My brother is looking to buy a Digital SLR camera and I was wondering if you guys have any recommendations. I think he's narrowed it down to the Canon XTi and the Nikon D40. He said the Nikon D80 was too expensive and too professional for his use. He said he wouldn't like to spend more than $1,000 on it. This is an interesting match-up. As you know, the D80 is supposed to be the competitor for the XTi. I have an already-written comparison of the D40X and Xti that you might find useful. If he is looking at the D40 adn not the D40X (which your message implies), pretty much all of this would still apply. He might want to see the D40 reviews and look at sample images there as well.
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikond40...
http://www.steves-digicams.com/2007_revi...
http://www.popphoto.com/cameras/3756/cam...
http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d40/d40...
Nikon D40X vs. Canon Rebel XTi
The D40X is so new that I don't see any decent sample images yet. Can we assume (hope) that it would give similar results to the D80? It seems so. See: http://www.popphoto.com/cameras/3896/cam... for a glowing review that even compares it with the XTi just a little bit.
I still like the idea that the Nikon has a spot meter and find it odd that the Canon doesn't. The Nikon is a bit limited in autofocus capabilities and speed compared to the Canon, though.
Here are some pertinent quotes about the D40X:
"Noise suppression was generally better than the D80's and much better than the Rebel's. As ISOs increased, the D40x's resolution exceeded that of the Rebel."
"The economy-model status of the D40x doesn't show in picture quality, either. At ISO 100, the D40x turned in an average resolution of 2075 lines, slightly behind the Nikon D80 and Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi."
Continue on down on page 2 for a direct comparison to the XTi. I'll let you read it for yourself, as it seems to lean slightly towards the Canon and it would kill me to write that. I'll leave that job for Koko.
But seriously, these cameras are EXTREMELY close in performance and value. It is true that there is a "problem" with older Nikon lenses not autofocusing on the D40, but if you do not own a bag full of older lenses, it is not going to be a problem.
You need to go to a real camera store and pick up both cameras and see how they feel to you. Some people will love the Canon and some will love the Nikon. Find out which one you are. You will be happy with either one, but you will be happiest with the one that fits your hands better.
See also:
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/compare_...
B&H Prices, April 2007
Nikon D40x, 10.2 Megapixel, SLR, Digital Camera Kit with Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor Lens - $800
Nikon D40x, 10.2 Megapixel, SLR, Digital Camera Kit with Nikon 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6G ED-IF AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor Lens - $1,030
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi (a.k.a. 400D) 10.1 Megapixel, SLR, Digital Camera Kit (Silver) with Canon 18-55mm EF-S Lens - $770
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi (a.k.a. 400D) 10.1 Megapixel, SLR, Digital Camera Body (Black) with Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM Autofocus Lens - $1,180 Pentax is worth looking at, but see this article: http://www.popphoto.com/camera... Report It
Check out Fuji Film cameras. I have never had any issues/problems with any of my Canon cameras, and a few weeks ago add another Canon to the family EOS Digital Rebel XTi (my choice over the Nikon D40x). Try www.bhphotovideo.com I have been doing business with them for over 25 years. There's a pretty good range here
http://www.pricecutreview.com/US/salesra...
which also has customer reviews. You may be overlooking the fact that neither the Nikon or Canon cameras will meet your needs should you opt to acquire telephoto lenses down the road. Even though Nikon offers a special set of telephoto lenses with built-in shake reduction, these specialized telephoto lenses are not inexpensive. Perhaps there is another camera manufacturer who has thought out this issue of "shake reduction" thoroughly and has produced a product which is reasonably priced and works on all their accessory telephone lenses. So who's the competition. The answer is Pentax and its K series, beginning with the K100D through the K10D series with "shake reduction" built into the camera "body." Check out the Pentax K Series camera line and you will discover a whole new line of professional cameras.
Remember that the real value is the end product and if you cannot make out which picture is "better" than another when using either a Nikon or Cannon or a Pentax, then why all the fuss about having bought top-brand cameras. An even smarter option overall, is to never "buy" and instead "rent" all your camera equipment. Using the "rent" strategy means that you never have to say that "I made the mistake of buying old technology."
Good luck! |
