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Canon 400d VS Nikon D80

  • 09-11-2006 01:02AM
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,057 ✭✭✭


    Hello all,
    I'm hoping to upgrade to a better camera in the comming weeks
    and was hoping you's could throw a bit of advice my way. I'm
    planning on spending around €800-1,000 on a good camera and
    basic lense. I've looked at a few reviews on both of the above
    camera's and the both come out tops up but it looks like the D80
    just about tops the 400D. Although given the price difference of
    around €200, that could be used on a better lense/s.


    I'm also half looking at the Canon 30D but is it worth that extra few hundred euro?
    What do you think is the better all around camera?
    AND Is their any other camera out there worth a look in?


    Thanks in advance for any help / pointers :)


«1

Comments

  • Closed Accounts Posts: 710 ✭✭✭Dundhoone


    oh good god. another nikon vs canon thread.:rolleyes:

    I think you should stick with either canon or nikon.
    You should hold them both an see which you like best. Some people prefer the build quality of nikon, some like where the canon has its buttons.

    Any of the three you have picked you are going to be buying the capacity to take great photos. Its said that at the moment, cameras change model about every 18months. These 3 are all brand new, as im sure you are aware.

    Just about everyone here will probably tell yo to spend you money on lenses, but then again, lots on here bought 350s or d70's to start off and ended up trading up to to 20d's or 30'ds or D200's once they knew they liked the hobby!

    Good luck with the shopping, its lots of fun!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,057 ✭✭✭kjt


    Thanks for the reply Dundhoone. Yea sorry about the nixon vs canon thread
    again, I've noticed a lot of them lately.
    Looking at this , I dunno but maybe I'm just not seeing what the 30D now holds
    over these new fella's to justify €2/300 extra. Maybe somebody that's tried
    both would be able to tell me?


    Thanks


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


    Do you have any mates with either camera? You could always see if your comfortable with theirs.

    If not, pop into a camera shop and play about with them. Personally, I'd be going for the 400, but I do like Canon, and both get great reviews.


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


    There's probably not much to divide them so it'll come down to handling, see which feels best in your hands.


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


    Hmm... we only do "righteous canon people blow to bits nikkon paegans" show on fridays :)

    But if you want my advice - go for 30D, I lost about 800 or so upgrading from 350 recently... Should have gone for 30D from the start...

    the major issue with both 350 and D80 is the small camera size and small viewfinder size. 30D is bigger, of course not as big as in 5D but considering the price it's big.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 710 ✭✭✭Dundhoone


    B0rG wrote:
    Hmm... we only do "righteous canon people blow to bits nikkon paegans" show on fridays :)

    But if you want my advice - go for 30D, I lost about 800 or so upgrading from 350 recently... Should have gone for 30D from the start...

    the major issue with both 350 and D80 is the small camera size and small viewfinder size. 30D is bigger, of course not as big as in 5D but considering the price it's big.

    All 3 cameras have a 2.5" lcd.

    The D80 is a bigger camera/bigger grip area than the 350/400. I've held a 400, I didnt like the feel of it either but I'd say they tried to improve the grip size issue that the 350 had.


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


    you don't really need that lcd - it's only good to watch histograms anyway, you can't see if you hit the focus or not...


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,196 ✭✭✭PaulieC


    If you have no brand loyalties (i.e. lenses) I would go for the Nikon. The 400D is way too small for normal sized hands. The Nikon is a more professional feeling piece of kit, close to the 30D than the 400D.

    I own canon by the way...


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


    If you have no brand loyalties (i.e. lenses) I would go for the Nikon. The 400D is way too small for normal sized hands. The Nikon is a more professional feeling piece of kit, close to the 30D than the 400D.

    I own canon by the way...

    <passes brown envelope :D >


    when it comes down to it, its what ya like, they both have their unique abilities, pictures will not be the same on both, they have their own colours, sharpness etc, try both a choose. either way you'll be happy


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,196 ✭✭✭PaulieC


    and you're not really comparing like with like. A D50 is not as good as a 400D, which is not as good as a D80, which in turn is not as good as a 30D, which is not as good as a D200 etc...

    Canon and Nikon don't have DSLRs that compete head-to-head...customer wins as there's a great range of options


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,142 ✭✭✭TempestSabre


    I went for a D70s myself, because not only did I prefer the handling of the Nikon, I also preferred the feel of the Nikon 18-70mm kits lense over the stock lense with the D50 and the D350/400. I would have gone with the D80 and the 18-135 but it was simply too expensive for the budget I'd set myself, the truth is I don't need it. Include in your budget decent bag and memory card.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,535 ✭✭✭bp_me


    The d80 is available with the same 18-70 the d70s is supplied with if you want it. 100 euro less than the 18-135.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,142 ✭✭✭TempestSabre


    bp_me wrote:
    The d80 is available with the same 18-70 the d70s is supplied with if you want it. 100 euro less than the 18-135.

    Even with the 18-70, is it not still a good bit dearer than the D70s or the D400?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 128 ✭✭Biker.ie


    Apart from frame rate there's very little difference between the D80 and D200. On that basis, the D200's replacement should be a cracker, on a par with the current D2Xs even. Aftermarket lenses (such as Sigma) tend to be more compatible on Nikon bodies as seemingly Canon refuse to share AI software with 3rd party lens manufacturers.

    Test results can vary etc. but the ISO800 results from this review swung it for me ;
    http://www.cameralabs.com/reviews/NikonD80/page4c.shtml


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,535 ✭✭✭bp_me


    Even with the 18-70, is it not still a good bit dearer than the D70s or the D400?

    Yes. Simply pointing out that it was available as you said you didnt need the 18-135 (as well as the cost difference)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,057 ✭✭✭kjt


    Thanks for all the replies. I'll pop into Gunns tomorrow
    ask to have a look at the camera's.

    Just wondering, is the Canon 30D that much superior
    to both the 400D and the D80?


    Thanks


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,142 ✭✭✭TempestSabre


    bp_me wrote:
    Yes. Simply pointing out that it was available as you said you didnt need the 18-135 (as well as the cost difference)

    Ah... I actually meant I didn't need the extra features of the D80, the lense I would have liked. To be honest the D50 would have done but I got a deal on the D70s. I'd set myself a budget of less than 1K including everything and was keen to stick to that.

    D80 vs 30D I'd be out of my depth to compare them. The Canon 30D is nicer to hold than the 400D, thats all I noticed.

    http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1034&message=19520339
    http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1000&message=19552322


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


    kjt wrote:
    Thanks for all the replies. I'll pop into Gunns tomorrow
    ask to have a look at the camera's.

    Just wondering, is the Canon 30D that much superior
    to both the 400D and the D80?

    Thanks

    It's a case of horses for courses, if I was to buy new right now, I'd go for the 30D as I need the higher fps, I don't know enough about the D80 to make a call on it, all I know is that it's a good camera.


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


    kjt wrote:
    Thanks for all the replies. I'll pop into Gunns tomorrow
    ask to have a look at the camera's.

    Just wondering, is the Canon 30D that much superior
    to both the 400D and the D80?

    yes.
    depends who you are of course. if you're girl with a small bag then ixus will be better idea. if you're guy with normal guy's hands 30D is good. I just came back from 3 hours shooting in RDS, and let me tell ye - camera handling IS important...

    But anyways - shop around, see what's on internet, even with taxes getting it from B&H is cheaper. And my last tax bill from them was actually bigger than ticket to NY itself...

    Entry level nikkons better to hold, but the functionality and megapixels are a bit limited.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,057 ✭✭✭kjt


    Thanks for the advice everyone. I'm gonna have a look around in town tomorrow and then order from HK in a few wks.

    B0rG, did you get any good pics? Oh... did you get to play the wii?


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 32 el capitaine


    B0rG wrote:
    yes.
    depends who you are of course. if you're girl with a small bag then ixus will be better idea. if you're guy with normal guy's hands 30D is good. I just came back from 3 hours shooting in RDS, and let me tell ye - camera handling IS important...

    But anyways - shop around, see what's on internet, even with taxes getting it from B&H is cheaper. And my last tax bill from them was actually bigger than ticket to NY itself...

    Entry level nikkons better to hold, but the functionality and megapixels are a bit limited.
    Oh for heavens sake, only buy abroad if you're going for the canon. pixmania is €1300 for D80 with 18-135mm lens. Gunns is €1295.00. Buy from Gunns. Best and nicest shop in the world!


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


    going trough them atm, most of them is ****e, given that it was my first time shooting under very complex light. exuses, exuses. Though a couple of things were interesting to try - shooting cars on stand (flash, no flash), fashion shooting (they have some fashion show there as well), some of the poker shoots came out right, but that's due to the blondie girl from holland... They sure know how to make women in holland...

    However given the quality of equipment I think I've got about 10% out of 300 shots that can be used on web or on print which is good enuff for me at this stage.


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


    Oh for heavens sake, only buy abroad if you're going for the canon. pixmania is €1300 for D80 with 18-135mm lens. Gunns is €1295.00. Buy from Gunns. Best and nicest shop in the world!

    I take it you're new here, cause you're arguing with the b0rg...

    http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=Search&A=details&Q=&sku=457255&is=REG&addedTroughType=search


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,057 ✭✭✭kjt


    Twas a good experience anyways, I'm sure you learnt plenty
    on the lighting.Damn I'm so confused about the camera's D80
    400D 30D.I do think the 30D would be far too over budget;
    the D80 would be better possible with a more pricey lense, but
    I'm also inclined towards canon for some reason. A coin toss you say?


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


    kjt,
    basically, sit down and think.
    think how serious you are about your fotography. Think how big is your budget is for your fotography and everything else.
    If you feel serious and want your camera now, go for 30D. if you don't want it now wait untill feb, there is a good chance canon will release 40D (though it's still a big rumor - they either release 40D or another version of 1D). if it's 40D then 30D prices will drop.

    if you're tight with money, go for nikkon, they have decent entry level kit which will pretty much cover your focus range needs for a good while (something with 135).

    As for everything else, both companies have good range of lenses.

    You can still sell it after a while...

    My personal advice - go for 30D. At least you don't have to change camera for goood feeeew years, plus they don't depreciate that fast. And it's a good camera.

    However if you're occasional house and holiday snapper then entry level nikkon kit is the best for it's handling and not too expensive lenses.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 710 ✭✭✭Dundhoone


    I honestly dont think the 30d has all that much over the other two , apart from the 5fps as pointed out by Roen. Keep the cash for all the other goodies you know you'll want to buy.

    Borg, hes not considering the entry level Nikon kit, thats the D50!


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


    ah ok then... well I'm tired, drunk and tired again.

    here's oversharped photos from toys4boys, as business likes oversharp :)

    http://picasaweb.google.com/peterpan256/Toys4boys


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,057 ✭✭✭kjt


    Hey B0rg, did you play Poke-Her at the rds ;)?

    Thanks again, think I might go with the D80. Shall have a luk
    around Gunns as their a great shop and always an honest help.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,451 ✭✭✭blastman


    Thanks for this thread guys, some useful advice here. I'm leaning towards a D80 myself now.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,384 ✭✭✭Fionn


    I suppose when comparing cameras you need to consider best in class/price range otherwise your conclusions could result being a bit unbalanced.

    However one thing to note is, whichever brand you go for (at least in my experience) you'll find yourself locked into that brand's system re: lens and other accessories. I wish these were more compatible among the different brands, course this'll never happen - too bad!

    anyway
    best of luck whichever you choose :)


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