Nikon D5000 or Canon 500D

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calum001

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Ok well firstly i though i should really say a quick Hi :wave: just joined after getting recommended i come on from another forum, i'm new to the whole DSLR side of things and really wanting to start getting into photography a lot more so looking at getting a decent starter setup

i've narrowed it down to the Nikon D5000 and the Canon 500D (with the Canon being as expensive as i would go for the body and basic 18-55 lens)

I'll look into getting other lenses a bit after when i find out exactly what i will need and tailor it to my needs, i'll be taking pictures of a variety of things (motorsport/landscape/close ups/etc...)

I don't want to start a Nikon/Canon debate but i'm just looking for any advice, pro's/con's of both and also what they are like for compatible lenses

Any help would be much appreciated :thumbs:
 
thanks for the quick reply mate, had a look on the website and searched through but couldn't find the article comparing the 2. If you have the time it would be spot on if you could scan it in and post it up/e-mail me it that would be really good of you bud
 
Welcome to the forums...:)

Prior to getting my first DSLR I was in the same situation and I went to the local shop and held the options in my hand and decided which I prefered the feel off and button/knob layout etc.

Someone suggested to me that Nikon make the better body and Canon the better lens but I don't really buy into all that, they way I see it is either brand produce equipment far superior than my skill level.

So for me personally the feel in my hand made my decision and I went Canon.

One thing I would say though is don't neglect the second hand market if your on a budget, lots of people upgrade from an entry level camera in short order with the mistaken idea it will suddenly make them better and bargains can be had.
 
cheers mate

meant to say in my first post that i'm ruling out second hand, i totally appreciate theres some good deals to be had by going down that route but i would rather have the 'hassle free' entry into DSLR's and know i can totally trust the equipment i've got and being backed up with a warranty.

also meant to mention that i'm going into have a closer look/feel/play with them (sounds kind of wrong lol) this weekend as i appreciate they are set up totally differently

for arguments sake though, for now i'm assuming i'll like both
 
Nikon D5000. Bought one for my other half's daughter and can definately say it was the right choice.

All the independant comparisons I've read since favour the Nikon too :thumbs:
 
good to hear the cheaper of the 2 is getting some support for a change lol !

any links to any direct comparisons you know of mate ?

the main thing i have been going by so far is from the links below, especially the sample photos shown in the links, both cameras being impressive but the colours from the canon just seem much more vivid and impressive to me (in these photos anyway and i appreciate it depends on the photographer and lens used as much as the camera aswell)

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikond5000/page34.asp

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canoneos500d/page30.asp
 
I've had a 500D and D5000 at the same time - 500D lasted a week. The only 2 things I preferred about the Canon were - the much better quality LCD (but then again, the D5k is pull out, which I need, just wish it was larger and sharper) and the movie mode, which had much better sound quality due to the high sampling rate. That was it, quality, ease of use etc, everything on the D5000 is miles better. IMO.
 
cheers again for all the rapid replies gents, good to see theres a lot of people willing to help out the newbies !

looking forward to going to see both of them at the weekend now and then getting started with whatever one i decide on
 
Hold off making any decisions til you get both of them in your hands...what works for some doesn't work for others...
Either way you'll be getting a good camera...
 
I'll just put in the caveat I always do that the entry-level Nikons only take AF-S Nikon lenses and not older ones so if you're looking to expand through secondhand purchases you'll find it a lot harder to do.

But the best thing really is to have them both in your hand and spend a bit of time working through the basic functions. You'll find the Nikon is better because that's how these things work.
 
thanks for the heads up about the lenses jon, are all the AF-S lenses the autofocus lenses with the built in motors then ?
 
A doctor once told me that the most important piece of a stethoscope is the bit between the earpieces. The most important bit of a camera is what's behind the viewfinder.

Go to your local independent camerra shop and try them out there. They may be a bit more expensive than some online places, but the help they can give if you build up a good rapport with them far exceeds the monetary savings to be had.

Just my two penneth.
Cheers
 
calum001 said:
thanks for the heads up about the lenses jon, are all the AF-S lenses the autofocus lenses with the built in motors then ?
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There's a complicated chart here but there are better ones at Ken Rockwell's site on Nikonians.

AF-S lenses have the motor in the lens - the reason why entry-level Nikons are the size they are is because they don't have the motor themselves.

It is better than it was when I got a D40X a few years ago because more third-party lenses are available but the secondhand prices aren't that much lower because obviously there's still a demand for them. That said, the kit lens and a compatible telephoto won't break the bank - it just depends what your thoughts are beyond that.
 
calum001 said:
good to hear the cheaper of the 2 is getting some support for a change lol !

any links to any direct comparisons you know of mate ?

the main thing i have been going by so far is from the links below, especially the sample photos shown in the links, both cameras being impressive but the colours from the canon just seem much more vivid and impressive to me (in these photos anyway and i appreciate it depends on the photographer and lens used as much as the camera aswell)

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikond5000/page34.asp

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canoneos500d/page30.asp
Click to expand...

Picture colour is a red herring, Nikon are known for their slightly cooler, less vivid colouring (some say more natural?) out of camera. The D5000 has an excellent menu to set 'colour and white balance' out of camera, to your taste.

I give the D5000 the thumbs up, but then I'm biased, as a D5000 owner and a Nikon man for over 20 years now;)

CJS
 
Arkady said:
Hold off making any decisions til you get both of them in your hands...what works for some doesn't work for others...
Either way you'll be getting a good camera...
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Absolutely! Handling is so, so important and yet it is often almost completely overlooked amongst all the comparison of tests and specifications. There's no such thing as a bad camera in the current ranges and I'd put handling at the top of the list every time.
 
well went into Jessops today and ended up coming out with a Nikon D5000, reserved it online and went through Quidco so should hopefully get it for about £450 in the end.

now i just need to get a decent bag, memory card and lens filter and i'll be all set
 
calum001 said:
well went into Jessops today and ended up coming out with a Nikon D5000, reserved it online and went through Quidco so should hopefully get it for about £450 in the end.

now i just need to get a decent bag, memory card and lens filter and i'll be all set
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Enjoy your new camera. :)
 
gingerjon said:
I'll just put in the caveat I always do that the entry-level Nikons only take AF-S Nikon lenses and not older ones so if you're looking to expand through secondhand purchases you'll find it a lot harder to do.
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A good point and a large reason I sold my D40 and bought a Canon 500D. I miss many features that Nikon provided and yet I'm so glad I bought a Canon for other more useful features. Just one quick example, my old D40 I could chimp easily and zoom in straight away plus the Histogram could be seen OVER the picture rather but in the Canon I love how the screen turns off when you put it to your face (soooo useful at night) and I love and could never give up the video mode.
 
grey.squirrel said:
but in the Canon I love how the screen turns off when you put it to your face (soooo useful at night) and I love and could never give up the video mode.
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But that is a rather small reason to change? The D90 and D5000 have far more features, and I believe the d90 has the sensor to detect when you are using the finder. Plus, for both, you can go into the set up menu and choose whether you want the LCD on all the time, or just in certain modes. BTW, having gone from the pin sharp D40, don't you find the Canon is very soft?
 
cheers goldenlight and lawrenceots

i've only had a short play about with it yesterday but the screen definately doesn't stay on all the time after switching it on (never paid attention if it went off when using the viewfinder though), it can be easily switched off anyway

the main reason i went for the Nikon over the Canon was due to the Nikon feeling the much better built and solid camera, the Canon didn't really compare in that respect and felt a bit cheaper in hand, i also found it more comfortable to hold

i did like the layout of the menu's and shortcut buttons on the Canon over the Nikon but for the sake of pressing a couple of buttons i'm sure it will be something i'll get used to and it won't be an issue at all
 
lawrenceots said:
But that is a rather small reason to change? The D90 and D5000 have far more features, and I believe the d90 has the sensor to detect when you are using the finder. Plus, for both, you can go into the set up menu and choose whether you want the LCD on all the time, or just in certain modes. BTW, having gone from the pin sharp D40, don't you find the Canon is very soft?
Click to expand...

There's many more reasons I changed than this, most to do with Canon vs Nikon which we won't get into. As for softness, I haven't noticed much difference at all, maybe the Nikon would win by a whisker but I'd rather be happier with the body and get the shot.
 
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