I am between getting the new Cannon EOS 500D T1i or a Nikon D60. The Cannon seems to have some of the same features as the D90 does and is 15mp and is priced inbetween the D60 and D90. I like that it has stuff like DOF preview and a few other features such as HD video etc... I plan on trying to get a lens that is 17 to 200 so it covers all bases and do not have to worry about swapping lens back and forth and introducing dust on the sensor. Which would you recommend and for what reasons? I appreciate any input you DSLR owners can give me. Thanks.
ah, the age old battle. the best advice I can offer you is to see which camera feels better in your hands. An uncomfortable camera is going to suck no matter the brand or price. both are good brands and offer more glass than just about anyone else out there. I dont have a DSLR yet, but considering Nikon, Sony or Pentax. Good luck and happy hunting!
Is this your first DSLR? I just got a Canon XSi/450D as a gift from my girlfriend and am pretty happy about it. I don't think I'm in a position to handle the more expensive bodies just yet but glass is more important anyway.
This is just my :2cents: but since I've been using my Cannon XTi Rebell (not a high end body, more like the lower entry level) I've been quite pleased with the range of lenses. As for this HD Video crap, to be honest I don't get why an HD feature on a camera...if I want HD video I'll just use my HD Camcorder, a camera's function is to take pictures only, not to record videos...but that's my personal opinion, I'm sure if I didn't have my HD Camcorder I might have a different opinion but I'm not in that situation..any who, as for which is better they each have there strengths and weaknesses. I'm currently looking into purchasing another body and I'm not rulling out the Nikkon but after some reading on who has the most lenses and features on teh lenses I'm gong to have to go with Cannon my self. Both Nikon and Cannon have a lovely range of Lenses but Cannon has a slight, very slight advantage on lenses. Canon has a one of the fastest lenses...well from what I've read that is. Having used my camera for quite some time now, I've come to believe that it doesn't matter on the body you purchase, what matters are the lenses you purchase for your body. Don't get me wrong the body is important, but lenses make a huge difference. To be honest what ever you go with Canon or Nikon you'll be happy with either one, both are great cameras and both have great features...my only complaint about the technology war is this HD crap, if I purchase a high end camera I'm purchasing it to take photos not videos, I'd like to see a professional photographer using the HD video feature on a camera...but that's just my personal opinion. Hope this helps.
I recently got a Canon XSi and I'm happy with it. I did alot of research on this subject. There are a million websites that do comparison studies on dSLR's. Cameralabs.net is a pretty good site. DPreview, CNET, and Steve's Camera's. You can also go to photography-on-the-net and might run up on a good deal on a used Canon dSLR. Dont overlook the Sony dSLR's.
Got a Nikon D90 recently... love it so far! Haven't even tried the video feature yet, however :shrug:
Most any camera in that price range can take great pics. I would try both out and see how you like the handling, controls. etc. If you are a newbie, you want something approachable. You could keave it an auto mode but really need to switch to custom settings to get the best pictures. Some cameras are more intuitive than others. If you take low light, look for one with high iso performance and read up on white balance. For ex, I am using a Nikon D70s and have used a D90. The D90 just seems easier to use. There is more than megapixels. The D70s takes nice pics but need to tweak settings to get better sharpness, better colors, etc. Cooter, what happened to the panasonic?
as stated above, both cameras will work just fine, and it will depend on which one feels best in your hands. go to a good camera store, and hold each one, side-by-side... and try not to listen to what the salesman is saying, you are going to using it, not him... as a custom printer for many years, i know many working pros that will swear by both, and an equal number that will swear at both... as far as video, i would avoid it in my camera, having your sensor "charged" for minutes at a time, instead of split seconds, to me would lead to a shorter life span, and color consistency, of the sensor... not to mention a bigger magnet for dust... just my opinion... one thing to consider, are the batteries used, how many shots per charge, how many spares do you want to buy, and can you find one, if needed in a small town USA, or somewhere in Thailand or wherever you choose to travel... I chose my Sigma several years ago, simply based on batteries, as it offered an add-on power-grip powered by AA's... the Cannon is rated at 400 shots, the Nikon at 500 shots per charge, depending on your shooting habits, it may not matter... but, it was a big concern for me... again, hold them, fondle them, choose the one that makes you want to shoot with it... much like the car you choose to drive... enjoy !!!!!
The best way is to try both and figure out what feels best in your hand. Cleaning out the sensor really isn't a big deal. The lens with big ranges usually don't take as sharp pictures as the ones with small ranges and on f stop. Prime lenses are best, but for walking around, zoom lenses are wayyyyy more efficient. The T1i is going to destroy the D60 for sure. It's more of a competitor for the D90. I'd look into the D90 more if I were you. Although HD video is fun to play with, I've figured it's not really a great feature. It won't auto focus as you go, so you've got to focus it as you move. As you move, things will get out of focus, so you are going to be looking at it very often. It's also limited to 720p on the D90. D90 will take great pictures though for sure, and it has a wide selection of lenses for you to choose from. I think you should look into lenses later. You'll find that probably most of the picture quality will come from the lens itself. Don't worry about megapixels because you probably only need 6-10. Anything between 6-10 is hardly noticeable. Anything past 10 is a bit excessive in my opinion. Unless you're making billboards, there's no need for 15 mp. I just bought a Nikon D200 recently for under 700 dollars with a battery grip. The grip will help a lot for shooting since the body is incredibly heavy! It's not very user friendly though. The D90 and T1i will definitely be easier to figure out. I actually had to take out the manual, and I'm in the process of reading a guide on all the features and what all buttons do on the D200. Again, LENS >>>>> BODY in image quality.
Thanks guys. I know it is more in the lens than the body. I read the reviews on all the 18 to 200 lens and none of them are very good. I guess I will end up having to get 2 lens. I am really leaning towards the Nikon but hate spending as much money as the D90 cost but don't want to skimp out on something this important either. I'll probably make a decision once I get to the store and see both. That or whichever one comes with the best lens kit combo. Until then my Panasonic FZ18 works great but my only complaint is in low light/higher ISO situations. Unfortunately, whenever I finish a detail it is a low light situation. LOL Keep the input coming.
i think what you need to invest in is a tripod then. i hate it, but i finish when the sun is gone too. the 18-200 nikon VR lens isn't actually bad. My friend lent it to me until i get my own, and i'm enjoying using it. I mostly stick to the low ranges of 18-70 though.
Most users should not need to shoot RAW. I think most people should lean toward a camera has that decent in camera JPG processing. Nikons tend to shoot neutral (compared to Canons) so the average person will think some pictures look "dull" so it is important to use the menu's to kick up the sharpness and color saturation. I have a 18-105 and although the 18-200 is considered less sharp it can take some great pictures unless you are really cropping them and looking for corner to corner sharpness. The D90 will correct CA in lenses. As said above, 1. what feels best in your hands 2. what has logical controls 3. best exposure / white balance performance under many conditions 4. good flash coverage (some cameras are better than others) 5. low light performance (able to create nice pics at 800 to 1600) I have used the D70s and D90 and the D90 is significantly better because it does a better job at exposure/white balance and the in camera jpq processing is much better. The high resolution LCD makes it easy to check pictures quickly for focus and accurate assessment of exposure. Once you get a camera, learn how the camera thinks (what is focuses and calculates exposure on). This is the key to getting good pics. It less about lenses and megapixels, etc.
