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Canon 350 or Nikon D50
- Thread starter telfer
- Start date
I used to think the 350D was too small, too, especially after briefly handling it in the camera store. But I bought one on behalf of a friend of mine who was interested in getting her first DSLR. So I went out and took her Digital Rebel XT for a "test drive", and after about an hour, I was surprised to find that I actually really enjoyed using the XT. Yes, it was small, but it wasn't any smaller than the Nikon FG that I first learned photography on. If anything, cameras have gotten big and bloated over the years. The XT was quick, light, and nimble. I forgot all about it being "too small". I liked it so much, I ended up buying one for myself. The controls are very well laid out. Unlike Nikon DSLR cameras, all important input controls are fully accessible from the right hand, so you can securely leave your left hand where it belongs: under the lens or body. For example, on the Nikon D50 and D70, the ISO and WB function buttons are STUPIDLY place on the left side of the LCD screen, forcing you to access them with your LEFT hand or reach over with your RIGHT hand. Same goes for the Continous Shooting button. Stupid, stupid, stupid.
As for the size of the 350D, it's great. There is a prominent "hook" at the top of the grip where your index finger hooks into. You can basically hold the camera just from this hook. The rest of your fingers can relax wherever they want to. It's a nice design. For people who want even more camera size and mass, you can always add the vertical grip option, which the D50 and D70 don't have. But I like the 350D just the way it is. With a Canon 17-40/4L and 580EX mounted, it's a very nice package. Lots of performance with less fat!
Well, for those who have the capacity to think and make judgements for themselves, and who've had extensive hands-on experience with the Rebel XT, I can honestly say that, yes, it's smaller, but it's definitely NOT a point-n-shoot. It definitely IS a DSLR in every respect. And for those who don't get their panties tied up in a wad over some unresolved issues over P/S cameras, it's one hell of a DSLR.
Let's get one thing straight. The Rebel XT is a DSLR. And big LCD displays are the evolution of SLR design that has nothing to do with making it a P/S camera. People WANT bigger LCD displays. They work, and they work effectively. Now when I go back and look at the tiny monochrome LCD's on my film SLR's, I'm glad that we're still not using those tiny things.
larrytucaz
Leading Member
Well there is a positive thing about all these posts, childish as some of them have gotten--AND THIS INCLUDES ME, I will admit to that.
Maybe we won't be hearing all these "my 350D can't focus" and "my 350D backfocuses" posts anymore.
Otherwise, quite frankly, such posters are going to have a lot of explaining to do with regards to how they can claim their 350D is sooo superior to the D50 case-closed while simultaneously admitting that basically $100 Cybershots and $100 Powershots are out-focusing them.
(Note: I don't believe the 350D has focusing problems, I in fact consider that an urban myth analogous to "Kennedy was abducted by Marsians sent by Lee Harvey Oswald's love-child's mother" myths.)
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LRH
http://www.pbase.com/larrytucaz
Maybe we won't be hearing all these "my 350D can't focus" and "my 350D backfocuses" posts anymore.
Otherwise, quite frankly, such posters are going to have a lot of explaining to do with regards to how they can claim their 350D is sooo superior to the D50 case-closed while simultaneously admitting that basically $100 Cybershots and $100 Powershots are out-focusing them.
(Note: I don't believe the 350D has focusing problems, I in fact consider that an urban myth analogous to "Kennedy was abducted by Marsians sent by Lee Harvey Oswald's love-child's mother" myths.)
--
LRH
http://www.pbase.com/larrytucaz
andrewD2
Veteran Member
Assuming phil doesnt set the ISO, 1/40s and f9 on a flash meter and tweak the lights?
Andrew
Andrew
Hope the 350 don't hit you in the head before you pass out.
WayneB.
=====================
WayneB.
=====================
now ive been out drinking all night with my softball team, but last
I read, the D50 and 350D weren't in the same league. The 350D
being the better of the 2. Anyways, I have a 350D. My first DSLR
might I add. I love mine and she's sittin on the bed next to me
begging me to buy my first L glass. Wow time for me to get to bed
Ignore this post!
larrytucaz
Leading Member
Capacity to think has lead me to the conclusion that if it isn't a point & shoot, it sure tries hard to be one.
I suggest it's a case of dumbing the camera down for idiots.
For IMAGE review (or preview if it's a P/S), not for changing the ISO values.
Actually, we are--every model except the P/S 350D that is.
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LRH
http://www.pbase.com/larrytucaz
Can't speak for all, but I like the XT's size. I carry a 1D Mk II as my primary camera and it fits my hands perfectly. I also use an XT because it's size fits many situations better. Form follows function and when I'm hiking, travelling, or walking around on tour, the XT makes a great, compact, lightweight package that produces excellent image quality.
Function-wise, it didn't take long to figure it out - yes, I prefer the rear dial setup of the other cameras, but this is certainly easy enough to operate. I was pleased that the learning curve for the little camera was much shorter than that of the 1-series.
Tom
Function-wise, it didn't take long to figure it out - yes, I prefer the rear dial setup of the other cameras, but this is certainly easy enough to operate. I was pleased that the learning curve for the little camera was much shorter than that of the 1-series.
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Tom
How is it "trying hard to be one?"
How does having a smaller, manually illuminated, monochrome LCD screen make a camera better or smarter? I think you're just some retro-grouch who prefers his information screens to be the size of a Casio watch LCD! LOL.
No, I want ALL visible and viewable information to be clearly visible, and I'd much rather have it on the back rather than sitting on a small LCD on the TOP of the camera. When the camera is mounted on a tripod at eye-level, it's the BACK of the camera I'm looking at. When I have the camera with a lens (particularly a large lens) mounted, the camera hangs down on its strap and it's the BACK of the camera that is pointing up at me. The BACK, and a clearly visible and illuminated LCD is an ideal place to put this information. You can have your small top-plate LCD's. But they aren't better, and they don't make the camera better! LOL. You're using the lamest criteria on which to judge cameras!!!
And I can honestly tell you that my Rebel XT can run circles around either a Canon 10D or a D100 in access/controls, image quality, and overall performance. It's just a better camera. Only idiots would see ISO display on the back as being such a big deal. LOL. The Space Shutter was recently retro-fitted with a "glass cockpit", meaning that all display indicators and surfaces are all on LCD screens, rather than physical and mechanical dials or indicators. Does that make flying the Space Shuttle nothing more than a video game? LOL. Get with the 21st century.
larrytucaz
Leading Member
You know what I just realized? I realized, while going to the men's room to relieve myself of all the excess soda pop I consumed--what in the world are we doing spitting at and insulting each other over silly color LCDs, D50 comparisions, et al--we should be out shooting photos instead!
I plead guilty, guilty, to this just as much as anyone else.
Now, I do stand by my opinions strongly--the 350D should NOT be using the color LCD for shooting parameters or should at least give the user the OPTION of doing it the "classic" (I would suggest "right") way of using the control-panel LCD for these things. Others of you agree, many others adamently state that it's fine as it is and even superior to the "classic" way of doing it.
What in tar-landing does all this matter compared to shooting pictures?
I don't know about the rest of you, but I feel MUCH better sharing good photos I've taken with my 300D and sharing them. Those of you who've also taken good photos with the 300D--or 350D, 20D, 10D, whatever--same thing I'm sure (though you'll see those in the 10D/20D forum not here most likely).
So what in the world are we doing bickering about these things insulting each other and so forth when we could be sharing photos instead?
Yes, I AM GUILTY of this just as much as anyone else. I can't deny it.
While I am at it--let me share a photo I took last week, which our local TV station actually showed during its weather news broadcasts:
I accept that I myself have gotten so caught up in this debate and it's really fruitless after a point. Sure, we can debate these things to a point, but past a point, it gets childish and gets kind of like "your camera sucks" "no YOUR camera sucks" then "no, YOUR camera sucks" then "yours," "yours twide as much" then "your mama" etc etc.
I've done this as much as anyone else--maybe the most so?--and really, at the end of the day, when we share photos like this, isn't that much more important really?
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LRH
http://www.pbase.com/larrytucaz
I plead guilty, guilty, to this just as much as anyone else.
Now, I do stand by my opinions strongly--the 350D should NOT be using the color LCD for shooting parameters or should at least give the user the OPTION of doing it the "classic" (I would suggest "right") way of using the control-panel LCD for these things. Others of you agree, many others adamently state that it's fine as it is and even superior to the "classic" way of doing it.
What in tar-landing does all this matter compared to shooting pictures?
I don't know about the rest of you, but I feel MUCH better sharing good photos I've taken with my 300D and sharing them. Those of you who've also taken good photos with the 300D--or 350D, 20D, 10D, whatever--same thing I'm sure (though you'll see those in the 10D/20D forum not here most likely).
So what in the world are we doing bickering about these things insulting each other and so forth when we could be sharing photos instead?
Yes, I AM GUILTY of this just as much as anyone else. I can't deny it.
While I am at it--let me share a photo I took last week, which our local TV station actually showed during its weather news broadcasts:
I accept that I myself have gotten so caught up in this debate and it's really fruitless after a point. Sure, we can debate these things to a point, but past a point, it gets childish and gets kind of like "your camera sucks" "no YOUR camera sucks" then "no, YOUR camera sucks" then "yours," "yours twide as much" then "your mama" etc etc.
I've done this as much as anyone else--maybe the most so?--and really, at the end of the day, when we share photos like this, isn't that much more important really?
--
LRH
http://www.pbase.com/larrytucaz
And the problem with that is..........
In a perfect world, we'd all be as smart as Larry Tushazz, but it isn't a perfect world. So Canon had enough sense to make a digital single-lens reflex camera for those of us that don't share that same appreciation for those things that are more complicated than they need to be.
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Tom
I don' t know how long Laryytucaz has handheld a 350D enough to make comments about the camera in his previous threads apart from quoting words from reviews.
It's exactly because of mostly negative comments about the grip and uncomfortable ways to set the ISO that I decided against buying one to upgrade from my trusty 300D.
And so I persuaded a colleague (new in photography) of mine to buy one instead and I bought myself a 20D on the same day.
I have alot of opportunities to play with the 350D as we often go out for photography sessions together with 2 other colleagues who each own a 300D (I sold it to him) and a D60.
the 350D actually grew on me and I am quite impressed with it's overall performance and handling. Someone mentioned in a thread that you'll forget about it's small hand grip and grow to like it's lightweightness. That I fully agree with him.
That supposedly difficult to use ISO setting didn't bother me the very least. In fact, I could change the settings with both eyes close after a couple of minutes of 'training'. Other buttons are also very intuitive and so I don't need a torch light at all.
Another plus is the function display which is just above the LCD screen which proves to be very handy especially when taking night shots. How I wish Canon does the same to 20D.
I think for anyone who wishes to buy a camera, it is no doubt important to read reviews from website like dpreview and hear from owners of the camera(s) you are interested in. But you should only decide only after you've tried them out personally until you feel you are ready to buy.
IMHO, I feel 350D is a veritable successor of 300D (without hack) and I would have bought it had I not wanted more functions and even faster AF.
Just my $0.02 and not influenced by or quoted from Phil or any other reviewers.
It's exactly because of mostly negative comments about the grip and uncomfortable ways to set the ISO that I decided against buying one to upgrade from my trusty 300D.
And so I persuaded a colleague (new in photography) of mine to buy one instead and I bought myself a 20D on the same day.
I have alot of opportunities to play with the 350D as we often go out for photography sessions together with 2 other colleagues who each own a 300D (I sold it to him) and a D60.
the 350D actually grew on me and I am quite impressed with it's overall performance and handling. Someone mentioned in a thread that you'll forget about it's small hand grip and grow to like it's lightweightness. That I fully agree with him.
That supposedly difficult to use ISO setting didn't bother me the very least. In fact, I could change the settings with both eyes close after a couple of minutes of 'training'. Other buttons are also very intuitive and so I don't need a torch light at all.
Another plus is the function display which is just above the LCD screen which proves to be very handy especially when taking night shots. How I wish Canon does the same to 20D.
I think for anyone who wishes to buy a camera, it is no doubt important to read reviews from website like dpreview and hear from owners of the camera(s) you are interested in. But you should only decide only after you've tried them out personally until you feel you are ready to buy.
IMHO, I feel 350D is a veritable successor of 300D (without hack) and I would have bought it had I not wanted more functions and even faster AF.
Just my $0.02 and not influenced by or quoted from Phil or any other reviewers.
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