Ubergrendle

Anyone here use or recently purchase a D-SLR? What were your experiences?

I'm stuck deciding between a Canon 350-D (Rebel XT) or a Nikon D70. Both have their pros and cons, wondering if anyone here has a preference.

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Veteran of the PC Microchannel / EISA wars of the late 1980s.

Zardon

THe 350 is a nice upgrade to the 300 and personally I would go for it as

a: its a newer model than the aging D70 (which is still great but has less pixel resolution and is also due to be replaced very soon by Nikon).

b: its canon, and canon are arguably the best digital SLR maker out there.

I have both the 100 from nikon and the 20D from canon.

Ubergrendle

I didn't expect the illustrious Zardon to reply, but given your graphics expertise I shouldn't be surprised.

Nikon's D70s and D50 are the 2005 models, no subsequent models are forthcoming (unless its a 'react' to the 350D). The D70s kit lense is the best in the industry for under $2000 CAD, which is why I was leaning towards it, but even then its a bit pricey. The Rebel XT appeals to me price wise, and I understand it uses the same processor and CMOS censor as the 20D which is a huge plus in my eyes.

8mp is better than 6.3, but as i understand it the 'rule of proportion' suggests that its a negigible difference...to double the resolution from 6 you'd need to effectively go to 24mp due to area contain within the frame.

I've held both and find the D70 layout alot 'cleaner' and it feels like a real camera...the Rebel XT is a bit smaller than the Rebel, and most people found the Rebel to be small. I think I just need to get used to the XT though. It certainly works for my budget.

D70 cons:
6.x megapixels
some moire (aliasing) at high ISO
no battery grip option (after market though)
images need alot of post-processing

XT cons:
small handsize (i think i just need to get used to it)
white balance is off (supposedly to be fixed in later bios update)
menu driven function vs dial/switch/knob; probably to keep the cost down

My current camera is an A70 which is still quite nice, but there's only so much you can do with a fixed lense.

__________________
Veteran of the PC Microchannel / EISA wars of the late 1980s.

Zardon

I would tend to disagree with you on the lens kit comments, ive used the new EF-s lenses (silent with stabilisation etc) from canon and they are unparelled unless you start getting into extreme high end territory and then you would hardly have the 350 or D70 body in the first place. Nikon have a new model planned yes as the D70 has been out quite some time.

Negigible yes, but dont confuse this with prosumer ratings and how they rate pixels - and lets face it due to CMOS limitations in this market some of them just add noise at "higher pixel ratings", this is just to attract the average joe who sees a figure.

With regards to the cameras in question, 8MP is a nice "free" extra and will certainly help with larger prints. In practice if you resize 6mp to 8mp via photoshop for a large print (and this is quite possible if you want high quality glossy oversized prints) you will of course create interpolated pixels which will lead to slight blurring of the image. If you have the choice with similar optics and need or want larger prints, the answer is clear.


Ill not argue there as its personal taste and I will agree overall that the nikon D70 body is better than the 350 or 300.

Ubergrendle

Thanks Zardon.

Given my desired budget (under $1500 CAD) I either buy a used camera or a Rebel / Rebel XT, even the D70 is pushing it. Assuming I can get used to the Rebel XT feel, i think your advice is spot-on and it will be my choice.

Besides, in another 3-4 years the market will have matured and I'll be buying my next camera. Hopefully by then I'll have a host of lenses though.

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Veteran of the PC Microchannel / EISA wars of the late 1980s.

dj_stick

take the canon!!!!

i have it and it is one of the best cameras i have ever used

the framerate when taking quick shots is very useful, and the almost instant power on is very useful when you want an immediate photo


its a very easy camera to use once you know the layout of it, i spent half an hour with the manual infront of me and i know where all the major features are

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Ubergrendle

Thanks for the advice Dj Stick, Zardon.

I bit the bullet and bought a (black) Canon Rebel XT last night. The kit is actually hard to find in Toronto right now (sold out everywhere), so I got a Rebel XT body w/ a Sigma 18-50mm f/3.6-5.6 DC lense for the same price as the official kit. Based on what little I knew the Sigma is comparable if not a bit better (it felt it) plus I have a 50% straight exchange if I upgrade the lense in 12 months...the kit lense would be worth nothing.

Got a DVD for Rebel XT thrown in, and discounted 1gb Sandisk high speed II card and camera case. I was going to get a bag, but figure its at least 6 mos till i start experimenting with flashes, alternate lenses, etc.

Upon my second viewing the Rebel XT wasn't nearly as small as I had convinced myself. One of the customers said he bought a Rebel XT to supplement his Canon 20D due to weight, and has been using the XT more than the 20D now...20D is for portraits or heavy-duty photography assignments, otherwise the XT is his default. A strong recommendation.

__________________
Veteran of the PC Microchannel / EISA wars of the late 1980s.

dj_stick

haha it's not a small camera in any rights, but compared to some of the higher end ones it's pretty small

if you go for a camera bag, and you don't need much in the way of flashes, i recommend the lowepro nova 1 - i have one for my camera (which is actually labelled as the Rebel XT - ordered from canda), it allows me to fit in a flash unit from my dad's old T70 film camera, aswell as a second lens if i get one, along with the camera it self. It will keep the camera much safer than the stock camera case so i recommend it

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Matth

If you are not actually going to change lenses, then another alternative might be a "ZLR" (Zoom Lens Reflex) - the description used, it seems, for a digital SLR style camera with only a non-interchangeable zoom.

The descriptions are all rather academic, as unless they actully have a flip-up mirror and optical viewing prism, there is no "reflex", and as there is no dual lens viewing system, they are all "single lens".

If you have to tack a description onto most other digitals, I'd say they fall into:

1. Digital Compact
2. Digital point and shoot