Canon Eos 550D or Nikon D1300 as a First DSLR which one to chose?

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Hello everyone firstly I hope that i am posting this in the right section if not please let me know:) My question is which one of the following two would be more appropriate as my first DSLR. The two cameras the Canon Eos 550D and the Nikon D3100. I have done some research myself and i am slightly leaning towards the Canon however i have never held or used it and it is a bit more expensive than the Nikon, any information or opinions would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

John :D
 
The only way to tell is to hold and use both. Look through the menus and see how they operate.

Both are much of a muchness in terms of IQ, there isnt really anything between them.
I think the 550 has better video if thats your bag, but I personally prefer Nikon ergonomics.
 
@TCR4x4 thanks for the advice :) and @Jimi I live in Pensby, it good to hear that there are other photographers close by also it nice to hear that the 550D is getting smiles from people who own it. If you don't mind me asking did you by yours local if so where from?
 
Whichever you get, look into what lenses are going to suit you.
The lens is more important than the camera body for image quality.

As others have said, they are both great little camera bodies, and you'll get great image quality from either.

Get your mitts on them and pick the one that suits your hands best. I'd also have a look at the pentax K-x, great little camera and the pentax kit lens is great value.
 
@squishy I will check that camera out. For wildlife and landscape's what sort of lenses would you recommend?? @jimi I think thats the same deal that i am looking at :)
 
For landscapes, the 18-55mm kit lens is a reasonable starter.

If you want to go wider, there is the sigma 10-20mm, sigma 8-16mm, tokina 11-16mm and the canon 10-22mm, ultra-wide angles that'll let you capture huge landscapes. Or there is the tamron 17-50 f/2.8, which isn't really any wider than the kit lens but will be sharper (the non VC version at least).

For wildlife, things can get very expensive.
For a starter lens, something like the canon 55-250mm or nikon 55-200mm are good bets, with the more expensive canon 70-300IS or nikkor 70-300VR being the next step up. But you'll have to get very close to take wildlife shots with lenses like this.
If you go into more serious set ups, there is the sigma 120-400 OS and 150-500 OS, two of the best budget wildlife lenses available.
Above that there is the sigma 50-500 OS, canon 100-400L IS, canon 400mm f/5.6L, canon 300 f/4L IS, nikkor 300mm f/4 and the nikkor 80-400VR.
Even with the big telephotos, you still need to be close to the subject. It's a good idea to spend some time with shorter lenses, as they force you to spend time learning good field-craft and getting close to your subjects, skills that are essential for a good wildlife photographer.
 
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Thanks that is really useful there is a bundle deal which includes one of the lenses that you have mentioned but i will be sure to check the others out, the cheaper one anyway :)
 
After having owned the 550d for a few months I can say it has been a dream to learn on.

However I personally wouldn't choose the canon over the nikon just because it has better video capabilities. Yes the video is very good for the price but to really get anything decent out of it you need to invest in some further equipment to really make the most of it. Also trying to manual focus while handheld and following a moving subject, trying to get smooth footage is an exercise in frustration.

I kind of wish I had gone for the Nikon since it felt really great in my hands but I unfortunately got swayed by the video capabilities of the canon (which to be honest I don't have time to make the most of).
 
I own the Canon 550d and I have to say I love it. I upgraded in May last year from my 1000d and have not looked back. Like you, I wouldn't buy it until I had a go of it and I tried it out in a few shops on several occasions. Have to say though, when I bought my 1000d I was won over by the Canon's ease of use, the layout of the menu's, buttons, settings and simply, I am right handed and the lenses detach anti-clockwise...suits me great and the 550d is very much the same with its ergonomics and practicality. I was told then that most times you are either canon or nikon but nevertheless it is each to their own. I have just upgraded the telephoto lens for the 550d and the photos are a brilliant quality. You wont be disappointed with the 550d!!!! :thumbs:
 
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