I Am Still Stuck Choosing DSLR-let me have personal opinions?

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Graelwyn

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I have been reading endless reviews for weeks now and I seem no closer to choosing. To recap, I learnt on a Nikon F60 and then jumped right into the D200, which I ended up selling due to financial issues and because sadly, I found it really difficult to manoevre around when taking my shots.

I now have a D60..but it is a little too much of a beginner's camera for me, and I am not keen on just how light it is.

I have been eyeing up the Canon 40d (I have no lenses so changing makes is not an issue) and it feels great in my hand. I have read a load of reviews on it, but having not actually used one, I do not know how it compares to nikon in terms of image quality...and how much messing about PP I would have to do to get good results?

If not that, my other option is to get the D80 for now, then get the next one up when that comes out later this year, then hope I can change my ability to handle the larger model and get the D300.

I am utterly stuck here, to be honest.

I want opinions on the D80, D300 and 40D cameras from those who use them.
 
thumbs up for the 40d:):), absolutly love the camera, just felt right in my hands. but thats just me, could be completly diferent for someone else. personal experiance with it, has been nothing but joy over the last week,
nathan:)
 
The D300 is almost identical to the D200 in terms of size and weight...

Whilst it is a bit of a lump, a monopod could be the ideal solution to your problem. I'm no 7-stone weakling, but even I prefer using my monopod if I can get away with it;)
 
I would be focussing on landscape, portraits, architectural photography, if that is any help, and possibly events such as parades, live shows.

I am not yet proficient at all with the editing software...in fact, I find it really daunting, so I suppose a camera that can produce great images out of the box, as long as the exposures are set right, is important.
 
Graelwyn said:
I would be focussing on landscape, portraits, architectural photography, if that is any help, and possibly events such as parades, live shows.
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Landscapes and portraits are prime tripod subjects - that would certainly help if you went for a D200/D300. The funny thing is, the more you handle the camera, the more you'll get used to the weight. Look on it as a weights session every time you handle it! You'll soon be sporting a beefy set of biceps;)
 
reddeathdrinker said:
Landscapes and portraits are prime tripod subjects - that would certainly help if you went for a D200/D300. The funny thing is, the more you handle the camera, the more you'll get used to the weight. Look on it as a weights session every time you handle it! You'll soon be sporting a beefy set of biceps;)
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Haha, either that or a bent back and a zimmer frame :lol:
 
In all honesty, at the stage you're at right now, you can worry too much about which camera - any DSLR is more than capable of doing what you want it to do.

I use a 40D, and my initial impressions of it are HERE
 
Yes, I love the look and feel of the 40d, but I keep seeing everyone saying how the Nikon D300 is so much better, and how the D300 has everything you could ever need in a camera, and it is swaying my decision somewhat, especially as the D3 is meant to be fantastic too.

Whichever system I get now is the one I will be sticking to.
Hence the importance of making the right decision.

Canon feels more comfy...as in the 5d is more comfy to hold than the d300, but the question is, is it as competent?
 
Graelwyn said:
I found it really difficult to manoevre around when taking my shots.
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The 40D is only a few grams lighter than a D200, if weight really is an issue you may need to look further down the range of either manufacturer for something more suitable.
Or another manufacturer altogether.
Chances are, the lens you use will have more bearing on manoeuvrability than the camera body, though I don't see a likely problem with scape wide angles.
D300 is a better camera than a 40D, but there's nothing worse than trying to work with tools that don't want to work with you.

"Feel" is usually an area where Nikon excel, but it ain't written in tablets of stone, its important the camera feels right to you.

I just checked out weights....they're all about the same, it can't be a weight thing, I don't actually know what you mean by manoeuvrability, other than physical size..
Personally, I find Canons a little on the small and fiddly side, but dainty....I'm not.
 
When i chose my first DSLR, I went for the Pentax k10d, because in my price range, that camera felt like a camera. not a piece of plastic stuck together with sellotape [I didnt even entertain any of the canon's]
I then went onto the D200, mainly due to business ventures, and It felt so much bigger, especially seen as now I have a battery grip too.
You do get used to the weight. Now when I pick up the K10D, it feels small. :lol:
I use the camera al the time, I dont use a neck strap, so on a recent trip to leeds, I had it in my hand ALL the time....my hand did ache, but only after about 6hours.
Other than that I use it in the studio, photographing kids. And I dont feel that the weight is a problem, and the buttons to me, are well placed.

Saying that I loved my K10D, and didnt really want to get rid of it [im still trying to sell it - albeit not very hard]
 
The D300 without the grip is not as cumbersome nor as heavy as you may think.The battery life seems to far excel the D200, well mine does anyway, so much so that I have not bothered getting the grip, my D200 certainly requires one which makes it a largish camera. You soon get use to it anyway.

I carry a D300 with an 80-400 all day long through woods, riverbanks and over hills,I don`t find it overly heavy nor cumbersome. I must say that it is a big step up from the D200 in terms of certain features, noise reduction being the biggest.The 40D I can`t comment on as i`ve never used one.
 
Canon all the way for me, i didn't even look at that other brand :lol: when i was geting my Camera
 
Should have added earlier, with D200 going relatively cheaply secondhand, I would take the D200 over a D80 if I was going Nikon.I`m sure the canon users will be along shortly............Oh,one just turned up.....:D
 
Graelwyn said:
Canon feels more comfy...as in the 5d is more comfy to hold than the d300, but the question is, is it as competent?
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The 40D and D300 are both superb cameras. There are really no big differences between them, just minor technical details that, unless you specifically really really need one of those features (which you don't seem to) shouldn't be a factor for you. You should have no concerns about the "competency" of either of these cameras.

You've already answered the MOST important factor in this. You didn't like the feel of the Nikon, you do like the feel of the Canon.

A small thing to consider. Canon's free RAW software, DPP, is as good a RAW converter as you can get, and it's a great deal simpler to use than Lightroom or Photoshop. I don't like doing too much PP work either, and I find that DPP alone is enough for 95% of my shots.

Oh, and buy a decent tripod whatever you do :)
 
Ilooked at the Nikon D300 and the Canon machines when Iwas down at the Focus show in February as I really wanted to upgrade my digi camera.

The Nikon just did not feel right in my hands and I did not like the layout of the controls (yes I know odd :thinking: for someone who has 3 Nikon mf cameras and a load of lenses). Also I am not a fan of the images that the Nikon digi cameras produce.

Canon never really go on with. Fanstastic machines just not for me.

I bought an Olympus E3 :love: and have not regretted it. Fab camera. the new Oly E-520 also loks like a nice machine.

Canon feels more comfy...as in the 5d is more comfy to hold than the d300, but the question is, is it as competent?

I think you just answered your own question. Todays modern day machine will produce outstanding images, and take a picture on a E3, D300, D3, EOS 5D or 400D @ ISO200 blow it up to A2 in size and I bet you will have difficulty picking which camera they were taken on.
Cameras are a personnal thing and so what ever feel comfortable, suits what you need should be the one to go for. The only thnig possible against the EOS 5D is it is the oldest of the cameras mentioned, and if web rumours are to be believed, soon to be replaced
 
Every one has a there own opinion as to which is the best camera. My first was a Pentax SV ( Yes I'm that old). The slogan then was " Just Hold A Pentax" and they were right, The Camera felt right in my hands. Over the years I've had other cameras , but have always worked on the basis if the camera feels right then it's probably the best option. You really don't want to be fiddling around trying to find that button or that switch.

To me Canon feels right. Other people prefer Nikon. I don't have a 40D I've the 5D amongst others, and It's great camera. Can't comment on how good it is against the Nikon as I've never used it.

The best advice I can give is make a list of the features of both cameras. Discard those that are not important to you. Then rank them. After that go and hold the cameras again. When you've made your choice, enjoy it
 
It was back in the mists of time, I went into a camera shop and spent 45 minutes holding both Canon and Nikon. Nikon won on grounds of comfort, and logical layout of controls. Felt just "right" to me:) I bought a D50, year later a D80, then the D200. And now a D300!
 
I've just moved from a 30d to a 5d - i loved my 30d , always found it nice to hold, not too bulky and with the largish screen and relatively simple menu system easy to use.

You only contact with the camera is your hands - if the Nikon doesn't feel right or intuitive to use then its not for you. You might find a EOS400d or 450d more suited on the weight and size front - they are a little more compact, and have sensor cleaning built in. Trouble is for portrait type work you might then need the battery grip which adds weight and bulk !

Try the Canons again, but don't rule out other makes - Olympus and Sony have image stabilisation built into the body, so lenses are relatively cheap afterwards.
 
Thanks for the comments so far.
the thing about the D300 I am drawn to is the wonderful focussing system. I get so sick of cameras that hunt and hunt for the correct focus and have read across the board that the new Nikon just gets it in an instant. That is a draw to me, for sure. I also noted the Nikon lenses seem a little cheaper to buy, but they also look cheaper? Or is that just my perception?

The 40D just has a nice feel in my hands, but I know it is on a different level.
I have been into camera shops so often, trying these 3 different cameras in my hands. I am little obsessive about making the right choice *** I suppose, given I have to save for extra lenses, it wouldn't be too hard to sell and change makes if I was really unhappy.

What is the focussing on the 40 D like?
 
I have just moved from a 350d to a 40d...initial impressions are simply wow! It's a lot of camera for the money, and I think it is the equipment of choice at the moment given the cashback.
 
in regards to the 40d's focusing, ive found on the whole it to be good, there have been very few ocasions where its let me down (saying that i generally shoot stationary things...so mainly use manual focus:) ), but i found when using it with my sigma 50 macro, it was very fast, along with a sigma 17-70 that i borrowed, it seemed slightly slower on my 50 1.8, but not majorly, overall it seemed great, however the only comparison i have is of a bridge camera...,
sorry not much help,
nathan
 
Graelwyn said:
The 40D just has a nice feel in my hands, but I know it is on a different level.
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D300 is on a different level, its not about opinions, its about fact and side by side specs, but that is reflected in the cost.
You need to decide if you "need" a D300, do you really need full function live view or an uber-res preview screen, do you really need 51pt AF, do you need 8fps, you need the battery grip or it'll be 6fps same as the 40D.
They're just tools for a job, only you know what that job is/will be.
Both Nikon and Canon produce cheap lenses, on the whole Nikon are more expensive in their pro range, there is no difference in quality.

I'm sure the 40D's AF is damn fine, you'd soon hear about it if it wasn't.

horses for courses
 
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