Mizouse

anyways, it doesnt matter what camera you start off with, in the end the pictures are only going to come out as good as the user.

besides i highly doubt the IQ or whatever difference between Nikon or Canon is actually going to make any difference to anyones pictures.

i had a buddy recently switch from a D70 to a 20D cause he liked the way my pictures were coming out on my XTi, anyways his pictures are pretty much exactly the same as when he was shooting with nikon.

the only reason why i went with the XTi was because it was the best option for me at the time and for my budget.

Mizouse

yea right here it says it

wndrlst

^They're also calling it "SLR Base" like the Nikon D40, while they're labeling the D80 "SLR Medium."

jupitersolo

One thing with that site is that 11 of the top 15 cameras are Canon. Only two Nikons.

darksom1

Yeah, but that has more to do with familiarity. People gravitate to what they know or have heard about. Like my cousin, she knows nothing about cameras. I was trying to shoot he family one day with my Nikon P&S (Coolpix 4300), and she was like "How come you don't have a Canon?" I just shook my head.

She probably doesn't even know, and a lot of other people don't know, about Pentax and Olympus. The K10D and the E-510 are supposed to be some good cameras and each would have been a lot cheaper than my D80 Kit, but I'm hung up on prestige! (j/k...I know my D80 is better, but I'm a beginner and those are cool to begin with as well)

A lot of people grew up watching Agassi commercials and say Canon first when they walk in the door, and Nikon - then cut the deck! But it should be noted that I bought my camera after much deliberation. Also, before I saw that poll and after Mr. Agassi's commercials! LOL!

Nikon - Canon
Night - Day
Tastes great - Less filling
NBP - WDP
MJ while making Thriller - MJ while making out with kids

...The saga continues!

Breaking news...private sale email to me as I wrote this post:

"For $1100: 18-75 mm lens, 75-300mm lens, 512 MB and the Nikon D200, It has the one year warranty. No nothing is wrong with it. I am selling it to get the Nikon D300 or the Cannon 40D."

Now the saga really continues...

jupitersolo

Dark,

As I said in the pm's stop looking for the better deal, it seems like you got a good with your D80. Just open it up and start using it.

darksom1

Yeah, I'm sticking with the D80 definitely as opposed to chasing that last deal down. I like being the first to pop the cherry with my gadgets anyway.

waTSX

A buddy of mine purchased a D80 a while back and I've had a chance to mess around with it. IMO, the camera is not "more intuitive" than the 40D, it's just different. Both are SLR's and have similar controls and shooting modes. The menus are different, but one is not better, IMO, just different.

That said, the D80 is a solid little unit (as is the 40D), and it feels really good in the hand, though it's more plastic feeling than the 40D. One area where it is superior to the 40D is the LCD monitor, which it just outstanding. The 40D is lacking in this area, I'm afraid. The 40D's is large at 3" but the resolution is nowhere near the D80's.

Remember those DPR reviews are comparing cameras in each class to each other, so 40D V. D200 and D80 V. XTi, so just doing a straight comparison between cameras in a different class isn't really valid.

Really, it's the system of lenses you're buying into, and the body is almost secondary. Canon and Nikon both excel in this area, so you're good to go. I think I read somewhere that Canon has the edge in longer lenses while Nikon has the edge in wider stuff, though I'm not sure if that's true or not. Shooting with the EF-S 10-22 makes me question that assertion. It's very good and opens up the world of wide angle shooting to 1.6 shooters.

Enjoy the D80 and get some pics up!

jupitersolo

I hadn't posted this before, but with the cherry reference. A lot of people say Canon is the best, others do the same for Nikon, but it's like this...All women have a certain body part, they're all pretty much the same, the fun is in the way that she uses it.

waTSX

UnsanePyro

That's what my mother got, an Olympus E-500. While it's not as popular as Canon/Nikon, it's still a nice camera, and perfect for her, she wanted something more than a point and shoot, but didn't want to spend as much as a Canon/Nikon would cost. I use it sometimes and am happy with the pictures it takes.

darksom1

Street Spirit

IMO, Pentax and Olympus' glory days were in the times of SLRs (film), not so much now with digital.

darksom1

Ok, I finally settled on a camera. I took the last purchase back, and got another new D80 kit for $305 less!!! (950 vs 1255) I had to send off for it tho, so I need to wait til it gets here to join the crowd. By the way, my plan was to not need to change my lens out for a while during this learning stage, so I picked up a nice Nikon 18-200mm lens (yes, VR baby!), w/warranty.

Can't wait!!! Thanks for all you guys helping out!

waTSX

Congrats and enjoy your camera. That's a sweet little kit.

waTSX

That may well be, but both brands are making cameras that, by most accounts, are very good, and they do have their avid followers. The K10D looks like a pretty darn good DSLR.

It really depends on what you're looking for.

Mizouse

wow you actually got the 18-200 VR? i hear that is a hard lens to get, and while the range is nice, its quite a slow lens, which doesnt suit my needs.

darksom1

Man, that's because you require the best! I've saw your post about the D300/D3. You the man if you get one of those! I gotta get my feet wet first before I start going for that stuff! $5K for a camera is just totally out of my range right now. I just dropped that on my tires/wheels/suspension/brakes! Stella comes first! The D80 will suffice!

darksom1

Thanks man!

Mizouse

ill never be able to afford the D3, D300 if i starve myself for a few months, most likely the 40D

Dan Martin

Congrats!

Not many people drop ~$750 for their first lens. I thought you were going to start off easy...

What was included with your body for $950?

darksom1

That is easy Dan. Remember, I was beginning to chase 40D & D200 cameras after a while! Then I calmed down. This is the best compromise I coud come up with between my practical and ostentacious sides! LOL!

As for the kit, it comes with an 18-135mm lens. From what I understand, a very capable starter lens, but I wanted the VR capabiity of the 18-200mm to keep 'er steady while I learn. That and it's been touted as one hell of a lens. Doesn't matter to me about the speed of it right now, as I am a noob.