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D80 or 30D???

  • 16-10-2006 03:56PM
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,499 ✭✭✭


    OK, after what seems like eternity I have narrowed down my first DSLR purchase decision to two models...the Canon's 30D or the Nikon's 80D.

    The 80D seems to be coming in a bit cheaper which is nice BUT apart from money which in your humble opinion is the better camera?

    Now I know it may depend on what I am going to be using it for, general use really, remember, this is my first DSLR (I already own a film SLR so that is why I am not going for the 400D or D50 for example).

    Also with your suggestion can you possibly mention a decent lens to compliment the camera choice within a relative price range!

    So your opinions would be greatly appreciated.

    cheers!


«1

Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 465 ✭✭B0rG


    what's your budget for a lens is like?

    on a side node last boards.ie photography meetup we had:
    5 canons
    2 olympus (belonging to one person) :)
    1 nikon
    1 Zenit

    Canon obviously rules :)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,499 ✭✭✭run_Forrest_run


    budget for lens around 400 euro. canon dominates alright but is it justified??
    for example, the kit lens with the 30D is awful plastic...the kit lens for the Nikon (DX18-70) is more solid..IMO!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,504 ✭✭✭Roen


    Fondle both of them in a shop and see which one you prefer. After all you'll be the one using it. They're both great cameras so it'll just have to go down to handling.
    What film SLR do you have and what lenses do you have for that? No point in buying a Dslr that you can't use your existing catalogue of lenses on.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,584 ✭✭✭leinsterman


    I love my Canon 20d which is the pre-decessor to the 30d ... I tried a 30d and found it to be very similar ... a bigger lcd screen and a better spot metering mode seem to be the major differences ... I can't say I know the D80 ...

    Here is a link to an interesting debate on the subject -

    http://dgrin.smugmug.com/gallery/1134620

    It is a bit on the over dramatic side but it does explain the shortcomings of both systems ...

    I have used the D200 and I'd still prefer the 20d ... but this may be more of a question of familiarity and perceived better handling ... plus I will be getting a 5d next year ... having had the benefit of using one it is ahead of anything else I have used ... and the full frame ccd is the biz ... I do believe the EOS family to be a better overall choice than Nikon when it comes to DSLRs... this is something to consider ... once you choose one family it will be difficult and expensive to change ...

    Others will testify it is a close contest between Nikon and Canon ... Nikon appear have a lead in the 30d with the 200d ... but then Canon have the 5d ...

    Bodies will come and go ... good lenses do not ... so you should also consider putting more of your cash into the lens if on a budget ... this is the best advice I ever got from this forum ... when I got my 20d I did not take it though :o

    I have be told off for saying this by others: But be careful when taking Canon v Nikon advice ... it is a bit like choosing a religion ... you will find lots of us purporting to be objective and brand independant about our preferences but a recent debate with a Nikon owner would lead me to think otherwise ... most of us are not!

    the best advice I can give is to try the two cameras out for yourself and go for the one that feels right for you ... this is what I did with the D70 and the 20d ... I already owned the EOS system for film so lens compatibility was an issue for me ...

    As for lenses ... well ... it really depends on your budget ... if you do go for Canon and you are on a budget then -

    The Canon 50mm F1.8 at less than €100 overseas (www.ac-foto.com or www.bhphotovideo.com) is just perfect ... not as your main lens but it is so cheap you cannot afford not to own one!!!

    For your walk around on the Canon I'd recommend the Sigma 18-125mm if you are on a really tight budget ... It is a nice lens for the money ... I own several Sigma lenses ... they are not as bad as others would have you believe but they do have some QA issues I understand (my 24-70 F2.8 is currently in Cork being calibrated after only 4 months ownership) ... from now on I probably stick with Canon for most lens needs

    Other options include the Canon 17-55 F2.8 IS ... supposed to be lovely ... or the much cheaper 17-85 F4-5.6 IS ...


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 465 ✭✭B0rG


    Heh, the beauty is in the eye... you know

    A friend who had his 300D stolen, decided to move for Nikon for it's cheaper. He's exact words: Canon's kit is nicely soft, and Nikon kit is overly sharped. Anyway we're not going to discuss the system based on a kit lenses :)

    Unfortunately all canon's lenses in the given prive range ain't that good. Apart from night vision apparatus (ef 50 1.4 USM @E350 & 1.8 @E50). Tamron 18 - something 2.8 is a reasonably good wide angle, sharp and all.

    I'd advocate for Canon (that what I have): nice machine, nice L class lenses, and a dream about Full Frame someday...

    My advice would be - go to the shop, hold both cameras and buy which better sits in your hand. As you had slr before, you should know your range by now, there are reasonably good lenses in that range in both canon and nikon.

    As for tech side of things, canon is a bit faster, some people say higher isos work better (less noise etc) in canon, as it has its own matrix, whereas nikon have to buy other people matrixes.

    Nikon people also say of better ergonomics... after about a week I god used to ergonomics in my 30D :) and when I held nikon I had a feeling it has too many buttons. Not as many as olympus though, but a lot :)


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 465 ✭✭B0rG


    Other options include the Canon 17-55 F2.8 IS ... supposed to be lovely ... or the much cheaper 17-85 F4-5.6 IS ...

    leins, for the same money as 17-55 2.8 IS you can buy 17-40L, top of the range canon flash, and there's still be leftovers for second hand 50 1.8 if you really like nite shooting...


  • Moderators, Education Moderators, Music Moderators Posts: 10,686 Mod ✭✭✭✭melekalikimaka


    humm, i's sway to the nikon side... features wise its got the edge i thinks...its so new too and in general peeps rather the feel of a nikon. as for images...its all a matter of taste i think, either will produce great images. the kit lens on the nikon is excellent...rated as the best kit lens on the market but alot of sites.

    on a side note i hear canon turns you into a gay fairy... but i was only told that but 6 people so maybe i'm wrong :p


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,584 ✭✭✭leinsterman


    B0rG wrote:
    leins, for the same money as 17-55 2.8 IS you can buy 17-40L, top of the range canon flash, and there's still be leftovers for second hand 50 1.8 if you really like nite shooting...

    Good point ... the 5d I was playing with had a 17-40L F4 fitted .... wow ... tack sharp, lovely contrast ... beautiful colour saturation ... I'm told (by Cathy at Gunns) that the 16-35 F2.8L is even better again ... but I guess this is more aimed at the full frame sensor of the 5d than the 1.6 FOVCF 30d ...


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,356 ✭✭✭punchdrunk


    i've used both in work a good bit,i'd prefer the d80 with the 18-135,a proper lens!!
    i really hate that 18-55 jamjar cannon floggs with their cameras


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,584 ✭✭✭leinsterman


    punchdrunk wrote:
    i've used both in work a good bit,i'd prefer the d80 with the 18-135,a proper lens!!
    i really hate that 18-55 jamjar cannon floggs with their cameras

    as a Canon user I do agree ... the kit lenses leave a lot to be desired ... that's why I went with the 18-125 Sigma in a made up kit from www.abesofmaine.com ...


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,499 ✭✭✭run_Forrest_run


    excellent stuff folks....thanks a mil for all the advice...OK, into the shop I go for some fondling (of cameras that is!).


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 465 ✭✭B0rG


    excellent stuff folks....thanks a mil for all the advice...OK, into the shop I go for some fondling (of cameras that is!).


    Tell us what you get :)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,369 ✭✭✭✭Zillah


    Nikon for the win. That is all.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,819 ✭✭✭rymus


    Nikon for the doorstop.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,369 ✭✭✭✭Zillah


    Yeah, true. Those canons will fall to pieces if you try to use them as doorstops. Good reliable Nikon.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,819 ✭✭✭rymus


    nobody would lower a canon as to use it as a doorstop. Those nikons just have doorstop written all over them.


  • Moderators, Education Moderators, Music Moderators Posts: 10,686 Mod ✭✭✭✭melekalikimaka


    canon is latin for doorstop


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 465 ✭✭B0rG


    I have to note that all Canon vs Nikon threads here are usually started by Nikon people... Canon people on the other hand are too busy making photos :)


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 136 ✭✭cutepape


    just buy a Mamiya ZD :p


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,584 ✭✭✭leinsterman


    Jaysus lads ...

    what did I say earlier in this thread about Canon v Nikon owners ...

    They are all religious nuts ...

    Anyways ... You can't accuse me of bias ...

    The Canon jihad will convert all those evil infidel hertic sinners in the end ...

    Go mad ... get a 400d body only instead of the 30d .... use the spare change to get the Canon 17-40L, 50mm F1.8, Sigma 70-200 ... and take the "superior" Nikon kit lens
    and put it where it belongs .... down the bottom of a very deep pit!!


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 16,624 ✭✭✭✭Fajitas!


    Boo-yah!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,356 ✭✭✭punchdrunk


    indeed take each camera on it's own merrits,not by what it says on the front,olympus,canon,nikon,pentax they've all made gems and stinkers in there day!

    i'm always amazed when people come into the shop and blindly say something along the lines of "i want a canon,i don't even want to see whatelse you got cause eveyone knows canon are best" it's way too narrow minded

    oh and BTW the D80 wipes the floor with the 350D/400D when it comes to build quality...


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 590 ✭✭✭davmigil


    cutepape wrote:
    just buy a Mamiya ZD :p

    Yeah, look beyond the obviouys and stay ahead in the pixel race - Hasselblad H3D 39Mb :D


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,584 ✭✭✭leinsterman


    punchdrunk wrote:
    indeed take each camera on it's own merrits,not by what it says on the front,olympus,canon,nikon,pentax they've all made gems and stinkers in there day!

    i'm always amazed when people come into the shop and blindly say something along the lines of "i want a canon,i don't even want to see whatelse you got cause eveyone knows canon are best" it's way too narrow minded

    oh and BTW the D80 wipes the floor with the 350D/400D when it comes to build quality...
    Getting back to being serious again ... I agree with your last point in the bottom end Nikon currently lead but for how long? ... all of the vendors have been leapfrogging each other for years ... this is nothing new ... though Nikon did manage to stay ahead of the pack in analog bodies and much irrational sentiment still surrounds them amongst some pros as a result ... sentiment does not lead to objective decision making ... so for any kind of SLR's brand is not important as track record until you make your first purchase ... then it becomes extremely important ... because you want your brand to keep releasing good bodies to accomodate all your really expensive glass ... this is why there is so much debate between Nikon and Canon users ... we are all stuck in an expensive cycle ... so we have to defend it.

    When I purchased my 20d I went for the most affordable camera (based on my budget) in the best family ... hence I bought EOS rather than Canon or Nikon or Fuji or even 20d or 350d or D70 or ...

    ... but, I do have regrets to be honest, even though I love the 20d ... I wish I'd taken the advice given by someone in this forum at the time ... that is get the 350d and some L lenses for the same money ... why ? ... because 2 years later the 20d is nearly obsolete ... but the lenses are not.

    I bought EOS for two reasons -

    1. I already owned an EOS 500d and lenses, so I had some minor financial commitment to the series and, if I am being honest, an emotional bond to the EOS (not Canon) brand ...

    2. In the knowledge that I will probably someday upgrade ... at the time I purchased my 20d, both it and 1d were by far the best DSLRs on the market ... Nikon has since taken a leap over Canon in the upper entry and lower middle ground with the D80 and D200 but for how long ? Canon still leads the upper middle and top end with its full framers, the 5d and 1d ...

    Since I am now investing in L lenses I am pretty much stuck with Canon for a while ... so I'll keep defending EOS ... For me to change something really dramatic would need to happen - e.g. Hasselblad, who blow both Canon and Nikon away, making this object of desire - http://de.hasselblad.com/promotion/h3d.aspx really really really cheap ... eg. less than €3000 ... not very likely!!

    Anyways ... that is my two cents ... as you can see ... quiet day at the office today...:(


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,499 ✭✭✭run_Forrest_run


    Just from holding the D80 and the 400D I agree, I was expecting to see a Fisher Price label on the 400D considering how light and flimsy it felt.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,435 ✭✭✭eas


    I'm sure you've looked here for non-biased reviews (nealry imposible to get on this board), but just in case :

    edit: sorry forgot the 30D

    30D

    http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canoneos30d/

    400D

    http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canoneos400d/

    D80

    http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikond80/


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,435 ✭✭✭eas


    B0rG wrote:
    I have to note that all Canon vs Nikon threads here are usually started by Nikon people... Canon people on the other hand are too busy making photos :)

    seems you started it on this thread in the first reply :
    Canon obviously rules


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,499 ✭✭✭run_Forrest_run


    I didn't realise there was so much 'friction' between the two brands! Well at the moment I am still undecided but Nikon is ahead for me. I will pop into the shop over the weekend and will try them out. As many people said on this thread, they are both fine cameras and whetever feels better to the user wins.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,584 ✭✭✭leinsterman


    I didn't realise there was so much 'friction' between the two brands! Well at the moment I am still undecided but Nikon is ahead for me. I will pop into the shop over the weekend and will try them out. As many people said on this thread, they are both fine cameras and whetever feels better to the user wins.

    the 'ol Canon v Nikon debate is a great one for sparking some passion ... and like I said earlier ... none of us are really neutral and unemotive in our thinking ... though as you can see from some of the posts above ... there are many who claim neutrality ...

    So in the spirit of my freely admitted lack of objectivity and irrational emotive loyalty ...

    Make sure you hold an EOS 30d, an EOS 5d and a Nikon D200 in your hands before making your final decision ... there you will get a better feel for Canon v Nikon ... it is not easy to peer model numbers between brands ... is it really D50 v 400D, D80 v 30d, D200 v 5d ... I don't think so ... the D200 and 5d exist in their own slots for a start.

    ... and don't rule out the other brands ...


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 465 ✭✭B0rG


    eas wrote:
    seems you started it on this thread in the first reply :

    Did I... hmm...
    well it's not my fault that Nikon folk taking it so seriously...
    Anyways - look at the forum traffic - we've finally get some attention :)


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