I need a new camera!

[saturndb]

Ok here is the deal. I had a d80 with a 18-200 vr lens. Key word here is had. My wife's cat tipped over a cabinet that my camera was in and well, it is now a very expensive paperweight. So I have 1200 to spend on a new camera and lens kit. This would be used at disney and I this is what I am looking to shot. I think I would rather buy new then used and would over time upgrade to a nicer lens.

disney fireworks
disney nightime parades
epcot fireworks
rides
family photos
would like to try and photograph some of the dark rides as well. though that is not as important

I was thinking of either the d90 or canon rebel t1i

Any ideas would be welcomed

Dave

 

[GrillMouster]

Are you sure that both the D80 and the 18-200 VR are broken? If either of the two are still functional, then the answer is easy...just replace the broken item.

If they're both broken, the next question is what other camera equipment do you have (lenses, flash units, etc)? If you have other equpment that is brand-specific, then stick with that brand.

Otherwise, you can't go wrong with either Nikon or Canon; they both produce great products. I will add that the learning curve when switching from one brand to another is not very steep, I can see the value of sticking with a familiar interface and terminology if there's no compelling reason to switch.

 

[saturndb]

I only had the d80 body and the 18-200 vr lens and the body and lens casing is cracked(mutiple spots), glass is broken, screen is broken, lets just say it is a mess. This was a heavy cabinet that somehow he tipped it over and the camera was crushed by it. Thank god no one was hurt. Even the cat is ok.

 

[Angrypenguin]

Both the Canon T1i and the D90 are fantastic cameras, you can't go wrong with either. I would recommend a Canon myself, but that's pure bias as I'm a Canon guy .

Don't forget there's great deals on the Canon XSi right now as well, with Canon's instant rebates in effect. Whether to take a T1i or an XSi only you can answer though; I personally think that the 3 inch high res lcd, quicker AF, updated image processor and better sensor (same as the Canon 50d) makes it worth the extra $$. But it's personal preference

If going with the T1i, it's around 900, so you have around 300 to spend on some extra goodies. You could pick up both the T1i + 18-55mm IS kit, the 55-250mm zoom (excellent starter telephoto) for 250, and the "nifty fifty" (50mm f1.8) for around 90 bucks, for a total of around 1240. To me, that's a killer kit!

 

[revrob]

I'm certainly no expert, but I've owned a canon for many years and always enjoyed them. I just upgraded to the t1i and I'm loving it so far. I certainly would recommend it!

 

[Angrypenguin]

Ha, I was just going to say, didn't RevRob just get a T1i? I swear RevRob got the first one off the assembly line, and could give firsthand experience on how it is.

 

[saturndb]

wouldn't the canon rebel t1i compare to the nikon d5000, more so then the d90?

 

[Angrypenguin]

wouldn't the canon rebel t1i compare to the nikon d5000, more so then the d90?

That's true, kind of. I think it's weird now; the T1i seems to slot itself right between the d5000 and the D90. I think people naturally compare it to the D90 because the build is fairly "solid" for an amateur DSLR, more solid and less toy-ish like the previous rebels in the past.

Engadget has a great comparison between the d5000 and T1i.

http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/30/canon-eos-rebel-t1i-impressions-head-to-head-with-nikon-d5000/

 

[Todd_H]

If you had the D80, you're already familiar with Nikon's layout. Any particular reason why you'd be entertaining another DSLR line? Both systems have stellar glass lines and pretty comparable bodies.

If you liked the size and feel of the D80, you may or may not like the compactness of the Rebel line. My suggestion would be to go play with each of them to see which you like better. The Nikon interface is completely different from the Canon interface. Most people find one more intuitive than the other. Not to say one is better than the other, just different. If your trip is coming up soon, you may want to stick with the Nikon line so your learning curve won't be so steep.

If you're not tied to Nikon or Canon, be sure to check out the Pentax, Sony, and Olympus lines also. Not trying all of them is the only wrong decision you can make here. Good luck and have fun!

 

[ukcatfan]

Let me throw in Pentax K20D!

 

[frugal_mar]

I first upgraded from a D50 to a D80 then to a D90. I can't say enough good things about the D90. I am really thrilled with the performance. The active d-lighting is amazing and at even at high ISO values the results are terrific.

What are the costs of getting the current equipment repaired? It may be worth getting an cost estimate.