DLSR Cameras

[Jim Young]

I have been searching for a camera and have it narrowed down to two models, Nikon D80 and Canon 40D. (I keep kreeping up on the cost scale) Does anyone have an opinion on which way to go and what is the reason? I have no lenses currently so current equipment isn't a factor.

[Ken Fitzgerald]

Jim....I am not familiar with the Nikon D80...but I bought my wife a Nikon D40X in June.....she was in Illinois...I was in Idaho....she's the camera queen.......When I met up with her in Illinois with the camera, she didn't use it for 3 days....I was worried. Now.....She loves it! It can go fully Auto for her.....or completely manual.....and every Auto mode in between. First Nikon we've had.....we are sold on it.

[SCOTT ANDREWS]

Jim,
I have the Nikon D50 and love it.The 80 has more features in it,but unless your using it professionally,you won't miss them.As with Ken,this was my first Nikon.I will never own anything else.The 80 is a very nice camera that I doubt you would ever outgrow.

[Bruce Page]

I have a Nikon D40x heading my way with scheduled delivery on Monday the 17th. It will be my first DSLR and I'm pretty excited about it. I bought one of the “kits” that comes with the Nikor 18-55mm & 55-200mm lens both with VR along with several other goodies from Cameta in NY.
We have a D80 at work that our photohag (her term not mine) absolutely loves.

[Ken Fitzgerald]

Bruce.........I bought that same kit for my wife and she loves it! Congrats!

[David G Baker]

I am still looking at the Nikon D80 but haven't had the $. From all the looking and reading I have done over the past few months the D40X is an excellent camera. Like Scott said, the D40X is pretty much all you need unless you plan on shooting professionally. I am also looking at the VR lenses.
I have not researched the Canon brand digital camera but from past experience, Canon does make a fine product but you have to do the research to find the model that fits your needs.
I check the reputable camera stores daily looking for a drop in price. Maybe after the holidays or when the camera becomes obsolete.

[SCOTT ANDREWS]

I am still looking at the Nikon D80 but haven't had the $. From all the looking and reading I have done over the past few months the D40X is an excellent camera. Like Scott said, the D40X is pretty much all you need unless you plan on shooting professionally. I am also looking at the VR lenses.
I have not researched the Canon brand digital camera but from past experience, Canon does make a fine product but you have to do the research to find the model that fits your needs.
I check the reputable camera stores daily looking for a drop in price. Maybe after the holidays or when the camera becomes obsolete.

David
Circuit city has all their Nikons and all other DSLR's on sale right now.The D80 is discounted extremely well right now.Good luck.

[Andrew Nemeth]

Jim,

Do you own a Delta or Powermatic? Ford or Chevy? You will be happy with either brand as both make very nice cameras.

As for the specifics of the two models you are interested in I can't help you as I have not made the switch myself to Digital (I'm still shooting slides). Most of my friends who work in the Art and Design world are shooting Cannons and most of the people I know who are doing journalism (sports, or other fast moving subjects are shooting Nikons.) I think this might be because the first generation Nikon DSLRs had very fast frame rates compared to Cannon but Cannon had a better CCD (The part that replaces film and turns the light into digital information). I don't know if either of these two trends still exist. If either model has a full sized (same size as a 35mm negative) CCD I would go with that one as you will have a much better selection of reasonably priced lenses (which is where the real money is). Otherwise, look at the reviews and prices of the lenses you want as there may be a bigger price and quality difference there than in the bodies themselves.

I don't know if that really helps any,

-Andrew

[Mike Henderson]

I bought a Nikon D100 when they first came out. Nice camera but...

The 35mm camera is a certain size because that is what was needed to carry the film. And the lenses are a certain size because of the size of the negative.

Now that we have digital, those restrictions are removed. A very good digital camera can be quite a bit smaler than a 35mm camera and produce excellent pictures.

Both Nikon and Canon came out with digital bodies that replaced the film bodies because many people had large investments in lenses and they didn't want to strand those people. If those people were to "start over" they might go to a competitor's camera.

If you don't have a bunch of lenses, look at smaller and lighter digital cameras, especially if you're not doing professional work.

The problem with digital cameras, even Nikon and Canon cameras, is that they're going to be obsolete in 4-5 years - the technology is changing that much. For example, my Nikon D100 is now obsolete (I sold it a while back because of that and got pennies on the dollar).

Mike

[Glenn Clabo]

I'm a Canon guy and have a large collection of lenses. Like tools, because that's what cameras actually are after all, there are all kinds of opinions and each are right. If you are not going to get real seroius...I wouldn't get hung up on DLSR...the smaller cameras will have more than enough picture quality...and will be more likely taken along for the trip. Here's a place that has information to help you decide for yourself...
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs.asp

p.s. - Does this sound familiar? "It's not about the tool (camera)...it's about the operator." Whenever anyone says that they love one of my pictures..."you must have an expensive camera"...I say...That's like saying...Nice meal chef...you must have expensive knives.

[Todd Burch]

If I were making a decision today, I would go with the Nikon. I started shooting Nikon back in '84 when I won a Nikon FG at work. I have lots of lenses.

However, I've been mentally leaning towards Canon in recent years because of the higher end digital video cameras and the opportunity to switch out lenses there too with the DSLRs. Again, mentally leaning. (I just bought a nice Sony HD video camera - so the Canon shift has been deferred indefinitely).

From what I've head and read, the D80 is an excellent Camera. I think Jim Becker has a D80, or his Dr. SWMBO has one - don't remember.

Now, looking towards your next purchase - or your kit purchase - if you can't justify spending the $$ for great lenses - then just go with the cheaper camera and get whatever deal you can get.

My last Nikon camera N90s sucked (film camera). Worst camera I've ever had. It CANNOT take a sharp picture - but I think mine was just a lemon. Nikon even tried to fix and could not. (Don't let this cause you to lean away from Nikons - they are great cameras - just don't be lazy like I was and not take it in before the warranty runs out)

Todd

[David G Baker]

Thanks Scott. I will take a look at Circuit City for the D80.

[Jim Becker]

The D80 is a VERY nice camera...the successor to my D70 with even better specs. The Cannon is also very well thought of. Both names have very good credibility in this space and many of us make the decision based on previous ownership, especially if there are lenses already in the house. I've always been a Nikon guy, so that's where I stay. But I'm sure that I'd be perfectly happy using the Cannon since the bottom line is the photography!

[Scott Shepherd]

I have Canon products and have for over 20 years. I have seen stunning shots with Nikon and Canon products. Personally I think both cameras you mentioned are outstanding units and you'd be happy with either. You really could flip a coin and not lose. It's always been interesting to me how people say one is better than the other, yet when someone reviews two photos of the same things, taken by different models, you can't tell me which one was shot with what?

I think there are other tools that are far more important, like the lens, as well as the monitor, calibration equipment, and software used.

If you shoot any of those models in "Auto White Balance", then it's going to get the color wrong. Not by much, by a few 100. Having the knowledge and ability to correct that is important (to me). I have shot regular Canon lens as well as Canon's "L" series lens. The lens quality makes an amazing difference. In my opinion, the lens is far more important than either body you mentioned.

I speak to people all the time who do crazy things- they take photos on their $2000 camera, then they look at the images and adjust the colors on a monitor that's not calibrated (they don't even know what that means), then they upload their photos to be processed and the people at the processing center adjust the color, and the people who took the photo are completely unaware of that.

You'll need some software to process your images. The two big ones are Aperture for Mac's and LightRoom for Mac's or PC's. I have used Lightroom for almost a year now. I love it. It's really a great way to manage, adjust, and share all your photos. Neither program will destroy the original image. So you can crop, convert to black and white, or tweak it anyway you want and it never destroys the original.

Sorry, I got to rambling Either one would be a great camera. Go put them in your hand and see which one feels best in your hands. Pick that one.

[Jim Becker]

Scott, thanks for your comments on LightRoom...it's been on my radar since it was announced. Also, since you bring up monitor calibration, is there anything available that is "reasonable" cost for a rank amateur photographer to do that? That's the one thing that I absolutely must to do stop fudging it when printing on paper.