Your Questions About Canon Digital Slr Models

rob answers:

A few additional things to consider:

With digital technology the model quickly becomes obsolete or at least the features are quickly surpassed. If you plan to grow into a camera you are often better off getting the latest model even though there could be a good deal available on an older model. It is worth paying the extra $100-$150 (in this case) for the latest model which is the T1i not the XSi.

I have read a lot of camera reviews by pros and end-users. The Rebel in general, any of the relatively recent models, is one of the best DSLR entry cameras providing a lot of bang for your buck and any differences in details between this and other competing cameras are relatively insignificant. You can adjust and adapt and save preferences for a later investment when you have more experience and have developed a taste for specific design elements.

My circle is interested in the T1i and 18-55mm IS kit for taking detailed pictures of paintings in museums where tripods and flash units are not allowed. It works quite well for this. Most of us are not photographers and this camera is capable of producing good images under challenging conditions on its own.

=>You certainly can disable the autoflash.
=> You can also use the camera in auto mode to allow it to take a reading stopping short of snapping the picture and then go to manual mode and use the camera’s settings derived in auto mode.

rob answers:

Yes DSLRs are more complicated to use. They have full auto modes but that defeats the purpose of a DSLR. Its intended for photographers who want control. You dont need a second lens but this too is another purpose in buying a DSLR. If you dont want to change lenses and you dont want to learn about shutter speeds and apertures then you dont need a DSLR.

Now take your point n shoot to the store with you and set it next to a DSLR. Are you ready to carry around that much larger camera? Will you get tired of lugging that thing and just go back to your point n shoot?

Two of the biggest advantages of DSLRs are complete control and interchangeable lenses. This means youll have to learn about photography. If you dont want complicated and you dont want multiple lenses a DSLR isnt for you.

rob answers:

First, the salesperson knows crap, just know that.

Second, don’t be so limited with brands, don’t fall into the hype between Nikon and Canon, look at other brands, like Pentax and Olympus, they’re just as good.

rob answers:

Well, you DID say “digital” in your question, so I will stick to your request.

Your budget will choose your camera for you. Although I would have a hard time choosing between the higher level Nikon and Canon SLR’s, I have a strong bias in favor of Nikon for the entry level and upgrade cameras. This means that I would recommend the Nikon D40 or D80. You should go to a real camera store and see what you can learn about each one and see which one you can afford. The D80 is quite a bit larger than the D40 and some people find that it fits their hands better. Besides that, though, there are many differences.

Please indulge me while I post two of my stock answers about the D40 and D80. If you are not interested, then just go on to the next answer, but others have found this helpful.

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Nikon D40

The Nikon D40 is a great little camera, very easy to use and quite reasonably priced. It has a few “consumer friendly” totally automatic modes that make it very easy to use – including a “Child Photo” mode – but still offers total photographic control when you are ready to take charge. It will get you in the Nikon family which is a great place to be. If you buy accessories and lenses, you will be able to use everything on any Nikon that you might upgrade to later on.

Check out Nikon’s “Picturetown” promotion, where they handed out 200 D40′s in Georgetown, SC. Http://www.stunningnikon.com/picturetown/

Here are a few reviews, in case you have not read them yet. Be sure to note that they are several pages long and some of the reviews also have some sample images that you can look at.

Http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikond40/

http://www.steves-digicams.com/2007_reviews/nikon_d40.html

http://www.popphoto.com/cameras/3756/camera-test-nikon-d40.html

http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d40/d40-recommendations.htm

I hate to see people slam the camera because it can’t autofocus with older Nikon lenses. It is true that there is a “slight problem” with older Nikon lenses not autofocusing on the D40, but if you do not own a bag full of older lenses, it is not going to be a problem. It is barely a problem anyhow. If you check www.nikonusa.com for “AF-S” lenses, which are ALL 100% compatible with the D40, you will find 23 lenses, including 7 “VR” (vibration Reduction) lenses and one true macro lens with “VR”. There are another 25-plus lenses in the current catalog that provide all functions except autofocus as well as many (possibly dozens) “out of print” lenses that will work just as well. In addition, although these lens will not autofocus, most of them will still give focus confirmation. From the D40 manual: “If the lens has a maximum aperture of f/5.6 of faster, the viewfinder focus indicator can be used to confirm whether the portion of the subject in the selected focus area is in focus. After positioning the subject in the active focus area, press the shutter release button halfway and rotate the lens focusing ring until the in-focus indicator is displayed.” (See http://www.members.aol.com/swf08302/nikonafs.txt for a list of AF-S lenses.)

The D40 only has 3 autofocus zones arranged horizontally at the center, 9 o’clock and 3 o’clock positions. This might be considered a limitation, but realistically, most people will find this perfectly adequate, especially if you are moving up from a point and shoot with only a center zone.

There is no “Status LCD” on top of the camera, but Nikon chose to use the rear LCD for this information. This is actually a nice move, as the display is bigger than the top display and you aren’t using the read LCD for anything BEFORE you take the picture anyway. This is not a step backwards and it actually makes sense to me.

You can get the D40 with the 18-55 kit lens at B&H Photo available through Yahoo! Shopping or at 1-800-622-4987) for $525 (June 2007). Add a Lexar Platinum (60X speed) card for $25 or 2 GB for $35. Or – get the D40 with 18-135 lens and 1 GB Lexar card for $750. They also have used D40′s from $475.

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Nikon D80

The February 2007 issue of Popular Photography has an article where they compared the top 10 MP DSLR’s. I took the scores and ranked the cameras similar to the way Formula 1 gives championship points. I just gave 5 for 1st place down to 1 for last place, splitting the difference when cameras tied in their catagories.

They evaluated Image Quality (giving this twice as much weight as anything else), Ease of Use, Control, and System Flexibility.

The final order and my scores are:

Nikon D80 – 17.5 points
- BEST in Image Quality, Control and System Flexibility
Canon Rebel XTi (400D) – 13.5 points
- Tied for best in System Flexibility
Pentax K10D – 11 points
- Tied for best in Ease of Use
Samsung GX10 – 11 points
- Tied for best in Ease of Use
Sony Alpha 100 – 7 points
- LAST in Image Quality, Ease of Use and System Flexibility.”

Then again, this is the same magazine that put the Sony Alpha 100 dead last in this comparison named it the camera of the year in the previous issue! (In a follow-up to this seeming error, Pop Photo published the explanation that only the D80 and the Sony had been tested by the end-of-year deadline for choosing the Camera of the Year. Sony won on the strength of low price and built-in image stabilization. The other 3 that beat Sony in shoot-out were not tested until after the Camera of the Year was selected, because they were not yet available.)

Go to the original question and read the responses for more opinions.

Http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AiG00eHyd0oq5b.X7J.jiULzy6IX?qid=20070113133139AAHWJY0

If you want to get the “best” for the real world, consider the Nikon D200 or Canon 30D if you can afford it. For about $300-500 less, look at the results of the recent PopPhoto test and choose from that list according to your taste.

Personally, I use a Nikon D200 and would recommend it without hesitation to someone who has some knowledge of photography. For someone who wants the “best,” but is starting with somewhat of an “entry level” knowledge base, I’d suggest the Nikon D80.

There are people out there who will state their preference for the Canon cameras and I will not argue with them. The Canon 30D and 400D are excellent cameras as well. You would have to visit a camera store or camera department and pick them up and see what you think.

This review is available online at:

http://www.popphoto.com/cameras/3569/10mp-dslr-shootout.html

Here’s another reference from outside the photographic press. Consumer reports compared the Nikon D80, Canon Rebel XTi and Sony Alpha. Personally, I’d say that the Nikon came out on top here, also. It beats the Sony in “noise-free ISO” with an acceptable rating at ISO 1600 (kind of optimistic, I think…) compared to the Sony’s ISO 400. It beats the Canon (in my opinion) by having a spot meter that the Canon does not offer.

Http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/electronics-computers/news-electronics-computers/november-2006/shootout-10-megapixel-digital-slr-cameras-11-06/overview/0611_digital-slr-shoot-out.htm

Here’s another comparison of interest:

http://www.digitalcamerainfo.com/content/Canon-Rebel-XTi-vs-Nikon-D80-vs-Sony-Alpha-A100-Head-to-Head-to-Head-Digital-Camera-Review-.htm

[Note the navigation menu near the top of the review]

The next thing to consider is what lens to start with and where you go from there. If you are new to this, I’d say to just get the “kit” lens, which seems to be the 18-135 lens for the D80, and get started. Once you know where you really want to go with your photography, Nikon has an almost unlimited family of lenses to choose from.

rob answers:

The 20D has been replaced by the 30D, but even the most ardent Canonites agree that the changes didn’t justify a new model number. The 30D has a slightly larger back screen and 1 or 2 other minute changes. It’s not faster or better in any way however, and nothing has changed with regard to the sensor or image quality.
The 20D was, and still is a major step up from the 350D.
If your friend is a serious photographer, he’ll appreciate the extra features of the 20D. The 20D also has a much better build quality, and the shutter is rated to last twice as long as that of the 350D. The extra price is entirely justified.
Also, I don’t believe that the extra weight is a point against the 20D. I personally feel that the 350D is too small and light!
I personally shoot a Nikon D200, so I guess I’m biased towards the more advanced of the 2 models you’re considering.