Nikon D90 vs Canon 500D

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andyg

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Andrew
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I am looking to buy one of these but I cant make up my mind and wondered if you can help? I mainly take pictures of the kids but want to get into birds and wildlife. I have been and handled both cameras and I like the slightly smaller canon yet also like the slightly larger nikon. Video on both is similar for what I would use it for.

I plan to buy standard kit and 70-300 IS/VR which should be enough to start with. I have no major investment in either as I sold my 400D.

Please help, its driving me mad and I want to start taking pictures again:bang:

Cheers

Andy
 
D90, you know it makes sense...... better high iso, better sensor, sleeker, sexier. Come on over to the dark side.

Andy
 
cant help on the Canon, but my D90 is brilliant, in its price range I really cant fault it.....and the 70 - 300 VR is very impressive
 
I handled both and having unusually small hands for my size preferred the Canon

Slightly unfair to do a straight comparison with the Nikon being two hundred quid dearer

If you are shooting wildlife and birds the extra pixels in the Canon might be handy for cropping

Actually went to buy the Nikon and think its probably the better camera overall, not much point if its uncomfortable in use though
 
As a Nikon user I have to say..........

buy the one that feels most comfortable and has the most intuitive control layout for you.
differnt people like different makes/layouts othrwise there would only be 1 camera for all.
 
Snownation said:
As far as I know, the 500D is an entry level DSLR, and as such, will lack, when comparing with the D90, which is at the top of the mid-range DSLRs.
Click to expand...
Is it?
it made of Combination of aluminium alloy and plastic. 12 Meg pix
The 500D has a Plastic (Stainless Steel chassis) 15.1 meg pix the new DIGIC 4 processor
I think there both entry level and the Canon has a better spec and more lens that will fit it
I think you need D*** to be up there where you talking
 
Sorry, didn't mean to start a war but I should have guessed:bonk:

I still cant decide!

BTW D90 about £700 at Dixons tax free and I'm going abroad in a couple of weeks!

Thanks for the replies and more welcome

Andy
 
As with most things I tend to buy, I'm slightly disappointed in what I think they should deliver and what they can actually produce, the only exception I can think of is the D90, it was brought as a stop gap when my camera broke on holiday. I have to say it is apsolutely superb producing the kind of results above what I expected, highly recommended peice of kit
 
As others have said they are two different cameras.

Look at the D90 vs 40D/50D

And the 500D vs D5000

Those models are comparable.
 
D90, but isnt that more expensive as well? I don't really think it is a fair comparison, as was said above, they are from different ranges and aren't really comparable.

The only reason to get a 500D over a 450D is the video.
 
I take the point of 500D vs D5000 but I dont like the screen or the feel of the D5000.
 
Well in that case why not go for a 40D or 50D?

No need to change to Nikon kit. Although if you want to, the D90 is a good choice, that or the D200.
 
I think my 450D has a fabulous screen - 500D must be georgeous!
 
And....

In its favour, the new EOS 500D / T1i boasts an extra three Megapixels, a much more detailed VGA monitor, an HDMI port, a much higher maximum sensitivity of 12800 ISO compared to just 1600 on its predecessor, Peripheral Illumination Correction to reduce the corner darkening of lens vignetting, the Creative Auto mode, and of course the headline feature of HD video recording.Noise levels were similar at lower sensitivities, although at 800 and especially 1600 ISO, the 500D / T1i avoids the chroma artefacts of its predecessor.

I also think the body is much better, the smooth shiny plastic now has a slightly different effect and it feels less cheap and plasticy (IMO!).
 
So divided opinion then!!

Thanks for the thoughts

Still haven't made up my mind!!:bang:

Andy
 
why not consider something like a second hand 40d? its a step up from the 400, with a much better build/better noise handeling etc etc
 
If live view is very important, I believe the d90 is a little easier to use? On the Canon, you have to press the exposure lock button to af in live view, whereas on the nikon you just use the shutter button. Its only minor but....
 
As you thinking of getting into birds this is what the D90 can do with a £80 70-300 lens.

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I can only say that been through similar turmoil, agonising over a Canon 450D, Canon 500D, Nikon D60 or Nikon D90. I went to a few shops, handled one of each and ended up with the D90 - but purely as much because of wanting to get a particular lens (both now and to upgrade in the future).

I used a Canon A1 back in the day and the a Dynax 5si super but hadn't had a D-SLR before. Did I make the right choice? I don't know. But I'm very happy with my choice if that counts!

All I need now is to resolve my lens-itis and work out what lens combination I'm actually going to settle on .... but that should probably be for another thread.
 
Thanks to everyone who replied. I went back to the stores and handled them again including 50d as someone suggested. I coulnt find a 40d but assumed that they are a similar size and found them a little large for now. I also think the 500d is a bit small so the d90 seemed just right. I have placed an order with Dixons tax free and pick up a d90 with 18-105 kit lens on sunday as I fly out to Vienna for 3 days. Seems like an ideal opertunity to try it out although I am supposed to be at a conference:)
 
PS Price was £708 which isn't bad as everywhere else was £799
 
JJ! said:
And....

In its favour, the new EOS 500D / T1i boasts an extra three Megapixels, a much more detailed VGA monitor, an HDMI port, a much higher maximum sensitivity of 12800 ISO compared to just 1600 on its predecessor, Peripheral Illumination Correction to reduce the corner darkening of lens vignetting, the Creative Auto mode, and of course the headline feature of HD video recording.Noise levels were similar at lower sensitivities, although at 800 and especially 1600 ISO, the 500D / T1i avoids the chroma artefacts of its predecessor.

I also think the body is much better, the smooth shiny plastic now has a slightly different effect and it feels less cheap and plasticy (IMO!).
Click to expand...

Heh, ok, video and higher iso. (I do actually miss the iso. Since 1600 is fine after a bit of NR, it would be nice to see what it can do at even higher iso's)

....heh, and the MP's and better screen would be nice as well
 
What I usually say: make sure to hold both cameras in your hand, see how they feel and play around with the menu. I shoot a D90, my father a 40D. Realistically there really isn't much of a difference in terms of image quality at all, and even the features are roughly similar (with the exception of video, but that's really more of a gimmick than anything else). To me, the Nikon just felt better. To others it may be the other way around. In any case make sure you feel comfortable holding it vertically and horizontally. Technical specs won't help if you break using the camera.
 
good work, should be a good trip. remember to buy a memory card now to take with you as duty free on memory cards are still a rip off last time i travelled
 
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