Way O/t- Advise On Dslr Cameras

[jak]

Looking at buying an entry level digital SLR camera. I've narrowed it down to either the Canon 1100D or the Nikon D3100. The Canon is slightly cheaper, although the spec's seem about the same. Based on reviews for both cameras, I am probably going to go for the Nikon.

Open to other options or views on why you think my choice is wrong.

John

[Mark (smokey mow)]

Jak have a read of this thread, I asked a very similar question this time last year. I opted for the Nikon D5000 now superceeded by the D5100 (which coincidently my Dad bought this week).

Best advice I can give is to do as I did and look at the two of them side by side and make your own mind up, for me the Nikon felt better and the menus appeared more intuitive.

i'm very pleased with my choice and the quality of the photos it produces. The August calendar picture was taken with the camera, as are all those on my rebuild thread.

[Pistol Pete]

Just to give a balance, I went for the Canon 1000D, didn't look at the Nikon and only went for the Canon based on the fact that I liked my Canon film SLR. Really pleased with it and pictures to my eye are coming out really well.

Probably just down to personal preference, no matter how good the camera is you still have to point it in the right direction.

[GreigM]

I went the Canon route as well - mostly because I felt you could get better lenses (or at least I could get better availability/prices), and to some extent lenses should be what you base your decision on. To some extent the competition between the two is extremely tight and there's no obvious winner, so it really is an individual choice.

[Jonah]

Another vote for the canon 1000d. Very pl;eased with it & plenty of second hand lenses available.

[Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman]

Best bet is to get to a good dealer and give them both a try; I've owned Canon's from the age of fifteenish, so to me the controls and way of working them just sort of feels intuitive now, whereas I have to hunt for things on a Nikon. But you need to find out what feels most natural and comfortable to work for you.

Sometimes it's not obvious either, it can be little things like the weight or balance of a camera/lens combo that just tips the descision one way or another.

[Jumpy07]

Another vote for Canon.. many of my film lenses fit and work on my digital EOS's.

Brother has a Nikon, and have to agree entry level Nikons are good value and prob better than the equivilant Canon's, however when upgraditus sets in, lenses tend to be a bit more expensive.

Would also consider buying second hand.. ie: last years models.. Canon 40d, 50d, 60d are the semi pro canon cameras etc.

Craig

[Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman]

I'd second Craig's point; plenty of good condition Canon lenses available second hand, though the decent ones - at whatever price point, do hold their value remarkably well. So all though they may seem a little dearer than some competitors, you won't loose much on them either!

[Dibby]

There's very little between Nikon and Canon in terms of image quality, have a play with both in the shop and pick what you like best, not what we like best.

For the record, I'm a Nikon fan, just got on with the menus better and it felt better in my hands. Didn't like the Canon 'ipod' wheel that much.

[S2T]

There is little to choose between Nikon and Canon models of the same price/spec these days. As said above try both and see what feels best for you. Do not get hung up on pixel count - it is all about how the image information is captured and the resultant image quality, eg in 2003/4 I got a Nikon D2h it has 4.2million pixel sensor, yet I regularly sold poster size prints to clients who were amazed at the quality and detail of the resultant image. Also another thing to bear in mind once you start with a brand and start collecting lenses it becomes more expensive to change. I am not sure if there is a significant difference between secondhand Canon and Nikon lenses

I have been a Nikon user for 20+ years specifically because I believe their sealing of the camera is better than canon, ie all the buttons have better seals which I need for the environment I shoot in.

(Only a matter of days now before I get my hands on the D4 and I do like the new facility whereby you can control the settings on the camera including 'seeing' through the viewfinder remotely via an iPhone/smartphone)

[Dibby]

Good call on the pixel count, cameras are so much more than the number of megapixels ... unless you're selling billboard sized posters.

Also, the choice of lens governs image quality far more than the choice of camera body and fast lenses with big zooms can get very, very expeisive.

[SootySport]

Canon everytime for me. If you had a Canon film SLR before, then all your lenses, flash and accessories will also fit the new Digital SLR.

Their service system is top notch as well.

[peterg]

As said before, you need to try them and see which fits your hands better and which you prefer...

I've had Canon cameras since about the mid 70s starting with an AE1 through an EOS650 and I currently have two 300D cameras each with the standard 18-55 'kit' lens, plus an old (pre-digital) Canon 70-200 zoom and a more recent Canon 55-250 IS zoom along with a very old but very good Canon 50mm F1.8 lens

[Westie66]

I have a Canon but was also faced with the Canon vs Nikon problem. I based my decision on the fact that I could borrow additional lenses from a friend who also has a Canon. In the end my photographic skills will produce the same thing with either make but more lenses can only help.