Completely new thread for me!

[monty]

I am about to buy my first serious DSLR, and I have a few questions... First off, i don't care if it is a Nikon, or Canon at this point because I am just starting to rebuild a rig. So, here's my question. Would I be better served by getting a good used Canon 50D, or a Nikon D7000? I know the technology is newer in the Nikon, and the body build is probably better with the Canon, but I am not going to be hammering nails with the camera.

I still like the feel of the Canon in my hands, but I like the images I see from Nikon on the whole. As I get closer, this gets more hair raising... Oh the Joy of CAD... (camera acquisition disorder)!

[Bawbee]

If the Canon feels good for you, then that's the one to go with. What about lenses? More of the quality of the image will stem from there rather than your body selection.

[BigAl]

A few years ago I would've been advising to get the best lens possible and that would indicate going down the Canon route. But these days I am leaning more towards Nikon on all counts.
Go feel both cameras in your hands and see which feels most natural to you.

Camera sensors do have a limited number of acquisitions (in the many thousands) but you don't know how much of that lifespan has been consumed by the previous owners. Also you cannot immediately see any annoying specks on the sensor that caused the previous owner to part with it rather than go to the expense of getting it cleaned.

Second-hand - buyer beware.

[Seven_Wishes]

I have the Canon 50D, it is a nice camera, but is showing its age now compared to the newer models on the market. If I was buying now and was given a choice between the 50D and the D7000 the D7000 would win everytime ... Given a choice between the 60D and the D7000 would be a harder choice because you are comparing cameras more on a like for like basis. Perhaps a second hand 7D might be an option to consider instead of the 50D and beats the D7000 and 60D in almost every aspect from better ISO performance, build quality, focusing and metering systems and frames per second.

Al’s point about second hand equipment is a valid issue to raise ... Unless you can get at least a six month warranty I wouldn’t splash the cash and then I would think twice. Some reputable dealers will often give a 12 month warranty. I believe Canon US are still selling new 50D’s on their website.

Canon have a bigger selection of lenses  for crop framed cameras (in the sense that they retain all aspects of metering and focussing on both EF-S and EF lenses) Whether Canon or Nikon lenses are better is a another debate.

Bottom line the 50D was a good camera in its time, still is, but is dependent on what you are shooting ... Anything over 800 ISO and it struggles, some of the cheaper EF-S lens don’t give very good results.

A camera is an inanimate object, in the right hands any camera will give excellent images, read the reviews, preferably from those using the camera before looking at the images

[monty]

Hey Al, just curious... how do these to lens makers compare? What's good and not so good about both lens line ups?

[scoundrel1728]

The upshot is that both Canon and Nikon are good systems and will stick around a while.  Both have their partisans - I happen to be a Canon person, myself - so it is largely a matter of whether you like Canon's or Nikon's way of doing things.  Incidentally, you can get an adapter to use Nikon lenses on Canon bodies, but going the other way is going to be more difficult and generally less satisfactory, if you can find any commercial adapters at all.

Also, don't limit yourself to just Canon or Nikon.  You might find the four-thirds or the Konica/Minolta/Sony or Pentax systems to your liking.  Consider also the micro four-thirds, or perheps even the newer Nikon 1 series or Sony E series before making your final choice.

[BigAl]

Hey Al, just curious... how do these to lens makers compare? What's good and not so good about both lens line ups?

In the past it used to be that Canon had a clear run over all its rivals in respect of its lens quality with the brightest and sharpest glass on the market - if you were prepared to pay for it. But getting top quality meant budget-busting outlay. Nikon and OEM lenses have come up in quality and seem to match Canon quality for the same price at all levels.

In the (good-old) film days, the lens quality was the only real factor to consider because you had to get things right at the point of clicking. Digital processing and other factors now make the camera body far more important a factor than it once was.

[monty]

Hmmm.... Well honestly guys, the last lens I bought was a Schnieder View Camera lens, so I am really in the dark here. I did also use Tamron's 90mm Macro, and a Tokina 70-210 f2.8 that I loved back then in film days. How do the new Sigma, Tamron, and Tokina lenses compare on these new digital cameras with the Nikon, and Canon lenses?

Thanks, and I really appreciate all of your input. Scoundrel, I will keep your advice in mind. I learned in church today from a lady that my old Minolta lenses would work on Sony cameras! That may be something to think about...

[scoundrel1728]

I don't know if today's Tamron 90mm f/2.8 macro is the same design as the one you used to use, but the current design definitely has its fans.  I was thinking of getting one myself, until I lost my taste for buying Tamron products because of a problem I had getting my existing Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 repaired.

There is more than one Minolta lens mount, but the lenses with the more modern mount do indeed fit current Sony camera bodies.  In fact, Konica/Minolta sold their consumer imaging arm to Sony about the time I was shopping around for my own first dSLR system.  I had some doubts about where Sony would take the former Minolta system at the time.  Nevertheless, I had originally intended to get a used Minolta system.  It was only because the system I wanted had been sold just before I ordered it that I ended up with Canon instead.   I have had no real occasion to regret going with Canon.  Nevertheless, I really like the idea of the body-based image stabilization system because of its universality and greater economy.

[shooters_desire]

Monty! Something you may want to consider other then Nikon and Canon is the Sony SLT a77. I had this camera and its 2nd to none. You can get lenses for it easy also they support Minolta lenses. what i liked the most was being able to take a photograph @ belly level. This camera has a metal frame to it and had 10 FPS also image stabilizer in the camera. I have had the Nikon D300 and the d7000 and the canon 5d mark 2.
This camera rocks especially now in low light after there firmware update 1.4. I am getting up and age as well 54 now so IS in a camera is worth it. When i can get back to a DSLR its sony for me

[monty]

As far as Minolta lenses go, I still have a Minolta 9xi with a few lenses...

Edited to add another thought...

I am afraid to say this, because I have said it for two years in a row, and both times life got in the way. I met with a guy who has a brand new D7000 and a few lenses. I held the camera, used it a bit, and checked it out overall. Very nice rig! He bought this one, and at the same time, his fiance, unbeknownst to him, bought him one too. So he is selling one to buy more glass. We met and agreed on the price, and then I found out two days later that my student loan wasn't going to go through! (3 strikes, I'm out!) After a lengthy appeal on my part, it may come through yet, if it does, I will buy the Nikon, if not, I have decided to settle for a Canon G12 for the time being... any thoughts?

[shooters_desire]

ok now your talki n my league. The sony dsc-hx100v is flatout awesome. when i was looking into buying a P&S but had DSLR capibilities everyone i spoke to pointed me to the Sony camera. ?Here's why..
10 fps
optical focus up to 30X but can focus up to 810mm. Starts @ 4.8mm f2.8. ?It has a cmos sensor not a CCD. This camera rocks + you can do macro @ 1" yes 1". Tonight i'm going out to shoot meteor showere BUT maybe not clouds in the skies.. Seriously check this camera out it worth it and is only 429.00 american dollars. You can also shoot HDR with the camera, but then agai nwho shoots HDR although i am selling my camera to purchase an older model sony and lens. Got to have a dslr. Its killing me. Here's the link for you if your interested...http://indianapolis.craigslist.org/pho/2768669746.html

[RockArea]

... I have decided to settle for a Canon G12 for the time being... any thoughts?

A couple of years ago I was looking for a compact for those days when the DSLR was too big to take and after researching I went for a reconditioned Canon G9 which was thought to be better than the G10. It has proved to be a very good camera but is very noisy over 100 ISO. Since then Nikon have brought out the P7000 (and now the P7100) and if i was looking to replace it I would certainly go for the Nikon which seems to be better than the Canon G in several ways particularly with reference to viewfinder quality and noise threshhold.

Have a look before you decide.

David

[shooters_desire]

The ccd sensors seem to do poorly in low light from what i have seen. Also you have to take into consideration the size of the sensors as well. Do a lot of homework before you buy one of these cameras. The 7100 series by nikon is a vast improvement over the 7000 series. DP review does an excellent job of helping you see the pros and cons. Although on flickr you can do a search for the group that has your camera and see 1st hand the photos they take. The larger the aperture and quality of lens on the compact the better. Before i spent the money i found out ( A LOT). the sony dsc-hx100v is worth the investment. All i would add is if you plan on buying any camera make sure it has the new C mos sensor and the most updated @ that. I'm already looking into 550 or 580 dslr sony for a good used price because the dslrs have a much bigger sensor then the compacts do for low light.

[monty]

Well.... I did it! I bought the G12 last week from Adorama, it should be here in about ten days, and this week, I am buying a D7000 from a local guy. It comes with another lens too!! This is great, I have done without anything to shoot for years, and now I seem to be flooded with technology. I have a lot to learn in becoming acquainted with these two cameras. I am so looking forward to it!

[windsurf]

Good Luck with the new "TOY" Monty

Looking forward to seeing the results

[monty]

Man I am really enjoying both the dslr, and the p&s for different reasons! The dslr is uber fast to shoot with, but I don't have an instruction manual for it, so I am learning as I poke around with it. The Canon g12 is also the bomb for when I need to grab a camera for a quick shot! Both cameras, the D7000, and the G12 take excellent images too! I would be hard pressed to choose between them right now!

Images to follow soon!

Monty