Canon vs Nikon - which one to choose?

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b4rmy

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Hi folks!

Im looking to buy a entry level good SLR camera. Something that is good value for money, idiot proof (user friendly) and has reliability. Whats a good SLR camera for around £450-600?

Ive been looking at the Canon and the Nikon, but im a little confused:shrug:

I need something with a good flash, something thats good in poor lighting.

Thanks in advance

p.s I can see this being an expensive hobby!:lol:

:thumbs:
 
Ha ... this one has been done before...

Go into a shop and have a play... what feels good? how easy is it for you to operate?

As to low light, I don't think there is much different in the ranges you are looking at with respect to noise.

Generally the built in flashes arn't very good so you need to think about fast glass (lenses with a constant aperture such as f2.8) which can be very expensive, or you can buy an add on flash.

what kind of subjects will you be shooting?
 
Honestly, it doesn't matter.
There is no better brand, they both have advantages and foibles.

As the guy above me said, pick the one you like the feel of most, put a reasonable lens (pick one suited to your type of photography) on it, and don't worry about brand.
In terms of flash, you're best of budgeting for an external flash. The pop-up one's are quite limiting, and none of the cameras in your budget are usable at the ISO's necessary for really low light shooting.

Tis also worth considering the 'other' brands, sony, olympus and pentax as they also make superb equipment (and all have the advantage of in body stabilisation).

You're right about it being expensive. You'll start off with a 500D or D3100 (for example), and pretty soon you'll be eyeing up the 5DII/D700 and L series/nikkor pro lenses. Then you'll start eyeing up a 1D or D3. THEN things get expensive :nuts:.
 
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Neither. Look at sony or pentax as they have in body stabilisation and are better value for money :)

Solution is always go into an actual shop where you can pick them up and try them out. You may go in wanting X but buy Y because X had fiddly buttons or a daft menu or other issues.
 
Decide on ergonomics, and lens range.

Good luck with your purchase and welcome to the money pit :) lol
 
In my opinion, for that money I would look at Nikon. They tend to have better low light performance than Canon and most (if not all) of their current models have wireless flash available to them.

I shoot Canon, but if I were in your position I'd definitely be looking at something like the D3100 (I'm not really up to scratch on Nikon models though).

Steve

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Some great cameras at the bottom end of the market where it's best for newcomers to look.

Any of what are currently on offer will take a good picture in the right hands.

If it's legacy you're after, without doubt Canon and Nikon offer the best options because they have vast body, lens and accessory ranges. But all the brands produce some sorted lenses for general use.

Handling is everything to me; use a camera that's not for you and you will not be creative to your potential
 
Another option is this.

Still go to the shops pick them up and touch feel play then decide the one you want and buy second hand.
That way you can get the camera you want and have money left over to buy some other things like maybe another lens or a flash or tripod or or or or the list goes on.

I bought 2nd hand and got a good deal, my second camera is 2nd hand too, I cannot see the point in buying new if I can get a good 2nd hand one. Same with lens's, all mine are 2nd hand, bar one which i could not get 2nd hand.

Spike
 
When I first entered the fray, I decided to go with Canon, purely as the bodies at the time were larger and suited my meat hooks better :D I've no experience at all with the Nikon, but they seem to have slightly smaller builds and handle noise at higher ISOs better (this may not be the case across the full range, I don't know).

I like my big chunky 30D with battery grip. It suits me fine, but as said, go into a shop and try whichever model you are planning on buying.
 
Nikon - Canon, Mac - Windows, Bentley - Rolls Royce, where will it end?
( I put the best ones first, of course!) ;)

Allan
 
The are both equally good. It depends on what you want. As people above have said go into a store and play with them. In the £450-600 range you have the Canon 500D/550D or the Nikon D5000/D3100/D90
 
As above really.

Also, something else to think about, do you have any very good friends or relatives that shoot with a DSLR - if so, might help as you maybe able to borrow a lens, try one out properly before you buy one, possibly even split cost of a lens between you and them, so you could share one ????


b4rmy said:
p.s I can see this being an expensive hobby!:lol:

:thumbs:
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Oh and Yes, I would def agree with this :lol:

good luck with your search and whatever you choose, enjoy it :thumbs:
 
Within your price range, a Nikon D3100 or a Canon 500d would be good.
 
As stated, you need to go and fondle all of the cameras in the price range you can afford. At the lower end all will perform pretty much the same.
 
Thanks again for the replies..

I will defo get myself into Currys now and have a play-about.

As i am novice at this, i need to ask some silly questions (please bare with me)

1) What exactly do you mean, when you refer to the word 'noise' ?

2) As the built-in flashes arn't very good on these kind of camera's, do you upgrade the lens to get around this isuue?

p.s the camera is being used for general use, holidays, parties etc (ohhh & for shooting people on the dance-floor giving it some!)
 
b4rmy said:
p.s the camera is being used for general use, holidays, parties etc (ohhh & for shooting people on the dance-floor giving it some!)
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In that case, Canon 500D body and 28mm f/1.8 - job done, top end of budget though (body about £400, Lens about £300 s/h) 450D would be fine as well if you don't need video.

Oh and don't go to currys, there won't be much choice there. Go to Jessops :thumbs:
 
ash39 said:
In that case, Canon 500D body and 28mm f/1.8 - job done, top end of budget though (body about £400, Lens about £300 s/h) 450D would be fine as well if you don't need video.

Oh and don't go to currys, there won't be much choice there. Go to Jessops :thumbs:
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Personally, I would still suggest you take a good look at the Nikon kit.

"Noise" is the term used for the coloured speckles you get on an image as you raise the sensitivity of the sensor (in photographic terms, that's the ISO setting on the camera). As you want to shoot in dark environments you need a camera that will mitigate that noise as much as possible, and right now, Nikon seem to have the upper hand in that area of camera design. Also, most of the Nikon bodies allow you to use a separate flash gun without having to connect it directly to the camera body, something else that will be of value to you.

Like I is aid earlier, I have Canon equipment, but if I were starting from scratch and wanted to use the camera like you do, Nikon would be my first port of call. Saying that, as mentioned above, you need to make sure you like the feel of the camera, so go to. A decent camera shop and ask to hold a few different models.

Steve

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There really isn't much in between any of the lower end cameras. Nikon may have a slight advantage, but it isn't enough that I would only consider the nikon cameras. A small amount more noise in the shadows isn't going to make any difference, so choosing the camera you like the feel of best is more advisable. If the OP is using flash, ISO performance matters less, and if you are trying to shoot indoors, at ISO's high enough, all the cameras are going to produce noisy shots straight out of camera anyway.

If the OP thinks they might make use of CLS (nikon's ability to fire flashes wirelessly) now or in the future, then that certainly is an advantage. But the kind of shooting the OP described sounds to me like it wouldn't make use of wireless flash ability.

To be honest, in the OP's situation I would be looking at a brand that offers in body IS. That way you can use stabilisation on fast primes for great low light shooting. Have a look at the pentax entry level bodies, they are superb (and handle ISO's well). Pentax also offers the advantage of being able to pick up cheap older lenses because the mount is highly backwards compatible.
 
The problem of going outside "the big 2" is that you limit your potential to grow your lens range at a later date. Off camera flash is something that I would now not want to Ito without, it's just so useful.

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I've always been a canon man and went to buy a DSLR fully intending to buy a Canon came out of the shop after two hours with a Sony as it was the only camera that felt really comfortable in my hand, had all the buttons in the right palces etc. A little dissapointed that Canon or even Nikon didnt fit the bill.
My advice would be play with them all don't let shop staff push you to buying one make, get what you think is right for you, its your money and the camera is going to last you a long time.
I love my Sony and wouldnt be without it.
 
I have to agree with all those above who's said that it's down to what you feel comfortable with. One thing to note though, if you're looking to buy second hand lenses (and it's a great way to get good affordable glass) then there's normally a lot more choice of Canon and Nikon fit lenses than there are with the likes of Sony and Pentax (and certainly more than with any of the four/thirds manufacturers.)

I found when I first started looking a few years back that Canon suited me better, but that was simply down to the ergonomics of the camera - but that's becaue I have very large hands, someone with smaller hands than me wouldn't have that issue.

So have a play, see what makes sense for you, and then go enjoy!
 
I've been trying to research to make the same decision and seem to remember reading somewhere that if you were interested in using flash, Nikon had the edge as they'd put a lot of effort into there flash tec.
 
I'll start of by saying nikon d3100 with the kit lens. I'm biased now as I have just gotten one, although I did shoot with an Olympus e400 and really feel that nikon has a significant edge. That said, I did weigh up canon and did go and have a play. The thing to consider is whether it feels comfy to hold and use, and whether there are quality peripherals for it- lens range, wide availability for support etc...
Also consider what others have said and the reviews. Ps- nikon may still be doing the £40 cashback offer.

Ultimately, it is these days with all things a chooser's market. Go with what you would enjoy using and for a long while too.
Good luck, happy hunting and here's hoping you choose nikon.

Ps- YouTube 'fro knows photo'
 
If you aren't in a great hurry I'd wait until after the CP+2011 on the 9th Feb, which is when any new bodies from Nikon or Canon are likely to be announced - at least in the beginner and consumer lines.

It tends to have an affect on prices.
 
Jelster said:
The problem of going outside "the big 2" is that you limit your potential to grow your lens range at a later date. Off camera flash is something that I would now not want to Ito without, it's just so useful.

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To be honest, looking at the sony and pentax lens range there isn't anything missing that 90% of users will ever want. Especially when you factor in old pentax/minolta (now sony) glass.
 
im not sure if this is OK to ask (forum rules etc), but whos best for price in the UK for Canon/Nikon camera's ? online or instore?
 
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