which brand would you pick? Canon vs Nikon

I would like to know what everyone thinks about the Canon and Nikon brand Digital SLR. We are looking at a 30D or a 5D for Canon and Nikon D200.

Input is more then welcome!

 

I agree with everything that has been said so far. The camera that you should get is the one that feels best in your hands (both will hurt a bit in the pocket ).

One thing you might want to keep in mind - if you have two cameras that are tied in everything but price for you, I would go with the one that is cheaper and get better "glass". All three cameras are great and have loads of room for most everyone to grow into.

 

Well right now I have a Canon Rebel SLR from a few years back. I have a telephoto lens and a canon flash for it as well. I also have a Canon SureShot digital camera. It is only really a great point and shoot camera for me, but at the time it was very expensive. I would love to upgrade to a Canon 30D and have all my options finally covered. I just hate dragging around so much stuff around Disney. I just wanted to know before I invest more money if I should entirely switch brands, but right now Canon seems to be my best bet if I don't want to spend a lot more money on lenses and a flash.

 

If you are Canon now, you might as well stay Canon. If you want to "slim" your gear down, think about getting a fast prime (50mm 1.8 or 1.4). This, combined with your tele should be enough to cover the dark rides and then just about everything else. You should be able to find a camera bag to hold those two bits without being overly bulky. Remember that flash photography is really restricted on many rides.

On my coming trip to Disneyland, I'm going to be using a $4M Home (Crumpler) to hold my walk around zoom and my 50mm1.8. The bag itself is not much bigger than a lunchbox.

 

both brands are good, in fact i really consider them equal now, there was a time a few years ago when canon had the edge in autofocus and image stasbilized lenses, but that's old history now
i voted canon but that's only because at the time of my digital move i was already invested in quite a bit of canon L glass, so staying in canon made sense to me
try the 30d and the xti, see which fits your hands and shooting style better, get that one and then build a collection of good glass, in a couple of upgrade cycles or 5 years when the price of full frame drops, you'll be set with the glass, remember high grade glass, kept in good shape holds it's value a long time, and it doesn't lose it's ability to take great photos, it can last for many camera years
gary

 

i said canon simply because the nikon is to large for my hands...wish the canon lenses were a little cheaper though and after the fiasco i have had trying to get my 28-135 IS fixed...i'm ready to sell it all and get a kodak brownie ;D

 

Even at 1/2 second, that's pretty impressive !

As for brands, all I've ever used in the DSLR world is a Canon. I'd say I was pretty much "brand committed" the day I took my first snaps with my 70-200 L lens. Beaaaa-uuuuu-tiful.

The only reason I went Canon DSLR is because (a) at this time last year, the Rebel XT was far superior to anything Nikon had out and (b) my first digicam was a Nikon Coolipix 950, and I had to send the thing back for servicing three times for the same problem (with the lens getting stuck). Maybe it was a freak accident, but it (along with their unwillingness to fix it on their own dime) was enough to cost Nikon all my future business.

 

I use a Nikon myself but used Canon back in 35mm SLR days- they make fine products as well. My biggest problem with Nikon has been availability on the lenses and even camera bodies I want.

As for a full frame- I am not so sure I am all for that myself. I'm sure the image quality may be better but get ready for your 200mm lens to be 200mm again. No more of this 200mm (300mm equivelant at 35mm)

 

I used to use both but due to my shooting style (high ISO is an absolute must) I have no choice but to go with Canon.

 

I have 4 canon cameras (film and dig) and a bevy of lenses but I can't help but feel the Nikons are sexier.

canon is a massive company and so they have both the size and resources to bring out technology first (image stabilization in lens, diffractive optics....) but a Nikon f6 (film) is a thing of beauty. Canon's cameras are far more.......workmanlike.

nikon also allows you to use the large back catalog of nikon lenses so you can find cheaper used lenses out there. canon generally has more stuff at cheaper prices (the rebel xti is like 500$ without a lens)




the camera no longer matters. what you are buying is a lens system. since the kit lens is, comparatively speaking, not that good you should upgrade when you have the cash. and good lenses are expensive but usually worth the investment.

so i don't think you need to try out the camera so much as a camera+lens combo. you might like the 30D but put the 70-200L on it and you might not like the way it balances.

one other thing about the lenses. its worth buying at least one "legendary" lens. Canon has the 135/2, the discontinued 200/1.8. Nikon has the 85/1.4. there are others but these are some lenses that, for whatever reason, are the cream of their crop. the most important part of the entire system is the lenses so you have to like 'em. no reason to buy a 4000$ camera and then have a 100$ 3.5-5.6 zoom lens in front of it. photography is an expensive hobby but when you get those special photos, and you'll see them immediately, its worth it.

if a camera is too small for your hands, try it with the battery grip. I am definately going to buy the rebel xti grip, the camera is too small in my hands and big lenses make it top heavy. my elan 7 was a whole new camera with the grip.

 

agreed. A grip is a must especially if you take a lot of vertical pics. I remember detaching the vertical grip at WDW on the days we don't plan to take photos of the characters and especially with my wrist problem, after a couple of dozen vertical shots, I wished the vertical grip was attached to it

From then on, the vertical grip is virtually bolted to the camera.

 

What a great topic. As some of you know Im looking into gettnig a DSLR with my rebate check (well part of it anyway). Im torn between a Nikon D60 (cant afford the D80 with the lens kit and the Canon Rebel XSi.

Thanks for the input everyone!
Katie

 

Thanks Roger for the info. I for one am happy that Canon switched tot he SD card (my sis got me a 1 GB SD card for Christmas that also works with my phone) . Also thanks for the advice about possibly waiting until June. Im pretty much waiting until my rebate check comes anyway!