Nikon D80 or Rebel XTi - please help me decide

[moseynme]

Hi there! Thanks in advance for any help...i need it!

I would like to get a new camera and have never had an SLR before. I have been reading a lot but not understanding enough of it to trust my own decisions lol! I am thinking about either the D80 or the Rebel XTi.....

Please talk me into ( or out of ) which camera to get!
Thanks again

 

[gregr]

No help from me Both are good cameras and will serve you well. Nikon and Canon make excellent equipment and the differences in features and quality are significant mainly to pros or advanced amateurs that are very picky. The best thing you can do is go to a camera store and play with each camera to see how they operate (press some buttons and go thru the menu options) and how they feel in your hands.
Greg

 

[jedininja]

Agreed. Those 2 cameras are pretty equivalent. Only difference is the D80 is a bit bigger and a bit more exspensive. SO if you like a biggger camera, go with the D80, and XTi for smaller.

Other factors would be if you had either lens already or know people you can borrow lens from.

 

[BlueCorn]

I'm getting lazy in my old age. This is my standard post:

--
If you decide to go the DSLR route you need to consider more variables than you do with a point and shoot (P&S) camera.

The order of importance, in regard to picture quality, with a DSLR is:

Photographer skill, lens quality, camera body.

Every DSLR body on the market today will take excellent pictures. Your lens choices are far more important than which body you buy.

You also have to be comfortable with how the camera feels. If you're not comfortable with your camera you won't be out shooting with it. Go to a local camera store (avoid places like Ritz, Best Buy, etc.... if at all possible), play with several different camera bodies and see what feels the best in your hand. Buy the one that feels best.

/ personal rant /
If you go to a local store with subject expertise (again, not a Ritz, Best Buy, Wolf Camera, etc) and take advantage of the knowledgeable folks buy your camera there. You might pay a little bit more but they deserve to be compensated for their assistance. In the long run building a relationship with a local store can be very helpful as a good camera is a long term investment. I have no problem buying online to save money; I just don't do it if I've involved the local store in the sales process.
/ end rant /


Buying a DSLR is more than buying a camera, it's buying into a system. That being said Canon and Nikon currently have most of the market. Choosing one of those gives you more choices for expansion down the road. The new Sony looks good as well and it's compatible with Konica/Minolta lenses.

If saving money, by buying used gear, allows you to spend more money on lenses you should go that route. A good lens on a used body will take better pictures than a cheap lens on a brand new body.

Cheers

 

[moseynme]

Good info all, thanks!

Looks like I should have asked "what do ya'll think about the lenses?" !

What are the differences between Nikon, Canon, and/or other compatible brands of lenses? Any thoughts that might help me to make a more educated decision?

BTW...I'm really tickled by the up close, sharp, crystal clear pics....

- beerguy...I agree completely with your personal rant and with the buying of used gear. I have a very nice local camera shop here that offers used equipment, good c/s department, private classes (free w/a purchase) and even has better prices than Best Buy, etc. Not too shabby, eh? (At least for po-dunk Peoria, IL! lol)

I have played with the Nikon in the store, but not the Canon...will fix that tomorrow....thanks for the advice & more would be welcome!

 

[Stixbaraca]

When I go to sporting events...all the photographers are using Canon L series lenses...so they are also using Canon bodies!

 

[jedininja]

They both have amazing glass. You cant go wrong either way. Its just a lot easier to recognize good Canon L lenses because of the white lens and red stripes.

 

[Stixbaraca]

That's all I was implying!

 

[Tehrab]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10098411#post10098411 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by beerguy
If you go to a local store with subject expertise (again, not a Ritz, Best Buy, Wolf Camera, etc) and take advantage of the knowledgeable folks buy your camera there. You might pay a little bit more but they deserve to be compensated for their assistance. In the long run building a relationship with a local store can be very helpful as a good camera is a long term investment. I have no problem buying online to save money; I just don't do it if I've involved the local store in the sales process.

Best photography advice ever for someone thinking about purchasing an SLR/DSLR. My local photog shop has endured the sales onslaught of the interwebs largely as a result of the things beerguy discusses here.

 

[Mache62]

when I was trying to make the same decision someone told me the nikon was better for someone taking more portrait type photos and the canon was geared more towards motion type shooting.
my decision was further reenforced when I went to the store and held each one in my hand....the nikon was considerably larger while the canon was more comftorable.
with that said, and the fact that I have 2 little nephews running around I went with the canon.

 

[gregr]

the nikon was better for someone taking more portrait type photos and the canon was geared more towards motion type shooting.

I suspect the person that said that was basing the statement on the fact that Canon's autofocus has traditionally been faster than Nikon's. That speed difference is relevant mainly to professional sports and journalism photographers- for the average amateur the af speed difference probably won't be noticeable.

 

[moseynme]

Amazing gallery, gregr!! Which camera do you have? I can't imagine taking shots like that....

Also, thanks to all for the good info. It helps so much! I'm still sifting, so hints and tips are still welcome....

 

[gregr]

Thanks The photos on my site were made with everything from my trusty old Eos 1n film camera, to a G2, D60, 10D and finally, the majority are from my 1D MarkII. I've been a Canon customer since day one though I have used Nikons and a Fuji quite a bit (D2X and S3). Loved the Fuji though it was very slow compared to my camera and the D2X.
One thing you should be aware of if you aren't already, and I don't want this to sound like I'm pushing Canon instead of Nikon because they're both great, but so you don't get sticker shock- take a look at the price of the Nikon macro lens because it's a quite a bit more expensive than the Canon. Nikon put vibration reduction in their macro lens, which is awesome, but it boosted the price too.

 

[Ebn]

The 1D2 series has more pixels to play around with and also better ISO performance and that's why you see them used for sports photography. The other reason that you'll see is the lenses used in sports. The big telephotos made my Canon are more affordable than Nikon.

As for Nikon being used for portrait type work, I'd say that isn't necessarily so. The Canon 5D is a very capable portrait camera on the lower end and the 1D is a monster. Nikon can only compete with them on the Fuji side w/the S3 and now the S5 (both are quite slow, but the dynamic range and out of camera photos are amazing).

 

[Absolute Reef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10098411#post10098411 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by beerguy
I'm getting lazy in my old age. This is my standard post:

--
If you decide to go the DSLR route you need to consider more variables than you do with a point and shoot (P&S) camera.

The order of importance, in regard to picture quality, with a DSLR is:

Photographer skill, lens quality, camera body.

Every DSLR body on the market today will take excellent pictures. Your lens choices are far more important than which body you buy.

You also have to be comfortable with how the camera feels. If you're not comfortable with your camera you won't be out shooting with it. Go to a local camera store (avoid places like Ritz, Best Buy, etc.... if at all possible), play with several different camera bodies and see what feels the best in your hand. Buy the one that feels best.

/ personal rant /
If you go to a local store with subject expertise (again, not a Ritz, Best Buy, Wolf Camera, etc) and take advantage of the knowledgeable folks buy your camera there. You might pay a little bit more but they deserve to be compensated for their assistance. In the long run building a relationship with a local store can be very helpful as a good camera is a long term investment. I have no problem buying online to save money; I just don't do it if I've involved the local store in the sales process.
/ end rant /


Buying a DSLR is more than buying a camera, it's buying into a system. That being said Canon and Nikon currently have most of the market. Choosing one of those gives you more choices for expansion down the road. The new Sony looks good as well and it's compatible with Konica/Minolta lenses.

If saving money, by buying used gear, allows you to spend more money on lenses you should go that route. A good lens on a used body will take better pictures than a cheap lens on a brand new body.

Cheers

I personally agree with Beerguy. It's just not all about Nikon and Canon...or D80 or Rebel XTi. Photography is much much more than that.

 

[Absolute Reef]

I always find these 2 sites very very helpful when it comes to deciding which camera you should get...
www.dpreviews.com For best camera reviews goes to this site.
http://www.pixel-peeper.com/ You can see tons of the actual photos taken by various cameras and lenses.

Enjoy and good luck.

 

[moseynme]

Hi all and thanks for all of the wonderful info & help!!!

I sifted & sorted and finally decided to go with the Nikon....

I liked both of these cameras equally, but as beerguy said:

"You also have to be comfortable with how the camera feels. If you're not comfortable with your camera you won't be out shooting with it. Go to a local camera store (avoid places like Ritz, Best Buy, etc.... if at all possible), play with several different camera bodies and see what feels the best in your hand. Buy the one that feels best."

Many thanks to each of you for your time and help. I truly appreciate it!

Now....where ever did I put that tank....I'm feeling snap-happy!

 

[Mache62]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10114485#post10114485 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by gregr
I suspect the person that said that was basing the statement on the fact that Canon's autofocus has traditionally been faster than Nikon's. That speed difference is relevant mainly to professional sports and journalism photographers- for the average amateur the af speed difference probably won't be noticeable.

Oh I absolutely agree! What it ultimately came down to was how it felt in my hand. I am sure whether I chose the Canon or the Nikon I would have been equally as happy! :rollface:

 

[Absolute Reef]

Taking pictures of your swimming marine fishes could be more difficult than taking pictures of a moving athletes. The moment could be gone and can never be captured every again.

 

[moseynme]

Thanks Mache! That is what I was going for. I can't help it, I just love comfort! lol

Most moments in life are just exactly that, Absolute! Thank goodness my mind is still in tact....I can at least recapture images with my memory if not on film! But, I must admit, its way harder to share those treasured moments with others when they are stuck in the great abyss I call my mind!