Hey, I have a good budget to buy a cam now. Should I buy a Nikon D80 or Canon 20d or Canon Xti?

Answer 1

If you have a budget sufficient to include the 20D, I would encourage you to also look at the D200, which I own and love. Check this page and click on the links to reviews:

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/compare_post.asp?method=sidebyside&cameras=canon_eos20da%2Ccanon_eos400d%2Cnikon_d80%2Cnikon_d200&show=all

Between these two cameras, it becomes a question of personal choice. You have to feel them both in your hands and decide which one you like. See where the controls lie, how it is balances, etc. Decide what you think about the lens construction also. Both are excellent cameras and have fabulously diverse lenses and accessories available, so you can't choose one over the other for that reason. But, speaking of lenses, I don't know what your budget is, but it would be nearly criminal to blow your whole budget on a camera body and not have anything left for a decent lens or two. If that is the reality, then you will be faced with choosing between the D80 and the XTi. I've written a long comparison between the two and I recommend the D80 over the XTi. It may still come down to your decision of which one feels better, because they are both good, but here you go:

This is one of my boilerplate answers......

Comparing the Nikon D80 vs. Canon 400D/Rebel XTi

Check this page:

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikond80/page21.asp

The first thing I notice is that the Canon does not have a spot meter. I thought they added that in the XTi, but I guess past criticism was not heard at Canon.

The Nikon user-definable Auto-ISO is an interesting feature that lets you define a couple of parameters about what's acceptable to you and what's not. I don't think this would be the tie-breaker, though, if you can't decide between cameras.

The D80 has a pentaprism and the Canon uses mirrors. "They" say that mirrors are getting pretty good, but I would expect the pentaprism to be a brighter viewfinder.

The Nikon lets you do actual multiple exposures in the camera and some people think this is pretty cool.

Click "next" and move to page 22 and you'll see some image comparisons. Click "next" a couple more times to see more direct comparisons on page 25. Click "next" a couple more times to see some noise level comparisons on page 27. It looks to me like the D80 has actually tamed the noise better than the XTi, but read the comments about image softness.

Click one more time and see that the D80 is clearly the winner in image sharpness.

Go on to the next page and read the conclusions.

You can go to the side-by-side at

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/compare_post.asp?method=sidebyside&cameras=canon_eos400d%2Cnikon_d80&show=all and also click on "Our in depth review" and "Read owner opinions" for each camera.

The last line in the Nikon D80 review reads, "If you're a more discerning photographer who can see the advantages offered by the 'all round' D80 you may well consider the extra money well spent."

The last line in the Canon 400D/XTi review reads, "Thanks to its blood line and low price the EOS 400D will no doubt be a huge success for Canon. However unlike the EOS 350D, for me it's no longer the first or obvious choice, so before jumping on the bandwagon make sure you've weighed up the competition."

In other words, you've selected with the two best cameras in their price class.

Canon is probably saving a little money using their CMOS sensor and this will bring them some market share. Whether the sensor and images are better or not is open to wild debate based on personal preferences. Whether one camera feels better in your hands might just be the determining factor. You have got to go to a real camera store and handle them both. I guess Costco, Circuit City or Best Buy would also have actual samples on display, but you may not get as much help from the staff.

As far as lens choice, I'd rather see you start with one decent lens instead of the kit lens, although Nikon's kit lens (18-55) has actually tested pretty will. (Canon's has not.) For Nikon, I like the Nikkor AF-S 18-70 f/3.5-4.5G ED DX. This costs about $300. I bought this for my wife on her D50 and liked it so much (for the money) that I bought it as a backup for one of my cameras. For Canon, one of our best answerers (Panacea) recommends the EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM. This costs about $500, so there goes the $200 price difference.

[Not boilerplate] If you have enough money, the Nikon 18-70 is a good "walking around lens," but the $1,200 Nikon 17-55 is a work of precision and art and both OMG and I love this lens. I am sure that we are not alone in our opinions. Canon has a similar lens, but I do not ahve any personal experience with Canon.

Of course, you'll need a decent memory card and I recommend a genuine Sandisk Ultra II (60X) or Extreme III (133X) of at least 1GB - preferable 2 GB - for either camera. Lexar is another excellent card supplier and they have the "Professional" 133X as well as the Platinum 80X to choose from. Both Lexar and Sandisk come with image recovery software and limited lifetime warranties.

Answer 2

Well, the D80 is the newest camera on the market, and is widely considered the best at it's price point of ANY brand- it's got most of the Nikon D200 features at half the price!

If you already have any lenses, that's really the deciding factor. The D80 is newer than either the 20d or the xti, so it's electronics are more sophisticated in terms of handling noise at high ISO settings and color saturation. The only drawback to the D80 is that it uses SD instead of CF. However all are excellent cameras. I'd say go handle them and see if you prefer the feel/ergonomics of a particular model.

Answer 3

D80 by far. Metal vs plastic. You do the drop test. D80 would last longer and feel better in large hands with the optional vertical grip. Nikons color rendention is much more accurate than the Canon. All of Nikon lenses made since 1984 will fit and work on the D80 which means if you find an old lense for cheap then your in luck to save major bucks. Nikon also has a tilt shift lense just like Canon, but don't bother with em. You could tilt and spot focus on your computer. Also canons bayonet that holds the lenses are made of plastic so if you change lenses regulary then the more the wear and tear. Nikons bayonet is made of metal,... change away. If you want a better opinion, ask your local camera repair guys. I am sure they would tell you that they get more of Canon digital cameras in more than Nikon. As a matter of fact,... I am. Thank you very much.

Answer 4

You will buy and use a d-SLR to get the best possible combination of control, flexibility, speed and image quality. The Canon EOS Rebel XTi and the Nikon D80 both live up to that expectation. Even the most demanding amateur photographer will not be disappointed by those cameras. Both cameras can be operated automatically, but offer full manual control for high levels of accuracy in exposure, focusing and color. The Nikon D80 has more features, but the Canon EOS Rebel XTi is easier to operate. Due to the exchangeability of lenses all subjects can be captured with great ease from super wide angle to super tele and for special subjects like macro to tilt&shift. Canon offers a broader line-up of lenses , often with image stabilization. The speed of the cameras is almost equal. No noticeable start up or shutter delay, fast and accurate AF and a 'motor drive' of 3 frames per second up to 40 or more JPEGs (about 10 RAWs). Image quality of these 10 Mp cameras is very high. Resolution is fabulous and noise levels are moderate even at ISO 1600. In RAW format mode with a fixed focus lens you will get the highest image quality, in which case the EOS Rebel XTi performs a bit better than the D80. Image quality seems no longer restricted by the sensor, but by the JPEG-settings and the applied zoom lens. Every zoom lens below $750 dollar reduces the 100% quality of the images. Because of the fact that high levels of sharpening in combination with noise reduction and JPEG compression tend to significantly reduce the image quality, the default in-camera sharpening of both camera is very modest and may lead to ' soft' images is some cases. JPEGs are suitable for high quality prints up to 16x12" and for prints up to 40 to 26 inch RAW is the best image format.
If you want the highest image quality, user friendly operation and sensor cleaning the Canon EOS Rebel XTi is your camera. In addition the price is $200 lower than of the D80. The EOS Rebel XTi comes standard with good RAW-software, which is optional for the D80 at extra cost. In case you want a camera with a robust body, extra features and better flash performance, the Nikon D80 is a very good choice. But, as said before, none of these two cameras will disappoint their user.
If you have a D50, D70 of D70s an upgrade to the D80 may be an option: more pixels, higher responsiveness and better image quality at higher ISO values can give the photographer more satisfaction. For the same reasons an upgrade from the EOS 300D to the Rebel XTi may be worth the investment. Even from the EOS 350D the step to the Rebel XTi will be interesting. The answer to the question which camera of those two is the best, is very simple: 'The camera with the best lens', because in this comparison operation, speed and image algorithms are not the real restrictions in use and quality.
My advice is go for Nikon D80

Answer 5

Firstly, company vs company... Nikon's pulled forward fairly. But the wrestle has been happening for approximately 4 + a long time. In whenever, each and every has pulled backwards and forwards in concerns of years - and lately, even months. I'd guess that the iteration of Canon cameras, in approximately 2010, will furnish great terrific room for upgrading. Not that the present is dangerous. They simply have got to upgrade AF a tiny, tiny, tiny, tiny, tiny, tiny... bit. Oh good. I persist with Canon. But appear...There is not a greater company. I use Canon for exact motives. The fine debate stretches on and on and on. There is not a greater company. Sure, Ken Rockwell likes Nikon... Sure, different professionals could use Canon... (Note: Yes, I feel Ken Rockwell is improper every now and then and simply simple biased in others, however he does have a disclaimer and he does provide an explanation for why he prefers Nikon...) You'll become aware of that virtually all physical activities and motion photogs use Canon on the grounds that whilst the AF strategies had been new again within the ninety's, Canon's used to be plenty greater than Nikon. And of direction, it isn't low cost to difference... Now, each are tied. In the establishing it used to be Nikon and professionals. Then Canon stuck up. The virtual generation introduced Canon to the throne, and now... sure, there are delicate variations of their unique lenses, however you can not evaluate it straight until you may have the equal digicam frame. Oh, placed the digicam frame to the scan as good, however no, it does not paintings that means - they each are best manufacturers. Sure, many times Canon's a little bit delicate; and so on. and so on... however here is the *regular* run down. Sony = nice photograph great (correctly, makes sensors for Nikon) Nikon = nice ISO dealing with Canon = nice of each Some won't agree, however that is it. Some do not quite brain a tiny, tiny, unnoticeable change in Image Quality and as a result decide on Nikon, as its ISO dealing with is ultimate. Especially photojournalists, you'll be able to become aware of. Personally, I like Canon. But feel approximately the diversities, what the lenses are and if you're considering getting one, what you are going to do. Canon makes fine macros... and so on. and so on. They all have their 'best' lenses: Canon ~ L Nikon ~ ED Sony ~ Carl Zeiss (probably the most highly-priced) So you spot, you can not quite evaluate them. --- Then, to those cameras. The EOS 450D is the greater digicam, for my part. It can manage prime ISO phases a lot greater than the Sony, because it has a CMOS sensor, alternatively of CCD - good, it handles it greater besides. At 3200 ISO, the Sony is a blob. Unfortunate, however actual. Good for taking darkish photographs. Apart from that, the fps (450D three.5fps vs a350 two.5fps) and far bigger dossier measurement for a350... the 450D wins.

Answer 6

You don't want to compare a 20d with the D80...You should compare the 30d with the D80 in terms of quality and functions.

Both cameras are equal in quality of images...most of your quality comes from the lens you use. Most of the cost of owning a DSLR comes from lenses. Find out which brand you can optain the most lenses for at a reasonable rate and go with that brand.

All Canon digital and film EOS cameras use the same lenses...so if a pawn shop has a bunch of old EOS cameras for cheap them get those lenses and buy a 30d.

Answer 7

I like a camera with double exposure capability so for me Nikon D80. I don't think Canon has it.
For me having a camera with double exposure capability is nice to have when I need it.

Answer 8

before anyone can give you a good anwser alittle more info is needed

what and where do you shoot?
-family indoor or outdoor events
-sports...indoor lie vollyball or outdoor like football...night?
-need a flash(go nikon) or better shots without flash(go canon)


make sure the lenses you need are also in your budget and all the gear with it...cards/flash/bag/senser cleaning supplies

i have a 20d and love it...i shoot vollyball and concerts so i need better high iso and i more or less never use a flash

Answer 9

They are both good! This is a Coin flipper! Good luck!