Canon vs Nikon

[mom2rtk]

Lol - saw this thread name and all the posts and just HAD to see what was being said!

Can't really help you OP other than to say that all new DSLR's are very capable and it will come down much more to the photographer than the camera itself. Go with whichever feels more comfortable or maybe weight it towards the lenses in the package unless you think you'll change those later on.

Oh - and if you can't decide then go Sony!

Kat, my friend brought her brand new Sony A500 with 18-200 lens over yesterday. What a great camera and lens combo for $599! I walked her through some of the features and can't wait for her to start shooting!

 

[bob100]

I'm ready to take the plunge, but looking at either Nikon D3100 or Canon t1i, which do you all think is a better choice? I've read reviews, looked in this forum and am having a hard time deciding. The package price I'm looking at has Nikon about $100 less than Canon Package.

Any opinions, pros/cons to either? I don't currently have a DSLR so looking for best entry level of the 2.

Thanks

the answer for "better choice" depends on the poster!
I'm a Canon fan but for Canon I would look at a more current model like the T2i (550D) or T3i (600D)

 

[Pea-n-Me]

The price for the Canon is about $125 more has an extra 55-250mm lense vs an extra 55-200mm with the Nikon.

That's a drop in the bucket compared to what you're about to spend!

Sorry, we don't mean to be funnin' with ya - it's just that brand preference is one of those things known to incite near riots in photography.

I had decided after reading and reading and reading I wanted a Nikon. Had it all picked out and in my cart online. Then decided lets go to Ritz and just look at it. I did...then I picked up the canon D50 and it was love....I didn't care that it cost me more, I didn't care it didn't have video.....It just fit my hand and I loved the weight, (it weighed so much more than the nikon) It has been the perfect camera! I am sure I would have loved the nikon but honestly you have to be comfortable with it and it needs to fit your hands, eyes, etc....

This happened to me too. I intended to go Canon but fell in with Olympus.

 

[ukcatfan]

This happened to me too. I intended to go Canon but fell in with Olympus.

Same here. I was set on a Rebel XT until I actually handled it and ended up with a Pentax K100D.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Kat, my friend brought her brand new Sony A500 with 18-200 lens over yesterday. What a great camera and lens combo for $599! I walked her through some of the features and can't wait for her to start shooting!

Awesome!! Maybe someday you'll convince her to post some pictures here!

And to add - I was just browsing KEH and see they have a used A500 and a bargain condition 18-200 lens for $700. And your friend got new for $101 less! Excellent deal on a very nice camera!

Same here. I was set on a Rebel XT until I actually handled it and ended up with a Pentax K100D.

Me too. It was the Xsi that had just come out but then I ran across the Sony and the Canon no longer felt comfortable.

 

[PrincessInOz]

I think this is much more "fun" than "Fun For Five".




As many of the other posters have said, go into a camera store and go pick up and hold the different cameras. All the major makers make good systems - you just need to find one that fits your hands and budget.

Good luck!

 

[funforfive]

Well....thanks for all the helpful insight I have had my hands on both, talked to folks at Ritz cameras and internet searched both cameras. I was hoping to get an idea of what owners like/dislike about each camera.

Thanks anyway!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Well....thanks for all the helpful insight I have had my hands on both, talked to folks at Ritz cameras and internet searched both cameras. I was hoping to get an idea of what owners like/dislike about each camera.

Don't go away mad! Don't you see? We have given you insight! We've confirmed that you're already on the right path (in our opinion) because you've done your research and held the cameras you're interested in. Truly, the rest is personal preference! Whichever you choose is going to do a good job for you.

 

[Shutterbug]

For me the thing I really like on my Canons are the thumb wheel on the back.
Though that is only found on the higher end canon cameras such as the 50D, 7D

 

[Shutterbug]

Don't go away mad! Don't you see? We have given you insight! We've confirmed that you're already on the right path (in our opinion) because you've done your research and held the cameras you're interested in. Truly, the rest is personal preference! Whatever you choose is going to do a good job for you.

This...We cant tell you whats the right camera for you.

Although when watching sporting events I do see an awful lot of those canon white L lens mounted on cameras

 

[PrincessInOz]

Well....thanks for all the helpful insight I have had my hands on both, talked to folks at Ritz cameras and internet searched both cameras. I was hoping to get an idea of what owners like/dislike about each camera.

Thanks anyway!

I was in the same position about a year ago. I've been hanging out on this sub-forum since. In that time, I've learnt that all [substitute camera maker name] owners love the [substitute camera maker name] system. There are likes/dislikes about each camera - but that is true irrespective of whether the camera is an entry level or pro level camera and irrespective of maker.

This debate has been going on longer than I've been hanging out on the boards and I suspect it will go on longer than I will be here. It also rages on other photography boards. I doubt that there will be a resolution to it unless one of the makers decides to mount a conquer the world action and buys out every other manufacturer.

I hope that once you make your decision and buy the camera that you'll continue to hang out here with us. Afterall, buying the camera is the easiest step. The fun bit is in learning how to shoot the pictures and that's when we (or I should say)....our exif files...will probably be of more help.

 

[Marlton Mom]

Alright, I'll be BAD..... No objectiveity here.... go Nikon!
There I said it.
I feel better now. And yes I am ashamed. Well, not really, I'm pretty shameless.

I'm also Marlton. Mom
mwa ha ha!

 

[ukcatfan]

Well....thanks for all the helpful insight I have had my hands on both, talked to folks at Ritz cameras and internet searched both cameras. I was hoping to get an idea of what owners like/dislike about each camera.

Thanks anyway!

We actually have given you a decent amount of details and insight on making the decision. We also had a little fun with it because it is often a very heated discussion, but we are typically not harsh to each other here, so it doesn't get that way here.

As stated above, we cannot make that decision for you. Please do not be inconsiderate to the people here.

 

[disneyboy2003]

Well....thanks for all the helpful insight I have had my hands on both, talked to folks at Ritz cameras and internet searched both cameras. I was hoping to get an idea of what owners like/dislike about each camera.

Thanks anyway!

Well, I don't know if this'll be a helpful insight , but the Nikon D3100 doesn't have an in-body focus motor in the camera, so any the Nikon lenses that you buy MUST have their focus motors built inside the lens for autofocus to work. For the most part, you'll probably be buying Nikon's most popular lenses, which will have focus motors in the lens, so this most likely won't be an issue.

There is one particular lens where this might become an issue for you: if you choose to buy Nikon's popular 50mm f/1.8 lens for about $120. The reason why this lens is so popular is because it's a (1) relatively inexpensive lens that (2) produces very sharp photos and (3) is great for low-light photography. On the Nikon D3100, however, you won't be able to autofocus using this lens. Instead, you'll have to do manual focus.

This issue won't come up with Nikon's higher-end cameras. This issue also won't come up in any of the Canon cameras, including the Canon T1i.


Here's another disadvantage of the Nikon D3100. Do you plan on doing HDR (high-dynamic range photography)? It's all the rage nowadays. That's where you take 3 identical photos (1 "properly exposed" photo, 1 brighter photo, and 1 darker photo), and use software to combine them into a composite photo, where the dark shadows aren't too dark, and the bright highlights aren't too bright.

To do HDR, ideally you'd want a camera that does exposure bracketing. You place your camera on a tripod, and the camera can take those 3 identical photos in rapid succession: 1 "properly exposed" photo, 1 brighter photo, and 1 darker photo.

The Nikon D3100 does not have exposure bracketing, so you'd have to change the camera settings yourself. Nikon's higher-end cameras have exposure bracketing. All of Canon's cameras, including the Canon T1i, have exposure bracketing.


You mentioned that you held & played with both cameras. In addition to the "look & feel" of each camera, did you play with the menus on each camera? Did they seem intuitive to you? I'd hate to see you stranded in the middle of the Magic Kingdom, baffled at how to access a certain camera feature.

Anyway, I'm a Canon boy, and I haven't touched or held the Nikon D3100 myself. I'm sure the Nikon D3100 is a wonderful camera, and I hope that someone with this camera will chime in about their likes & dislikes about it. However, these are some important "negatives" I gleamed off a Nikon D3100 review. For some users, these might be non-issues. But if you're a budding photographer, these are things that might bother you in the future.

 

[photo_chick]

Well....thanks for all the helpful insight I have had my hands on both, talked to folks at Ritz cameras and internet searched both cameras. I was hoping to get an idea of what owners like/dislike about each camera.

Thanks anyway!

This is really a personal choice thing. Honestly. I can tell you I'll never use a Nikon because they feel funny to me. That I love my 50D because it has all the features I wanted and fits well in my hands. But none of that will tell you how a camera will fit you or which one is right for you.

Keep in mind when talking to camera sales people... camera companies give them incentives to sell things. Nikon is the worst offender here. You may not be getting an unbiased opinion.

As far as the internet.. if no one mentioned it, go to dpreview.com and compare the models you want. They have great test images for most cameras and a complete list of specs.

 

[PrincessRosetta]

Is one camera really better then the other?

 

[photo_chick]

Is one camera really better then the other?

Better is a really subjective term. Some cameras have more features, some offer better ISO performance, some do better in certain conditions. The key is to find which of those cameras is the best for you. It's a lot like shoe shoppping. And how well the perform depends a lot on the user.

 

[Darth Boeder]

Better is a really subjective term. Some cameras have more features, some offer better ISO performance, some do better in certain conditions. The key is to find which of those cameras is the best for you. It's a lot like shoe shoppping. And how well the perform depends a lot on the user.

Photo chick you are so right. It is like shoe shopping. I tried many cameras before I picked mine. I first had to find one that felt right not only in my hands but in DH's. After that we narrowed down the features that we liked/ needed more. You really ahve to go out and test drive them and see what you like.

 

[JoeDif]

I think this whole DSLR thing is a fad.....mirrorless is the way to go

 

[Pooh2]

It just fit my hand and I loved the weight, (it weighed so much more than the nikon) It has been the perfect camera! I am sure I would have loved the nikon but honestly you have to be comfortable with it and it needs to fit your hands, eyes, etc...._

For the same reason, I went with the Nikon! (D60). My hands are little and the Nikon was a great fit!