Nikon D80 vs. Canon Rebel XTi

[drapygo]

Pretty soon I'm going to purchase my first DSLR. I'm so far going torwards the D80, but I would like some personal opinions on which is the better buy, etc.

Nikon D80: Better build/design, fast start up and shoot.

Canon XTi: Image color is much better. Has some sensor cleaner... but cannot clean off big spots.

There are a lot more, but those seem to be the most important ones.

[wild_whiskey]

First off, go with whichever you already have the lenses for. If you don't have either, go with the D80 if you can afford it. It's a better camera. To be realistic, a D80/XTi comparison isn't entirely valid, because the D80 is using tech from the D200, while the XTi is using slightly upgraded tech from the Rebel XT. Something I love about Nikons that I miss dearly when using a Canon is the lack of a seperate finger wheel for aperture.

IMO, go try em both out. If you like the Canon better... color me surprised. The D80 is quite a machine.

Image color is not better on the XTi, at least in my experience. My co-worker has a XTi and we've done a lot of shoots where we both take pictures, and 99% of the time, the photos from my camera are used because the color representation and they are usually sharper as well (but I attribute that to a much better lens that can be bought with the D80: the 18-55 AF-S Nikkor), and the exposures are usually more on the mark as Nikons tend to have superior exposure meters. Again, this is my experience. I know there are a lot of Canon users here who would argue otherwise.

Canons are great cameras, but in that $ range, the D80 is a better buy.

[drapygo]

Ah, yea, lenses also play a big part. I know that all of Nikon's models support all of their lenses. And Canon's models don't really support their old lenses or something like that. And, Canon's beginner/non-pro lenses arn't that good, and they don't have a middle class lense, it's expensive lenses or nothing. While Nikon has the medium class or so.

So far, I'm going to the D80 kit with the 18-55mm lense. Then later on buy an 18-200mm lense.

[wild_whiskey]

Ah, yea, lenses also play a big part. I know that all of Nikon's models support all of their lenses. And Canon's models don't really support their old lenses or something like that. And, Canon's beginner/non-pro lenses arn't that good, and they don't have a middle class lense, it's expensive lenses or nothing. While Nikon has the medium class or so.

So far, I'm going to the D80 kit with the 18-55mm lense. Then later on buy an 18-200mm lense.

It's actually the opposite, as far as I know. The newer Nikons cannot use a lot of the older lenses.

The 18-200 VR AF-S Nikkor lenses are actually getting made at a decent rate now, so chances of finding one this year is not bad at all. I plan to buy one myself - apparently the wait list is only 2 months or shorter now.

[keagan]

I have a XT, I wish I would of got a D70 (the D80 wasn't out when I was looking to buy a slr). But then again I don't, because I used the difference to buy another lens.

And I think I've heard the kit lens on the XT(i) is better than that on the D70(80?), I could be totally wrong though- most kit lens are shit anyways.

In my opinion you should get a XTi and buy some good glass to go with it.

[wild_whiskey]

The Nikon DX 18-55 3.5-5.6 is actually a great lens (note, not the DS 18-55, which comes with the D50). Very sharp, focuses fast, silent, almost no distortion and zooms quite well. I won't pretend to know a lot about Canon's, but from what I heard from my photo teacher (who, surprisingly has an arsenal of both Nikon and Canon equipment), the Canon EF-S 18-55 3.5-5.6 is only considered good because there's no competition below $1000.

[Ryan]

I would suggest actually holding each of the cameras in your hand before you make a decision. people can split hairs about the differences between the cameras, but theyre really on par with each other. having said that, nikons in general, at least the versus the rebel series, feel ALOT better and sturdier in my hand.

i like the d80 alot, but you might be able to get a better price on the xti as its been out longer. also, does anyone know if there are new canon rebates yet?

all things equal though, for the heck of it id go with the D80, and this is coming from someone who has the XT and likes it alot.

ok im gonna stop rambling now.

[wild_whiskey]

I know. I really hate getting into these discussions, because like many other discussions when you're talking $1000+ investments, people can be very defensive about their "teams."

That said, the D80 has been getting better reviews pretty consistently, and the final decision is up to your opinion on how it feels for you to use it.

[wild_whiskey]

Oh, was gonna say, the D80 and Nikons in general have some really sweet stuff.

Auto ISO, for one, when shooting in auto mode. Very very useful.

You can set the FUNC button to FV lock, which fires off a flash and locks the exposure, and while locked the flash will go off at the exact moment the picture is taken, instead of a millisecond before. REALLY helpful for taking pictures of people because their eyes will always be open during the exposure, since the picture is taken before they have the reflex to blink.

[lowrider]

I'm considering getting my first DSLR too. Thanks for all the information!

[stfuken]

don't know if this is the right thread for this but someone please recommend a lens for epic landscapes for the canon 350D.

I'm interested in most bang for the buck, high end, and low end so please share your knowledge!

[aaronS]

Out of those to i'd say the nikon

but if your looking to really start investing and building a setup go with a canon. the lenses seem to be more interchangable, slightly smaller (i hate big cameras) and better egronomics (sp?)

I'm not sure who said it but canons have the two wheels one for aperture and one for shutter while the nikons have the one for both and you hold in a seperate button and turn the wheel for the aperture.

[__Nicholas]

i have the d50 and i am very pleased with it. i love nikons, i was actually going to purchase the d40 at first, but i learned that the newer models dont support the older nikon lenses, so i went ahead and got the d50 instead.. but yea i would def go with the d80 over the cannon..

[wild_whiskey]

I'm not sure who said it but canons have the two wheels one for aperture and one for shutter while the nikons have the one for both and you hold in a seperate button and turn the wheel for the aperture.

It's the exact opposite on every camera I've used.

[guffer]

get the d80 as a kit with the 18 200 vr

[aaronS]

It's the exact opposite on every camera I've used.

my canon 20d has a wheel on the back for aperature and a wheel by the shutter release for shutter speed. My nikon n75 had one wheel by the shutter release that was used for both.