Starting Fresh - D90 or similar?

JJ!

JJ!

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I went through a stage of losing interest in my photography, mainly due to a lack of time and other commitments. I sold all my kit (bar a canon 50mm f1.8) and now regret doing so.

What I want ideally, is a decent starter set up for sub £800.

What tops my list at the mo is the D90 with 18-105 VR and 50mm f1.8 and selling the canon 50mm.

I previously had the Canon 500D and I must admit it did take superb shots, even though feeling a bit on the cheaply built side.

My delema is, go back to another 500D and keep the canon prime or delve back in to Nikon. (my first ever DSLR was a trust D40!).

The fact that I have one canon lens is not really an issue as it will be worth what I got it for.

Any thoughts on alternatives, or which of the 2 above is the better camera?
 
I have never used Nikon but do like a lot of their features one of the selling points for me would be the control of external flash from the built in flash without the need for a added transmitter amongst some other handy features. Also, Nikon often seem to have the edge in image quality when looking at comparison shots from competing cameras.

I am stuck with Canon now due to my lenses and althoug happy with Canon if I was starting from scratch i think i would be very tempted to give Nikon a try.
 
I can't really comment on the Nikons, but if you liked the Canon's performance but not the quality of build (and you don't use the video of the 500D), perhaps consider a used 40D. Superior handling and build quality and very good examples can be picked up for less than £400.
 
The D90 is a superb camera, especially when coupled with the 50, which you'll get for the same price you sell yours for, there or there abouts.

You won't regret it if you get one.
 
Nikon cameras have a better AF and a great ISO behavior. Nikon lenses are poor in selection but with a great compatibility from old and cheap MF AI or AIs to now. If you like to shoot action, sport and in low light, definitely go for Nikon. If you have a more general approach over photography and would like a convenient lens selection, go for Canon.

Later edit: If you go for D90... instead of 18-105mm and a 50mm go better for Tamron 17-50/f2.8 VC. You loose some focal range but you get a faster lens with a great IQ that makes a perfect pair with D90.
 
And why not pair the 18-105mm with the 35mmf1.8 rather than the 50mm? It's a great lens and I think it's got a better utility as an all-round low-light lens - and it's pretty darn good as an all-round well-lit lens!
 
I would say get yourself a used Canon 5D and a nifty fifty JJ, but I reckon you'll need the AF performance for horse shots and whatnot. Might be worth having a look at the older pro/prosumer spec bodies though.

Imo, Nikon are outperforming Canon at the higher levels at the moment, but lower down it's fairly even. If you're going to upgrade in the future I'd go with Nikon, although Canon will probably have upped their game by then, so maybe not.

No denying the D90 is a good camera. :)
 
Ian, its a tough call, seen some 40d's flying round at nice prices, but something about the D40 always made me want to take pics and thinking the D90 might have the same effect!

Not been doing a lot of horse shots of late as mainly been riding them myself, and generally these days they are mainly of my other half in good for which the standard cosumer lenses have been fine.

Need to take a day out at Park cameras or somewhere similar to play with them all!
 
mishu said:
Nikon cameras have a better AF and a great ISO behavior.
Click to expand...

:shrug::suspect::thinking:

Last I heard the high ISO behaviour was clearly Nikon's game at the moment, but I also was under the impression that when it comes to AF performance Canon is clearly winning that one.


If you like to shoot action, sport and in low light, definitely go for Nikon.
Click to expand...

I suppose all the action shooters using the Canon EOS 1D are all getting poor results then :lol:


If you have a more general approach over photography and would like a convenient lens selection, go for Canon.
Click to expand...

I guess 'general approach' is a surreptitious way of meaning 'if you're a holiday snapper'...
 
Norma, the last thing I look for is to start a flame Canon vs. Nikon. I did not did personally any comparison between AF performance of the two systems - what I said is based on other people experience, people that I know and I respect their judgement. I am absolutely sure that Canon has some great cameras in terms of AF. What I have heard is that Nikons are more consistent in AF, from the entry level up to the pro bodies while Canon shows somehow inconsistency at this aspect from one model to the other. If that's not true, I'm sorry.

"General approach over photography" does not have anything in common with "holiday snappers". A snapper does not benefit from a broad lens selection. What I meant is that if the OP shows a more balanced interest in regard to portrait, fashion, macro, products, landscape, architecture and other areas where ISO and AF performance especially in low light are not so important, this strength part of Nikon system does not seems to be critical anymore and Canon is a perfect solution. Hope this brings some clarifications.
 
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