Best SLR Camera: Nikon or Canon?

kardarie

Hi
I am looking into buying either a Canon EOS 1000D Digital SLR camera or a Nikon D3000 Digital SLR camera. I have had a canon digital compact camera in the past and found it very good, but i have been recommeded by a friend to go for the Nikon. I'd like advise on which of them is the best to go for and any other information you may have on either.

Thanks.

5uspect

You didn't just ask that question!:eek:

/flees in terror!

.Longshanks.

kardarie

why

5uspect

Seriously tho they're effectively the same. Both are fine cameras, as are the camera made by Olympus and Sony.
What you need to consider is the whole system. How much are you willing to invest in lenses because that is where the biggest cost is.

What you should do is go to your local camera shop and try the different cameras. See how they feel in your hands. Ignore the rubbish the salesman tells you tho and don't buy on your first visit.

pixbyjohn

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

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0907/09073005nikond3000.asp

Read these reviews

Ghost Train

dudara

45% of the people here will say Nikon, 45% will say Canon and the remaining 10% will be split between Olympus and Sony.

Honestly, there is no real difference. They are the two market leaders. At this stage, make sure you know what key features you want, get into shops and try them out in your hand. (when I was buying I went for Nikon in the end purely because it felt more comfortable in my hand).

Good luck.

kardarie

price wise they are pretty close together. They seem to be alot cheaper on a few websites ive visited like pixmania.ie. Ive never used an SLR before so would any of these be the right choice.

Thirdfox

Don't forget Pentax! (Says the Nikon owner)

5uspect

Yes they're both entry level cameras, but the best thing to do is try one out before you buy. Perhaps even have a look at their manuals online before you do. That way you have an idea of what some of the buttons do.

kumate_champ07

ballygowan or kerry spring, which is the best water?

outspann

I spent ages saving for an all-singing, all-dancing Nikon. And yes, it's a great camera!

but sometimes I just wish that I had bought a secondhand manual camera and used my free time to go out taking pictures instead of stuck in the office working overtime

Thirdfox

kumate_champ07 wrote: »

ballygowan or kerry spring, which is the best water?

Never heard of Kerry Spring actually...how's about Tipperary?

Only Evian for me (evian backwards spells naive :pac: )

TJJP

And have a look here too: http://www.adverts.ie/showcat.php?cat=51

There's a Canon 40D going for around €600 (no relation!) which could be a better option to either of the two suggested.

I'm a Canon fan, but either option is good.

dazftw

I use canon, nikon bodies are very much superior in my opinion though! As for the specs.. theres no difference really both have there good and bad points.

run_Forrest_run

kardarie wrote: »

price wise they are pretty close together. They seem to be alot cheaper on a few websites ive visited like pixmania.ie. Ive never used an SLR before so would any of these be the right choice.

do not purchase anything from pixmania....no need to thank me:)

one2one

I have the Canon 1000D and I must say its a great camera.

5uspect

Kea Photo have the better 500D for €506. (Body only so you'll need to buy a lens separately)
http://www.keaphoto.com/shop.html?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=491&category_id=17
and the video capable Nikon D5000 for €560:
http://www.keaphoto.com/shop.html?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=489&category_id=34

Be aware you may be subject to import duty on these prices.

Danbo!

run_Forrest_run wrote: »

do not purchase anything from pixmania....no need to thank me:)

Pixmania sell Thousands of products everyday, there's bound to be a few people having bad experiences. I've bought a lot from them and havent had trouble. If the price is right op, go for it.

Fajitas!

Pop into a camera shop and play with both of them. Pricewise, lenswise and specwise, they're very very similar throughout the ranges, so it comes down to ergonomics. Don't forget to try the lesser known brands too, Olympus and Sony, and the like. They'll all do a good job and last you for quite a while.

Kintarō Hattori

Thirdfox wrote: »

Don't forget Pentax! (Says the Nikon owner)

We're always forgotten about. See below!

Fajitas! wrote: »

Pop into a camera shop and play with both of them. Pricewise, lenswise and specwise, they're very very similar throughout the ranges, so it comes down to ergonomics. Don't forget to try the lesser known brands too, Olympus and Sony, and the like. They'll all do a good job and last you for quite a while.

Shakes fist at Fajitas!!! :mad:

Ghost Train

I'm also a pentax owner, very happy with it

CabanSail

All the leading systems have very good entry level models. If you are getting into Photography then you are making a decision of buying into a system & not just an entry level body & kit lens. You will soon want to expand the gear you have & it may also be useful to borrow gear from others.

If you know people who already shoot Nikon then that may be a factor which could sway you in that direction. As for the brand of compacts, that is not really relevant as they are stand alone products. I have been shooting Nikon since the early 70's but also have a Canon G9 as a walk around camera.

Good luck with whatever you decide & come here & show us some of your images.

Thirdfox

Kintarō Hattori wrote: »

We're always forgotten about. See below!



Shakes fist at Fajitas!!! :mad:

No no, he was talking about the "lesser known brands"...which simply means that he holds the Pentax brand to be a well known one

From the news that I read about - it seems that Sony and Panasonic are the real movers and shakers for the foreseeable future (as dSLRs join the commercialised products market). Panasonic also make some very good compacts too.

AnCatDubh

Kintarō Hattori wrote: »

We're always forgotten about. See below!

Oi! There are actually plenty of us about.

All rather happy with their pentax's too.

In terms of Best SLR Camera: Nikon or Canon - I think the difficulty is just as people above have said that you are buying into a system, however how the heck are you supposed to know what you are buying into or what benefits are in the system (particularly if those with experience of such gear find it hard to differentiate), or to be honest where you might want to go along your photographic journey - you may never need to go beyond entry level or you may need to go top of the range pro gear. If you can't know then we're not going to be able to know.

The thing I guess is that once you have bought in don't be blinded by your new found pride in whatever you have bought ( don't worry - it's a photographer trait ). Before you begin to add on lenses, external flash or other accessories learn what you can about photography and settle within your own mind as to what you might want to do with the great art. Then reaffirm your choice or change - at that point it won't be too late and you'll lose very little in global terms.

At a wild guess - no matter what you choose and you will be fine.

colblimp

run_Forrest_run wrote: »

do not purchase anything from pixmania....no need to thank me:)

Absolutely correct. I used to work for Amazon, and Pixmania was a third party seller. The amount of complaints, disputes and general dissatisfaction I heard about Pixmania was frightening. Steer clear, no matter what! I'd rather have a lung removed without any anaesthetic than purchase from them... :eek:

kumate_champ07

If you need good high iso performance you wont get it with sony,pentax,olympus etc. they make some nice cameras, any current dslr right now is pretty good but they all have limitations.

nikon and canon have full frame cameras, sony has too but theirs have poor high iso performance. pentax have a huge legacy of lenses and in body IS, olympus also have the in body IS and their kit lenses are excellent and the jpegs straight from camera are are very nice. they have some nice lenses but they can get very expensive, but most of their lenses no matter what price range seem to be very good.

panasonic use the same lens mount as olympus, they also use the same sensors but panasonic use a weaker AA filter in front of the sensor which gives sharper pictures.


IMO what it comes down to is do you need a camera you can use in low light and not have very noisy images, that leaves canon and nikon. and either will do

if thats not important to you then put all the brand names in a hat and pick one

adriano210

i'm proud pentax owner also / I use to have canon and I donate it to my father in law,
now i have :
pentax k20d +grip
pentax k200d + grip
2x mesuper
mz6
p30
zorki4 rangefinder
feed 4 rangefinder
zenith sniper with brand new tair 3s
and oly e-410
i like pentax as with this camera you are able to do the pictures with
peace off the broken bootle with shake reduction and focus confirmation

Mycroft H

kumate_champ07 wrote: »

nikon and canon have full frame cameras, sony has too but theirs have poor high iso performance.

*cough but the best low iso performance cough*

gerk86

ive been using nikons for a few years now. recently we were using a canon for a studio assignment. For the life of me I couldn't understand some of the button/wheel placements, they just didn't make sense!!
You had to lift your eye from the eyepiece to press the button to adjust apature, the shutter speed wheel was on top of the camera etc etc...

MADNESS!

kumate_champ07

gerk86 wrote: »

ive been using nikons for a few years now. recently we were using a canon for a studio assignment. For the life of me I couldn't understand some of the button/wheel placements, they just didn't make sense!!
You had to lift your eye from the eyepiece to press the button to adjust apature, the shutter speed wheel was on top of the camera etc etc...

MADNESS!

what model were you using?
I change aperture while looking thru the viewfinder

gerk86

eos300d i think it was

kumate_champ07

gerk86 wrote: »

eos300d i think it was

that was the bottom of the range camera when it came out, so it lacks alot of features from higher up in the range.

AnCatDubh

Sounds a bit like getting from one make / model of car to another. Both may be high spec'd and you may be familiar with your own, but when you get into the other to drive it, you can start it ok and drive it ok, but when you go to turn on the indicators the wipers may come on, and when you go to turn on the lights, the radio sound may go off. But a little while with it and you'll drive it just like the one which you are used to.

Makes / models / idiosyncrasies perhaps?????