Digital SLR

[pinbal_wizzard]

ok...so ive decided to move from 35mm into digital. there are basically 2 cameras in my price range that i would want: the Nikon D70 and the Canon EOS 350 Rebel XT. i can basically get either camera for within 60 bucks of eachother, so i am now really wondering what others have to say about these cameras.

so basically: if you own or have used either of these or have a preference, please share.

[Lawry]

from what i've heard the canons are good cam.. i was going to buy one.. but i then bought another 3ccd video camera.. so that idea went out the door with my money. I'd peronally go canon as i have an EOS SLR and its the ****.

[raven6241]

I rock the Canon EOS 300D, which is the step below your Rebel 350XT. It's a good camera, take nice pics, and the 350 is a fair bit better. I was told to get Canon by everyone I knew, including professional photographers, so I recommend it. It works for me.

Lexx would have a good opinion on this.

[Loki440]

Personaly i only go Canon for cameras, and there digital rebel is a very nice camera, sure its the lower end of there top line cameras but best for its price as spending 2k on a camera seems a little pointless to me unless your making some money off of your pictures.

[some inspiration]

i use canon eos 35mm slrs and theyre packed full of features - one of the best is eye control, which is especially useful for action shots (great if youre going on a longboard photoshoot): after a quick calibration, the camera 'knows' what youre looking at through the viewfinder, and will automatically focus on it. switch to ai servo mode and itll automatically keep that thing in focus no matter how much it moves in the depth of field

obviously my camera isa little old, so there are newer and more advanced features on the newer models, especially the digital versions. as much as i like the sound of the d70, im used to canons and like their features so id have to go with the eos 350

[A-Drain]

I have a Canon SLR film camera and so when I was looking for a digi I decided to go Canon as well as I could use my existing Canon lenses and flashes, etc. I settled on the EOS 10D and it is AWESOME!!!!!!!!! Can't fault it (except that it has a 1.6 focal length, so I just HAD to buy a new wide angle lens for it. So glad it is used for shop purposes!!!!!!!).

Cheers

A-Drain

[lexx]

I don't think DSLRs are worth the cash personally.
I've got a 300D and I don't use it nearly as much as I thought I would.
Don't get me wrong, it's cool an all, but for the expense it's just not worth it. If you spent the money on a film SLR you'd get a fantastic camera that'll hold its value and last you longer. DSLRs just aren't upto the quality that over 100 years of film development has given us.

If you're totally set on getting a DSLR, which one doesn't matter much. I went with canon because all my equiptment is canon. Personally I think the Nikon's are actually much better. They seem stronger and faster, but really it doesn't mean too much. If you don't know how to use a camera, both are going to be a waste of money.

[rich (lush)]

i've got the d70 and it's awesome. i've had it for a year now and it's been all over - beaches, deserts, mountains, and all sorts of other camera destroying places. it's quick and intuative, solid solid build quality, awesome pictures even with a **** kit lens and good product support.

one of the best things about it is nikon's remote flash system that you can set up cheaply without radio slaves - no other digital slr system lets you do this. read some stuff about it at www.kenrockwell.com.

my only piece of advice would be - go into a camera shop and have a play with each one. how the camera feels to hold is more imortant than how many features its got or what lens it comes with - and no-one else can tell you that!

[dcphotos]

I am a photographer by trade. I shoot with a Nikon D2X. The reason I shoot Nikon instead of Canon is that when going digital I already had a bunch of Nikon Lenses and it would not have been cost effective to change. If I had the option of replacing everything I'd probably go Canon as they seem to be a step ahead of Nikon with everything these days.

All that said I'd still buy the D-70 in your range. The digital rebels just have a cheap feel to them to me, they are not near as nice as the pro Canons. Also, I don't know the flash synch speed of the rebel but I know the D-70 can use flash up to 1/500 and I bet the Rebel is slow. If you are going to shoot skateboarding Nikon makes a 10.5 mm lens that is an awesome cool lens, I don't think Canon is making a true fisheye.

Read up, try www.stevesdigicams.com for good camera reviews. Good luck to you.

[Stonedancer]

The Nikon is very good but my surf photographer mate says the Canons are better for sports as their good lenses have some of the fastest motors and lens interfaces. His was in for repair so borrowed a nikon for a surf comp and missed half of the spray shots and cutbacks as it was really slow compared to his EOS. The D350 has the same processor as the Top end canon. I'm looking to get a D350...when I get the money!

I'll have to get one from you stateside guys if you're coming to the UK as they're X-pensive here!

Check out www.dcresource.com

Amazing in depth reviews with example pics for most cameras.

[dcphotos]

The canon pro cameras and lenses are superior in just the way you say, the motors are faster and they focus more quickly. Nikons have had more trouble with back focus also. That's why I am one of the few people on the sidelines at football games still shooting Nikon.
But this guy is lookig at the digital Rebel, not a professional camera. That thing is plastic, I think the Nikon D-70 will greatly outperform it.

[pinbal_wizzard]

So after going over all the reveiws i have basically decided that i need to go find a store and hold these camera, because just about everyone relates them as basically the same thing. one has better specific thing than the other, such as the D70 gets 1/500 flash syn over the rebel's 1/250, but the rebel gets up to 3200 iso.

oh...and i like to point out that i do know photography, and am currently using a Canon A-1 with a few lenses. however thsi is on loan from my aunt, on top of the fact that it is 25 years out of date. so ive decided to start my own slr collection. i though that for college a DSLR would be better, since film and deveoping is getting expensive.

however, now after seeing all this, i wonder if film is worth it. i have not spent a lot of time researching film cameras, and i woudl also like to know if any of you have some recomendations and info on them for me.