v. nikon) you will be locked into proprietary lenses. This is not bad because both make great lenses - the best of the the best. So you should evaluate your decision CAREFULLY before you drop $1000+ on a body. It's all a waste if you get a great body and crappy lenses (and this is why Nikon/Canon will blow away all others for a long time).
I'm partial to Canon because they make slightly better all-purpose lenses - slightly better for sports, weddings. Nikon's lenses are slightly better for "artistic" shots like landscapes, portraits, etc. So if you're looking to "get started" with a general purpose lens and the potential to build later on, I'd go with Canon. If you know for sure that you will be doing more artistic work, I'd go with the Nikon. These are generalizations and you lose nothing with either maker's top of the line lenses. That is the BEST advice I can give having used (and loved) both lines.
As for the 40D v D80, there really is no comparison. The 40D is simply a better overall camera: faster frame per sec, auto cleaning sensor, larger LCD, etc. more "natural" controls and "sturdier" (the CNET review is quite accurate on features, though the 8.1 rating is low for as far as "value" is concerned - any real photographer would know this). For the price, the 40D is simply the best body on the market, with the D80 second when adjusted for price. The 40D is what a top of the top canon would have had as little as 3-5 years ago and you may find that you will have almost no need (even as a pro) for canon's elite bodies - it's that good. If you can't afford the 40D (no shame in that), the XTi is solid and should more than do for a beginner to semi-pro (my wife uses one and it's great - slow fps being major weakness). You can use the saved money and buy a great lens (I'd suggest the canon L series 24-70mm or 24-105mm for "all purpose use" but these are pricey - great thing is you can use them longer than you will use your camera body!).
P.S. - take a class at your local camera shop or community college - this is a MUST if you want to get the most out of your new "toy." Congratulations - you and your wife will love either one! Sorry so long...
Agree with you
by hjfok - 11/28/07 6:29 PM In reply to: iT'S ALL ABOUT THE LENSES by joonbeamsHowever the 24-70mm f/2.8L and 24-105mm f/4L are better choice for the full frame bodies like the 5 D and the pro 1 series. For those sensors with 1.6x conversion factor like the XT, XTi, 20-40Ds, the EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS is a better fit. I have this lens and its optical quality is L class, and it has wide angle for those sensors with 1.6x conversion factor. The 24-70 and 24-105 lenses will not give you wide angle on the 40D or XTi.
The best mid range tele is the 70-200mm f/2.8L IS. If this is too expensive, then the 70-200mm f/4 is probably the best bargain L lens with excellent quality. But if you budget is not too tight, get the 70-200mm f/2.8L IS. This lens is a bit more hefty but worth the extra weight and price, especially for low light actions. I can carry this lens with my 30D and the 17-55mm f/2.8IS all day without problem.
The significance of the difference between 24mm and 17mm
by Kiddpeat - 11/28/07 9:33 PM In reply to: Agree with you by hjfokon a cropped camera is very questionable. The 24-70 is really a better investment since your are getting 'L' quality which will move quite nicely if a future move takes you to a full frame camera. It will also give you a bit more reach which is quite handy at times.
If you really want wide angle on a cropped body, you should probably get the 10-22.
L lens
by hjfok - 11/29/07 12:29 PM In reply to: The significance of the difference between 24mm and 17mm by KiddpeatI see your point. I have debated a little bit about whether to get the EF 24-70mm f/2.8L lens vs the EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS when I bought the 30D. What I like about the 17-55mm lens is the IS, the slightly lighter size/weight and the optical quality is excellent, on par with the L lenses. I shoot a lot of photos in low light handheld without tripods, so the IS has saved my shots quite a bit. The lens build quality is the EF-S class, similar to the 17-85mm lens. It is well built and sturdy enough, but not as nice as the L lenses. My EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS is built like a tank, weather-sealed, and felt quite substantial in the hand. But in terms of optical quality, the 17-55mm lens is at least on par with my 70-200mm lens, sometimes even better.
But I do see your point about someone who may want his/her $1000+ lens to last for years to come, and in case of upgrade to full frame. But I value the IS more than the longevity of the lens. It depends on what kind of photography one usually does. Let me give you my example. Almost all of my photos are casual family and travel photos (probably same as most CNET forum visitors), and I'm not a landscape photographer or a pro. So I will probably stick with the 1.6x sensors for a quite a while, and enjoy the longer reach of my lenses. One of the main reason I picked the 30D vs the 5D is that I like the 1.6x extra reach of 30D (well, and the faster frame rate), so that I can carry the 70-200mm lens rather than the bigger 100-400mm lens. I do find 200mm is not quite enough reach on a full frame camera for zoo, wild life, actions from a distance, etc. I have no problem carrying the 30D with the 17-55mm IS and 70-200mm IS lenses all day, and I can carry them easily in a messenger bag or backpack. But they are pretty much my limit of how much weight I want to put on my shoulders. And I hardly enlarge photos, so full frame cameras are not that interesting to me, and potentially add more weight from heavier cameras and bigger lenses.
And if I do one day get a full frame body, I will definitely get the 24-70mm f/2.8L lens (hopefully they will have an optional IS version). But for those who are not likely go to full frame in the next few years, I do think the IS and a little wider angle of the 17-55mm lens add more to my photos than the build quality of the lens barrel. At least from reviews, the optical quality of the 17-55mm IS lens is not inferior to the 24-70mm f/2.8L lens.
I have mixed feelings about IS. If the IS is as powerful as
by Kiddpeat - 11/29/07 3:35 PM In reply to: L lens by hjfokit is on the 70-200 f2.8L, then I would love to have it on the 24-70. However, if it's more like the 17-85 (barely noticeable), then it's not a big deal. I think FF is in everyone's future unless they choose to opt out. The price-performance curve says that it will soon be quite common to shoot at very high resolution in FF. Since we will still have our 1.6 camera bodies, we will shift back and forth between both worlds. Thus, I think EF-S lenses are wasted money since they will not work on FF.
I would question the quality/calibration of your 70-200 if it does not produce better images than an EF-S lense.
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