D80 + 28-70/2.8
400D + 17-55/2.8 + 35/2 + 50/1.8 + 85/1.8
Wrong lens choice.
You probably should
NOT get the Nikon 28-70/2.8 as
your only lens for a DX camera. It's a normal-zoom for a film
body; for a DX body, you want the 17-55. Check out its
build quality compared to the Canon's. See the difference?
That's why the Nikon has a gold-ring on it, indicating that
it's one of the best lenses Nikon offers; tell me, where's
that L spec on the Canon EF-S 17-55? There isn't one.
What does that tell you?
If you're the kind to splurge on a top-of-the-line Nikkor
like the Nikon 17-55, why not pay $300 more to get a D200?
Or if you're super price-sensitive, why not get the D40X for
a couple hundred less, with the 18-55 II kit lens along for
the ride? They're all "10mp cameras". They're distinguised
by significant differences in body features.
The 400D and D80 aren't equivalent bodies any more than
the D80 is equivalent in body to the D200 or to the D40X.
It's not all about price. It's about
what you're buying. The D80
has a lot more features on it; you're buying a lot more camera.
Just to name one thing,the 400D completely lacks a spot meter,
andits center weighted metering is only at the central point.
Nikon has both a spot and a variable-width center-weighted meter,
and both of these follow the focus point. This doesn't matter
for tripod shots of still lifes in full manual; otherwise, it does.
The Auto-ISO and NR configurations on the Nikon are better.
The Nikon also focuses better in lower light, and its viewfinder
is superior: brighter and with 94% magnification, not 80%.
I could on and on but I won't. Read what others say.
For example:
(note 72.3.225.30 =
http://www . cameralabs . com)
http://72.3.225.30/features/10Megapixel_DSLR_test/page6.shtml
The Nikon D80 is arguably the best camera of the three. It beats the
400D / XTi and A100 in almost every respect, sporting superior design
and build quality, the biggest, brightest viewfinder, more
sophisticated AF, greater customisation and a secondary status screen
which many will find easier to read in bright light. While some test
results were very close, the D80 also resolved the greatest detail and
many will prefer its handling of high ISO noise to the Canon.
or this:
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canoneos400d/page21.asp
On paper the EOS 400D / Digital Rebel XTi has the same basic feature
set as the other two ten megapixel cameras here. The biggest difference
is that both the Nikon D80 and Sony DSLR-A100 offer some kind of
advantage for their premium. The Nikon D80 has a much wider range of
camera control, a larger and brighter viewfinder, better ergonomics, a
bigger battery, faster USB, spot metering and surprisingly useful
customizable automatic ISO. The Sony DSLR-A100 also has better
ergonomics, spot metering, a bigger battery, faster USB and built-in
CCD-shift Anti Shake (although we don't believe this to be as effective
lens image stabilization). The EOS 400D's 'on paper' advantages are
listed below, not a huge list and quite a surprise to see how the
competition have not just caught up with Canon but have overtaken them.
This is just the old D70 vs 300D thing all over again, and the
answer is the same: the Nikon costs a little more, but you get
much more camera for your money. The price-point you
should be comparing the 300D against is the D40X (maybe).
Note that everything I said about metering and focusing
is still true of the Nikon, and still doesn't work on the Canon.
I'd certainly get the D80--except for that I already own a D70
and a D200.
Might get the D80 anyway someday.
--tom
