DSLR camera help: Canon, Sony, or Nikon??

Question

which one should i get:

a) Canon 400D Digital Rebel XTi with 18-75mm lens
b) Sony alpha A100 with SAL 18200 18-200mm lens
c) NIkon D80 with 18-135mm lens
d) Nikon D80 with 28-105mm lens

The reason im putting only one lens down is because thats all i can afford at the moment. if u have any other suggestions for a lens to pair with one of the cameras, please tell. im going to italy, and want to be able to take landscape/architecture shots, nature shots, possibly close-up shots, and defintely people shots, AND low light places, like in museums w/o flash or at night or in a church, or more specifically the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. so, i know thats asking a lot, but please help. thx.

Answer 1

I have a D70, so I'm biased. The D80 is a great camera. I'd go with the 18-135 lens. Remember, that will roughly be equivalent to a 27-200 on a 35mm film camera.

A couple of suggestions:
1) If your subject is much brighter/darker than the rest of the scene, don't use matrix metering. Use either spot or center-weighted & meter the subject.
2) In low light scenes, MANUALLY set the ASA to 400-800. Also, use a tripod or support.

Good luck!

Answer 2

With Canon, do you mean the 17-85mm? Due to the quality of the lens, that will provide the best image quality.

The Sony, due to the lens, will provide the most versitiliy. But the body comes in last.
You could also buy a $385 18-200mm lens for either Canon or Nikon, made by either Sigma or Tamron. In my opinion, all of those variations are at least as good as getting the Sony, and you'll have a better camera to expand your lens collection later.

With Nikon, forget about the 28-105mm lens. It doesn't zoom wide enough for your intended purpose.
The Nikon D80 is the best camera of the three. The image quality and versitility of the lens sits between the Canon 17-85mm and all of the 18-200mm options.

None of the lenses you mention are suited for shooting museum and church interiors without flash. You'll can crank the ISO way up to compensate - image quality will suffer, but you'll get the shot.

So... um. Try them out side-by-side in a shop. Perhaps that will help you decide.

Answer 3

You will need a faster lens than the ones you just stated. More like a f/2.8 lens. Invest in one like the Canon 24-70mm f/2.8, 70-200mm f/2.8 etc.

My choice is the Xti (400D). Its cheaper the the D80 and it takes about the same quality picutres as the D80. The D80 does have more professional features on it such as the spot meter, but most of the features on the D80 I didnt need like trimming, red eye reduction, small picture, etc. The D80 is a great camera but for the price, I could get the 30D, but I do a lot of sport shots so the 30D isnt the most appealing camera if you dont need the fast FPS. The Canon cameras do take better JPEG files, which are great if you do not want ot do any post production after wards. But at the RAW level, both the D80 and the XTi are evenly matched, from there it depends on your skills and the type of lenses you get. For Canon get their red ringed lenses, I tried one and I couldnt go without one, any Canon with a red ring should have xx-xx mm f/x L <--- the L stands for Luxury which is Canons pro line. For Nikon their gold rings are the best ones they have (I do not know the name for their pro lenses). The D80 has the same imagine quality as Canon, why pay $300-400 more when you can get it for $700 with the XTi? Unless you already have glass invest in Nikon.

The reasons why I didnt choice the D80 over the XTi for myself.
1) Nikon does not have as fast auto focus as Canon lenses do. I needed all the help I can get since I do a lot of indoor sport shots.
2) More IS lenses, although I only have one it helps alittle bit in low light situations, other wise I just leave it off to conserve energy.
3) Full frame sensors at the end of their line (Mk-II's and the 5D)

Nikon vs Canon, this agrument can go on forever with flame wars. Nikon has better optics in my opinion (my dad owns a film Nikon) and Canon seems to have better in camera firmware than Nikon ( I own the XTi so I am a little biased to my camera).

The D80 if your going with Nikon, all lenses work for it and it will blow your mind with the imagine quality.

Just remember 80% of chocing a SLR is based on personal opinion (rough est.). If you have used a Canon use a Canon, if you have used a Nikon use a Nikon. Go to a local camera store and try one out yourself and see which one you like.

Answer 4

Asking an opinion on Nikon or Canon is like asking about religion. People will go on and on and on about which they think is best.

The truth is, they're both fantastic camera brands. You can't lose with either.

The Sony Alpha is also an interesting choice. Popular Photography's camera of the year.

Regarding lenses; from what you described you'll be doing pictures of, you certainly want a wide-to-mid-angle lens with as fast an aperture as you can afford. For the Nikon D80, consider the Nikon 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED. The 18-135 is also a good choice, but it has a slower aperture range. (You will want a fast aperture in those museums and churches.)

I'm not familiar with a Canon 18-75mm. Are you sure there is such a thing?


--
http://www.lenslenders.com

Answer 5

first, leave the sony- since the evolution of dslr's canon and nikon have been major players. I got a d80 a month back and it seems to the best dslr ever. It should be better if u get
VR lens since u say that u will be taking pics in the night w/o flash. Also, the nikons r actually planning to bring in a new range of dslrs by nov.......so, get it if it is very urgent

Answer 6

The D80 is an amazing camera! I suggest getting a Tamron 18-200mm lens, I have one on my right now and you can do all those things you listed with it. It's a really reliable camera and isn't too heavy so it should be easy to camera over to Italy. Hope this helps!

Answer 7

Nikon and Canon have more extensive lens and accessory systems than does the Sony.

Not a Zeiss lens, then both Canon and Nikon beat it.

Nikon is SD
Canon is CF
Sony is Pro Duo

SD is cheaper. 1 GB cards are $15 at 8x, $35 at 60x

Nikon is smoothing, making for fully satureated colors but lower edge and text sharpness

Canon is sharpening, making for sharp edges and text, but mottled colors

Not sure about the Sony on that one!

Answer 8

I'll offer another suggestion.

Pentax K10D with Tamron 28-75 f2.8 DI SP
retail store prices ($900 body + $400 lens = $1,300 USD)
thats the same amount as the D80 with 18-135 lens but here's the real kicker...

K10D has built in Shake Reduction on the body so any lens (including the Tamron 28-75 f2.8) is now stabilized. and in the 10 meg mark, Pentax hold it's ground against its competitors very well.
http://neocamera.com/feature_compare_10mp_dslr.html

Answer 9

I would say the rebel XTi because I have it right now and i think it is the greatest camera EVER!! Very great picture clearity!

Answer 10

canon all the way. love every camera they make!