Discussion
Made a BIG mistake when I went digital. Gave up my lovely old Pentax ME Super for a Nikon 5400. I couldn't afford an SLR digital at the time. :rolleyes:
The Nikon 5400 is neither one thing or the other. Too big to put in your pocket. Crap delay and focus compared to an SLR.
I'm not naturally a 'Canon person', if you know what I mean. But, I've read so many good reviews I'm very tempted.....:scratchchin:
I need the camera for photographic surveys, interiors, and lots and lots of shots of my 2 ickle ones.
Your comments greatly appreciated....
The Nikon 5400 is neither one thing or the other. Too big to put in your pocket. Crap delay and focus compared to an SLR.
I'm not naturally a 'Canon person', if you know what I mean. But, I've read so many good reviews I'm very tempted.....:scratchchin:
I need the camera for photographic surveys, interiors, and lots and lots of shots of my 2 ickle ones.
Your comments greatly appreciated....
It's not the fact it's a Nikon, it's the fact that it's a 'prosumer' camera. I always advise people never to get stuck in the prosumer cul-de-sac; in fact have just steered a friend to a second-hand DSLR and he won't regret it.
Depending on budget, and assuming you want a new entry-level DSLR, you've got:
Canon 300D (if you can find any)
Nikon D50
Nikon D70
Canon 350D
Nikon D70s
The other bit of advice is - get to a shop and see them for real before deciding. I won't be partisan other than to say that 406 will be delighted to send you a Clud Certificate
Edited to add: For interiors you'll need a wide-angle lens. The 18-70mm AF-S Nikkor lens that ships with the D70 is by all accounts significantly better than the 18-55 Canon. If you need to buy a good wide-angle lens separately afterwards, they're not cheap.
>> Edited by simpo two on Wednesday 29th June 10:53
Depending on budget, and assuming you want a new entry-level DSLR, you've got:
Canon 300D (if you can find any)
Nikon D50
Nikon D70
Canon 350D
Nikon D70s
The other bit of advice is - get to a shop and see them for real before deciding. I won't be partisan other than to say that 406 will be delighted to send you a Clud Certificate
Edited to add: For interiors you'll need a wide-angle lens. The 18-70mm AF-S Nikkor lens that ships with the D70 is by all accounts significantly better than the 18-55 Canon. If you need to buy a good wide-angle lens separately afterwards, they're not cheap.
>> Edited by simpo two on Wednesday 29th June 10:53
800 said:
eh?
Don't worry 800, just a bit of standing banter
The single most popular camera in the forum (I think) is the Nikon D70, which is why it has its own informal Owner's Club, er Clud.
The Canon 350D is a good competitor to the D70 but some people find it too small and/or prefer the ergonomics of the Nikon. It's a personal thing; that's why you need to get your paws on both.
'feeling' is good, and the only real way to choose, there really isn't all that much in it.
Don't get too hung up on the fact the D70 had 6ish Megathingies, and the 350D has 8ish Megathingies.
To be honest, the D70 comes with a better stock lens, though when buying a DSLR, resign yourself to the fact that very shortly after purchase you will be looking at buying another lens or two and a nice external flash, then some more memory, a card reader, a tripod, some circular polarising filters, a monopod, some more lenses, a couple of bags, a nice photo printer, more RAM for your PC, etc. - get the picture? This is an expensive road.
Whatever you do, don't ask to handle the Canon 20D, your wallet will NEVER forgive you...
Don't get too hung up on the fact the D70 had 6ish Megathingies, and the 350D has 8ish Megathingies.
To be honest, the D70 comes with a better stock lens, though when buying a DSLR, resign yourself to the fact that very shortly after purchase you will be looking at buying another lens or two and a nice external flash, then some more memory, a card reader, a tripod, some circular polarising filters, a monopod, some more lenses, a couple of bags, a nice photo printer, more RAM for your PC, etc. - get the picture? This is an expensive road.
Whatever you do, don't ask to handle the Canon 20D, your wallet will NEVER forgive you...
I was in the same dilemma about a week ago, trying to decide which was best etc In the end i plumped for the 350D. It felt much more comfortable in my hand (than the D70), and everything seemed to be in the right place for me to use it. The kit lens (18-70mm) was definitely much better on the D70 than the 350D (18-55mm), and i definitely liked the whole idea of the screen protector (stops a lot of smudge marks while taking photos etc). but in the end i went for what felt most comfortable in the hand.
Currently im waiting for my 350D to be replaced, as the camera i purchased seemed to have a lot of problems with accurately re-producing certain colours (they seemed very washed out when it came to taking photos with grass, brick, and sky in them), so hopefully the replacement will sort all the issues.
Im intending on upgrading to a larger lens very soon, the contenders at the moment are the 75-300mm USM mk3 lens in both IS and non-IS flavours. This is all assuming that the replacement 350D doesnt have the same issues as the first one! if it does, then i may consider going to the D70, or maybe worst comes to worst, sticking with what i already have (my powershot G3). Moving from a consumer digital to a dSLR is certainly a big jump though, but you can definitely feel what you're paying the extra cash for! its well worth every penny - almost instant focus, plus more importantly accurate focus. I always got annoyed by the slow, and not always accurate focus on my G3.
Im sure you will enjoy whatever you decide to buy
Currently im waiting for my 350D to be replaced, as the camera i purchased seemed to have a lot of problems with accurately re-producing certain colours (they seemed very washed out when it came to taking photos with grass, brick, and sky in them), so hopefully the replacement will sort all the issues.
Im intending on upgrading to a larger lens very soon, the contenders at the moment are the 75-300mm USM mk3 lens in both IS and non-IS flavours. This is all assuming that the replacement 350D doesnt have the same issues as the first one! if it does, then i may consider going to the D70, or maybe worst comes to worst, sticking with what i already have (my powershot G3). Moving from a consumer digital to a dSLR is certainly a big jump though, but you can definitely feel what you're paying the extra cash for! its well worth every penny - almost instant focus, plus more importantly accurate focus. I always got annoyed by the slow, and not always accurate focus on my G3.
Im sure you will enjoy whatever you decide to buy
800 said:
I would naturally gravitate towards the Nikon D70, but the rave reviews for the 350D can't seem to be ignored.
But the D70 got equally good if not better rave reviews...
800 said:
Plus my now worthless 5400 has put me off Nikon a bit.
That wasn't the fault of the camera. People who don't want the complexity of DSLRs are very happy with prosumer cameras; it's just that you just needed more than it could offer.
simpo, stop fighting, the Dark Sdie will prevail... 
Sorry, I don't really care what camera people have, it's the shots you take with it of course, but I couldn't resist the dig...
As someone wiser than me once said:
Amateurs worry about equipment
Pros worry about time and money
Masters worry about light...
>> Edited by Bee_Jay on Thursday 30th June 14:55
Sorry, I don't really care what camera people have, it's the shots you take with it of course, but I couldn't resist the dig...
As someone wiser than me once said:
Amateurs worry about equipment
Pros worry about time and money
Masters worry about light...
>> Edited by Bee_Jay on Thursday 30th June 14:55
Ironically, one of the biggest complaints about the 350D I hear from customers browsing entry-level DSLRs is that it "doesn't feel right".
At the time I bought my camera, the 350D was not in stores yet, so the D70 was the obvious choice over the similarly-priced 300D. Would I have gotten the 350D if it had been available? I don't know, but I would have had to look a little bit more. The funny thing is, I never actually picked up a D70 before I ordered mine... But I digress.
As it has been said before, the way you take the pictures matters more than the equipment. I've gotten some of my better shots off of my little 4200. Granted, a good DSLR gives you more options, but ultimately it comes down to the user.
I own a D70, and I love the camera. I recommend it to anyone, though I try not to get caught up into making it an argument. Before we started carrying Nikon DSLRs, I heavily used the 350D and compared to the D70, I like the D70 better. But in reality, I would sell either to a customer. They're both great cameras, it's just a matter of tastes. One camera I would not sell, though, is the Evolt E-300. See www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?p=1&f=109&t=186655&h=0
At the time I bought my camera, the 350D was not in stores yet, so the D70 was the obvious choice over the similarly-priced 300D. Would I have gotten the 350D if it had been available? I don't know, but I would have had to look a little bit more. The funny thing is, I never actually picked up a D70 before I ordered mine... But I digress.
As it has been said before, the way you take the pictures matters more than the equipment. I've gotten some of my better shots off of my little 4200. Granted, a good DSLR gives you more options, but ultimately it comes down to the user.
I own a D70, and I love the camera. I recommend it to anyone, though I try not to get caught up into making it an argument. Before we started carrying Nikon DSLRs, I heavily used the 350D and compared to the D70, I like the D70 better. But in reality, I would sell either to a customer. They're both great cameras, it's just a matter of tastes. One camera I would not sell, though, is the Evolt E-300. See www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?p=1&f=109&t=186655&h=0
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