Nikon D3000 to Canon 1100D?

[Thrash]

Hello,

I recently purchased a Nikon D3000 which im quite happy with, it seems a bit basic though, I also bought a Sigma lens which doesnt have the VR equivalent which is quite restrictive. As a student I dont have a large amount of funds, so when ive been looking around for some cheap lenses ive realised that most are incompatible with the D3000 or the auto-focus doesnt work so I have to manual focus; I dont like doing this because I find it quite hard to find the perfect focus through the viewfinder. So, because of this and the fact I find it a bit basic, im looking at sidestepping to a Canon 1100D or even Canon 1000D (but am also open to suggestions!)

Would people recommend doing this? Im very new to photography so I dont know how compatible Canons are, specially the 1100D or those at a similar price?

 

[etaf]

there is a review of the D3000 here
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikond3000
a quick view seems like a capable camera

As a student I dont have a large amount of funds, so when ive been looking around for some cheap lenses ive realised that most are incompatible with the D3000 or the auto-focus doesnt work so I have to manual focus;

what have you been looking at and have you looked at Canon to see if they are different
Canons VR is called IS and is in the lens , which makes them expensive

dont know about quality
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Nikon-55-20...1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1341057711&sr=1-1

seems around the same price as a
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Canon-55-25...2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1341057779&sr=1-2

which is considered a good lens as part of the Kit

 

[Dave *]

dont know about quality
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Nikon-55-20...1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1341057711&sr=1-1

seems around the same price as a
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Canon-55-25...2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1341057779&sr=1-2

which is considered a good lens as part of the Kit

I've had both, and the Canon 55-250IS is far better than the Nikon 55-200.

I do think the Achilles Heel of the cheaper Nikon bodies is the lack of AF with the great majority of older Nikon lenses. It sort of defeats the purpose to buy a cheaper body and then be restricted to only being able to buy new (more expensive) lenses.

 

[Thrash]

there is a review of the D3000 here
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikond3000
a quick view seems like a capable camera

what have you been looking at and have you looked at Canon to see if they are different
Canons VR is called IS and is in the lens , which makes them expensive

dont know about quality
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Nikon-55-20...1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1341057711&sr=1-1

seems around the same price as a
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Canon-55-25...2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1341057779&sr=1-2

which is considered a good lens as part of the Kit

Thanks for your reply, its a nice camera which I havent had for very long at all but the lens situation is annoying and according to Ken Rockwell:

"Because Canon wiped the slate clean and created a completely new camera system for autofocus in 1987, every camera and lens Canon has made from 1987 through today is completely 100% compatible with everything else made since 1987. Every Canon EF lens works perfectly with every Canon EOS 35mm or digital camera ever made. Their oldest EF lenses work perfectly on the newest EOS digital cameras, and the newest EF lenses work perfectly on very first EOS650 camera of 1987."

Which is good because I know of a place that sells Canon lenses very cheaply. VR isnt a deal breaker; I know you have to pay a lot for it. I was just wondering whether people thought its actually worth doing exchanging it. I did do research before but didnt realise how important auto-focus would be and how its not cheap to get a lens with a motor.

 

[Dave *]

Ultimately the body is the cheapest item to replace once you have a lens collection. If you are still at the beginning it probably won't cost much to start again. Selling the D3000 and then buying a similar spec Canon body shouldn't be difficult and your savings on lenses in the future will probably make it worth your while (especially if you have a source for Canon lenses).

 

[etaf]

Every Canon EF lens works perfectly with every Canon EOS 35mm or digital camera ever made.

just be aware - that EF-S lenses will not work on full frame bodies -
so not all lenses will work on all bodies - all EF lenses will
one of the reason i changed to canon in 1994 was the range line up

 

[dennis25]

I changed to canon because there are more choice of cheap old af super-tele lens

 

[Thrash]

Thanks for all your replies, it seems like it would be wise for me to change to Canon. Im tempted to spend a little more and go for the Canon 500D, any thoughts? Is it significantly better than the 1100D?

 

[Dave *]

Thanks for all your replies, it seems like it would be wise for me to change to Canon. Im tempted to spend a little more and go for the Canon 500D, any thoughts? Is it significantly better than the 1100D?

If you can afford the difference it is well worth it. The 500D has a newer 15MP sensor and better high ISO capability. The LCD screen on the 500D is also far better compared to the older lower resolution screen on the 1100D.

 

[etaf]

whats you max budget and what lenses will you be after ?
what type of photography

 

[Thrash]

If you can afford the difference it is well worth it. The 500D has a newer 15MP sensor and better high ISO capability. The LCD screen on the 500D is also far better compared to the older lower resolution screen on the 1100D.

I can afford it just about but so long as the difference is worth it thats all that matters. I also noticed the 1100D is part of the beginner range is almost mid-range so hopefully it should last me a while, right?

whats you max budget and what lenses will you be after ?
what type of photography

Max budget of about £300 to include a body and lens. To start with I dont mind just a standard 18-50mm or I have been looking at a 28-90mm, I dont really have a type of photography but I do quite like macro shots. You can see some of my Flickr stuff here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/81284561@N08/

 

[etaf]

just wondered why you wanted a DSLR setup -you may get a better compact / bridge camera for that budget
something like the g12

 

[Thrash]

just wondered why you wanted a DSLR setup -you may get a better compact / bridge camera for that budget
something like the g12

Im a student who likes photography, if I had an income id buy something better! Im not buying new anyway, you can get some bargains when you buy used.

 

[Dave *]

I can afford it just about but so long as the difference is worth it thats all that matters. I also noticed the 1100D is part of the beginner range is almost mid-range so hopefully it should last me a while, right?

Max budget of about £300 to include a body and lens. To start with I dont mind just a standard 18-50mm or I have been looking at a 28-90mm, I dont really have a type of photography but I do quite like macro shots. You can see some of my Flickr stuff here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/81284561@N08/

I have had most of the xxD models (from D30 all the way to 40D) and a number of xxxD models as well. I sold my 40D and lenses to buy into m4/3rds (biggest mistake of my photographic "life", but that's another story).

Once I sold all the m4/3rds gear I only had enough to buy one body and 2 lenses. So I thought as a stopgap I would buy the 500D and 18-55IS and 55-250IS.

In truth, I'm really enjoying using them, it's nice and small and capable of better results than any of they older gear, especially at higher ISO levels.

I would suggest the 18-55IS kit lens rather than the 28-90 or similar.

 

[Thrash]

I have had most of the xxD models (from D30 all the way to 40D) and a number of xxxD models as well. I sold my 40D and lenses to buy into m4/3rds (biggest mistake of my photographic "life", but that's another story).

Once I sold all the m4/3rds gear I only had enough to buy one body and 2 lenses. So I thought as a stopgap I would buy the 500D and 18-55IS and 55-250IS.

In truth, I'm really enjoying using them, it's nice and small and capable of better results than any of they older gear, especially at higher ISO levels.

I would suggest the 18-55IS kit lens rather than the 28-90 or similar.

Thanks a lot for your help, its great to hear from someone who actually owns the piece of kit and can give advice based on their own experiences as opposed to what theyve heard/read from other people. I will certainly look into the 18-55IS lens, the 18-55 I have at the minute is great (on my Nikon) but it doesnt have VR but its still very versatile which is what im looking for. In the past ive also used a friends 70-200mm lens which is fantastic, ill also be looking into a similar zoom lens.