Canon or Nikon?

Orbster

Orbster

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Hello all,

I am looking to buy my first DSLR and I was initially torn between the Nikon D3000 and the D5000.

After doing a bit of homework I am told that the D5000 has more features and will allow for more flexibility but now I am told that the Canon 400D might be worth looking at.

I basically am looking for a mid entry-level DSLR that I can take good pics of the family but I would also like to be able to take good landscape shots and something I'd like to do is to be able to take night time city shots too.

Any help much appreciated.

PS budget is around £500 mark.
 
Welcome to the forum :)

I would suggest going to a good local camera shop and handling both first of all, as sometimes camera feel can be an early factor in determining which brand to choose.

You may also wish to consider second hand models of higher specification cameras e.g. Nikon D90. These will often give much better low light (high ISO) performance, be more flexible with lens compatibility (Nikons below the D90 need AF-S lenses with in-built focus motors for auto-foucs), have more focus points etc.

Another thing to consider is lenses and accessories (e.g. tripods) and making sure you have enough in your budget for a good lens (or two). Kits lenses are ok, but vary in quality focal length etc and you should consider whether, for example 18-55mm will give you enough zoom. You can always buy camera body and lenses separately too.
 
tbh there's not much difference between the makes they both are quality brands (dont forget sony too they seem to be catching up fast) what you really need to do is get them in your hands as i prefer nikon over canon as they feel a lot better to me, trouble is this is all personal preference so get in the shops and see what you like, HTH :)
 
should type more quickly LOL
 
Like Dave says, it's not a Nikon vs. Canon thing any more.

It's a D3000 vs. D90 vs. D300s vs 7D vs 1Dmkwhatever vs [insert more bodies here]...

Even within a single manufacturer's product range there's great diversity of bodies with varying levels of quality and competency of product (AF accuracy, low light high ISO noise, colour accuracy, etc).

If that £500 budget is just for the camera (not lenses), I'd personally go with a used D200+MB-D200 grip, but that's just me. :)
 
Welcome to the forum, you could also think about buying used from the classifieds on here. With family, landscape and night time city shots you would only need the kit lens to start off with(no need for anything longer yet)
 
The 400D is a good camera but a bit long in the tooth now. Canon have a few newer models on the market in your price range.
Haven't had much experience on Nikon camers but speaking to a TP member the other day, a Nikon owner, he isn't impressed with the D3000.

Whatever model you end up buying I'm sure you'll enjoy it.
 
foggy4ever said:
Welcome to the forum, you could also think about buying used from the classifieds on here. With family, landscape and night time city shots you would only need the kit lens to start off with(no need for anything longer yet)
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theres a good looking D90 with grip and short tele lens in there now that i thought would make an excellent starter mid range starter kit from shutterman but you are looking at £750 plus postage
 
cannockwolf said:
theres a good looking D90 with grip and short tele lens in there now that i thought would make an excellent starter mid range starter kit from shutterman but you are looking at £750 plus postage
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Don't you just love spending other peoples money.
 
You could check out the second hand canon 40D,a very decent camera.:):thumbs:
 
Do any of your friends have a Canon or a Nikon? Because if you get the same system you can borrow/share lenses etc. :)
 
toph101 said:
Do any of your friends have a Canon or a Nikon? Because if you get the same system you can borrow/share lenses etc. :)
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A very good idea.:):thumbs:
 
haha!! Me and a friend bought our 5DmII's plus some lenses in the same order (and got a better deal). We either second on the others wedding for free or borrow the others gear. Works very well for us. :)

Toph :)
 
toph101 said:
haha!! Me and a friend bought our 5DmII's plus some lenses in the same order (and got a better deal). We either second on the others wedding for free or borrow the others gear. Works very well for us. :)

Toph :)
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Sharing my 5Dii? :bat: :cuckoo: :nono:


Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo :lol:
 
Must admit i would be the last person to share my gear.:lol::nono::D
 
cannockwolf said:
tbh there's not much difference between the makes they both are quality brands (dont forget sony too they seem to be catching up fast) what you really need to do is get them in your hands as i prefer nikon over canon as they feel a lot better to me, trouble is this is all personal preference so get in the shops and see what you like, HTH :)
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:agree:

That's the best advice you could get. Unlike cannockwolf, I prefer Canon over Nikon, but that doesn't mean a thing. You may well find that you much prefer one make over another just because of how it feels in your hands, that's fine. But do try and get to a decent shop and compare.

cheers
 
Go compare,i like that song.:lol::D:):thumbs:
 
Didn't spot this bit before.
cannockwolf said:
dont forget sony too they seem to be catching up fast
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Let us not forget that Sony actually made a bunch (most?) of the Nikon DSLR sensors, so it's no surprise they're getting pretty good - but I'd still go with one of the big two myself, purely due to the huge range of lenses, accessories and support available.
 
Kaouthia said:
If that £500 budget is just for the camera (not lenses), I'd personally go with a used D200+MB-D200 grip, but that's just me. :)
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That budget is all in..lens too.

Thanks for the help so far guys, most informative.

Is there any recommended literature - books and mags that I should have my nose in?
 
£500 all-in cuts down your options a bit really. There ain't a lot you can get in the way of SLR+Lens for £500.

New your options are basically a Nikon D3000 18-55VR lens, or a Canon 450D with an 18-55 lens (no IS on it though).

Used, you'd have to shop around.
 
Kaouthia said:
New your options are basically a Nikon D3000 18-55VR lens, or a Canon 450D with an 18-55 lens (no IS on it though).

Used, you'd have to shop around.
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I thought that the 450D kit lens was the 18-55 IS? I do know that the Canon 1000D was introduced, it came with the 18-55 is lens & was later changed to the older non-is 18-55 lens which was supplied with the 400D.
 
Orbster said:
That budget is all in..lens too.

Thanks for the help so far guys, most informative.

Is there any recommended literature - books and mags that I should have my nose in?
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You can also search through the for sale/trade archive for currrent used prices
There are some tutorial on here somewhere, anything else have a troll through the other sections. Try the meeting section as well, it's a great chance to meet TP members and share/learn.
 
That's a killer deal. If I hadn't just got the D300s, I'd probly be ripping his hand off for that one. :)

But, no lens included, so it probably wouldn't help Orbster much. Buying the 18-55mm VR separately is around £159, so he's coming up closer to £595 or so - but still an absolute bargain for a camera of that quality with a VR lens.
 
I've just acquired a D3000 and it does what I need it to. It was a toss up between that and the Canon 450D but once I had handled both of them I pretty much knew the Nikon would be the one.

I do wish the D3000 had Live View though. For that you'd have to go up to the D5000 which I believe will be very much the same to hold as the D3000. If you're not fussed about things like that then the D3000 is a fair bit cheaper.
 
second hand sony a200 with a sony 50mm f1.8 or minolta 50mm f1.7 buying the a200 secondhand means you might not get the kit lens (which is a good thing). a second hand a200 will cost around £180 without kit lens then the 50mm will be £129 along with a nice sony 30mm f2.8 macro for wide angle and macro needs. but remember try before you buy, and also (im not starting a war) but the a200,a300 and a350 bodies are super strong, i had mine smash against a curb and it was still working, without any damage done.
 
Orbster said:
That budget is all in..lens too.

Thanks for the help so far guys, most informative.

Is there any recommended literature - books and mags that I should have my nose in?
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Get hold of a copy of "Understanding Exposure" by Bryan Peterson, it's a good read.
 
I'd also recommend a secondhand Canon 30D or 40D (which I have recently bought for my daughter and myself), excellent camera which feels like it would take the odd knock.

You can start off with a cheap lens and then look at upgrading if the bug takes you. You will also get a much better camera than if you buy something new for the same price.
 
Thanks for all your replies chaps, I went for the Nikon D5000 in the end.

I got the kit, a free bag, a free 1GB and a 2GB card and bought a UV lens too all for £540 and there's a £50 cashback offer too so a good deal I think from London Camera Exchange.

Needless to say after a few glasses of "pop" last night I was snapping anything and everything :D
 
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