First DSLR

[sdzman]

Based on reviews and affordability I believe I have my 1st DSLR narrowed down to either the Nikon D40 or the Cannon Rebel XT.

The Cannon would cost me about $25.00 more than the Nikon, not a big deal.

Considering ease of use, durability and expense of adding lens' which one would you recommend?

 

[MICKEY88]

Based on reviews and affordability I believe I have my 1st DSLR narrowed down to either the Nikon D40 or the Cannon Rebel XT.

The Cannon would cost me about $25.00 more than the Nikon, not a big deal.

Considering ease of use, durability and expense of adding lens' which one would you recommend?

personally I'd go with the Sony A200, it just won the European award for the best entry level dslr

 

[DizzyV6P]

Since I've always owned Canon, I prefer Canon. The XT's can use the full line of Canon's EF lenses. The Nikon D40 is only limited to the newer AF-S lenses...basically crippling what most people feel is a great camera. My Nikonian friend who owns both the D80 and D40 loves the portability of the D40 and the better pictures, but hates the fact that he can't use some of this fast primes on the D40. That being said, I'd avoid the Nikon D40 or its new brother the D60. The D80 is nice, but its getting "old" and Nikon is supposed to be releasing a new one soon.

Canon has the XT, the XTi and the newest, XSi. All can use the newer EF-S lenses as well as the legacy EF lenses (200+). Others here don't think much of the huge number of lenses available, but I like the wide variety of choices.

The Sony A200 is a great camera. It won that Euro award. Whoopee. Canon and Nikon has won all the other major ones so I call it a wash. Sony's can use many legacy Minolta lenses as well as the newer ones that Sony is producing. Their cameras come packed with great features as well.

You're not just buying a camera, but a system. Some beginners don't think they'll do more, but most of my "beginner" friends have all now upgraded their cameras and have multiple lenses. So you never really know how hooked you will get in this hobby. Both Canon and Nikon have huge forums with many folks selling their used gear. I'm not saying Sony, Pentax, and Olympus don't have their own forums...which they do. But its a pure numbers game. You'll have a lot more in the C&N camps selling used gear, you'll have more options and at much cheaper prices than the stores.

And last, but not least, you should goto a store and hold a few of them. See which one fits in your hand the best. I personally found the D40, XT, and XTi too small to hold comfortably in my hand w/o having to get the optional battery grip. The larger 40D fit my hand perfectly. The D80 and D300 also fit my hands perfectly as well. Yes, I played w/ the D300 in the store, with all those great features I just couldn't resist checking out the hype

Good luck with whatever DSLR you get.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Either one would be a great choice, as would any of the entry level dSLRs.

 

[Master Mason]

I am not sure where your looking but B&H has the XT cheaper than the d40.

I am a canon shooter, I have an XT and an 40D I have been very happy with both of them.

Since this is your first one, your not commted to any brand, take a look at the pentaxes and Olympuses as well. Go play with them in person, find the one that fits your hand the best and feels the most intuitive to use, and get that one.

 

[Steve's Girl]

Well, just had to speak up for the Nikon camp. I think the D40 is a great little camera and Sigma has started making prime lenses that will autofocus on the D40. But, it is hard to go wrong with any of the entry level DSLRs.

Oh, also wanted to add that the Nikon 18-135 kit lens is a great starter lens. Much better quality than most kit lenses. The D40 with that lens would be a great starter kit.

 

[YEKCIM]

Another vote for the 18-135mm if you go with Nikon. The 18-135 + 70-300vr is a killer two-lens combo.

~Y

 

[ukcatfan]

I come from the Pentax camp, but based on my take on the OP, I think he/she is looking for absolute bargain. From that, I have to say go XT. The D40/D60 may have Sigma primes for them now, but I just do not think this person is willing to spend $400 on one lens any time in the near future. The new entry level Pentax is very nice as well, but likely out of the price range.

 

[Groucho]

Since I've always owned Canon, I prefer Canon. The XT's can use the full line of Canon's EF lenses. The Nikon D40 is only limited to the newer AF-S lenses...basically crippling what most people feel is a great camera. My Nikonian friend who owns both the D80 and D40 loves the portability of the D40 and the better pictures, but hates the fact that he can't use some of this fast primes on the D40. That being said, I'd avoid the Nikon D40 or its new brother the D60. The D80 is nice, but its getting "old" and Nikon is supposed to be releasing a new one soon.

Well, to be fair, if the D80 is old, the XT is positively antediluvian. And the D40 certainly can use all the current-mount Nikon lenses, it just can't autofocus some of them. Hey, at least they didn't change the mount completely unlike Canon. It wasn't that long ago that many SLRs were still manually focused. But the D40's smaller viewfinder (especially compared to a film SLR) does make manual focusing much trickier.

I would say to the OP that I honestly think that the whole "only buy from the big boys" is just a big red herring. All five of the major players have high-quality DSLRs with a full range of lenses, all five have a long photographic history (well, Sony bought theirs, but it's there), and the "little three" each offer some specific advantages over the big two ones. I don't care if people choose one of the "big two" but I think there should be better reasons than because just because they're in the Best Buy ad every Sunday.

 

[Master Mason]

Hey, at least they didn't change the mount completely unlike Canon.

Actually Canon did that going in with it's eyes wide open, they knew that in lens focusing was the better method, so they choose to move their entire line to it. It was a business decision, do you piss everyone off at once and be done with it, or piss a smaller section of people off over time as Nikon has chosen to do. So far neither method has cause much problems with eithers bottom lines.

 

[MarkBarbieri]

By the camera and brand that you prefer. They're both great.

 

[Shutterbug]

By the camera and brand that you prefer. They're both great.

+ 1

Hold both cameras, see how they feel your hands. Ease of use of controls.
Check out the menu screens. All of that come into play.
If you dont like using the camera, it wont matter what the photo looks like.

 

[sdzman]

I appreciate all the advice.

I went and checked out both cameras and I really like the feel of the D40 much better than the Canon.

I found a D40 w/ a 18-55 lens and a 55-200 lens w/ no sales tax and free shipping for $549.00(from a rep retailer), seems like the best deal out there would anyone agree/disagree?

Am I going to hate not having VR lens'?

 

[Groucho]

Actually Canon did that going in with it's eyes wide open, they knew that in lens focusing was the better method, so they choose to move their entire line to it. It was a business decision, do you piss everyone off at once and be done with it, or piss a smaller section of people off over time as Nikon has chosen to do. So far neither method has cause much problems with eithers bottom lines.

I think that's apples and oranges. Canon changed its mount entirely. Nikon is just removing the ability autofocus from some lenses, not changing their mount.

Not to say that Nikon isn't pissing anyone off, but DizzyV6P seemed to be putting forth the idea than Canon had never done anything to piss off their customers. Nikon has actually never changed their mount, and are the only ones who haven't.

FWIW, I did a little research recently and basically all of the "big five" have changed their lens mounts at least once.

Canon: 1959-?, R mount; 1964-1971, FL mount; 1971-1987, FD mount; 1987-current, EF mount
Minolta/Sony: 1958-1985, MC/MD mount; 1985-current, A mount
Nikon: 1959-current, F mount
Olympus: 1972-2002, OM mount; 2003-current, 4/3rds mount
Pentax: 1957-1975, M42 screw-mount; 1975-current, K mount

So, only Nikon didn't change, Canon changed more than anyone else. I believe that Pentax is the only that to this day, still sell an adapter to use their original mount lenses on their current mount (and references screw-mount lenses in the custom menu on all their DSLRs.) Olympus' 4/3rds system is the most adaptable, with third-party adapters available for most other mounts complete with infinity focus, but they're pretty expensive. Adapting other lens mounts on Canon and Nikon usually loses infinity focus without an extra optical element (reducing quality). I'm not sure about Minolta/Sony adapters.

I do think that it's pretty shameful that Nikon decided to pull the focus motor from their entry-level cameras, and I won't believe that it's an attempt to force people to upgrade, but rather a simple cost-cutting measure. If they start to remove the focus motor from any models other than their cheapest ones, then maybe I'll believe it. Note than the newest non-entry cameras, the ~$2k D300 and ~$5k D3, still have a focus motor in the body. It's too bad as it's always a "gotcha" when discussing the D40/D40x/D60.

 

[Steve's Girl]

I appreciate all the advice.

I went and checked out both cameras and I really like the feel of the D40 much better than the Canon.

I found a D40 w/ a 18-55 lens and a 55-200 lens w/ no sales tax and free shipping for $549.00(from a rep retailer), seems like the best deal out there would anyone agree/disagree?

Am I going to hate not having VR lens'?

Wanted to reply to the VR question - I have VR and really like it. But it is really only useful in low light situations where your subject is not moving. It will not help at all when you have a moving subject. Later, you can always upgrade to a lens with VR. That's what I did.

 

[DizzyV6P]

Not to say that Nikon isn't pissing anyone off, but DizzyV6P seemed to be putting forth the idea than Canon had never done anything to piss off their customers. Nikon has actually never changed their mount, and are the only ones who haven't.

I never stated anything of the sort. I'm merely stating that I believe Nikon screwed up by leaving the AF motor out of the D40. Granted, if its a true cost-cutting measure and they will eventually do the same to all their other cameras, then that would be great. However, the fact that the D300 didn't leave out the motor, the rumored D80 replacement isn't leaving out the motor according to rumors, it all comes down to cost-cutting at the lowest level. In their quest to undercut everyone in the market, they left it out plain and simple. To Nikon's credit, its worked for the most part. With their marketing blanketing everything on earth, the D40 IS one of the most popular entry level DSLR's in the market....albeit, what I consider a crippled one.

Don't get me wrong about the D40. I think its a wonderful camera. I think Nikon's menu system can be easier for some folks, just like some people find Canon's easier to use. To each their own. There are many features of the D40 that my Nikon friends like compared their D80's. However, the biggest complaint I always get is the lack of AF motor. Granted, more and more 3rd party manufacturers (eg Sigma, Tokina and Tamron) are starting to included a motor in their lenses, but they are still slow coming out.

Like everyone else has stated, you have to goto out and play with a few. The other manufactures do offer similar entry level DSLR's at competitive prices that aren't crippled in the way the D40 is. I've personally looked at the Sony's more than once when I was looking to replace my PnS a while back as well.

 

[fairytale]

Hiya Guys, please firstly ignore my ignorance towards technology.

On our last trip to Disney I lost my Digital Nikon Camera in Beaches & Cream. I loved this camera, but cannot remember for the life of me the model type etc, all I know is that it was fairly old.

Having now purchased three further digital camers nothing compares. On all my past cameras except my Nikon the "shutter lag" as I believe it is called has such a delay on it, i have four young children and when you want to just capture that one second shot it is so fustrating when the picture is then taking 3 seconds later

All I am after is a simple, not to heavy or bulky camera with no shutter lag (if thats the right terminology), that I can take good quality family pictures with.

Please help you camera experts out there

 

[JR6ooo4]

And don't feel pressured to buy a black body just to look more professional. If you shoot outside (ie: disney, racing, soccer etc) the silver body will stay much cooler.

My black lenses are considerably hotter to the touch than my silver body. Heat is not good for electronics.

Mikeeee

 

[USCGamecocks]

I appreciate all the advice.

Am I going to hate not having VR lens'?

This is one (of many) reason I would check out Sony and others that have the stabilization in the camera. I have the Minolta 5d and would not change the in-camera stabilization for a canon or nikon. I love the fact that my 20 year old "beercan" 70-210 f4 lens become instantly stabilized without spending a ton like you do on the VR and IS lenses for Nikon and Canon. However, Sony/minolta has no where near the following or third party support offered as Canon and Nikon do. As others have said, you need to hold them, try out the menus and other functions, and decide if this is something you are willing to invest in (or can invest in). Whatever you decide, Canon, Nikon, Sony, Pentax, Olympus, you will end up with a great camera and likely be very happy for years to come.

 

[AlphaMale]

When I was looking at getting my first D-SLR (November 2007), I had it narrowed down to Canon and Nikon based on personal recommendations and reviews. When I got to the stores to feel the grips and test the cameras, the Sony Alpha 100 was the most comfortable. For an entry level D-SLR, one of the most important things to consider is the ergonomics and how the camera FEELS in your hands. Also, to me, the manual zoom on the Canon Rebels was odd. I had never tried a manual zoom so the counter clockwise to zoom in didn't feel natural.

I bought the Sony and am very happy with it. I like the built in (body) image stabilization as well. However, I am by no means an expert on D-SLRs.