About to Buy - Canon 1000d or Nikon D60 SLR

PalerPaul

Hi,

I know there's a lot about what camera to buy but I'm at the point of ordering. It's either the Nikon D60 SLR Camera Kit 18-55mm Lens (http://www.dabs.ie/productview.aspx?Quicklinx=4YZ3&CategorySelectedId=11193&PageMode=1&NavigationKey=11193,4294959512,50584)

or Canon 1000d SLR EF-S 18-55mm IS Lens (http://www.dabs.ie/productview.aspx?Quicklinx=54VK&CategorySelectedId=11193&PageMode=1&NavigationKey=11193,4294959512,50330)

I'm a beginner looking for a camera to give me a good grounding for an upcoming course. I'm presuming both of these lenses are decent enough for all occasions (for my level). I'm leaning towards the D60 but not 100% sure.

P

Borderfox

I think in terms of how they feel, entry level Nikons always imo felt better than the Canon variety and I only went with Canon for high iso performance so at the end of the day Paul whatever feels right is the one for you.

Sad Professor

I don't have any experience with either camera but I'm just about to get my first DSLR as well and from what I've read at the lower-end of the market Canon are generally superior to Nikon. The D60 while a good camera seems to have a number of disadvantages compared to the similarly priced Canon range. (However Nikon are offering 80+ cashback on the d60 at the moment.)

I decided to go for the Canon 400d.

ttcomet

Either camera is very good. Maybe go into Currys or one of them and have a go with them and see how they feel in your hand. I was set to buy the Canon 450 till I played with that and the 40D.

The only thing that would put me off buying Canon again is the s*%t service I am getting from them at the moment since my camera broke. But I am not sure if Nikon is any better.

One final thing is that Dabs has a bit of a reputation around here as having terrible service (search the online buying forum I think it is) but I have never used them myself so I really cant advise on that.

Borderfox

Nikon has a service centre in Dublin whereas Canon well, well, suffice to say it goes to England for the slightest thing

Popanddrop

I have the Nikon D60 got it about 3 months ago when my other camera D40x got robbed from my house when I was away. The D60 is absolutly fantastic full of features and the lense you have chosen works well to.
Does it have the Vibration Reduction built in to the lense?
For a beginner even an expert this camera will be perfect, they are so reliable and the battery life per charge is great.
Hope this helps.

eas

Sad Professor wrote: »

from what I've read at the lower-end of the market Canon are generally superior to Nikon. The D60 while a good camera seems to have a number of disadvantages compared to the similarly priced Canon range.

hi Sad Professor,

just curious what models you're refering to and what you felt the disadvantges in the nikons to be?

eas

also - to the OP, these links may help...or not

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikond60/page30.asp


http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canoneos1000d/page34.asp

AnimalRights

I so often read these threads with the advice on "go into a shop and see how it feels in your hand" I thought it was a bit OTT but it most def is a great way, when I upgraded from my 450D to 40D I couldn't believe how "right" the 40D felt in my hand compared to the 450D, lense balance too was so different and better.

I would recommend the Canon over the Nikon btw.

0utpost31

I would also recommend buying on ebay! It's the cheapest around for cameras & gear, everybody here does it. (as far as I can tell).

You can get a 450d (cheaper than a 1000d on dabs) right here

http://cgi.ebay.ie/NEW-CANON-450D-Rebel-XSi-Kiss-X2-18-55mm-IS-KIT-SALE_W0QQitemZ170252711398QQihZ007QQcategoryZ31388QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1713.m153.l1262

Shop around before buying from dabs anyways!

CabanSail

I think that you cannot really go wrong with either Canon or Nikon. Neither make bad gear. Both companies are quite competitive & give good support. In the end it's a personal choice. Play with both of them & see which suits you best.

The way it ussually goes is that those who have chosen one over the other will get a bit "tribal" over their own brand.

I am in the Nikon camp. That choice was made many moons ago, before Canon were really into Cameras. My old man bought a Nikon system in 1972 as he knew people who were shooting with the Nikon F system in the 60's. A few years later I progressed from my Kodak Box Brownie & sort of took over his Camera Gear. I eventually bought it off him, and still own it all. I added a couple of lenses & a flash to the kit. Over the years I looked at getting a new camera but was not happy with the compromises until the F801 came along, which I also still have. I also bought a second hand Nikonus III for diving. A few problems I had with the Nikonus & a Nikon Flash made me really resent Maxwell's Photographics, who are the agents for Nikon in Australia.
When I was going to get a DSLR back in 2005 I was looking at Canon & Nikon. I preferred the Nikon D70s as it seemed more ergonomic than the Canon, but that may also be because I was used to Nikons for a long time & it was familiar. So that is why I am still using their gear.

I think Nikon do some things better than Canon & vice versa but these are really the minor points. Most of the things that really matter are the same in both systems. Each has a wide range of lenes & accessories & the build quality is ussually excellent. I think the differences are more pronounced in the lower end models in each system where each company is making compromises.

So the end of the day ..... pick the one that feels best to you. You will be buying into a system but both are there for the long haul.

Good luck & enjoy.

Sad Professor

eas wrote: »

hi Sad Professor,

just curious what models you're refering to and what you felt the disadvantges in the nikons to be?

Well in all of the reviews I read that compared the 400d/450d to the D60 the Canon always came out on top. One significant disadvantage with the d60 is lack of built in auto-focus except with AF-S lenses, ruling out the older and cheaper AF lenses.

I probably would have preferred a Nikon tbh and if could afford it would have gone with the D80 but everything seems to suggest Canon offer a slightly better entry-level camera.

sunny2004

I think you have realised that there are 2 camps, the Nikon camp and those other people who havent a clue ;0 :P

eas

Sad Professor wrote: »

Well in all of the reviews I read that compared the 400d/450d to the D60 the Canon always came out on top. One significant disadvantage with the d60 is lack of built in auto-focus except with AF-S lenses, ruling out the older and cheaper AF lenses.

I probably would have preferred a Nikon tbh and if could afford it would have gone with the D80 but everything seems to suggest Canon offer a slightly better entry-level camera.

I don't know a whole lot about the feature sets of entry level cameras, but I don't think the d60 and 450d are comparing the same thing. The D40/D60 was introduced at the bottom end where there was no Canon to compete, not until the 1000d anyway.

I was just curious, thanks.

BanzaiBk

If it's a Nikon, I'd choose the D40 over the D60. It's cheaper and I don't think the improvements in the D60 are worth the extra money to be honest.

oscarBravo

I bought an EOS 1000D on Friday - very pleased with it. I'll post up some pictures shortly.

S.M.B.

0utpost31 wrote: »

I would also recommend buying on ebay! It's the cheapest around for cameras & gear, everybody here does it. (as far as I can tell).

You can get a 450d (cheaper than a 1000d on dabs) right here

http://cgi.ebay.ie/NEW-CANON-450D-Rebel-XSi-Kiss-X2-18-55mm-IS-KIT-SALE_W0QQitemZ170252711398QQihZ007QQcategoryZ31388QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1713.m153.l1262

Shop around before buying from dabs anyways!

Those prices seem pretty decent. Nobody from this forum ever had a major problem buying from a retailer like this on Ebay did they?

Sad Professor

S.M.B. wrote: »

Those prices seem pretty decent. Nobody from this forum ever had a major problem buying from a retailer like this on Ebay did they?

Well I'd recommend caution. Many cameras on ebay are refurbished and the sellers like to hide this in the small print. This is not to say you'd have any problems with them, most are Canon/whoever approved and work perfectly and are extremely cheap. Of bigger concern is the fact that they may be (as in the above link) the Asian/U.S. version and the warranty wouldn't be valid here. So you become dependent on the seller's customer service should you have any problems. Depends if you want to take the risk or not.

anthony4335

Canon ,Nikon ,the debate. Best thing is to go into a shop with both and try out both and discover which you prefer. Dabs is a little pricey, try this
http://www.pixmania.com/ie/uk/569844/art/nikon/d40-black-af-s-dx-18-55-m.html
The one thing that I don't like about the entry level digital SLR's is the lack of the display screen on top. I think that I would really miss that. You could just look to buying some second hand kit, get more for your money ,and there are some nice buys on adverts at the moment. Both makes.