First DSLR, Canon or Nikon?

colm_mcm

Apologies if this has been covered a million times.

I'm looking for my first dslr camera. Argos are doing 2 in my price range.

Canon 1100D
http://www.argos.ie/static/Product/partNumber/5594463.htm#tabrev

Nikon D3100
http://www.argos.ie/static/Product/partNumber/5594827/Trail/searchtext%3ENIKON+DSLR.htm#tabrev

I've only ever used a Nikon, but to be fair I'm not too familiar with them.

I believe there's two distinct camps out there, I prefer the look of the Nikon

Just wondering which would be better. I reckon it'd be mostly outdoor shots not landscapes or far away stuff.

The canon one does video I see, dunno if I'd ever actually use that to be fair

Are the upgraded zoom lenses more expensive for any particular brand and are they equally matched for reliability?

Apologies if I've left anything obvious out

spcw

Just ordered the nikon in argos on the reccomendation of a tekkie in photography could not say enough good things about it. inclduing it is compatiable with any any lenses they have made since 1959 so lots of secondhand add ons when you need them

colm_mcm

I have read this

http://www.techradar.com/news/photography-video-capture/cameras/canon-vs-nikon-which-dslr-should-you-buy-939229

vic20

I have a Nikon D3100. If you're planning on using it for videos read this page http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikond3100/9 about the microphone picking up the noise from the autofocus motor.

colm_mcm

Yeah, I had noticed that neither had a mic input. I don't think it'll be an issue tbh

I'm guessing they're pretty evenly matched so i think the Nikon is the one ill get (unless anyone has any good reasons against)

As for price, is €369 good? Nikon doing €40 cashback
What's the warranty like? Don't Argos do a 3 year insurance thingy?


Thanks to all for the help so far

dirtyghettokid

i like both nikon and canon. i started off with nikon, and now am canon. if i could go back and do it again, i'd probably have started with canon.
better spec'd for the money. (IMO of course)

get the best camera you can afford. i was lucky i started off with a mid range nikon at the time. but now, it's very disappointing to see lack of certain things in the lower end nikon models. i wouldn't get anything less than a D7000 if i were starting out with nikon.

colm_mcm

Thanks, but I don't fancy spending too much on my first one as I'm not sure I'd get the benefit out of spending over a grand on something I've never had before.

dirtyghettokid

what about second hand?
or you can get a decent spec'd canon new (650D) for around €650 with kit lens

seanin4711

now there for ya

Paulw

Best advice I can give anyone thinking of buying a camera - go hold it in your hands first.

Honestly, how it feels in your hands is critical. Canon/Nikon - very similar technically. But, they feel very different. If you plan to do a good bit of photography, being able to change settings quickly can be important, so where those buttons and dials are is critical. Go hold a camera. See what you think of it's weight, make, texture, locations of buttons and dials, and just what it feels like.

Then go look at the tech specs and functions.

colm_mcm

dirtyghettokid wrote: »

what about second hand?
or you can get a decent spec'd canon new (650D) for around €650 with kit lens

May sound silly but id rather a new one just in case something went wrong or there was already an issue that i didn't spot when buying.

Gumbo

colm_mcm wrote: »

May sound silly but id rather a new one just in case something went wrong or there was already an issue that i didn't spot when buying.

Colm, please dont buy bases on posts here from from advice only.
Go into a shop and hold both cameras and see which one works in your hands.

When i was buying, i tried the nikon, and my thumb kept spinning the jog wheel, where the canon just sat perfect.

then go about getting the best deal available,

spcw

sorry have to correct my earlier post this is the one I Have ordered.
http://www.argos.ie/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10152&catalogId=14551&langId=111&productId=101708

brokenarms

spcw wrote: »

sorry have to correct my earlier post this is the one I Have ordered.
http://www.argos.ie/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10152&catalogId=14551&langId=111&productId=101708

feckin hell I got it last week when it was 369

colm_mcm

brokenarms wrote: »

feckin hell I got it last week when it was 369

The one for 369 is the 3100
14mp


They had the 3100 in the camera place in blanch for 449 but it has a spare battery and card 8gb i think. And a lesson.

Dunno if its worth 80 extra for that.

Had a go of both. Preferred the nikon although the plastics on the canon are better, the nikon feels more solid and more intuitive.

zerohamster

Anyone asking Canon or Nikon theses days I recommend Canon because parts are available for repairs where as Nikon are restricting parts.
It's fine if you want to send it to an ASF but that means high cost of repair and no choice to hunt around for a better price or other factors(there is a Nikon ASF in meath that is decent).

One thing though is that Nikon won't repair grey market cameras or lenses and that means they are pretty much an expensive paperweight if anything goes wrong with then as Nikon won't touch it and independent places can't get the parts for them (Google Nikon parts problem for more on that one).
Canon are great with parts on the other hand and without the long waiting time for parts that there used to be when Nikon would give parts (months wait on parts sometimes).

I personally own both Nikon and Canon and prefer Canon mainly because the insides of them are just easier to service... Less messy and they use a lot more FPC cables that unplug rather than wires (awkward careful wire placement during reassembly) and solder all over the place which slow things down during disassembly and reassembly.

If anyone is considering getting stuff from digital rev or China/Hong Kong then make damn sure it isn't grey market if it's Nikon as you will end up screwing yourself over if it needs repair after the "seller" warranty runs out because nobody will touch it.

brokenarms

my last cam was a 1000d now I have a d3100.

I miss my old canon. It has more funtions that the Nikon where to cheap to put in.

No exposure bracketing
No dedicated ISO button.
Just tonight I found that there is no mirror up function.

Small things are adding up. Im having second thoughts now.

I wish I went with the 1100d now.

poundhound

The D3100 does have the mirror up function.

muppetkiller

I'd take a http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pentax-K-30-DSLR-Camera-18-55mm/dp/B008384CG4/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1355311519&sr=8-2

any day over the entry level Canon. Actually the K5 isn't much more expensive and is a fantastic camera.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pentax-K-5-DSLR-18-55mm-3-5-5-6/dp/B00439HH0A/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1355312670&sr=1-1

brokenarms

poundhound wrote: »

The D3100 does have the mirror up function.

only for cleaning purposes.

Not for shots

pixbyjohn

brokenarms wrote: »

only for cleaning purposes.

Not for shots

Doesn't it have liveview ? That is mirror up
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQS8U02of7g

brokenarms

pixbyjohn wrote: »

Doesn't it have liveview ? That is mirror up
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQS8U02of7g

Cheers . thanks for that. There is no instruction in the manual for that. It states that the mirror up function is only for cleaning.

muppetkiller

muppetkiller wrote: »

I'd take a http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pentax-K-30-DSLR-Camera-18-55mm/dp/B008384CG4/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1355311519&sr=8-2

any day over the entry level Canon. Actually the K5 isn't much more expensive and is a fantastic camera.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pentax-K-5-DSLR-18-55mm-3-5-5-6/dp/B00439HH0A/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1355312670&sr=1-1

Actually I see on amazon
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/feature.html?ie=UTF8&docId=1000577913&tag=hotukdeals-21

you get 100 euro cash back on the K5 !!! :eek: i'll get one myself at that price

seanin4711

http://gadgetshow.channel5.com/gadget-show/videos/gadget-test/south-of-france-entry-level-dslrs

colm_mcm

Update, ended up getting a D3000 in the end.
Chuffed so far.