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Entry Level DSLR?

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Jofo

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So, I've done a little research and it seems to either boil down to the Nikon D70 or the Canon 350D.

I did have a few questions from those who can tell me a little bit more about them based on personal experience (if you've used both, extra fantastic!).

Background: Used to own a Canon G4. Loved it, but I've grown beyond it's functionality (and the no shutter lag thing will be great). There's nothing in particular I take pictures of -- not a big landscape person, more of action / stills / portraits. At the moment, I don't print anything, but that may change. I like to take "artsy" photographs.

So. If you had to pick between the two, why? Does either have some major drawback that isn't immediatly obvious?

Do you think it's worth saving a little more and dropping it on a 30D or something of the sort?

Which company seems to have the best lenses / accessories, and I assume they're not interchangable?

Recommendations for a "general" as well as a telephoto lens for either (as I know the Canon's stock one isn't all that hot).

Any other advice?

Thanks!
-Jess
 
Jofo said:
So. If you had to pick between the two, why? Does either have some
major drawback that isn't immediatly obvious?
Click to expand...
The D70 fits my hands better and comes with a better kit lens. The 350 has 2 extra MP, but the difference isn't very noticeable.
Jofo said:
Do you think it's worth saving a little more and dropping it on a
30D or something of the sort?
Click to expand...
Hard to say. FOr a first camera, I'd say no. Put the money you save into accessories and lenses.
Jofo said:
Which company seems to have the best lenses / accessories, and I
assume they're not interchangable?
Click to expand...
Lenses are a wash. They both have good and so so (you more or less get what you pay for). On accessories, Nikon has a reputation for a better flash system, but I have no first hand experience with canon's.
Jofo said:
Recommendations for a "general" as well as a telephoto lens for
either (as I know the Canon's stock one isn't all that hot).
Click to expand...
FOr nikon, I'd get the 18-70, a 70-300 from sigma, and a Nikon 50 1.8 for low light. Can't really help on the canon's.
Jofo said:
Any other advice?
Click to expand...
DIfferences aren't huge. Go try them out, see if one speaks to you. Look at pentax/oly/km-sony, etc too. Then go take some pics and enjoy.
 
look.I'we done the job for you. this subject has been discussed over and over again, with more than 500 replyes in the last 20 days alone...

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1018&message=18604148
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1018&message=18582868
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1018&message=18593206
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1018&message=18473668
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1018&message=18451373
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1018&message=18378398
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1018&message=18374892
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1018&message=18365576

check out these threads (and there's so much more), since the fact that they are "old" does not mean that they cannot contain most of the information you need.
regards
tom
 
Any of the entry level dslrs will provide excellent results, go handle them and see which feels best to you. Play with the menus, take a CF card with you (I think they both take CF cards) and take some shots. See which feels more intuitive.
--
Theresa K
 
Decide on the absolute minumum features you'll need, but my final decision (D50) was on how the thing feels in your hand. The ergonomics have to be right if you're shooting all day with it!
 
The 350XT wins in overall IQ but the D70s offers a slightly better package (two control dials for example).

Where the D70s has better flash, the 350XT will offer MLU and a grip. It really is 6 of 1 and half a dozen of the other. Both systems offer great lens options and allow you to spend as much or as little as you want.

Whatever system you get, consider the 50mm f1.8 of either one. Both are great little lenses.

Steven

--
---
Spring 2006:
http://www.pbase.com/snoyes/images_spring_2006

 
The best DSLR for you will bee the camera you enjoy the most.
Personaly I find Canon XT/350D to small for my hands in ergonomics.
Canon will compareded to IQ give you a bit more saturated colors, more vivid.

Nikon D70s are a fast shooter perfectly suted for action and sports. Not so fresh colors, but in my eyes more natural.
They both work great in low light conditions.

With Nikon you can use quality Optics with future cameras, with Canon you cant be sure what they will do next.
Quality optics for both are quite equal compared to price and resolution.

The 20D or 30D are both bether than the XT/350D.
The D70/D70s are superior to the D50.

If IQ are most importaint to you and operational speed ist an isue, what about the Fujifilm S3 pro? (Will also be a perfect match for Nikon Optics).

--
  • Olaf, Bergen, Norway -
Cameras: Fujifilm S9500, Olympus C-5050 Z, C-370 and C-2.
Working in RawShooter Premium, s7raw and Photoshop 7.0.
Printer: Canon PIXMA IP 8500
 
Olav Agnar Frogner said:
With Nikon you can use quality Optics with future cameras, with
Click to expand...
Until they go FF (and they will) and then all that DX glass becomes less useful.
Olav Agnar Frogner said:
Canon you cant be sure what they will do next.
Click to expand...
Sure you can. EF will mount on all Canon DSLRs. EF-S will mount on all current/future APS-C cropped Canon DSLRs.

Basically, you made a silly comment on that one at best.

Steven

--
---
Spring 2006:
http://www.pbase.com/snoyes/images_spring_2006

 
Take a look at the Pentax DS, DL or K100. The new K100 will have AS. It uses the same sensor as the D50 but will be similar in price and smaller. It will also take the past 30 years of great pentax glass.

I take more art and people photos. Pentax is great for these kinds of shots because of the better high ISO abilities and more natural look to the photos. JPEG's can give the resolution of RAW if you use natural tone and +1 sharpness. Pentax also has an incredible line of shorter lenses.
 
Jofo said:
So, I've done a little research and it seems to either boil down to
the Nikon D70 or the Canon 350D.

I did have a few questions from those who can tell me a little bit
more about them based on personal experience (if you've used both,
extra fantastic!).

Background: Used to own a Canon G4. Loved it, but I've grown beyond
it's functionality (and the no shutter lag thing will be great).
There's nothing in particular I take pictures of -- not a big
landscape person, more of action / stills / portraits. At the
moment, I don't print anything, but that may change. I like to take
"artsy" photographs.

So. If you had to pick between the two, why? Does either have some
major drawback that isn't immediatly obvious?
Click to expand...
Go for the 350D. It has higher resolution, sharper sensor, lower image noise, mirror lock up, portrait grip/battery pack option, Canon's Digital Photo Professional RAW conversion software is included for free (Nikon Capture is extra). Plus, as a whole, Canon is the dominant brand in DSLR photography. They make all their own sensors.
Jofo said:
Do you think it's worth saving a little more and dropping it on a
30D or something of the sort?
Click to expand...
Not necessarily. I use the 350D (Rebel XT) and 20D side by side every day, and image quality is practically identical between them. I can't tell which images were taken with which camera unless I take a look at the EXIF data. The 30D is basically an updated 20D. For much less than the price of a 30D, you can get a 350D with portrait grip, and a nice lens.
Jofo said:
Which company seems to have the best lenses / accessories, and I
assume they're not interchangable?
Click to expand...
Canon generally has more affordable lens options. They also have a slightly wider range of IS (Image Stabilization) lenses and USM (Ultrasonic Motor) lenses.
Jofo said:
Recommendations for a "general" as well as a telephoto lens for
either (as I know the Canon's stock one isn't all that hot).
Click to expand...
What's your budget?
 
I'd say they are all good , but it would be worth a look at the new Pentax K100 with Shake Reduction. No special lenses required, and a selection of over 25K lenses old/new that will work with it. Picture quality is reported as excellent, and new lenses are coming all the time....now that Pentax has hooked up with Samsung things will only get better in that area.
--
'This is more serious than I thought.....but it is still fun!'
 
Olav Agnar Frogner said:
With Nikon you can use quality Optics with future cameras, with
Canon you cant be sure what they will do next.
Click to expand...
What in the world does that mean? Canon offer quality optics too, and they will continue to do so in the future, for future cameras.
 
At the risk of sounding like a brand zealot, you shouldn't make a decision until you have at least tried one of the Pentax entry-level cameras - they have easily the best viewfinders and handle very very nicely. If you enjoy using a camera you are more likely to get the best out of it. There's nothing much between any of them image-wise.

tim
 
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