D5100 or 600D

Rod Boughton

Rod Boughton

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Rod
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Okay i know this subject has been done to death, but i can't make up my mind. I have researched both cameras, the Nikon D5100 and the Canon 600D, both have features that i would like, i'm not interested in the video function at all, and i have been in jessops and handled both cameras, and they both feel ok to me. On paper the nikon seems to have a higher spec, but from my research the canon seems to produce better images. Currently the nikon is slightly cheaper than the canon. Is it worth me spending that bit extra for the canon or not. Can someone persuade me one way or the other because at this rate i will never decide.

Rod
 
As a totally biased reply I have the d5100 and I love it! never had a canon in my hands so I cant really comment on them. Sorry I cant be more help and good luck with the decision.
Phil.
 
I have a D5100 and love it however what is right for one person is not going to be for another.

I was upgrading from a D40x so when I bought mine already had an af-s lens so I stayed with Nikon.

As far as I can see the two cameras both have strengths in different areas. IQ in Canon high iso in Nikon etc etc

The main thing I can see the decision being placed on is do you want to have the focus motor in the body (600d) or lenses (d5100) the canon will give you more choice of lenses I think and this may be crucial to you.

For me I am very much an amateur and do not envisage having (or be able to afford) a large range of lenses so it was not an issue for me.
 
Thanks for your input guys, ultimately i guess what i really want is stunning image quality, i dont want to spend hours in photoshop. I will also want to buy a good zoom lens and some teleconverters at some point.
 
Don't think camera, think system. Which *system* meets your needs better? Don't get too hung up about the precise specs of the current bodies, because they evolve rapidly and this is unlikely to be the last DSLR you ever buy. But other aspects of the systems evolve more slowly or not at all. For example Canon offers a significantly better range of quality telephoto lenses, which might be of interest to you.
 
I must say, on entry level cameras the image quality isnt ever going to be amazing.
You should go with the camera that feels best to you and if your planning on having it a while, the most up to date.
You should focus more on a really cracking price of glass, this is the best way to get good iq from you camera.
 
Charles Burley said:
I must say, on entry level cameras the image quality isnt ever going to be amazing.
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Disagree totally. All DSLRs these days are good and can be used to take great pictures.
Charles Burley said:
You should focus more on a really cracking price of glass, this is the best way to get good iq from you camera.
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Agree totally.
 
Charles Burley said:
You should go with the camera that feels best to you and if your planning on having it a while, the most up to date.
You should focus more on a really cracking price of glass, this is the best way to get good iq from you camera.
Click to expand...

With that in mind, then i guess i should go with the higher spec D5100, also, thinking about the zoom, i currently have the nikon P500 which has a huge zoom range, and to try and match that with a dslr lens would cost a fortune, and be huge! I intend keeping the P500 so if i need a zoom i could use that.
 
Rod Boughton said:
With that in mind, then i guess i should go with the higher spec D5100, also, thinking about the zoom, i currently have the nikon P500 which has a huge zoom range, and to try and match that with a dslr lens would cost a fortune, and be huge! I intend keeping the P500 so if i need a zoom i could use that.
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You can build a collection of lenses over time, just keep your eyes open for bargains!
I got a second hand sigma 70-200 2.8 for £350!

I'd say start with a prime, maybe a 35mm or 50mm and a good zoom. Some of the cheaper Nikon kit lenses actually have great quality. I still use my kit 18-105mm.
 
The p500 lens is equivalent to about a 22-800. A Nikon has a crop factor of 1.5 so something like a sigma 150-500 will be the equivalent of 225-750 so pretty close and with the better ccd it will have a larger usable iso. So it will be much better in lower light and the sigma has great image stabilisation aswell.
 
Ok forgetting lenses, would you say the nikon is the better option? it has the same sensor and processor as the D7000, which is supposed to be an outstanding camera.
 
Rod Boughton said:
Ok forgetting lenses, would you say the nikon is the better option? it has the same sensor and processor as the D7000, which is supposed to be an outstanding camera.
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Do you *want* it to be the better option? Reads to me like you have made up your mind already...

Forgetting lenses is folly though if what you really want is only available in the system you set yourself against...
 
Re Nikon vs Canon:

Are you going to buy online, or at a shop? If at a shop, go try them both and see what feels more natural to you, because both Nikon and Canon make top equipment, and you should be happy with either.

If you're buying online, you probably have friends with DSLRs that will let you try them out.
 
Triggaaar said:
I completely disagree. Unless you're pushing high ISO, the quality from a basic modern dslr can be amazing.
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My d3100 in the right situation can produce images as good as my d700. Even upto ISO 1600 the d3100 is no slouch.
Budget bodies these days skimp on features,build quality and ergonomics, not image quality.
 
Ha Ha Ha, you may be right Jason, i just want to make sure i am making the right decision, i dont see me buying lots of lenses, my main photographic subjects interest is landscapes, architecture and close ups.
 
Rod Boughton said:
Ha Ha Ha, you may be right Jason, i just want to make sure i am making the right decision, i dont see me buying lots of lenses, my main photographic subjects interest is landscapes, architecture and close ups.
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Wide angle, Tilt and shift, macro.... there's 3 lenses already lol
 
Ok back to the question, can anyone give a reason why not to get either one.
 
I should go into Jessops and play with them. As a D3100 owner and general Nikon fan I don't like the egonomics of the 5100 at all. They have shifted the buttons all over the place, from a user point of view completely different to any other Nikon DSLR.
 
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