Advice on a first DSLR?

Take a look at www.kenrockwell.com , that site has oftenly been recommended when it comes to photography. He says that the Nikon D40 is the way to go.

 

I own both the Canon and the Nikon DSLRs, although not the exact models you're talking about. Certainly equivalent ones from the last two years.

I've used Canon cameras since the 60's (Yep, I'm just that old) and recently switched to the Nikon. I find it to be a superior camera to the Canon. Not VASTLY superior, but with a couple different useful features and somewhat better optics. Focus speed seems the same, most other features are identical, but the Nikon just takes better pictures that require less fiddling pre and post shot.

Can I really quantify the differences? Not exactly. And certainly either camera will do an excellent job for you. But, I'm not switching back to the Canon unless they have something better come along in the future.

Oh, and the Nikon makes the most satisfying fake shutter sound of either camera too.

DM

 

When i got into DSLR photography, I purchased just about all of my gear (body/lenses/filters/bag) pre-owned and saved a significant amount of cash in the process. People trade in and out of bodies and lenses all the time, and there are numerous Buy/Sell forums out there that are pretty safe to deal with (I have purchased a body/4 lenses/2 bags/battery/and filters) with no issues in the last 18 months.

PM me if you'd like a link ..... I am not sure if f-chat wants me posting other forums here.


Good luck and enjoy

 

POST THE LINK!!!

I think used is an excellent option on this stuff. There's tons of it out there for a fraction of the original cost.

DM

 

http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/board/10


http://www.nikonians.org/forums/dcboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=137


http://dgrin.com/forumdisplay.php?f=18


I have purchased with confidence from each one of these forums many times.
My most recent purchase was the Nikon 85mm 1.8 prime, list for $420 new, i got it for $340 in absolutely perfect condition.

 

Thanks for the links...

 

+1

 

You are all welcome, I am suprised others here don't know about those forums already.
Great places to learn and pick peoples brains on technique and skills.

 

Get the Canon XSI, My friend has this camera.. its really new on the market and for the price you get great pictures, you might not even need to replace the lens its plenty good.

 

+1, but different shots call for different lenses.

 

Hey Michael, Fellow Florida F-chatter here. Am sure you have seen all my photos from south Florida events...Well I was in the almost exact same situation as you are in now about a month back. I had basically the same camera Canon S2 IS which was a great P&S its what iv used all along on Fchat and it took some amazing photos no doubt about it. But as time went on I got better and the camera well didn't. I reached the final stage in advanced P&S and needed to move on to DSLR. Nikon to narrow it down. A couple of my friends have D40's, and I used these D40 lots of times for cars. I wasn't to impressed with the 6MP (same as your Canon S3 IS) The colors were a bit to contrasty I have to say but maybe it was his settings? Anyway a few weeks ago i bought the new Nikon D60. Its the same as the D40 and D40x in the outside but a bit different on the inside, new image processor from the more advanced line of Nikon's, 3D maxtix metering, Active D-Lighting, sensors that know where your face is and a sensor that knows which way you are pointing the camera. Nice improvements over the D40x, and far better essential impro9vements over the D40. Ken Rockwell is great, but on the D40 am not really feeling him. He also puts lots of emphasis on 6MP vs. 10MP. I did a test between the D40 and D60, and for me the 10MP really makes the D60 and D40x shine over the D40. Now money wise. You know am not an adult my teens years just started as I am 14 years old, and I bought the D60 and lens 100% on me, no help from my parents. The D60 is about $630 body only, $750 with the 18-55 VR, and $940 for the D60 with 18-55 VR and the 55-200 VR <-(great lens BTW). BeachCamera.com buy from them since they got free shipping or B&H that charges shipping. Lots of other good places. I went with neither of those options. Instead I bought a D60 body only off eBay for 550 bucks and since i didn't want the 18-55 since that's not enough zoom for cars, and the 55-200 would mean i would have to switch between lens which would cause me to miss lots oh shots. I bought the Nikkor 18-135mm AF-S, nice and wide at 18 and nice and zoomed in at 135mm. Just right for cars and only 320 bucks at BeachCamera.com. In all my DSLR kit cost me 870 bucks. And am happy with every penny spent. If you went the same way it should cost you about 950 bucks street price since i got the D60 body for under the real street price. http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=195433 There is the thread with my first car event with the new DSLR, not too much editing which am really happy with. If you wanna talk more or even meet somewhere in Miami to talk and use the cameras I would be more than happy to. You actually gave my good friend with a D40 a ride in your Fcar in last years Toy Rally.

Jasen
AutoMotionPhoto.com

Here are some random photos of my neighbors cat and an infinity that stoped in front of my house for directions. The infinity pics are unedited straight from the camera BTW. And ofcouse the camera
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

thats a great shot of the cat, well done

 

thanks! one of my favs.

 

make sure you take your time and figure it out. except for dm, most people end up sticking with the glass they buy and change bodies. meaning once you go one way or the other, your staying. nikon and canon pretty much just trade back and forth which body is best. i think the canon glass has an edge though. I'm biased. look at all the pros though and you will see one overrepresented-canon. so, my unbiased opinion-go canon. generally, you want to buy the best glass you can. most dslr bodies at this point are pretty good, and you will probably change anyway. be careful on the glass though, you will probably keep that a long time.

 

Yeah I bet, i remember he told me about the engine trouble. Bills yellow 360 at low speed was also a bit rough with the tranny, our heads where bouncing off the headrest the hole day. Nikon and Canon are very close, to close to call in fact. When your shopping around (at real stores) remember to be careful with those sales people on which camera to choose, if one says canon is MUCH better then nikon, or Nikon is MUCH better than Canon and puts pressure, just leave the store! They are way to close to call, my opinion, if your a pro and have thousands to spend on lens, canon will be the better in the long run. Nikon bodies i belive the bit better colors and such. Either way you choose you will be happy. If your leaning toward the XSi go for it, great camera and Canon did a really great job perfecting it from the XTi. I would have gone the canon way if I had enough money for a better lens, Nikon has its pluses over canon and Canon does have its pluses over the Nikon. Since Best Buy and Circuit City are sold out, i would try going to a professional photo only store. Best one is the Pitman Photo Supply in Miami, they have great stuff and prices are the same as online. South Dixie Highway (US1)
at SW 139 Street. We are just south of "The Falls" shopping mall on the east side of US1. http://www.pitmanphotosupply.com/store.html
Oh and mall photo stores are over priced! At dolphin Mall the electronics stores camera and lens are so expensive a at least 300 bucks overpriced. I would hate to overpay so be careful. If your not sure about a price or anything let me know.

 

Also, don't forget about the size. If your hands are big, you might actually feel uncomfortable with both the canon XSi and the Nikon D40/x/60. And you would have to go with the Canon 40D ($1350), or the Nikon D80 ($1050).

 

I shot with a Canon L series lens before and it is just an amazing piece of glass! That said, I like both bodies...I've been a Nikon person all my life...first with film then with a D100 DSLR. However, I've been kicking around another camera now and the decision is between the Nikon D300 and the Canon 40D OR XSI. Three very different camera's and not quite comparing apples to oranges between even the D300 and 40D. XSI is supposedly an amazing camera; however, my problem with that is that it just doesn't have the size to fit comfortably in my hands. At least it's bigger than the old Rebel. In the end it'll come down to how much I want to spend and how lazy I want to be...(XSI if I want a point and shoot SLR or D300 if I'm not so lazy.) Don't forget to check out www.dpreview.com for some great info.

 

After going back and forth for a while I went for a D40 (6MP) for my first DSLR a few months ago. Admittedly, I've had Nikons most of my adult life (no film though) but as others have mentioned it was almost too close to call.

The deciding factor was the upscale- I knew and expected that I would be upgrading and changing to better bodies as I went, and Nikon has the end-game that I ultimately want. I know the D40 parts aren't going to apply across the range.. but I still wouldn't be switching teams mid-stream and the D40 is an excellent and easy playground for first-time DSLR users.

 

Canon is better...

I was considering selling my xti and getting the xsi, but no point for that since i have a 40D as well. If your have trouble finding them in stock maybe try the internet. I buy all my gear from the internet and that saves money too. If you buy the Xsi that will cost you about 900+ taxes, and for a extra 250 dollars you can get a 55-250IS canon lens, and your ready to go.

 

Between entry level & more advanced: I think you will find a significant difference is in the auto focusing. Also VR or IS (motion stabilization). Both Canon & Nikon make great machines w/ quality lenses. You really can’t go wrong w/ either at this level. Still shots are a no brainer for any camera.

 

Last night I purchased my first DSLR. It's a Nikon D60 (with the included 18-55 and an extra 55-200), I am really excited. My friend has a D40x and told me to look at Ken Rockwell's site. I found that he has great advise on everything but felt he was biased towards the D40. To be honest I wanted the newest/updated entry level.