Help Me Choose!

zuutroy

Howdy photographers. GF is getting into the photography but isn't well up on the market for a starter digital SLR. She wants to get something for around 700euro. She's narrowed it down to the Canon Eos Digital Rebel or the Nikon D80.
Any opinions on which is better, or even a different one altogether? Cheers.

Borderfox

Each has there good and bad points, personal choice at the end of the day. Maybe a 30d also wink wink!

zuutroy

She's gonna go with one of the kits on ebay with the case and some lenses (no doubt they're not great) thrown in. Sorry!

Ricky91t

zuutroy wrote: »

She's gonna go with one of the kits on ebay with the case and some lenses (no doubt they're not great) thrown in. Sorry!

Would you be able to link us to the kit she is thinking of as most of the time you're better off getting just a kit lens and save for another:D

quilmore

I'd go for a nikon d40 and an extra lens
cameras don't make pictures better, lenses does

zuutroy

ricky91t wrote: »

Would you be able to link us to the kit she is thinking of as most of the time you're better off getting just a kit lens and save for another:D

Something like this I think.....

http://cgi.ebay.com/CANON-EOS-Digital-Rebel-XTi-400D-4-Lens-8GB-DVD-More_W0QQitemZ130184145022QQihZ003QQcategoryZ147173QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

elven

A few blokes round here aren't too fond of the canon because it's dinky compared to the other bodies. For a girl, without sounding like I'm stereotyping, that can make it easier to handle and also having something less heavy to cart about makes you less inclined to want to leave it at home and bring a p&s with you instead... it's something to consider.

The main differences I've seen between the two are that nikon put buttons for EVERYTHING on the camera body. On a canon, you only get a few buttons and have to go through menus or combinations for everything else. While some people find that annoying, everyone uses their camera in a different way and so would only make use of a couple of the buttons anyway. I've generally never felt disadvantaged with the 350d in that respect. The other thing which I'm not sure about actually backing up with evidence and is based purely on speculation and rumours is that canon sensors behave better when it comes to noise in low light situations. I don't know if there's a discernable difference at this end of the scale, but it's worth checking out because noise is a big problem - depending on what you shoot obviously. Quilmore is slightly off the mark I'd say - great lenses won't make the difference on a noisy shot, that's down to the sensor - but that's not really the point at this stage.

Most important thing, anyway, is to hold the things and see which is comfortable. You can't tell that from a page of specs.

deegs

zuutroy wrote: »

Something like this I think.....

http://cgi.ebay.com/CANON-EOS-Digital-Rebel-XTi-400D-4-Lens-8GB-DVD-More_W0QQitemZ130184145022QQihZ003QQcategoryZ147173QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Dont buy from america... youll get stung with customs. There are many good kits from UK in or around the same price (but cheaper in long run cos no import tax)

templeathea

elven wrote: »

A few blokes round here aren't too fond of the canon because it's dinky compared to the other bodies. For a girl, without sounding like I'm stereotyping, that can make it easier to handle and also having something less heavy to cart about makes you less inclined to want to leave it at home and bring a p&s with you instead... it's something to consider.

The main differences I've seen between the two are that nikon put buttons for EVERYTHING on the camera body. On a canon, you only get a few buttons and have to go through menus or combinations for everything else. While some people find that annoying, everyone uses their camera in a different way and so would only make use of a couple of the buttons anyway. I've generally never felt disadvantaged with the 350d in that respect. The other thing which I'm not sure about actually backing up with evidence and is based purely on speculation and rumours is that canon sensors behave better when it comes to noise in low light situations. I don't know if there's a discernable difference at this end of the scale, but it's worth checking out because noise is a big problem - depending on what you shoot obviously. Quilmore is slightly off the mark I'd say - great lenses won't make the difference on a noisy shot, that's down to the sensor - but that's not really the point at this stage.

Most important thing, anyway, is to hold the things and see which is comfortable. You can't tell that from a page of specs.

I totally agree with this post. Ergonomics is very important, but many people have different ideas of what constitutes the best set-up. All SLRs over about €500 are excellent imo and you'd have to be looking for faults with them to find any

That price sound suspiciously cheap for a D80 btw