DCushing wrote:.
I am considering my first DSLR camera and seem to see lots of goodreviews on both cameras..
I enjoy outdoor photography and some low light shoots. I enjoy theuse of a telephoto lens and the occasional macro shot as well. Ilike to travel light and am not crazy about carrying a tripod butas I get more into this I don't think carrying a tripod will be anissue..
I would like to have a camera I can grow into, and think the NikonD80 has a better build quality (which appeals to me) but I can'tget good data on which company's lenses would be better..
Yes you can, go over to http://www.photozone.de.
My hope is to stay between $1200 to $1800 on the camera and lens.The D80 with the 18-200VR lens looks appealing as my initial setup(Although some have told me the DX18-135 will give clearerpictures), but I'm curious what anyone else thinks..
18-200 is great for versatility. It's not a bad lens but not the best for IQ either..
While I have clearly stated a Nikon preference, I could easily beswayed to Canon. Any thoughts on the lens setup (and which of thesetwo companies may be the better choice based on their lenses) wouldbe appreciated. Thanks in advance..
Have you actually handled any of these two?.
Don't wait for the Nikon D-whatever, have fun now!http://www.flickr.com/photos/j_wijnands/..
Make sure you handle both cameras. Both Nikon and Canon have a very large and similar range of lenses - though I'm not sure Canon have an equivalent of the 18-200VR in their range..
Canon have the reputation of having better low light performance than Nikon, so that might influence your choice - though whether there is much difference in the real world is debatable..
Both are excellent cameras, so you can't really go wrong with either. Maybe sample the Pentax K100D or K110D also..
Alex.
Http://akiralx.smugmug.com/..
Thanks for the advice..
Checked out the web page (very helpful)..
Did not understand what IQ meant when you said "18-200 is great for versatility. It's not a bad lens but not the best for IQ either".
I have handled both and while I like the lighter weight of the Canon I think the D80 feels better..
Thanks again..
Wijnands wrote:.
DCushing wrote:.
I am considering my first DSLR camera and seem to see lots of goodreviews on both cameras..
I enjoy outdoor photography and some low light shoots. I enjoy theuse of a telephoto lens and the occasional macro shot as well. Ilike to travel light and am not crazy about carrying a tripod butas I get more into this I don't think carrying a tripod will be anissue..
I would like to have a camera I can grow into, and think the NikonD80 has a better build quality (which appeals to me) but I can'tget good data on which company's lenses would be better..
Yes you can, go over to http://www.photozone.de.
My hope is to stay between $1200 to $1800 on the camera and lens.The D80 with the 18-200VR lens looks appealing as my initial setup(Although some have told me the DX18-135 will give clearerpictures), but I'm curious what anyone else thinks..
18-200 is great for versatility. It's not a bad lens but not thebest for IQ either..
While I have clearly stated a Nikon preference, I could easily beswayed to Canon. Any thoughts on the lens setup (and which of thesetwo companies may be the better choice based on their lenses) wouldbe appreciated. Thanks in advance..
Have you actually handled any of these two?.
Don't wait for the Nikon D-whatever, have fun now!http://www.flickr.com/photos/j_wijnands/..
Alex thank you..
I handled both and like the Nikon better..
I think I am going to get a 18-135 and a 70-300VR Nikon lens. Price is similar to the 18-300VR, but what the fellow at the store is telling me is that while the 18-300VR lens is great, the image quality won't be as good as these two lens separately. That makes sense and the only draw back is twofold: interchanging lens and no VR on the 18-135..
Any last thoughts?.
Thanks again..
Alex Leach wrote:.
Make sure you handle both cameras. Both Nikon and Canon have avery large and similar range of lenses - though I'm not sure Canonhave an equivalent of the 18-200VR in their range..
Canon have the reputation of having better low light performancethan Nikon, so that might influence your choice - though whetherthere is much difference in the real world is debatable..
Both are excellent cameras, so you can't really go wrong witheither. Maybe sample the Pentax K100D or K110D also..
Alex.
Http://akiralx.smugmug.com/..
Except for the markrting need of 10 MP the 400D is different class camera than the D80.
If I had your budget to get started I would be looking at the 30D it will have better low light High ISO performance over the 10MP sensors with the increase in resolution being really hard to notice (I print 13x10 off my 6mp).
Teh 30D includes things like spot metering.
Sigma makes a nice 18-200 stablized lens for Canon. that is about $600.
I would also point out that both the Sony A100 and Pentax K10D can stabalized any lens from new to used to 3rd party giving you more budget leverage..
I have a the Maxxum 5D which cost me about what the A100 is going for:.
I have addeda Sigma 70-300 APO DGSigma 24-124 2.8-4.5Sigma 10-20.
For a total cost of About $1500... and all are stablized by the body..
If I had a bigger budget.. and was thinking about movning systems the 30D would be at the top of my list..
Ken - KM 5Dhttp://www.cascadephotoworks.com..
Ken_5D wrote:.
Except for the marketing need of 10 MP the 400D is different classcamera than the D80.
Not quite sure what you mean - if you mean the 400D is in a class clearly superior to the D80 I'm not sure many would agree..
If I had your budget to get started I would be looking at the 30Dit will have better low light High ISO performance over the 10MPsensors with the increase in resolution being really hard to notice(I print 13x10 off my 6mp).
Great camera, but the RRP of the 30D is nearly $1200 - that's not going to leave him much left in his budget. Not sure the 30D is a starter dSLR?.
Teh 30D includes things like spot metering.
So does the Nikon D80 (but not the 400D)..
Sigma makes a nice 18-200 stablized lens for Canon. that is about $600.
I would also point out that both the Sony A100 and Pentax K10D canstabalized any lens from new to used to 3rd party giving you morebudget leverage..
I agree, maybe he should consider the A100, but maybe the K100D or K110D?.
Alex.
Http://akiralx.smugmug.com/..
DCushing wrote:.
Alex thank you..
I handled both and like the Nikon better..
I think I am going to get a 18-135 and a 70-300VR Nikon lens. Priceis similar to the 18-300VR, but what the fellow at the store istelling me is that while the 18-300VR lens is great, the imagequality won't be as good as these two lens separately. That makessense and the only draw back is twofold: interchanging lens and noVR on the 18-135..
Any last thoughts?.
Thanks again..
IQ = image quality. Remember it's 18-200 not 18-300 (assume a typo). The 70-300VR is supposed to be rather better - I aim to get one on my D200. Personally I think 18-135 and 70-300 is too much overlap, but I agree with the salesman - the more range you have in one zoom, the IQ will suffer..
One other cheaper combo to consider is a kit lens (18-55 or 18-70 with the D80, I forget which it is, preferably the 18-70) + the new Nikon 55-200 which *is* VR! Not quite as much reach as 300mm but still pretty good - and the lens is remarkably inexpensive and is getting good reviews..
To be honest I'd get one lens with the camera to begin with then consider a second one later after you've got used to the camera..
You might want to forget telephotos and go wider than 18mm if you get a tastes for landscapes for example..
Alex.
Http://akiralx.smugmug.com/..
DCushing wrote:.
Thanks for the advice..
Your welcome but do you have to topquote above the entire discussion?.
Checked out the web page (very helpful)..
It's the best lens review site I know about..
Did not understand what IQ meant when you said "18-200 is great forversatility. It's not a bad lens but not the best for IQ either".
Check the review. It's not the killer of all lenses for image quality..
I have handled both and while I like the lighter weight of theCanon I think the D80 feels better..
Then why not buy that?Don't wait for the Nikon D-whatever, have fun now!http://www.flickr.com/photos/j_wijnands/..
I would suggest getting just one lens to start with then deciding which direction you want to expand into. You may not find that telephoto is where you want to go. You may find you need to go wider angle, or larger aperture (for lower light and/or shallow depth of field)..
Telephoto can be disappointing, there never seem enough mm for many applications; such as wildlife..
As other posters have mentioned, some of the non-Canon/Nikon systems are also worth looking into. And on the plus side for Canon, they have full-frame sensors on some models once you get stuck in to a lens system, it is very expensive to change to another..
Brian A...
Alex Leach wrote:.
Ken_5D wrote:.
Except for the marketing need of 10 MP the 400D is different classcamera than the D80.
Not quite sure what you mean - if you mean the 400D is in a classclearly superior to the D80 I'm not sure many would agree..
Chill Alex that is what I was saying.. I find it odd that people want to dump the D80 in with the Rebel when it really is in the 30D class of camera in most cases. Don't assume I am dissing Nikon..
Nikon has sort of created this comparison that suffers on price by triming the D40x too much for people looking for a REAL entry into the Nikon system. I saw this when a family friend D50 owner upgraded to the Xti, Nikon gave him no D50 upgrade on student's budget..
My opinion.
D40 a good camera for the money as long as people are aware of the loss of lens support that will limit choices etc. If you will want more than the kit.. not sure it is a good choice.. I wish there was still a D50 for beginners who want to grow with Nikon.
D80... Nice camera that if you like Nikon design is a great dealKen - KM 5Dhttp://www.cascadephotoworks.com..