Okay I bought my Nikon D40 for I think $640 at BestBuy in April, what a rip right? I was thinking of selling it for $500 to a friend... I figured I can get some money for it.. I am not sure it's the wisest idea. (suggestions to getting profit for a camera )

I have a dilemma,

If I do upgrade my D40, should I stick with Nikon and get the Nikon D80 for $900 or should I switch over to Canon EOS 400D Digitial Rebel XT for $700+?


I need help, so I can figure how much I have to save or beg for.


Thanks!

 

Its not a matter of VS.

Its a matter of which system do you prefer to use. I happen to like both makers very much, but I prefer Nikon.

I got into a discussion a few months ago on a low budget movie with the set still photographer. A person whom I thought was a professional. But where as I was trying to say it was an issue of preference the knuckle head wouldnt shut up about "but Canon is better...Canon is better."

I had to just walk away. Aside from the conversation he tried to make into a debate, the guy was a just moron in general.

Anyway, long anecdote aside you go with the system you like. Because they are just going to keep one upping eachother in the specs dept.

 

You have to get the equipment in your hands and see what you like. If you have other Nikon equipment you have to weigh that in as well, what happens to it if you switch to Canon?

 

I was planning to put the Nikon D40 on the auction block, if it doesn't sell, i guess i would keep the d40 and get the d80 to add to it.. thats if i get a good job...(unemployed student). I personally like the Nikon when I first got into the DSLR. I was hesitant to dish out money for the Canon because it ran on a different memory card...


I checked on CNET.com and they picked the D80 over the Canon Rebel..

look at the packages i am looking into
Nikon D80

or
Canon 400d

 

the D80 is a sweet cam. seen some great pics from it. I would have to say, you can't go wrong with it.

 

Cant go wrong with the D80 either. Ive rented one to see how it feels, and had I not been a long-time Canon user, Id definitely consider it.

 

I went from a rebel xti to a d80
(only because my xti was stolen)

great camera and same with the xti, even though people complained about the grip.
my friend got a 30d i think makes me want to get another canon.

 

This forum is mostly Canon friendly, but there are a few of us here that do use Nikon (me for example)

Like everyone else said, you need to try them out before you know which you like.

I had a Canon Digital Rebel XT before I got my Nikon D70s and I preferred the Nikon much more over the Canon, just because of it's ease of use.

Try them both before you make your decision.

 

i think there is a sale on the Rebel at Circuit city for like 500+ something. beats 700 bucks!

 

I have an XT and haven't found anything I like to use more. I am probably just used to it. My uncle has a D80, which I've used on numerous occasions and had to teach him how to use, and for some reason I just didn't like it as much. But then again, I like my really lightweight tiny body on the XT that most people seem to hate. I'd go play w/ both, I think the D80 is a much larger and heavy camera, but feels more solid. I am pretty jealous of his 18-200VR, but in general most people think canon wins the glass debate.

In reality I think the reason I took canon over nikon is the shutter sound though

 

I agree with the size of the XT. I have small hands, so it fits me well. Plus, it seems very intuitive even for a noob like me who is still learning the ropes. But, like anything, practice will make you better.

I also find it helpful that here in this forum, it is very Canon friendly so I can get advice and ideas pretty easily.

 

Dan Martin shoots with Canon.

Thats all I need to hear.

As biased as I should be, I pretty much agree with Sarlacc. Its just a matter of what you prefer. Anyone who has done some research into it should know that.

 

thanks, I did some research I have to go for the Nikon D80. As a current Nikon user, I like the features that Nikon has. I was watching a consumer report on the Canon Rebel, not very fond that it doesn't have rubber grips. I have small hands as it, I need reassurance that the camera won't fall out of hands, (klutz)

I have been reading reviews saying that the upgrade version of the Rebel TX 10.1MP doesn't give the best quality pictures as the Nikon D80.


thanks again

 

well you always have to have the strap around your neck. it helps that the XT is light though - no neck fatigue

 

I've always noticed that when buying accessories for my Canon, They are generally less expensive than the Nikon counterpart.

 

Whaddup 'Winky! I have the D80, as you saw in Twigglius' thread! Takes hella great pics! Get the Magic Lantern Guide DVD (for the D40 as well) and it will quickly familiarize you with your camera, at your own pace!

As to who has the best glass - Tastes great, Less filling! You know that is an endless debate...with Nikon the clear winner!

 

i will write that down for santa claus to give me. LOL.

Yeah i know it gets heavy around the neck but ehh I would carry a twenty pound camera just for the perfect picture.

 

I chose Nikon because most people seems to be using Canon.

I almost chose Pentax K10D which is IMO a very good camera.
D80 is a very good camera, I hate the metering though, it tends to produce under-expose images if you are using Matrix Metering
and
you will have to adjust the exposure compensation on almost every condition.

Now, I have D300, I don't have to fiddling around with exposure compensation anymore.

 

I believe the XT has less features than the D80, I'm not sure about the XTI. I know there is a limited choices on ISO values on the XT. Many of the options on the XT is within the menus vs the external controls on the D80. I don't think it's a fair comparison. You would have to compare the D80 with a more advance camera than the XT. I would compare the XT with the D40 or D50 not the D80

 

The D80's direct Canon counterpart, at least according to most photo magazines, is the XTi.

 

^ If you look at the prices, both XTi and D40/x are about the same while D80 is well, more expensive.

 

I used to have Nikon, but switched to Canon a couple years ago. Now I'm building my lenses and will stick to Canon as they have a body lineup that I can choose a base camera up to an EOS 1D MarkIII

Canon > Nikon

 

^^ Where's Waldo?

 

true. you are paying more for a system (D80) whose statistical rivals (Sony Alpha 100, XTi) cost less.

 

+1 for nikon d80...there's a reason the xti is cheaper...

 

Praytell rimz, what are those reasons? I think if you put photos from each side by side, you'd be hard-pressed to tell the difference. Again, go with the system that works for you. Both companies offer outstanding choices, with neither being inherently better than the other.

 

^

 

haha, okay u guys are right for the most part.

I will weigh out my finances next semester and see where I am at.

 

praytell...?

anyways...

1. better design to fit your hand (i'm sure you'll argue this is a personal reason)
2. doesn't crop field of view as much (1.5 vs. 1.6)
3. has spot metering (whereas your beloved canon doesn't)
4. higher ISO setting (and not that grainy either at 3200)
5. more custom settings
6. larger sensor size

there's a few reasons for ya...and i agree, put photos from each side-by-side and most people probably can't tell a difference...but then again, i don't think most people who buy a DSLR want to be hard-pressed...

 

How about the fact that Canon has a much better high ISO performance?
Higher score at IQ @ Dpreview.com reviews?

It's not to grainy but there is not much details left because of in camera NR.
I'm a Nikon user/fan, but I'm aware of the capabilities of Canon or any other camera brands.

 

You can argue either way, both cameras are great bodies. I prefer the size and build of the D80, but then again, I don't see the D80 as a competitor to the XTi, it's more like a 30D.

Back to your list for a second though:
1) I like the D80 size over the XTi, I'll give you that.
2) The FOV crop isn't a limiting factor unless you are trying to shoot wide. In which case, the widest non-fisheye lens in Nikon's lineup is the 12-24 that gives a 99 degree diagonal FOV. The widest non-fish Canon lens is the 10-22 which gives a 107 degree field of view, so it's quite a bit wider. If you're using teles, then the 1.6 crop works as an advantage (albeit slight) over the 1.5 DX crop.
3) Spot metering was more useful when I shot film, but since moving to digital, I just bracket if I'm not confident in the metering.
4) Higher ISO setting, but not better ISO performance. The D80 does a very good job at smudging noise, but it also smudges detail. ISO 400 on the D80 has the same amount of detail as the XTi at ISO 1600. The noise reduction engine is just a little too aggressive for my liking. If you need to shoot at ISO 3200 on the XTi, shoot RAW at ISO 1600 (underexposed one stop) and push it one stop at the time of conversion.
5) Yes. Almost all of them are flash related. If that's important to you, then it's a good thing.
6) Yes, but to what benefit?

Anyhow, both are excellent cameras, I even suggested that one of my family members buy a D80 (sorry Dom! ), but one is not better in all categories than the other. It comes down to preference. Spec sheets don't tell the whole story...

 

"Beloved Canon?" I have no affinity for either brand. I chose Canon because at the time I was ready to buy they had the best camera for me in the 20D. If Nikon had had that camera I'd have chosen them. Period. Once I invested in the glass, it was a no-brainer to stay with Canon bodies. I've also recommended the D80 to friends in the market for a DSLR.

Your reasons are spotty at best, lame at worst. Doesn't crop the field of view as much? C'mon man, you can do better than that. And if you want to talk sensor size, I'd argue a full frame sensor like the 5D is the way to go. The difference between the sensor size of the XTi and the D80 is negligible and makes no real world difference in output.

Like I said above, both companies offer outstanding choices, and the competition between the two is great for consumers. Enjoy whatever you choose, and try to relax, okay? You'll live longer.

 

dumbasses such as rimz are what give Nikon/Canon owners bad names, when it comes to brand discussion.

He we are having a nice discussion on who prefers what and why, and a single retard has to come in and try and make a pissing contest out it.

 

Hate to agree with you and call rimz but dumb ass but if the shoe fits.....
Having said that the D300 and D3 appear to give Nikon a clear advantage for the time being.

 

Yes they do

But canon will trump nikon, nikon will trump canon, etc etc etc.

we all know the game. been that way forever.

 

see, i didn't want to assume you would retaliate like that, but you did...call my reasons what you want man, but you asked and i responded...you're the one that questioned me in the first place and for what? to bash whatever reason i had to give? ...and then you want to go ahead and change your argument to a whole different ballgame: full frame...are you serious? okay, you bring your 5D and i'll talk about the D3...but since that's not the subject here, your statement is irrelevant bringing up a 5D vs. a D80...

by the way, whose not relaxed? ...believe me, these little kiddish online arguments are the last thing that get my blood pressure rising...

 

uhh.. the D80's sensor is larger by 1.4mm width and 1mm height. 1 MILLIMETER. The point was, that is negligible and using that as a grounds for buying one over another is baseless.

 

what the fuck is your deal...? you're 28 and use such big words like dumbass and retard...classy man...grow the fuck up...

and who turned what into a pissing contest? i make one little post in favor of nikon and then i get questioned about it...so i respond and now I'M the one who catches all the bullshit...give me a break...

 

It's not so much the equipment, but the "eye" for photography. You can have the top of the line camera, but if you don't have the "eye" for photography, your shots are going to be CRAP! I admit, I shot waaaay better photos with my phone camera. Once I got my rebel xti, I haven't really shot as much as I did with my phone. Then again, there is that thing called CONVENIENCE! hehe I have my phone on me all the time and I shoot randomly, but with my rebel I feel like I have to LOOK for shots instead of having the shots come to me. But I still love my rebel because if anything it does put my photo "skillz" ( I say that lightly) on a higher level than shooting with my phone. Most of the shots I took with my phone I wished I had a hi res camera to shoot with!

 

you're exactly right man...the equipment is only as good as the person using it...i don't carry my D80 around with me either, so when i do use it, i usually have to plan on a few spots i'm going to go to and take pictures and also what angles i'm going to use and such...there's more to it than just grabbing your camera and shooting...

what kind of phone are you taking pictures with? i've got a nokia 6233 (2MP, 1600x1200 resolution) cell phone and it takes great pictures, but rarely use it for that purpose because i always like to have the highest quality...though it does come in handy when i need it...