Digital cameras: Decision Time: Rebel XTi or Nikon 40Dx
Decision Time: Rebel XTi or Nikon 40Dx
by wbb56 - 1/2/08 7:45 AMAfter reading and reading--and the reading some more, I've narrowed my dSLR choices to the Canon XTi & the Nikon 40Dx. Now I need help, suggestions, recommendations, etc..
I have never owned a Nikon camera product--always Canon, Minolta, Fuji, or Pentax. I currently own a Fuji F30 & a Canon S3IS. I also have an old Canon EOS Elan II with the following lenses: Canon EF 28-80mm 1:3.5-5.6 & Canon EF 75-300mm 1:4-5.6 (if I read correctly these will work with the XTi--the question is how well--and is this enough of a difference make to choose the Canon over the Nikon).
The photos I take are varied-- lots of shots of my beautiful 1 year old daughter inside and out, rarely posed--and my athletic 15 year old son--basketball, snowboarding, golf, tennis, etc.. So the camera needs to be versatile..
Thanks very much in advance!
Canon vs Nikon
by hjfok - 1/2/08 1:06 PM In reply to: Decision Time: Rebel XTi or Nikon 40Dx by wbb56Since your film camera is EOS, the lenses should work with the digital EOS. The difference is that there will be a crop factor with a cropped field of view. So your 28-80mm lens will work like a 45-128mm lens on the XTi, whereas your 75-300mm lens will work like a 120-480 mm lens.
Either the Canon XTi or Nikon D40x are comparable and good entry-level D-SLR. They can shoot up to 3fps, so not terribly fast but fast enough for most. The lenses you have are slow zoom lenses, which will work well in daytime outdoor or well-lit settings, or when flash is used in low light. Digital D-SLR tends to have more motion blurring than film SLR, and so you typically will need faster shutter speed to freeze the action than film SLR. For low light action without flash, I often need to use fast zooms f/2.8 at high ISO. But you can see whether your existing lenses work for your shots, and decide on upgrading your lenses.
If you want to save some money, stick with Canon which is at least as good as the Nikon D40x, perhaps may be even slightly better in terms of high ISO low light performance and better autofocus (XTi has the same autofocus mechanism as the more expansive Canon EOS 30D). But it lacks spot metering and some people complain about lack of ergonomics.
So you should go to a local store and see which one you like better in your hands, then factor in the decision whether you want to buy brand new lenses. Either camera is good, and you won't be disappointed. It will make more economic sense to buy the Canon and keep the current lenses, and spend extra money if needed to upgrade the lenses, rather than spending extra money to buy brand new entry level camera body and entry level lenses. The Nikon kit lenses 18-55 and 55-200mm lenses are slow zoom lenses too, like your current lenses.
You should also consider getting an external flash and a good diffuser like the Gary Fong Lightsphere II (clear is better than the opaque version) if you do a lot of baby portraits. The Gary Fong Lightsphere or his other inverted dome diffusers are the best you can get. Also don't forget a good photo editing program like Photoshop or other equivalent programs. A monitor calibrator like Spyder or Huey can save you a lot of time and frustration especially if you print a lot of photos on your own printers.
d40x rumored to be replaced by D60
by as65 - 1/2/08 8:06 PM In reply to: Decision Time: Rebel XTi or Nikon 40Dx by wbb56Hi, I just upgraded my Canon p&s for a Nikon D40x that I got for Christmas and I really love it, (I'm a newbie to photography) and tonight was looking online for some lens suggestions for upgrading from the kit lens down the road.
What I found to my surpise (and maybe a bit of dismay) was rumors flying around online that the D40x is being discontinued,and being replaced by a D60 model. The Japan Nikon site apparently posted a press release it has stopped production of the D40X. I also read a post online where a prospective buyer went to buy a D40X from the local electronic store and it was out of stock, not known when it would be restocked. And if you look on the Nikon USA site it shows a new low price for the D40X, maybe to clear it out to make way for its successor?
Maybe if you are still undecided between the Nikon and the Canon wait a few weeks to see what Nikon is replacing the D40X with (what I gather is that the D40 is not going anywhere for now). Just type in a search engine D40x discontinued, or D40x to be replaced by D60 and you will several threads on this topic.
Maybe Nikon is deciding to make a a live preview and dust sensor, to compete with the other brand dslr that offer those features.
I really love my D40X but am in a conundrum as whether to return it to see what follows in its footsteps. Just in the week I've had it I've found a couple things lacking in the dslr that most likely won't ever matter to be, live lcd preview, dust sensor (I won't be taking my camera to the Sahara Desert anytime soon) and I am accepted the fact I'd only be able to use certain lenses with it. Yet to be replaced only a year after its debut, I'd like to see what Nikon has in store for the beginner dslr consumer.
Hope this helps a little bit in your decision process, if you do decide to go ahead and get the D40X, I'm sure you won't be disappointed.
new and better D-SLR
by hjfok - 1/4/08 9:13 PM In reply to: d40x rumored to be replaced by D60 by as65I think buying a D-SLR is like buying a computer or laptop. Soon after you think you have bought the latest meanest machine, it became yesterday's lost luster technology. In 1991, the first D-SLR from Kodak was just 1.3 MP and cost $30,000. Then in 2000, the Nikon D1 shock the D-SLR world with a whooping 2.7MP at $5000, taking over the Kodak's domination at that time. In less than a decade, the D1 is now obsolete and some people may even laugh when they hear today that someone has spent $5000 on a 2.7 MP camera. But that is the cruel reality of technology. Things become obsolete fast.
But don't despair, a lot of master piece have been made by cameras with less ability. Camera is just a tool. The photographer is still the composer. You will still enjoy great photos with whichever D-SLR you end up with. Better and more advanced tools just make it easier. Have fun with photography. It is an art more than technology.
| Forum legend: | |
 |
Locked thread |
 |
Moderator |
 |
CNET staff |
 |
Samsung staff |
 |
Norton Authorized Support team |
 |
AVG staff |
 |
Windows Outreach team |
 |
Dell staff |
 |
Intel staff |
