Camera (dSLR) dilema!!

[epj3]

I've been thinking about buying a dSLR camera. I do have a decent amount of experience with a 35mm SLR so I'm not a "beginner".

I'm stuck between the three options:

-Canon 10D used for around $600. Good camera, not that fast. I could buy a nice USM and IS lense, or maybe two lesser feature-rich lenses, and maybe a flash and CF card. Total being around $1000.

-Canon 20D new for around $1300. Very good camera, tons faster and better quality than the 10D and D70. Price is for the kit, body + 18-55mm lense. Not a great lense but it's a decent lense non-the-less. I'd have to buy a CF card in addition, putting total at like $1350.

-Nikon D70 new, with Tamron 28-80mm Lens, Tamron 70-300mm Macro Lense and a 1GB compact flash card. For a little over $1100.

I will be shooting stuff that would require a faster camera (Air shows, autox, races, etc.). I am NOT brand biased (yet), and obviously the D70 is the absolute best deal. My concern is the camera's speed and obviously quality. I do prefer canon over nikon so far...and I'm afriad if I buy nikon now to save some money, if I decide to switch to canon in a year and sell all my nikon stuff, I'll loose a lot of money.

Can anyone give me any insight?

Thanks

 

[CosmosBlack]

I say go for the Nikon D70

 

[jszar]

two very good companies, you'd be fine with either. just remeber that camera technology changes very fast. stuff gets outdated quickly, so if you plan to keep up, you wont be able to buy the hottest thing out there every year. and if they all have similar features, go with saving money. you'll be better off in the long run. i've grown up around this stuff, i am still not much of a digital junkie though in reference to cameras. i like my 35mm and 70mm cameras a lot more. though the convenience of digital is outstanding.

 

[foomonkey525i]

My dad and I both have 10Ds and love them. My dad takes alot of pictures of things that require a faster camera, and I don't think he's been diappointed yet. You've probably seen some of my air show pictures. I would show you some of my dad's, but I don't think they're on the internet. Anyway, the 10D takes some very good pictures.

 

[tool fan]

Wow...........I have absolutely NOTHING to offer here. I have a camera.......I turn it on point and shoot, that is my experience. Sorry.

 

[Kirby]

I'm biased to Nikon. In college I worked in a camera store, I have two 35mm Nikons (FMs) and slew of lenses from 35mm f/2 to a 300mm f/4.5. GREAT quality stuff, still gets regular use. My first digital was a Nikon Coolpix 885, and I just bought a Nikon S1 for my daughter.

Funny this thread came up, because I am also planning on getting a DSLR soon. It will be a Nikon.

 

[Bryan330i]

I have always been true to Nikon film cameras. However, Canon seems to have moved ahead in terms of technology and Nikon seem to be trying to catch up.

I am buying the 20D after much research, a big step considering everything else I have (speed light etc.) is Nikon and will need to eventually be replaced.

Non-dSLR's SUCK because they are soooo slow. That's why I decided to get a dSLR also.

 

[epj3]

I have always been true to Nikon film cameras. However, Canon seems to have moved ahead in terms of technology and Nikon seem to be trying to catch up.

I am buying the 20D after much research, a big step considering everything else I have (speed light etc.) is Nikon and will need to eventually be replaced.

Non-dSLR's SUCK because they are soooo slow. That's why I decided to get a dSLR also.

I agree, especially about the non-slr digitals. That's the reason I'm paying so much money for a camera (besides that photography has always been a side-hobby, now to become a real hobby).

After doing much more research and playing with the camera's at the store, I'm almost definitely going with the 20D. The nikon is a nice camera, but build quality isn't as good as the canon, it's autofocus is TERRIBLY slow compared to the 20D, and honestly I think canon's color representation - though not 100% accurate - is much easier and pleasing to the eyes. That part is just opinion, but the speed and specs of the 20D make it worth while IMO.

 

[gbf1lm]

you said the D70 was terribly slow at autofocus? the body does have an impact, but what else.
-were the light conditions the same? lower light wil always be slower.
- the lens, what aperture were you shooting at at each? lower will always focus faster than a higher one.
-finally, the lens has to be a fast auto focus in the fisrt place. ie, if you were shooting with a lens meant for sports with the canon, but just a regular ol lens with the nikon that can make a difference.
-assuming all those are the same, then you can compare bodies.

and in anycase, dont pick nikon over canon or visa versa because of its features. canon has been selling numbers. 16mp, 11mp 8mp. all that stuff. dont worry about mp one single bit. im not saying theyre bad in teh least bit, but just because they have better features doesnt make them any better. unline canon, nikon doesnt feel the need to go boasting features. but pick a camera based on its glass, and then from there, decide on features, which canon mount, and which nokon mount.

you all are saying how great nikon film camera's are. guess whats the same in their digital camera's? the glass. it is my opinion that nikon lenses are superior to canons. and i dont give a crap about the features of the body, i care about the glass. that is the most important part of equipment.

consider this, there are third party camera bodies out there, that have a nikon lens mount. are there any that have a canon lens mount?

find which manufacturer's lens system you like better, THEN, after that, decide on which camera to buy, based on features, and specs, and autofocus, etc. first is you, then its the lens, then its the bosy. thats the order to having a good picture.

the Nikon D70 is an incredible value. beeing an entry level comsumer camera, it doesnt have the advanced features that other more expensive camera's do. but the difference is, is that with a good photographer, the D70 has the ability to steamroll other camera's in its price range. the 6mp sensor is fantastic.

the 20D is a very nice camera. better than the D70 but also about more. also, the kit lens is complete trash, while the D70 kit lens is fantastic. and not just for a kit lens, in general, its fantastic.

if you are going to be spending that much---D2H. built Solid also, much better than the 20D, and pretty much stomps all over the 20D in near everysingle way. its 4mp sensor will go toe to toe with 8mp camera's. and its fast, very fast. its the best bargain you could get. to bad they came out with the D2Hs and raised the price from $2000 to $3500 for a few new things. look at a used D2h. probably $1300-$1500. and the battery is fantastic, it'll be good for 3000 clicks easy.

nikon doesnt have something in the middle of entry level, and professional, like the 20D right now. mainly because the D70 has a shot at the higher level unlike the 10D. if you can wait, the Nikon D200.

Bryan, shoot with a D2 series nikon, and you'll never call them slow again. ever. to get that kind of speed youll need an $8,000 canon.

 

[gbf1lm]

I will be shooting stuff that would require a faster camera (Air shows, autox, races, etc.).
Thanks

D2H is what you need. hands down. look for a used. that camera is lightning fast for the price. both autofocus, and frames per second.

 

[epj3]

Went with the 20D Got a good deal, too. BTW the D2H is way out of my price range.

 

[epj3]

you said the D70 was terribly slow at autofocus? the body does have an impact, but what else.
-were the light conditions the same? lower light wil always be slower.
- the lens, what aperture were you shooting at at each? lower will always focus faster than a higher one.
-finally, the lens has to be a fast auto focus in the fisrt place. ie, if you were shooting with a lens meant for sports with the canon, but just a regular ol lens with the nikon that can make a difference.
-assuming all those are the same, then you can compare bodies.

These were in a well lit photography store, using the kit lenses on both bodies. Going from one extreme to the other, the nikon had a tendency to "search" while focusing. The canon would be spot on every time. The canon did come with a ultrasonic motor lense though. By the way, I'm not as stupid as you aparently take me to be... I'm not new to the basics of photography and have done more than anyone's fair share of research.

and in anycase, dont pick nikon over canon or visa versa because of its features. canon has been selling numbers. 16mp, 11mp 8mp. all that stuff. dont worry about mp one single bit. im not saying theyre bad in teh least bit, but just because they have better features doesnt make them any better. unline canon, nikon doesnt feel the need to go boasting features. but pick a camera based on its glass, and then from there, decide on features, which canon mount, and which nokon mount.

Thanks, I know. Thats why I didn't even MENTION the image size in my original post. Not sure what you're talking about, both manufacturers boast different features that may or may not matter. To me the MUCH faster and more accurate autofocus was more imporant, hence the reason I went with the 20D.

you all are saying how great nikon film camera's are. guess whats the same in their digital camera's? the glass. it is my opinion that nikon lenses are superior to canons. and i dont give a crap about the features of the body, i care about the glass. that is the most important part of equipment.

having 35+ points of autofocus in today's typical 35mm SLR bodies vs. the 5 - 9 ponts of autofocus in digital SLR's DOES make the camera's different. There's also TONS more to consider, like how the camera processes the image, how it handles different sensitivities, etc. The difference between a nikon's sony sensor and its image processing and the canon 20d's sensor and digic chip, is the difference between a fuji brand film and Afga brand film. It honestly comes down to preference. I prefer the way canon brings out colors a bit more than the nikons. Sure the nikons have more life-like color tones, but again, Personally I prefer the way pictures come out of the canon.

consider this, there are third party camera bodies out there, that have a nikon lens mount. are there any that have a canon lens mount?

I don't care. Canon's L series glass is better than I'll ever need in my entire life. I like canon's USM IS lenses a lot.

find which manufacturer's lens system you like better, THEN, after that, decide on which camera to buy, based on features, and specs, and autofocus, etc. first is you, then its the lens, then its the bosy. thats the order to having a good picture.

I think focus speed, low-light image quality, etc. IS very important. I'm simply happier with the canon 20D's speed, especially since I intend to use it in low lite and high-speed situations.

the Nikon D70 is an incredible value. beeing an entry level comsumer camera, it doesnt have the advanced features that other more expensive camera's do. but the difference is, is that with a good photographer, the D70 has the ability to steamroll other camera's in its price range. the 6mp sensor is fantastic.

the 20D is a very nice camera. better than the D70 but also about more. also, the kit lens is complete trash, while the D70 kit lens is fantastic. and not just for a kit lens, in general, its fantastic.

Lense that comes with the canon isn't trash at all. Considering it only drives the price up $75, its not a bad lense at all. I didn't buy the kit because I have my eyes set for a different lense... but it's still not a bad lense. I already know all about the D70. I have 3 friends with the D70, and I'm simply not impressed as compared to what I've seen with the 20D. The D70 is more inbetween the 10D and 20D. More features than the 10D, same features as the 20D, but slower.

if you are going to be spending that much---D2H. built Solid also, much better than the 20D, and pretty much stomps all over the 20D in near everysingle way. its 4mp sensor will go toe to toe with 8mp camera's. and its fast, very fast. its the best bargain you could get. to bad they came out with the D2Hs and raised the price from $2000 to $3500 for a few new things. look at a used D2h. probably $1300-$1500. and the battery is fantastic, it'll be good for 3000 clicks easy.

nikon doesnt have something in the middle of entry level, and professional, like the 20D right now. mainly because the D70 has a shot at the higher level unlike the 10D. if you can wait, the Nikon D200.

Bryan, shoot with a D2 series nikon, and you'll never call them slow again. ever. to get that kind of speed youll need an $8,000 canon.

I appreciate your input, and you know what you're talking about - but you are extremely biased. I simply went for the camera that fit me and my needs better.

 

[gbf1lm]

hope you like it. $1300 is good. its a very good camera.

pick up a 50 f/1.8 prime; $50 and well worth it. youll also want to look into the 17-40L, its a very nice lens, then youll see what i mean about the kit lens. you'll also want to look into some longer glasss, a 70-200 f/2.8 USM is nice for your what you need.

and yeah, maybe i am biased. i know that canons make better bodies than nikon, especially in the cheaper end, but i jut like nikon glass much much more.

 

[Tom]

The nikon is a nice camera, but build quality isn't as good as the canon, it's autofocus is TERRIBLY slow compared to the 20D.

I can attest to that, I paid around $420 for mine a few years ago as it was supposed to be on the higher side of the Nikon line. I think it will be the last Nikon I'll purchase. It's terribly slow and the night pictures are just awful without a tripod.

Either way Eric, keep me posted on which on you end up getting. I'll probably be switching camera by year's end.

 

[epj3]

I can attest to that, I paid around $420 for mine a few years ago as it was supposed to be on the higher side of the Nikon line. I think it will be the last Nikon I'll purchase. It's terribly slow and the night pictures are just awful without a tripod.

Either way Eric, keep me posted on which on you end up getting. I'll probably be switching camera by year's end.

Will do, I'm in process of picking out a lense right now!

 

[mrferg]

My FD Mavica rocks your world

 

[MrElussive]

Just get a disposable camera and stick with that....can't go wrong with a disposable !!!

 

[epj3]

Just get a disposable camera and stick with that....can't go wrong with a disposable !!!

word!

 

[Bryan330i]

Went with the 20D Got a good deal, too. BTW the D2H is way out of my price range.

I think you will be very happy. My brother is a professional photographer that works in advertising photography and his 35 dSLR choice for casual use is the 20D. He told me that he thinks it is the best quality short of larger, more professional and expensive formats.




gbf1lm…I guess I am thinking reasonable, lower priced, but with large capacity to do a lot for those that are not professional. So what I am thinking is reasonable is say under $2,000.00 that includes a basic lens or two. Sure, there are better, and I know that professionals spend twice or better the cost of the Canon 20D or Nikon D70 just for one lense alone. I would imagine that a $5,000.00 Nikon with a $2,500.00 lens would blow away a Canon 20D and I would sure take the Nikon D2X over the 20D if the price was the same.

 

[epj3]

I think you will be very happy. My brother is a professional photographer that works in advertising photography and his 35 dSLR choice for casual use is the 20D. He told me that he thinks it is the best quality short of larger, more professional and expensive formats.




gbf1lm…I guess I am thinking reasonable, lower priced, but with large capacity to do a lot for those that are not professional. So what I am thinking is reasonable is say under $2,000.00 that includes a basic lens or two. Sure, there are better, and I know that professionals spend twice or better the cost of the Canon 20D or Nikon D70 just for one lense alone. I would imagine that a $5,000.00 Nikon with a $2,500.00 lens would blow away a Canon 20D and I would sure take the Nikon D2X over the 20D if the price was the same.

You can get some good deals on D70's on ebay, I think like $1200 for the body, and two sigma lenses (not the best but more than enough to start with).