Canon EOS 400D XTi and Nikon D40.?

Question

I am an amateur and I am planning to buy my first DSLR camera. Which one should I choose: Canon EOS 400D XTi with kit lens or Nikon D40 with kit lens? Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

Gosh, I'm a Nikon man and I think the Canon wins in this comparison. As long as the $200+ price difference does not prevent you from buying the Canon, that's probably the better camera. The only thing I don't like about the Canon is that it does not have a true spot meter, but offers a 10% center-weighted meter instead. (Along with 2 other meter patterns, similar to the Nikon...) If you are getting the 18-55 kit lens, just be sure that the Roman numeral II appears on the front rim of the lens, as in, "Canon Zoom Lens AF-S 18-55 mm 1:3.5-5.6 II." This is an improvement over Canon's previous inadequate kit lens which did not have any numeric designation.

You still ought to try to feel each on in your own hands and see how you like the camera. While there are technical differences, how it feels to you will ultimately make a bigger difference.

If you are considering Nikon at all, please also pick up a D50 and see what you think. This camera has it all over the newer D40.

Answer 2

This is a really important decision and one that will determine a lot down the road for you as a photographer. A lot of money will have to be invested once you choose a family of cameras. I personally recommend the Canon XTi for first-timers because the interface is very friendly and most beginners have a Digital Rebel and it helps to have other people to shoot with. Take a look at EOSrebels.com for some more advice on getting started in digital SLR photography and your big decision:
http://www.eosrebels.com

Answer 3

The Canon XTi hands down. If it was the Nikon D70 or D80 maybe. Nikon lens kits are better than Canon. I like Canon just because I am used to the interface.

Answer 4

Aussi Joe: Both of those cameras are good, with no real big differences. However, you should make sure that you have considered all the important factors. I would recommend you do some research on the quality of the optics in any camera you review. The glass quality is a major importance. In addition, look for a camera with Image Stabilization (IS) in the body, not the lens. This way, you don't have to spend megabucks more for stabilized lenses. You will have IS no matter which lens you use. Then look for one that has auto cleaning of the image sensor. This is an ultrasonic vibration of the sensor every time you turn the camera on, which literally shakes the dust off it. If you don't have this, and the sensor gets dust on it, the dust will appear in your photos, and the only way to fix it is to send the camera back to the factory for cleaning. Time consuming and expensive, as dust is not usually covered by the warranty. Higher megapixels is important if you intend to crop or enlarge photos. "Live view" (an LCD screen) is important when its difficult to use the viewfinder. But it should be selectable (on/off) to conserve battery life. Long battery life is also important, as well as a variable intensity flash. A comprehensive menu, functional on the LCD screen, is also important to make quick setting changes. These are the most important factors for you to consider. If you can satisfy these, then go for the "warm and fuzzy" factors, like "feel", "looks", etc. to break any ties. You also might want to consider the Olympus Evolt E-510 camera. It has all these features, is a new camera, has a wide range of excellent lenses, competitive prices with those two, plus extremely good optics. Hope this helps!!

Answer 5

buy the canon EOS 400D I have it ,it's really good.