about to buy my first digital SLR...Nikon or Canon?

I thought I was set on buying a Nikon product for my first digital SLR, but I've had some

photographer colleagues speak up and say Canon instead. Can I get some input? I'm

thinking about the nikon D70 or the Canon 20D.

 

Thanks!

Well, between the D70 and the 20D, the 20D has higher resolution, faster frame rate, bigger image buffer, stronger magnesium alloy metal body, wider ISO range, lower image noise, bigger viewfinder, mirror lock up, a vertical grip/battery pack option, split prism matte-screen viewfinder options, etc. So the 20D is a higher level of camera with more options available to it. If you already have colleagues who use Canon, it might be smart to go with Canon just for the fact that you have someone to help you out with learning your Canon equipment, and maybe occassionally swap lenses with. You might also consider the Rebel XT, which has many of the features and specs of the 20D, like 8mp CMOS sensor, vertical grip/battery pack, mirror lock up, etc., but in a smaller and less expensive package. I have the 20D and the Rebel XT.

Both are very nice cameras...

 

If I were you, I would try each out, and see which camera/system you prefer.

 

Be warned, you will get many responses from idealogues from both sides...

 

It all boils down to which camera/system you feel more comfortable with.

The flame wars are gonna start again....!

 

It depends on what you want and how much you want to spend.Everyone's going to have a biased opinion here.

 

My advice to you would be to ACTUALLY handle and use the cameras you have shortlisted.Look at the lenses available and other accessories and see what is more suited to your photography style.

 

You will soon know what you will want.

 

Do not also forget the digital SLR's from Olympus,Minolta and Pentax too.

 

There are too many people with large vested interests financially to give you an impartial answer.

 

Photo.net is certainly not a place to ask the question you are asking.

 

Just check previous 20D vs D70 posts and similiar and you will see what I mean!

It should have read:"There are too many people with large vested interests financially hence you will probably not get an impartial answer."

If I could start again I'd go with a Pentax *istD (for the small size and huge pool of used lenses). Mike Johnston, who has a regular column right here on PN, <a href="http://www.photo.net/mjohnston/column77/">loves the Konica Minolta 7D</a> because of its anti-shake sensor (so you don't have to buy special lenses).

<br /><br />

Currently I have a Nikon set-up. In fact who knows, the Pentax may replace it. And keep in mind that the D70 is not a direct competitor to the 20D - but until Nikon replaces the D100 there's no other place to go.

It would be very tough to decide. Both Canon and Nikon are great. I have both an older, non auto-fucas Nikon and Canon film SLR I decided on buying a Canon 10D solely on the fact that my Canon AF lenses would work on my 10D. To me it was simply a matter of money. Didn't have to pay for new lenses. I believe I made the correct choice.

At this juncture, the Canon can take a wider variety of 3rd party lenses due to a shorter flange distance to film plane. This may not matter to most people, but if you have a lens collection you want to keep using, or like me have some Leica R lenses you want to use on a dslr (other than Leica)you cannot use them on a Nikon dslr, but you can on a Canon. Cameraquest.com has more info on this topic, if you're interested. (BTW I chose the Nikon gear due to ergonomics, but if I was doing it over today would probably choose Canon).

Joe brings up another point to consider about Canon EOS bodies. You can use older manual focus lenses from several lens systems on Canon EOS bodies. Canon bodies, like the 20D, will accept Nikon F, Leica R, Leica Visoflex, Contax/Yashica (RTS), Pentax 42mm Screw Mount, and Olympus OM lenses when you use the appropriate adapter. This is good if you have older manual lenses, or have access to older manual lenses. Digital Outback Photo has a good article on using manual lenses on Canon EOS bodies:

 

<a href="http://www.outbackphoto.com/the_bag/paul_lens_adapters/essay.html">here</a>.

 

 

Plus, there are split prism focus screens that are available for Canon's mid and consumer-level DSLR bodies (D30, D60, 10D, 20D, 300D, 350D) which make using manual focus lenses even more enjoyable and effective. These screens are available

 

<a href="http://www.keoptics.com/">here</a>,

<a href="http://www.angelglimpse.com/">here</a>, and

<a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/screen4DSLR/">here</a>.

I don't think that someone who comes across as a beginner is going to be worrying about old manual focus lenses in the near future.

 

I would go with the same advice others give above - go to the store and try them out. I happen to have chosen based on the ease of use of the controls and things I happened to like

 

Now one thing that won't matter to you that turns out to be useful to me is that most of the other people working the same sporting events as me are using the same brand I am. Makes it a lot easier if something goes wrong or you need some help. But that's a different situation.

If you've got an open mind, consider... "none of the above!"

 

There have been recommendations for Pentax and Konica/Minolta. I think you should take

a long hard look at the Olympus E-300.

 

You can get adaptors for either Nikon or Canon (or Pentax or Konica/Minolta) lenses, but

you also have access to all the lovely new 4/3rds glass, including the world's first f2.0

zooms, a stellar macro, and the widest zoom available for digital SLRs.

 

For the asking, Olympus will also send you a free Olympus OM adaptor, so you can use

lots of world class Zuiko OM glass.

 

If you like wide and/or macro, or if you don't feel the need to follow the crowd, Olympus

has a lot more to offer than the "tweedle dee, tweedle dum" Big Two market leaders.

 

But if you don't feel secure breaking out and going with a niche player, better stick to the

boring market leaders.

 

Panasonic will be introducing new bodies next year, rumored to include in-body image

stabilization. Imagine a cheap 500mm mirror lens instantly being an IS lens!

Look at the lenses. Figure out which lenses you want to work with and then get the camera that supports them. It might be an artistic decision, or practiclaly speaking, it might be a financial one, as it was for me. Happy shooting!

Good luck.

Kit

Jason Everitt - "If I were you, I would try each out, and see which camera/system you prefer."

 

SL ATTANAPOLA - "My advice to you would be to ACTUALLY handle and use the cameras you have shortlisted."

 

Jeff (www.spirer.com) - "... go to the store and try them out."

 

Kristine,

 

The above is the best advice you have been given, and the best that you will get. Anything else, no matter how well intentioned and genuine, is going to be "tainted" by personal preferences and bias. Nikon users will recommend a Nikon, Canon users will recommend a Canon ... yada, yada, yada. Whether we admit it or not, we all have our prejudices.

 

Assuming you are starting from scratch with no lens investment in Nikon, Canon, Pentax, Minolta, etc. then each manufacturer offers good products. The only thing you can do is determine YOUR preferences for features, try them out for "feel" if possible, and go from there. Just try not to get caught up in the MegaPixel marketing hype.

 

Good luck.

On the other hand, don't judge your decision solely on "feeling" the camera in the store. Because the truth is, all those cameras will feel very confortable after you take them home and have used them for a couple hours, a couple days, a couple weeks, and so on and so forth. For example, I went out and handled a (unnamed) DSLR when it first came out. My impression, after handling it in the store, was that it was too small and uncomfortable, and that I'd probably never buy one for myself. But a friend of mine wanted this particular camera as her first DSLR, so I bought it for her on her behalf. Before I handed it over to her, I took it out for a trial run. To my surprise, after about an hour of playing around with it in the real world, I found that I very much enjoyed using it. What I initially thought was "too small and uncomfortable" faded away. I got used to the camera's size and handling. Eventually, my initial impressions of the camera (from handling it in the store) took a 180 degree turn. I liked it so much, I went out and bought one for myself. So it just goes to show that first impressions can be a bit misleading. If I had stuck with my "feel" test in the store, I probably would have never given this camera another thought. Today, it's the camera that I always take everywhere with me and it gives me great enjoyment to use. So consider "feel" as one small factor, but don't make it such an emotionally-based decision. You're marrying into a camera system, and this particular body may only be a transitional (ie., "first digital SLR") body for you.

I bought the 20D because I already had Canon lenses & flash. But if I didn't and the only choices were the D70 & 20D, I would still pick the Canon because I think it's a better camera. Now if the only choices were the D70 and a DRebel XT, I might go for the Nikon. However, there are several other choices.

 

Personally, I think the built in IS of the Minolta 7D makes it the best digital camera available in this rather broad price range. I understand they are going to offer a 5D for less money, and it still has built in IS. If I was looking today, I think I'd look real hard at Minolta. They have consistently been the real innovators of the SLR manufacturers. They just got behind in jumping on the DSLR bandwagon. That and they can't seem to market anything well.

 

Since I have a Pentax MX with some lenses that I still like to use, I would also also consider the *Ist Ds before either the Nikon or Canon. It's quite a nice little camera.

 

In the end, I don't thing it really matters which one you get. Buy one & be happy.

I think you should try them out as good ergonomics is probably the most important aspect of a SLR. Note such things as how it fits your hand, ease of controlling it, speed and viewfinder quality.

Here we go aagain!

Some have already said it, but lenses are important, probably the most important thing as bodies are now so similar.

 

The 20D "kit" lens is useless piece of junk and in insult to the camera, I am surprised it doesn't go "error 99" more often out of sheer disgust. And the horribly slow - but expensive - "standard" 17-85/4-5.6IS isn't all that much better.

 

The D70's 18-70/3.5-4.5DX has a much better reputation and if you do ever want a better standard zoom, they have the 17-55/2.8DX while Canon has nothing to compete with it.

 

That said: thanks to the wonderful 14-54/2.8-3.5 an Olympus E-1 with it's puny 5MP sensor blows away any of those cameras with their kit lenses attached.

 

Just my $0.02...

If you handle an E1 you sure don't won't to put it down -especially at the good prices it is going for now...!

 

Great viewfinder and build!

 

Anyway my previous advice still stands.

Kristine,

 

Can you tell us a bit more about how much photo work you've done in the past, what

equipment you've had, and what you envision yourself doing with the SLR? That might

impact the answer.

 

I think that if you're choosing between the D70 and the 20D, you really can't go wrong.

Either of them will be great tools. There are real differences between them, but which

ones are important depends on your shooting style. And of course, when it comes to

ergonomics, de gustibus non est disputantum.

 

good luck,

peter

The canon d20 is a great camera the Nikon 70d isn?t in the same league. The 70d feels like a toy camera in comparison. For me the Nikon would never come in question but between the Canon D20 and the Minolta 7D (or the soon to be released Minolta 5D).

Kristine, I might as well jump in here too. I agree with the people who say go to the store and play with both cameras and see which one you like best. The little extra resolution isn't that big of a deal unless you make really big prints or do lots of cropping. I agree that Canon has really let us down for a good kit lens. The D70 is much more appealing if you're looking for a camera and one lens. Now, having said that, I opted for the 20D myself anyway. But I replaced the cheap kit lens with the 17-40, which isn't very long for a general purpose lens to leave on the camera. When I played with them in the store, the viewfinder on the 20D seemed a little bigger and was more pleasing to look through. That's probably what leaned me over toward the Canon side in the end. You'll find people with either camera that are really happy with them, so try the cameras out and decide for yourself. -Bill

<I>If you like wide and/or macro, or if you don't feel the need to follow the crowd, Olympus has a lot more to offer than the "tweedle dee, tweedle dum" Big Two market leaders.</i><P>Or, you can buy an Olympus and fall victim to the 'alternative is better' brain washing. The Olympus cameras are inferior to Nikon and Canon dSLRs and we all know it.

<I>Well, between the D70 and the 20D, the 20D has higher resolution, faster frame rate, bigger image buffer, stronger magnesium alloy metal body, wider ISO range, lower image noise, bigger viewfinder, mirror lock up, a vertical grip/battery pack option, split prism matte-screen viewfinder options, etc.</I><P>

 

. . . yeah, but other than that the D70 is great 8-)<P>

 

I've got a 20D and a D100 (and three Nikon film SLR's, too). But <U>Let's face it:</U> the D70 and 20D are really in two different categories. The D70 is meant as an entry-level camera and the 20d is midrange camera, so its price, quality, and performance are all higher than the D70. If you are seriously considering both cameras just get the Canon and be done with it. I love mine and my D100 has been relegated to backup roles.

Scott obviously has never compared the prints from an Olympus DSLR + kit lens and Canon or Nikon with kit lens. (yes, I have) And that is what most people end up buying and using.

 

Sure if you want to spend lots of money on the best lenses and bodies around, the big two brands are the way to go. But for a sub $1500 setup that you maybe extend later with a long zoom, Olympus offers the best quality, value and convenience without a doubt.