Canon 500D (T1i) vs Nikon D90

[MelbourneGuy]

Consider 40D? Get it 2nd hand if you can't find it in the shops.

Weight is the issue there, as is the 10MP resolution. I'm really disappointed with Canon's ergonomics on its 1000D/450D/500D bodies. Maybe I'll just buy the 450D, put up with it, and stop complaining...unless anybody can swing me towards Nikon's lenses. From the reading I've done, their best lenses don't have VR. A real shame.

 

[ZerocoolAstra]

For the 12bit vs 14bit issue, perhaps you should ask someone with such a camera to take 2 exact-same pictures at 12bit and 14bit, then you try to differentiate them on your screen. I seriously doubt you can.

If you prefer Nikon's ergonomics, I would seriously encourage you to go in that direction. No point having a camera which you don't enjoy holding and operating.
To me, ergonomics is #1.

As for lenses, I think the Tamron 17-50 f/2.8 is a pretty darn good option for value-for-money, compared with the Nikkor 17-55.
VR is important I guess, but at this focal range, hand-shake is less of a factor than at 80, 100, 150, 200mm.
Hold the camera properly, and a shot at 35mm at about 1/30s exhibits no hand-shake whatsoever. Any slower and you begin to introduce movement of the subject if that is a person or animal.

 

[wildsoyabean]

Weight is the issue there, as is the 10MP resolution. I'm really disappointed with Canon's ergonomics on its 1000D/450D/500D bodies. Maybe I'll just buy the 450D, put up with it, and stop complaining...unless anybody can swing me towards Nikon's lenses. From the reading I've done, they're best lenses don't have VR. A real shame.

70-200 f2.8 not VR meh?
18-200 VR
18-105 VR
70-300 VR
55-200 VR
18-55 VR
80-400 VR
24-120 VR

anyway VR is not that impt ...it mere reduces stops by 2-3. with todays technology, this can be easilly done with higher ISO.

 

[lightning]

Weight is the issue there, as is the 10MP resolution. I'm really disappointed with Canon's ergonomics on its 1000D/450D/500D bodies. Maybe I'll just buy the 450D, put up with it, and stop complaining...unless anybody can swing me towards Nikon's lenses. From the reading I've done, they're best lenses don't have VR. A real shame.

Get the 500D with grip....Canon's lenses are worth investing. the newer IS lenses have 4-5 stop image stabilization which is very good. Eg. 70-200F4LIS has 4 stop IS ability.

At the moment, I personally feel that the 500D is the best price/features camera.

 

[sukhoi37]

lol, same thought as me.
canon xxxd got the worst ergonomic grip in entry level segment.

I suggest you go for nikon d90 if 40d/50d is overbudget.

 

[MelbourneGuy]

70-200 f2.8 not VR meh?
18-200 VR
18-105 VR
70-300 VR
55-200 VR
18-55 VR
80-400 VR
24-120 VR

anyway VR is not that impt ...it mere reduces stops by 2-3. with todays technology, this can be easilly done with higher ISO.

What I meant by my earlier statement was that I couldn't seem to find the same lenses from Nikon in terms of focal range, aperture and image stabilisation. The 18-55 VR you listed is the closest but the aperture is f/3.5-5.6. With Canon I get a constant aperture of f/2.8 and image stabilisation. I want image stabilisation to be able to hand hold some shots and use lower ISO (and therefore lower noise).

 

[MelbourneGuy]

Get the 500D with grip....Canon's lenses are worth investing. the newer IS lenses have 4-5 stop image stabilization which is very good. Eg. 70-200F4LIS has 4 stop IS ability.

At the moment, I personally feel that the 500D is the best price/features camera.

The grip only benefits ergonomics when you hold it 90% rotated for portrait-style shots, right?

 

[Ouverture]

any freebies to go along with it?:think:

1 yr ago I got mine at 1.3k...now drop till 900 liao..:cry:

Yes, that's a sad thing when a product becomes DIGITIZED....

Look at TV, Videocam, Cameras, Mobile Phones, Music Players....when they become digital, it gets updated almost every other months, which makes them no value at all...

 

[Ouverture]

The grip only benefits ergonomics when you hold it 90% rotated for portrait-style shots, right?

Actually I was in the same fate as you. Had been aiming 450d for the longest time before it disappoint me with it's grip.

Actually I do find D90 is very suitable for you, and I believe Nikkor 17-55F2.8 is as good as Canon's counterpart. VR or not should not be too critical as 55mm is not too long to handle.

And I believe VR version should be coming soon for their 17-55.

If you want budget, Tamron 17-50F2.8 is a good option, though without VR but it's at least half cheaper than Canon/Nikon ones.

 

[ditikolon]

Weight is the issue there, as is the 10MP resolution. I'm really disappointed with Canon's ergonomics on its 1000D/450D/500D bodies. Maybe I'll just buy the 450D, put up with it, and stop complaining...unless anybody can swing me towards Nikon's lenses. From the reading I've done, their best lenses don't have VR. A real shame.

Heyer negligible weight difference lar. Take it from me! I initially bought 400D because of the small size, but attach a 17-40L or worse, 70-200F2.8 to it and it's not comfortable to shoot at all. Mount a flash and it's worse. So I had to buy a battery grip for it.

I finally switched over to 30D because the feel of a semi-pro DSLR is just different. The shutter isn't clickety clack noisy, and there's the control dial which really makes it so convenient to shoot. Not to mention higher flash sync speed and more custom functions. Plus my lenses balance so much better, grip or without grip.

A 40D + 17-55/2.8 IS would be good for you. Oh, and get a flash too.

 

[jlkk76]

15pgs still no buying.....:sweat:

 

[ZerocoolAstra]

to TS:
you know... the longer you drag out this issue of 12bit vs 14bit, VR/IS vs none, etc etc, I can't help but feel that the greater the pressure will be on you to produce WOW images.

Photography is meant to be enjoyed, not dissected to this extent.

I can't wait for you to get your DSLR and to see your postings in the galleries section.

 

[SleepingIdol]

Heyer negligible weight difference lar. Take it from me! I initially bought 400D because of the small size, but attach a 17-40L or worse, 70-200F2.8 to it and it's not comfortable to shoot at all. Mount a flash and it's worse. So I had to buy a battery grip for it.

I finally switched over to 30D because the feel of a semi-pro DSLR is just different. The shutter isn't clickety clack noisy, and there's the control dial which really makes it so convenient to shoot. Not to mention higher flash sync speed and more custom functions. Plus my lenses balance so much better, grip or without grip.

A 40D + 17-55/2.8 IS would be good for you. Oh, and get a flash too.

Agree...I recently changed system and now using Canon 40D + Tamron 17-50mm/f2.8 + 580 EX2 Flash for my weddng.
A sample of it which I just posted in Multiply...

http://photique.multiply.com/photos/album/78#3

I have no regret...

 

[MelbourneGuy]

to TS:
you know... the longer you drag out this issue of 12bit vs 14bit, VR/IS vs none, etc etc, I can't help but feel that the greater the pressure will be on you to produce WOW images.

Photography is meant to be enjoyed, not dissected to this extent.

I can't wait for you to get your DSLR and to see your postings in the galleries section.

Lol, everybody is going to tell me how bad my pictures are...I can't even take decent photos with my P&S. But I'm determined to learn

 

[nikkie]

Weight is the issue there, as is the 10MP resolution. I'm really disappointed with Canon's ergonomics on its 1000D/450D/500D bodies. Maybe I'll just buy the 450D, put up with it, and stop complaining...unless anybody can swing me towards Nikon's lenses. From the reading I've done, their best lenses don't have VR. A real shame.

You mentioned this will be your first camera, having waited for so long until the 500d.
hmm.. affordability aside, are you really buying the top lenses in either cam?
if not, they should not bother you.
And if you've set your sights on those top lenses (doesn not matter which cam), you would have bought you camera ages ago.
And if you are looking at those L lenses and taking a long process to even start with 500d. Don't you think you might wanna think about higher models like 5D Mkii? or D3? or A900?

 

[MumSon]

Me, auntie a newbie just bought my D90 less then a week. I dont know much about all kind of terms in anyhow or anyway about lens and others. But quote to the forum to ask what is best for me and i set my budget and just go for it. Have no regret! Cos what i want is to enjoy shooting and playing around with my new toy. I ll continue to read, shoot and read ppl comments to improve.

Since u know what u want, go go go ..... u should hold your own cam and enjoy...

hope this will not turn to pg 16 lol...

 

[MelbourneGuy]

I guess if I like the 450D as a camera but just don't like the ergonomics of it, I could consider a battery grip. Is there any advantage ergonomically to a battery grip when using in normal orientation (not portrait orientation)? My main problem with the ergonomics of the 450D is the grip doesn't protrude far enough from the body and my fingers hit the body with nowhere to go, but also my little finger keeps slipping off the camera completely!

 

[wildsoyabean]

I guess if I like the 450D as a camera but just don't like the ergonomics of it, I could consider a battery grip. Is there any advantage ergonomically to a battery grip when using in normal orientation (not portrait orientation)? My main problem with the ergonomics of the 450D is the grip doesn't protrude far enough from the body and my fingers hit the body with nowhere to go, but also my little finger keeps slipping off the camera completely!

then u probably wont be enjoy 450D..

get smth bigger. 40D or d90.
u worry too much.. with d90 i can safely shoot @ iso3200 without too much worry of noise. at least not in 3R-4R photos!. in the past above iso 800 was unbearable to me. now its 3200 thats like 5-6 stops...vr or not it about know ur camera and what it can do given the situation.

 

[mellette]

Wow!! long thread!! I am an old newbie to digital photography too. Being old I have learned that technology keeps changing (improving). Your wishlist today will be realised tomorrow.So the question is are you going to keep on wishing?? There is no such thing as ideal deal at any given budget. Major makers like Nikon and Canon have enough lenses and bodies to satisfied ALL needs at a given price and what user wishes for will be realised in time...remember this is an expensive hobby if you need to have the best(ideal)..Looking back there were countless great shots produced by much much lesser equipment compared with today's standard. So it simply suggested that skill and an eye for subject is still paramount. So get yourself started with your pre determined budget and spend along the way. I would spend on better lens than body if I were you. good luck

 

[ZerocoolAstra]

to use an IT analogy (since TS is in the IT industry), it's like worrying about whether a 320GB or 500GB hard-drive will be sufficient as a storage medium, and by the time a decision is made, a 1.5TB drive is already out in the market. Then we carry on with another 15 pages of debate on cost vs benefit...