Canon or Nikon DSLR/SLR

[stephanielee]

Hi! i'm a newbie as well. i started off with a canon powershot s50 and just recently got the canon 20D. i'm very happy with it! it's very fast, has less noise compared to a nikon D70, long lasting battery life.. and well, i think maybe you should visit dpreview or some other some other site to some research before buying the camera.

however, right now.. i would highly recommend the canon 20D. but at the end of the day, its your money and your choice. oh! and i think you should also follow kh_drew's advice.

cheers!

 

[ibitemynails]

just go to the shops to try.
i like the honda or toyota analogy.

 

[tkkoh]

have u used film b4? if not, try shooting with film first..

why do you suggest shooting with film before going into digital? :dunno: it is like suggesting try typing on a typewritter before typing on a powerbook.

 

[tkkoh]

Be it Canon or Nikon, you may want to consider getting a 2nd hand set first - there are quite a number of good entry level DSLRs (300D, D70, etc) in the B&S forum nowadays. Few months back when I'm looking for a D70, the resell market isn't that active. Otherwise, I would have gotten a 2nd hand set.

 

[Jed]

Depends. Both Canon and Nikon have excellent systems that will generally serve you well regardless of how advanced in photography you get, barring certain exceptions like tilt/shift lenses and bellows work. But for 99.9% of professional and amateur work, both systems will keep you perfectly happy.

In terms of technology, Canon would appear to have the edge, which is possibly true, but again Nikon has more than enough to keep you happy.

So then it comes down to a matter of how much have you got to spend now and how much will you eventually be wanting to spend on this. Unfortunately no one can tell what Canon or Nikon are going to release 12 months down the line, so trying to second guess them is a fruitless affair. Looking at what's available now:

The D70 is a significantly better camera than the 300D.
The 20D is a significantly better camera than the D100.
The 1DII is a better camera than the D2h.
The 1DsII is a very significantly better camera than the D1x, soon to be replaced by the D2x.

So it all depends on which level you're going to be entering at. But things change rapidly in this market. The very old and ancient D100 really should be replaced, and the nature of the market (like computer technology) suggests that it really should be at least as good as the 20D.

Ultimately both will serve you well. So buy the one that's right for you now.

 

[WoLoh]

I would suggest you to join the SEED and borrow someone's DSLR to try try first ..

Join Wat Seed?
Do u hve any great DSLR/SLR to let me try?
Or anyone can help me out?

I've tried entry level Canon & Nikon SLR but not those higher range of SLR like Canon EOS 1V/3 Nikon F100/5/6?
Anyone can lend me his/her SLR/DSLR for me to try out? :bsmilie:
Now I'm confused as to get a SLR/DSLR.
DSLR is gd cos no need to worry run out of film as long as I've a big fast CF card and can play around with different ISO but higher ISO will hve noise and the colors may not as gd as slides..
SLR is gd. When slides r used, the colours r great cos I've seen slides taken by others! :thumbsup:

I've heard DSL need to change every 2 yrs but dunno why..
Anyone can tell me more?
Technology is changing so fast can't possibly for me to follow.. :cry:

 

[nightwolf75]

Join Wat Seed?
Do u hve any great DSLR/SLR to let me try?
Or anyone can help me out?

I've tried entry level Canon & Nikon SLR but not those higher range of SLR like Canon EOS 1V/3 Nikon F100/5/6?
Anyone can lend me his/her SLR/DSLR for me to try out? :bsmilie:
Now I'm confused as to get a SLR/DSLR.
DSLR is gd cos no need to worry run out of film as long as I've a big fast CF card and can play around with different ISO but higher ISO will hve noise and the colors may not as gd as slides..
SLR is gd. When slides r used, the colours r great cos I've seen slides taken by others! :thumbsup:

I've heard DSL need to change every 2 yrs but dunno why..
Anyone can tell me more?
Technology is changing so fast can't possibly for me to follow.. :cry:

ermmm.. WoLoh, just my 2 rupees....

up to now, think we have no idea wat u want to shoot most often. if u are at the beginner's level (as stated in the beginning of ur post), u have to think long and very hard, be it SLR or DSLR. oh, btw, we are not even talking abt systems yet. why? becos going down the route of SLR or DSLR involves big (and I mean BIG) spending. if u decide to buy new (not talking abt systems yet), u can easily spend $1K+ (or SLR) to $3-4K+ (on DSLR) buying lenses, flash(es), bag(s), film(s) or CF/SD/MS etc... card(s), filter(s), cleaning equipment, dry cabinet etc... etc... and, dats for starters.

for SLR, u have to factor in development costs, esp since u wanna shoot slides. DLSR, u also have to spend money on ur own printers (if u wanna print ur own pics, which means u need to buy colour calibration tools), or send it to the shops for development.

so, as a beginner, pls do think long and hard if u wish to pursue the SLR/DSLR route. if not, mebbe a PnS (be it film or digital) might be more suitable? but, since u ask, i think u're serious abt photograhy. then, the next thing u need to ask urself what u want to shoot most often. becos, from here, u will be able to decide how much u need to spend on wat, and if u will be shooting enuf to justify the amt spent. only then, u can decide on wat system is best for ur purpose and budget.

 

[erictan8888]

this is this debate already about whether SLR or DSLR.... also whether canon or nikon....

ultimately, you must feel comfortable with the camera and do your homework on film or digital....

for me, i used to have a film SLR and recently moved to DSLR..... feel that i like the change a lot.... a great difference between film and digital.... seems to me that you have much more latitude when shooting with film, and more forgiving also....

but digital allows you the convenience of reviewing your shots immediately and having a look at them the moment you reach home and download them to your computer...

there is no best camera in the whole, if you have decided on a system, it will be pretty hard to change to another system due to the costs involved... esp. if you have bought a number of lenses liao... unless you are super loaded....

and ultimately, although i am a newbie, have heard this a lot of times liao... and i agree to it..... "it is the man behind the camera that makes the picture......"

happy choosing.....

 

[ming83]

well, i have a nikon fm10 to lend u if u want. it's not digital, but uses good, old film. it's a fully manual film camera which is good for beginners like u to learn the basics; it was my first camera i got as a present.

i dun think anyone would be very willing to lend u their expensive DSLRs, unless u know them personelly.

i recommend starting wif a good, cheap film camera first; in that way u can take your time and shoot at your own leisure, instead of feeling pressured to going out and shoot by buying an expensive camera.

if u are rich and can pay for the convenience then go ahead and get a DSLR. u can check out http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d70.htm

'I've heard DSL need to change every 2 yrs but dunno why..'
about the above, i think it means that the resolution of digital cameras will increase as time goes by. for example, most DSLRs have a resoultion of 6mp.
but who knows in a few years time, the so called 'standard' will increase.
but if the largest size u need to print is 8R, then 6mp is all u need.

 

[faa]

sorry OT abit.. whats SEED?

 

[coldman]

:embrass: me also have this problem when i get started in photography.
for me, i poor poor, so:
1) i have to decide on the type of photography that i mostly like to do. eg. nature, micro, fashion, wedding, wide angle....... etc. :think:
2) read up on the type of photographic you choose in (1).
3) after (1), i can choose the type of lens that i will need. eg. prime or zoom, same brand as camere or 3rd party. :think:
4) what is the distance of the lens that i will need for my choice in (1). :think:
5) which brand have the most lens range that i will need for my choice in (4).
6) after (5), you will know roughly which brand you will go to.
7) buy the best and lastest model that you $$$ will allow. have to set aside some $$$ for the accessory.
8) buy the lens that you have choosen in (4). if no $$$, can buy the cheaper lens that you will need and upgrade as you have save more $$$.
9) buy some basic accessory base on you need. eg. compact flash card, dry box, bag........ etc. for flash, tripod, monopod, try not to buy in a hurry. get more info from our fellow CSer, or your photography friends, before buying. never buy those cheapo $40++ to $60++ tripod, you will throw them away very soon.

if you find the above steps too troublesome, there's always the prosumer camera waiting for you. (almost the same function as a DSLR, maybe cheaper and can forget about steps 3, 4, 5, and 8)

hope my guide is helpful to you.

btw, SEED is here

 

[WoLoh]

So when will they be Seed?
How will I know?
During Seed will hve great discounts on cams and assessories or can borrow cam huh? :embrass:

 

[CY_OH]

So when will they be Seed?
How will I know?
During Seed will hve great discounts on cams and assessories or can borrow cam huh? :embrass:

See the following thread about the next SEED on 29 December. It takes place on a Wednesday every two weeks. There you can chat with other Clubsnap members and try out their cameras. http://forums.clubsnap.org/showthread.php?t=106269