digital SLR camera

[EVO_S4]

I am in the market for a digital SLR camera and i have narrow it down to Nikon D50 or the Canon rebel xt. I am a beginner and which of these two is easier to use and why. vote and why you chose that model

[Hunter399]

I just ordered a Rebel XT and it will be comming in on monday


I had the first rebel, but my maid stole it then quit....


Great cameras!

[nyyankee]

I just got my D50 and absolutly love it! If I were you, I would go to an electronics store that sells both. Look at them side by side, play with them a bit and see which one you like better.

[Hunter399]

I think generally, Canon cameras are more user friendly

I LOVE the rebel line

Either way, they are both VERY nice cameras

[diesel007]

You can't go wrong with either as they are pretty much the same camera from different companies. I will always be a Nikon user for DSLR and Cannon for point and shoot.

[Nikki]

Have you checked out the reviews on www.dcresource.com and www.dpreview.com?

[tim916]

I'd actually recommend spending a little more and getting the 20D. It is more solid and has the thumb wheel which is very nice to have when you are shooting in manual mode.

[foofighter]

i was kinda bummed to find out that the D50 does not have interval timer for time elapsed photo shooting that foiled my plans. However, some of the less expensive point and shoots have this feature built-in what's up w/ that!

[larryn]

Originally Posted by foofighter

i was kinda bummed to find out that the D50 does not have interval timer for time elapsed photo shooting that foiled my plans. However, some of the less expensive point and shoots have this feature built-in what's up w/ that!

Nikon doesn't add that feature until you step up to pro level camera bodies. The D70, D70s, and D100 don't have it either. The D200, D2h, and D2x do though.

The Rebel handles it very kludgy though. You have to have the camera tethered to a PC via a USB cable, and a PC program handles the timing of when the next exposure. As a stand alone camera, it cannot do time lapse.

I have the D70 with over 12000 exposures taken on it now. I'm looking for it's replacement, which will likely be the D200 or possibly a D2h (if I can find a decent one).

[mrbelk]

Originally Posted by tim916

I'd actually recommend spending a little more and getting the 20D. It is more solid and has the thumb wheel which is very nice to have when you are shooting in manual mode.

+1

For me, the XT was just too small, and now that I have the 20D, that thumbwheel is awesome. Also, the 20D is relatively cheap now that the 30D is out.

-MrB

[Squawks]

First of all, if you say that you're "a beginner and want something easy to use" then you shouldn't even be in the market for an SLR in the first place. SLRs are not for beginners and SLRs are not easy to use. They are heavily advanced with complicated features and allow maximum, manual controls over everything. They are fully upgradeable, both hardware and software-wise.

If you truly are a beginner and want something easy to use, don't get an SLR but at most a prosumer point-and-shoot...Canon G series for example. They have automatic preset settings and whatnot.

If you're assuming that SLRs give you the best image quality - that is true...BUT that is ONLY true if you are a professional photographer and *really* know what you are doing. From the way you eloquently worded your post, you do not seem like such a type and thus, you'd just be squandering your wealth over something that would be overkill for both your tastes and your abilities.

Note that good prosumer digicams can be in excess of 8 MP. Quality is not lacking.

[Nikki]

I agree with Squawks. A lot of members look at my pictures and say "wow, you did that with a point and shoot? i can't get my dslr to take photos like those" and it's basically because they don't know what settings to use, they play with the buttons, and they mess things up when they could have just bought a point and shoot for 1/4 the price and hit a button.

[nyyankee]

Originally Posted by Nikki

I agree with Squawks. A lot of members look at my pictures and say "wow, you did that with a point and shoot? i can't get my dslr to take photos like those" and it's basically because they don't know what settings to use, they play with the buttons, and they mess things up when they could have just bought a point and shoot for 1/4 the price and hit a button.

Yes, thats true for some people, but you know what your doing. I don't see why you wouldn't get a DSLR.

Your pictures are really good, i'm willing to bet that they would look alot better with a DSLR.

[EVO_S4]

I aleady have a point n shoot type camera, yes I am a beginner but if I dont ever get one how can I learn, I want to learn how to use is thewhole point wanting a SLR

[nine4surfah]

I love my Rebel XT, it takes fabulous pictures and is more than enough camera for my purpose. It's only down fall is the plastic body. It feels light, seems fragile and almost seems like a toy. I played withe a Canon 30D and a Nikon D70 and was very impressed with build material and quality. But the price was way over my budget.

In my opinion you can't go wrong with a Rebel XT or a Nikon D70. Either camera paired with a nice pair of lens good technique, compostion and even some post processing adjustments will yield timeless photos.

[ADHD]

Get the canon 20D u can get it for 200$ more than the rebel and its 20 times better!

[Nikki]

Originally Posted by EVO_S4

I aleady have a point n shoot type camera, yes I am a beginner but if I dont ever get one how can I learn, I want to learn how to use is thewhole point wanting a SLR

oh, well by beginner i thought you meant with photography altogether. well whichever you choose, have fun with your new toy.

[diesel007]

Originally Posted by Nikki

I agree with Squawks. A lot of members look at my pictures and say "wow, you did that with a point and shoot? i can't get my dslr to take photos like those" and it's basically because they don't know what settings to use, they play with the buttons, and they mess things up when they could have just bought a point and shoot for 1/4 the price and hit a button.

But you don't have the ability to change lenses with a P&S. Any entry level DSLR is going to have all the same pre-set photo shooting functions as a P&S.

[Nikki]

Originally Posted by diesel007

But you don't have the ability to change lenses with a P&S. Any entry level DSLR is going to have all the same pre-set photo shooting functions as a P&S.

whatever, all i'm saying is that a lot of people take worse photos on a dslr than they would on a p&s because they don't know what they're doing. i have plenty examples but i won't get into it.

[SiR]

Its not going to kill you getting a DSLR. Better then SLRs since its saved by memory, not film. Thats costly.

I have a Canon AE-1 camera with 200mm lens. Its from 1979. My parents got it sometime in 80-81, and I took its since I was in my pre-adolenscent years. If you want to try something old and used to get use to, that would be great. Photography talent and skill is not so much equipment, but have an "eye". Meaning, know what you want on that still frame. Either way, your not going to get "better" pictures from P&S. Learn photography with with SLRs/DSLRs when you know how to take pleasing pictures.

[diesel007]

Originally Posted by Nikki

whatever, all i'm saying is that a lot of people take worse photos on a dslr than they would on a p&s because they don't know what they're doing. i have plenty examples but i won't get into it.

No doubt I get what you are saying Nikki but those people who take crappy pics with a SLR are still going to take crappy pics with a P&S. It's not the cameras fault that the operator wont take the time and learn how to use it.

[Nikki]

Originally Posted by diesel007

No doubt I get what you are saying Nikki but those people who take crappy pics with a SLR are still going to take crappy pics with a P&S. It's not the cameras fault that the operator wont take the time and learn how to use it.

well i have seen people go from a p&s to a dslr and take worse photos. but i dunno.