Do you think I made a good purchase?

Question

I recently bought a Nikon D80. I chose this over the canon 400D/XTi. Do you think I made a good choice? Recently for some reason I have started to regret it. I don't know why. I guess it is because almost 90% of the people I see in pictures holding cameras are holding canons. Canons have better image detail.

This is to those of you who say you can't tell between the photos shot by Nikon or Canon. It is not in the initial viewing of the picture but what I mean is when you zoom in on the picture. The Canon kicks Nikon's ***.

Answer 1

If you are a professional, then yes, you have made a wrong purchase as Canon cameras have better detail as you said.

If you are not a professional then It is not a wrong purchase, as home users do not need so much detail.

Answer 2

I made the exact same choice you did, for a couple of reasons. First, the canon XTi is too small, it feels awkward in my hands, the ergonomics suck, and the nikon D80 got WAY better ratings. I see no difference in image quality and the kit lens is a lot better, has more range, and is sharper. The main reason is the D80 is comperable to the canon 30D, and only about a $150-$200 bucks more than the XTi [the 30D is like $1500]. I've got nothing against canon, but for my first DSLR, I wanted a good camera with the highest ratings. There are a few websites that offer user reviews, a couple being b&h and wolfcamera and the D80 got a lot more ratings and out of those ratings a lot more positive than negative. I wouldn't say canon gets 90% 'visibility' over nikon, they are about equal if you'd ask me, besides a lot of pros use nikon D70-80's and D200's.

I do not regret buying my D80, it performs above and beyond my expectations as an entry level DSLR and when I'm able I will get a D200. I still like canon, but for the money, I prefer nikon.

Answer 3

People, People please stop asking which camera is better....Nikon or Canon. (Remember PC or Apple?) The two cameras are both fantastic machines! But they are just that....machines. It's the same as asking, which do you prefer, Ford or Chevy. They are just machines, they all do the same thing!! Each camera manufacturer has it's low priced cameras, medium priced cameras and high priced cameras. And the only difference in them are the features that are built into them. If your bank account will allow you to buy the high end cameras, then the only choice you have is which manufacturer to go with. For every "pro" in one camera there is a "con" in the other and vice-versa. Both Nikon and Canon are brilliant technically speaking. I have used Nikon cameras all my career, so I stick to Nikons simply because I have more experience with Nikons. I don't care if Canon is more popular right now. If someone were to GIVE me a Canon camera, I would love it. My closest friend is a "Canon" guy, so he leans toward Canon cameras...and we both shoot weddings together and produce beautiful photos. Remember.....it's not the camera that makes the photo, it's the photographer!! By the way, I own a D80 and love it. Quit worrying so much about whether it's a Nikon or Canon.....IT REALLY DOESN'T MATTER ANYMORE.

Answer 4

I think the digital revolution has brought wayyyy too much angst about equipment into the subconscious of photographers.

90% of people are holding Canons because at the moment, they're the 800 Lb. gorilla, and they seem to be in control. However, I used to shoot Canon FD gear back when Nikon was king with pros, and so 90% of the world shot Nikon. The Canon gear worked fine for me, and I got some spectacular pictures with it.

Now I shoot with Pentax digital because it works for me. The best advice I can give you is not to worry whether you made the right decision, but to get out there and take some pictures! If the camera isn't going to work for you, you'll be able to tell when you're using it, and when you look at the pictures.

Best of luck, and enjoy the D80. It's a good cam!

Answer 5

I'll bet there's not a person on the YA forum who could tell the difference between images made from Nikon vs. Canon, assuming good technique and a good lens. So get out there, snap your photos and stop obsessing over a done deal.

I have shot both Canon and Nikon. I have the D80 and am thoroughly enjoying the heck out of it.

Addendum:
Well, then I guess you've answered your own question. If Canon kicks Nikon's a**. then you have made a terrible mistake. By all means, toss the inferior Nikon and buy the Canon. Why even bother with YA?

Answer 6

Yesterday Nikon was on top; today Canon's on top; tomorrow Nikon will be back on top; day after tomorrow Canon will be back on top; and so it goes.

I've shot both Canon and Nikon cameras over the years and both are great cameras. Most of my equipment is Nikon, because when I started getting serious about photography back in the 1970's, most pros using SLR's used Nikons. (Leica was the choice amoung pros who used range finders.)

When I made the move to digital, I stayed with Nikon because of the number of Nikkor lenses I have. I bought a D200.

You made a good choice in the D80. I almost bought the D80, but the features of the D200 won out in the end. If you feel you have the wrong camera for you, then trade it in for the Canon. But remember one thing, image quality is ultimately the product of the lens not the camera -- mega pixels notwithstanding. If you are thinking about changing, think about the lenses available to you. If it were me, since I started with Nikon, I'd stay with Nikon.

Answer 7

Personaly I would have chosen the Canon . nikon has a bad reputation and their sale's reps suck. I once witnessed a nikon rep tell a customer to get rid of that Canon crap and buy a nikon . what a jerk! nikon will charge you just to look at the camera if it gets broken and charge you more to fix it. I will never buy or use nikon ever again nor will I recomend it to anyone If you have the receipt take it back and save more money if you have to. then buy yourself a Cannon 5D or 20D or whatever new camera they may put out on the market . Call Canon I believe they will send you any info about their products -joephoto75@

Answer 8

You are suffering from "buyer's remorse", see the link below for a good description of this feeling. A common condition after purchasing high end products. Some people experience a similar feeling after getting married, too!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buyer's_remorse

If it was me I wouldn't choose either of the brands you looked at but that is MY personal choice for a variety of reasons. However, you have selected a high quality product with a good reputation and reliable customer service & support. Go with it, have fun and learn!

Since at least the seventies photographic equipment from top manufacturers has exceeded the capability of the human eye and brain to resolve the images. Argument over who make the best lenses frequently boils down to technical analysis that has little to do with the IMAGES that are the object of the exercise.

Answer 9

I think it makes no difference what camera you want. I have the 400d xti and sometimes find it frustrating to use, but all in all it comes down to what your comfortable with. Fujifilm makes a great starer, the Finepix s5000 is a good camera to help get an over all feel for photography.

Answer 10

I bid on ebay as quickly as. My mom had a track e book, some years old and worn, that she enjoyed. So I regarded for one like it. I have been given it for $20. I despatched the money, have been given the e book, the girl secure a word that she became happy somebody wanted it and she or he refunded $10. stable journey. i don't comprehend how ppl dare bid on massive stuff like autos however. i purchase lots on line as i won't be able to flow procuring lots. i'm chuffed with maximum, and if i'm no longer I return it. so a great way, i've got been careful to purchase from massive ordinary shops and returns have been high-quality. I save a itemizing in my documents of what i've got bought, the place , for how lots, and while it may come. As my memory isn't to be depended on anymore.

Answer 11

Can you post a link to some of your images so we can see how the Nikon has ruined them?