Hi

I was planning to get a new camera, my old one is the crappy canon old school negative kinda thing. So my friend racun me to buy a new DSLR instead of IXUS for EVERYDAY use . So it has to be newbie friendly and easy to use (for other people, in case I want to ask someone to take my picture when I go traveling).

Saw ads for EOS 40oD and likes the look of it but my friend (NIKON fanboy, he has a D80) said to get a better one, ie D80. He told me to try to hold em in my hand and I will know what he is talking about. So I went to local Jessop and ask for a demo. The D80 does feel better in my hand, the grip is much better (my gf said it was because I have big hands, she likes the 400D better (read: cheaper)). According to my friend, D80 is the direct competition with 400D because both have the same MP and the same kit lense, but D80 is wayyyyyy more expensive. The D80 is more in the same price range with EOS 5D but I hate the look, it looks like a polaroid camera. And now Jessop went to up the ante (confuse me even more ) by offering the D80 with 18-135mm lense (instead of kit 18-70mm lense) for like £10 more. I assume the bigger the range, the better the lense right ?

So, please help me choose which is the better option, I dont want to ask my friend, he will say just go for the most expensive one, it will be better. I need to get this soon because I am getting married soon and we decided to buy our own "hantaran" and I want this to be the centre piece .

Ok, I will break down the choices, advise

Canon EOS 400D with kit lense 18-55mm (black or silver body) £479.99
Link 400D (18-55mm)

Nikon D80 with upgraded lense 18-135mm £688.90
Link Nikon D80 (18-135mm)

Nikon D80 with kit lense 18-70mm £674.95
Link Nikon D80 (18-70mm)

Nikon D40X (just to compare the price with both D80 and 400D) 18-55mm and 55-200MM lense £659.99
Link Nikon D40X ultimate kit

Again, .

P/S - Or should I just wait until I get back to Malaysia before I buy the camera.

bro, how much is the conversion rate £ VS RM now?
Nikon D80 with 18-135mm is KIT set here in malaysia, and now selling about RM4100 with some free stuff.

i would say D80 is competing with 30D not 400D . as u said, it feels good n fits ur hand , this is important when u hav to grip it whole day or whole session.

In terms of facts and specs, needless to say here coz u can do direct comparison in gadjets website....

just my 2cents.....

This post has been edited by yewkhuay: Jun 4 2007, 01:23 AM

since u said the Nikon D80 is at the price range of the EOS 5D. Then get the 5D. Go full frame

I really suggest that you discard how the cams look like side by side.

This post has been edited by R a D ! c 4 L: Jun 4 2007, 02:09 AM

I would suggest you go try out all the model you mentioned is the camera shop first...and about lens lengh you you need to knw what u want as beginner to DSLR..then set your budget accordingly

I would be commmenting which is better or bad with each and another as all model have it's pros and cons...

Alternative you can narrow down your choice DOWN TO 2 models...it would be easier for you to finalise your choice...

Canon EOS 400D with kit lense 18-55mm (black or silver rclxms.gif body) £479.99
Nikon D80 with upgraded lense 18-135mm £688.90
Nikon D80 with kit lense 18-70mm £674.95
Nikon D40X (just to compare the price with both D80 and 400D) 18-55mm and 55-200MM lense £659.99

price gap too far for the canon. i would just take that 400D and use the additional $$$ to add a lens or bags or whatever.

and among the other 3 which price is almost same, i'd say either the D80 with upgraded lens or the D40x with kit + additional lens.

would be even nicer if we could know the exact lens model.

Talking of feel, since you don't seem to include FEATURES as a criteria for buying a camera, have you tried the:

Sony A100 with 18-70mm kit lens
Pentax K10D with 18-55mm kit lens
Olympus E-510 with 14-42mm kit lens
Leica M8

The first two feel good in big hands. The Olympus has an old-school feel.

ALL cameras have a newbie mode. It's the green icon.

The smaller the range, the BETTER the lens. That is why SLR owners will want to buy PRIME lenses, which cannot zoom at all (e.g. 50mm).

P.S. If you do buy the 400D please don't buy the silver one. It will not look cool.

P.P.S. Any camera enthusiast won't point at the Canon 5D and go "is that a polaroid?" They know the 5D and respect it.

i like these 2 points.

silver Canons just doesn't seem right. as if prosumer / compact.

and about cameras, the first thing anyone looks at would be the lens. after that only the body. and when you go around events, you'll know they're not polaroids just by a glance.

The 5D is around £1600, body only. Same price range as the D80?

LOL sorry for all the misinformation in my post, as I said before I am a noob at these things.

I guess my gf was right when she said I talk out of my ass too much. And she complained that I use too much smilies too.

Is it really worth it to get 400D (cheaper) and buy lenses with the extra money or splash for something like D80 and never have to think about upgrading (until 5D "the polaroid"). Where is the point where you said stop with body, go for lenses.

Give some info on that mm thing on lenses too, whats it for?

Oh, before I forgot, I will be using the camera mainly for non-professional work so £1600 polaroid is a no-no. And lugging around 3-4 lenses around is not fun so if I can only bring 1 lense around (attached to the body) which power/length/whatever-the-mm-stands-for should I pick.

This post has been edited by Bedok: Jun 4 2007, 05:22 AM

the 'mm' is the range tht ur lens can cover , higher number means it can zoom further .take note at the 'F' number as well , it will affect ur shot .may be u can read from here a little :
http://www.paragon-press.com/lens/lenchart.htm
http://www.uscoles.com/fstop.htm

the best is to download or buy a book on DLSR to learn the basics of it.....

for a traveller who doesn't like to change lenses , i would recommend a zoom lens like 18-200mm (any brand tht suits ur budget, scout around ), then it will cover most range of usage...

just my 2cents....

One more thing: Jessops is a typical High Street ripoff. You can find other camera shops which trade cheaper.

If D80 is same price with 5d, then i think alot of ppl might consider switch to canon... hehe

if on a budget, then suggest other alternatives, mainly since the bodies are cheap and include VR/IS (or whatever Vibration reduction it's called by the branding). This is so you don't have to worry about spending on VR/IS lens.

Try alpha100 or k10d. (PS, i also feel 400d is a lil small sized)

well , u did went to the shop & feel those cameras dy. I would say all the 400D & D80 are good cameras. so dun worry about the body. pick 1 which you feel comfortable with. Then get a good lens & you are off to go.
a great photo is taken by a great photographer not the camera.