Which Would You Choose Out Of These?

The 40D, it's a better camera in nearly every aspect.

40D ------- D80
6.5fps - 3fps
9 cross-type AF points - 10 AF points + centre cross-type
Live view - None
75 continuous shots (Jpeg) - 23 continuous shots (Jpeg)
3" screen - 2.5" screen
14 bit raw - 12 bit raw

etc.

Also, the new Canon kit lenses are a big improvement over the old ones (although, probably still not quite up there with the Nikons). I would also suggest getting yourself to a shop to try them both out, the 40D may be a better camera but if you don't like it then you would be better off with the D80.

Another thing to remember is the D90 will probably be coming out fairly soon.
 
I agree if it was down to a stright choice over bodies the Canon would win every time but you aren't comparing like with like remember that the body is only part of the equation. Look at the lenses on offer and the quality they produce, OK the 18-70 from Nikon doesn't have VR/IS but it and the 70-300 does produce sharper and more contrasty images than the Canon offerings.

Basically you've got choice between a Canon Semi Pro camera with cheap budget lenses vs a Nikon Consumer camera with consumer lenses.

Personally I wouldn't choose either, I'd go with looking at a second hand body and spend the rest on a decent couple of lenses (f2.8s ideally) for £1000 you can find a S/H Nikon D200 and S/H 80-200 f2.8 and either a new 18-70 f3.5-4.5 or a S/H 35-70 f2.8, I am sure you can find an equivalent canon set up.
 
There is a D80 with the 18-200 vr lens if that is any better?
 
you know you want to get the canon really ;)
 
DeadlySmurf said:
you know you want to get the canon really ;)
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Haha, it did feel nice to handle, that is for sure, but the lenses are so cheap to get separately that it has put me off somewhat. Surely means they are not such great quality?
 
I can't comment on the Canon but the 18-70 and the 70-300 VR really are good lenses.

The smaller one is the one that is on the body when it comes out of the bag.
 
Canon has some great glass, and if you do your research, you can pick up some of the best glass in the business for very little cash. Not to say that that's not true to Nikon, but I speak from experience on the Canon...
 
Do not cast aside the D80 just because of the spec's the glass that comes with that deal is very good..

I would say before making the decision go to camera world and get your hands on the camera's with the exact glass you intend to purchase...

At cameraworld in London they do not mind you nipping outside to test the kit...

And yes I have the D80 and the lenses you were thinking of getting.... however I never seem to take the 18-200 VR off my camera at the moment..


Shutterman
 
Shutterman said:
Do not cast aside the D80 just because of the spec's the glass that comes with that deal is very good..

I would say before making the decision go to camera world and get your hands on the camera's with the exact glass you intend to purchase...

At cameraworld in London they do not mind you nipping outside to test the kit...

And yes I have the D80 and the lenses you were thinking of getting.... however I never seem to take the 18-200 VR off my camera at the moment..


Shutterman
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So, if going for the Nikon, would you say an 18-200 would be better than the 18-70mm + 70-300mm VR?

As they do a deal with just the 18-200 vr lens as well and I read that the 70-300 suffers after 200mm anyways?
 
Out of those two, the Nikon has the better quality glassware - cameras are like comoputers, crud in to the sensor, crud out.

On paper the 40d body is better spec for sure.

I'd go for a 40d body with stock kit lens and then look for another lens on the used market.
 
Breaker said:
Canon has some great glass, and if you do your research, you can pick up some of the best glass in the business for very little cash. Not to say that that's not true to Nikon, but I speak from experience on the Canon...
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I would not have a clue what lenses to get to begin with.
The kit lenses seem not to have had great reviews. They look nice, but I have read that people should just get the body and then get a better canon lens to go with it. I tend to shoot such a variety of subjects, I would be clueless as to what would be best to get, given the budget of no more than £1000.
 
You can make your head explode reading too many reviews.... the 70-300 is a very nice bit of kit and yes it does suffer slightly at the top end but most long lenses do unless you are spending a mint on them.

I was happy with a budget kit I bought from camera world for a long while it was the D50 with 18-70 lens and the non vr 70-300. When it came to getting new body I got the D80 instead of the D200 as it used SD cards and I did not want to buy more cards plus I liked Nikon and did not fancy changing glass.

What ever you choose will do the job..... and either camp will end up doing the same and that is eating all your spare cash on extra glass.....

Regards

Shutterman
 
If it were me, i would get a low shutter count, second hand D200 for around £450-£475. Get a 18-70mm from ebay (tonnes around) for around £100, and then source a new 70-300mm VR for around £280-£300.
 
Looking at the kits again the nikon one even comes with bag and memory... and once you have got the cash back you could get a battery grip for the camera which would extend your shooting time, improve the feel and balance of the camera and give you the vertical shutter release.

Which ever kit you get I do not think you will be disappointed, which ever one you get you will always have camera envy for newer models and more glass it is the nature of the beast... Either of those kits will serve you well and it will be a while before they can not produce what you are trying to achieve.

But that is just my 2 pence worth others may disagree....

Regards

Shutterman

PS Cameraworld in wells street london is where I have purchase most of my kit... I really like their customer service and the staff are really helpful.
 
PsiFox said:
2nd hand D200 here

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=63818
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I would go for this, thats a great price, and so new too. Perhaps you can even negotiate price a little, always good to do that.

D200's are fantastic cameras. They are solidly built, and great to use, and produce beautiful images. This way, you can afford some good lenses. You can have the most amazing camera ever, but without decent lenses, why bother.

Good luck in choosing through all this confusion :)
Adam
 
I think shutterman has a very good point when he says whatever you pick you'll do fine, at the end of the day a camera in the hand takes pictures a camera in the shop doesn't

However, if you are going for a D80 or a D200 S/H definately offers the best value - most will have less that 10K on the clock and you are unlikely to loose much in value over the next year on either. Plus 10K on the D200 is barely run in.

Whatever you choose always invest in good glass - it will last much longer than any digital body you buy. My advice always buy Prosumer or Pro spec lenses, IMO they'll make more of an impact on your photos than the latest DSLR with bells on.

To help you I find lenses generally fall in to 4 brackets

Budget - cheapest lenses available, usually plastic mounts and bundled with kits, they can be soft at all but optimum apertures and exhibit distortion and chromatic abrasion e.g. 18-55mm and 55-200mm in both Nikon & Canon not usually avilable seperately sometimes as little as £40 difference between a body only and a body + budget kit lens. The general rule of thumb for budget lenses is that Nikon produces the better quality budget lenses (but they cost more).

Consumer - Better quality in both build quality (metal mounts) and image quality. Produce sharper pictures than budget but may still be limiited by distortion and chromatic abrasion issues (which can be corrected in software) such as Nikon 18-70mm / Canon 17-85 IS / Nikon 16-85 VR / Nikon 70-300VR usually £250 - £400

Pro-sumer - Top notch glass with either older or slower Pro designs generally very sharp and have few issues with distortion, chromatic abrasion e.g. Canon 70-200 f4 L, Nikon 80-200 f2.8 usually £600 - £1k new but can be found S/H quite reasonably as semi-pros upgrade to Pro glass as they can afford it.

Pro - Top notch glass designed to match the capabilities of modern digital cameras, pin sharp with minimal distortions e.g. Nikon 70-200 f2.8 VR, Canon 70-200 f2.8 IS but this comes at a cost - usually £1k+ new and retain a lot of value on S/H market.

Final word - if you've tried them for size and a set on a new camera rather than S/H toss a coin and if you're not happy with the result you know you really want the other one - just go buy.

Hope that helps
 
Eh,
My choice is now between the 40D and the D300.
Not entirely sure the D300 is worth the extra or not. It would be with the 18-200vr lens.
 
Graelwyn said:
Eh,
My choice is now between the 40D and the D300.
Not entirely sure the D300 is worth the extra or not. It would be with the 18-200vr lens.
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If you can afford the D300 over the 40D, go for it. It's pretty much the best sub-pro DSLR on the market at the moment.
 
Yeah, the D300 is excellent, if you can afford it then it's probably worth the extra. But then again the 40D is about £500 after cashback and the lenses are available for £260 total making it £130 cheaper separately (compared the original deal after cashback).

Also, with the 40D being about half the price of the D300 you could just buy the body and put a lot more money into the lenses.
 
eh my friend has just bid on a D300 with 3 nikon lenses (including 105mm and 70-300) + tripods, speedlight, bag, filters etc.
I am lucky to have such wonderful friends who will do such things for me.
 
Graelwyn said:
Eh,
My choice is now between the 40D and the D300.
Not entirely sure the D300 is worth the extra or not. It would be with the 18-200vr lens.
Click to expand...
Ah, now its much easier. No contest really, the D300 is the one to go for.
Allan
 
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