Hello everyone. I have been doing a lot of research lately and I definitely want to buy myself a DSLR, but the problem is I cannot decide on one so I come to you experts asking for advice. These are the situations I have come up with:
1. Canon Rebel XT (+a lens?)
2. Canon Rebel XTi
3. Nikon D40x
4. Nikon D60 (coming out soon?)
I am looking to spend the price of a XTi at max, so if I buy the XTi I am going to use the kit lens for now until I can afford more glass.
Your helpful insight, suggestions and questions to me are greatly appreciated.
On lower end consumer grade cameras, I would hesitate to buy used. Its easy to rack up 50,000 shutter counts and thats about the lifespan of a lower end consumer grade camera. On some cameras like a D200, they are rated at 100,000 shutter activations, but there are D200s out there with over 350,000 and working like new.
A lot depends on the owner and how well they take care of their equipment.
Have you actually felt the XT or Xti? Do this first then decide.
If only! The D60 doesn't have an internal focusing motor so it has the same restrictions as the D40/D40x.That and it's flash sync is even slower than the D40. I personally have a D40 and I would completely recommend it. The only thing the D40X has over it is the MP which don't even make a difference!
XT
I love mine
Any reason why you chose the XT over the XTi?
There are no lens restrictions with the D80. I know nothing about the D60 but I suspect that Nikon learned a lesson and, like the D80, it will autofocus with all lenses.
The D40 is quite possibly the best camera for the money with the D40X being second best. The D80 (which I have) is significantly more expensive with features, important to me, that most others will never use.
D60 is announced as it didn't have an internal focusing motor like D40/40x. I think Nikon will continue on this series as a new class product which is cheap and DSLR. D40/40X is not my favourite camera but actually many of my friends prefer it to a DSRL-like camera and I totally agree with them.
That is what I just ended up reading in another thread that Nikon recently changed their lens mounts and makes old lenses obsolete.
I thought I read somewhere that the XSi (EOS 450D) was coming out soon and that was another reasoning for me to go with the XT because I figured a nice price drop was coming.
Do people usually have good luck with buying used? I have been looking around and the used prices vs. new prices are drastically lower so I was thinking about going used, but I was unsure of what kind of luck people had with used cameras.
I've got a xt, I love it ......that said I am ready to upgrade to a 40d- anyone know of one for sale? I have always held to the saying "lenses before camera" well I have some high quality lenses now and would like to upgrade the body. If you are interested in an xt body with kit lens -17-85, wireless remote, CP and UV filters, and lowepro rez140 bag, $380 plus shipping PM me
Do you recommend a certain battery grip? Does this contain an extra battery in it for longer battery life or it just is a weight to add to the camera to make it balanced?
My friend has an XTi an has the canon battery grip. It has room for 2 normal betteries, and it also come with this thing that allows you to use a bunch of AA batteries. The main reason he bought it is becuase it has a trigger button on it that allows you to use the comfortably when shooting "Vertically" i think its called.
Ohhhh, and it also makes the camera look sooo much cooler:D
Just another quick question that I had while researching -- I had noticed that the Canon Rebel XTi boasts a self-cleaning sensor unit, while the XT does not. Is this something that I should have or is it a process that a camera store can perform for me for a nominal fee or something?
BTW you guys rock! :hail: :lmao:
Dust is something one just has to contend with when operating a camera that uses interchangeable lenses. If you change a lens ... you will get dust on the sensor. Just like taxes and death ... an unavoidable unpleasantness of life.
But ... unlike taxes and death ... dust isn't that big of a deal. When it first pops up you notice it on your images and you clone it out then you clean your sensor. Cleaning your sensor is like changing the oil on your car ... a simple procedure. No big deal.
But a camera that reduces the times you need to clean your sensor is worth a few extra bucks. (AKA a car that can go 10,000 between oil changes is a nice feature.) I have a friend that shoots at least three times a week and has six+ lenses. He uses his XTi as a backup so it doesn't get as many lens changes ... but he has noticed that the system does work and has significantly reduced the need to clean the sensor. He has gone months between cleanings and we live in SoCal which is a very dry/dusty climate.
Sensor cleaning will not directly improve IQ ... but it will make your photographic experience more pleasurable (like changing your oil .. sensor cleaning is easy but still a pain.)
Gary
Yeah, I love my Nikon as much as the next Nikonian, but you've got to think hard before jumping into their lower-end models, with the whole lens thing. So, I'd check out a chart online or something that shows you what lenses the D40, D40x, D60, D80, whatever else you might look at, can use and then check out what lenses you might buy whilst you have the particular body, and then decide. It all is gonna come down to what lenses you'd even want to use anyways, you might find that the lens compatibility of the D40 wouldn't even matter to you. But I'm not gonna bash on Canon or anything, 'cause they make great cameras. I know lots of people that have used XTs and XTIs and love them. It'll all come down to which system you like better, and that comes down to a lot of things. Good luck. Amazon.com: dslr::
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That is what I just ended up reading in another thread that Nikon recently changed their lens mounts and makes old lenses obsolete.
WOW, so 50 years is RECENT eh?
whoever told you that, punch them in the gut.
Walk into a camera store, get whatever is comfortable in your hands.
Just another quick question that I had while researching -- I had noticed that the Canon Rebel XTi boasts a self-cleaning sensor unit, while the XT does not. Is this something that I should have or is it a process that a camera store can perform for me for a nominal fee or something?
BTW you guys rock! :hail: :lmao:
get whatever is most comfortable in your hands.
Ok so I went to Best Buy today and spoke to the camera specialist there who was very helpful to me and it was nice to learn a few things, but anyway.
I played with the Canon Rebel XT and the XTi and found that I really liked the larger screen on the XTi, but is the screen really worth the extra $120? Are there any feature besides a larger screen and the self-cleaning sensor that are useful on the XTi that trump the XT? I really love the way the Canon fit in my hand as opposed to the Nikon, but based on my test pictures I have a lot to learn.
Thanks again for all fo the advice you guys have given!
That's really good advice, hmm. I am really not sure if I am going to go with the XT or the XTi -- I went to the store yesterday and held those and the Nikon in my hand and the Canon just feels more comfortable in my hand so I am going to go with Canon, but the other debate continues.
I found a really good deal on the XT so I think it might make it worth it to get it for so cheap, but I still have a few days before the deal expires.
The good thing about the XT is that it actually has better (less) noise in the shadow areas and at higher ISOs than the XTi. Many things will cause noise and one of which is cramming in too many pixels in a confined space. Seems the XTi suffers from this. Remember it takes about 50% more pixels to see a visible difference in Image Quality ... the 2MP dif between the XT and XTi is an insignificant difference/advantage for the XTi.
The XT/XTi are on the smallish size ... get a battery grip and it will not only feel better but also help balance out the camera when using long lenses.
Gary
get the xti... same quality, (pretty much, little better) but the screen and viewfinder (i think there is a diff?) will make up for it!
But if you dont have the $120 save it and get the xt and keep the $120 for glass
Remember that you are buying into a camera system ... so you need to look at the whole spectrum of what the manufacturer is offering. Both Nikon and Canon are pretty equal in their offerings. If you have a particular speciality ... say sports or macro or astro, et cetera, make sure the camera maker speaks well to that speciality.
At ISOs under 400 and at at sizes of 8x10 or less ... won't you see any difference between a Canon and a Nikon image.
But, (the big but), in all but their most expensive cameras (D3 and D300), Nikon uses Sony made CCD sensors.
The CCD sensor performs poorly, when compared to a CMOS sensor, at elevated ISO/low light situations. THe CCD produces more noise (looks like film grain) than a CMOS sensor. The higher the ISO the more noise. I am not saying that a CMOS sensor doesn't produce noise either ... but the RAW CMOS image quality at similar/compariable elevated ISOs is superior with far less noise than a CCD sensor.
To get a CMOS sensor you have to purchase a $5,000 D3, an $1,800 D300 or and Canon camera including the XT and XTi.
If it was I ... for about the same monies ... I'd go with a camera that performs well in all types of lighting and which has a full choice of lenses available ... as opposed to a camera whose performance drops off in low light and has only a select number of lenses that will work with auto focus.
Gary
PS- I don't think that the select len issue is very significant ... but it is there nonetheless.
G
Ok well so I guess it comes down to seeing which feels better in my hand.
Any specific features that one has that the other doesn't that stands out?
Any reason why you chose the XT over the XTi?
back when I did, it was for the status LCD, saving money, and the fact that 2 MP, a screen, and a questionable dust cleaning system (a lot don't work that well) didn't seem to justify the extra $ Bit of advice, take a quick look at used 20Ds and 30Ds because the one thing I could'nt stand about my XT is the way it felt. After they day I held a 20D, I was too distracted during shootings about the camera to get my full potential (this is why a lot of people say shoot with what feels best, the more comfortable/relaxed shooter you are, the better you will perform) A lot of people say, "Why did you step up to a 20D from your XT when you could've spent the money you added to the trade in on a lens? It won't give you any better pictures." On the contrary, I'm no longer distracted thinking about that day I first held a 20D, I just shoot and enjoy.
Do you recommend a certain battery grip? Does this contain an extra battery in it for longer battery life or it just is a weight to add to the camera to make it balanced?
There is a Chinese one which is half the price of Canon ... $75 or so verses $150 or so ... Optech I think is the manufacturer. But feels cheaper than the Canon (different plastic) but other than that it is the same grip (I believe Optech actually makes the Canon grip.)
The grip holds two batteries .. so double the shooting ... and it has an additional shutter release and setting wheel for easy vertical shooting. Very handy when you go vertical.
Gary
XT
I love mine
That is what I just ended up reading in another thread that Nikon recently changed their lens mounts and makes old lenses obsolete.
I don't believe it. That's definitely "un-Nikon." Heck, my D80 will mate to lenses made fifty years ago! I doubt if that's true with any other manufacturer.
get the XTI with kit lense. Drop like another $60 for the Canon 50mm 1.8, its a great learner lense. If you ABSOLUTELY cant afford that extra 60 than wait for the XSI to come out and rebel prices will drop. Or just get the XT now.
Does anyone know of a good deal on the Canon Rebel XTi?
I found the Canon Rebel XT w/ kit lens for $400, but the cheapest I can find the XTi w/ kit lens is $600 and I don't think the $200 price difference is worth it for the larger screen.
I need to head down to a store to check them out, but everytime I go down to one the batteries always seem to be dead because of some punk kid playing with the switches leaving it on and the employees are of no help.
I am going to head into Manhattan soon to get into a real camera store to check out how I feel about each camera.
Do you recommend a certain battery grip? Does this contain an extra battery in it for longer battery life or it just is a weight to add to the camera to make it balanced?
That's really good advice, hmm. I am really not sure if I am going to go with the XT or the XTi -- I went to the store yesterday and held those and the Nikon in my hand and the Canon just feels more comfortable in my hand so I am going to go with Canon, but the other debate continues.
I found a really good deal on the XT so I think it might make it worth it to get it for so cheap, but I still have a few days before the deal expires.
So thanks for all of your help. I decided on buying myself the XTi -- I think I am going to buy it now as the only time to find a better deal (or a price drop) is after the release of the XSi and I cannot wait until April.
Thanks again for all the help and I look forward to spending more time here when I get the camera.
Yeah, I love my Nikon as much as the next Nikonian, but you've got to think hard before jumping into their lower-end models, with the whole lens thing. So, I'd check out a chart online or something that shows you what lenses the D40, D40x, D60, D80, whatever else you might look at, can use and then check out what lenses you might buy whilst you have the particular body, and then decide. It all is gonna come down to what lenses you'd even want to use anyways, you might find that the lens compatibility of the D40 wouldn't even matter to you. But I'm not gonna bash on Canon or anything, 'cause they make great cameras. I know lots of people that have used XTs and XTIs and love them. It'll all come down to which system you like better, and that comes down to a lot of things. Good luck.
There are no lens restrictions with the D80. I know nothing about the D60 but I suspect that Nikon learned a lesson and, like the D80, it will autofocus with all lenses.
The D40 is quite possibly the best camera for the money with the D40X being second best. The D80 (which I have) is significantly more expensive with features, important to me, that most others will never use.
I know nothing about the D60 but I suspect that Nikon learned a lesson and, like the D80, it will autofocus with all lenses.
If only! The D60 doesn't have an internal focusing motor so it has the same restrictions as the D40/D40x.
XT gets my vote, it's a great start. If you go that route, wait till the Canon Digital Rebel XSi comes out in April for the already cheap XT prices to further plummet. Furthermore, go into a camera store and hold the cameras and ask yourself what you'd want to be shooting with on a daily basis the most. Be aware that the D40 and D60 do not have internal autofocus motors, and cannot use all Nikon lenses effectively.
I have an XT and went to the XTi for several different features. The screen has been really nice in some of my outdoor shots. I think that it is easier to see than on the XT. Haven't regretted the choice. I didn't realize there was supposed to be more noise in the dark areas. I will have to keep my eye out for that.
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