Not sure which camera to buy....

[tumberlina]

Hi all, I am having trouble deciding on which camera to buy. I currently own a little Sony but would like to get a lot more serious with my photography, cause i thoroughly enjoy it so much. Have been looking around for a month now and have found 2 that i am interested in. I'm tossing up between a Canon 550D and a Nikon D90....Can anybody give me some advice on the two i have chosen of even recommend another camera for me to look at....any help would be greatly appreciated.... Tammy.

[brindyman]

your posting in a canon section hehe so i think the bias may be a little wonky ...my suggestion is go into the shop and hold one which one feels the best when you hold it? thats a start anyway

[tumberlina]

Hi, thanks for the suggestion, i shall give it a whirl. Oh and sorry bout posting in canon section, didn't realise till was too late......OOPS!!

[ricktas]

Both are good entry level camera's. In the end it is up to you to make the final decision. Photography is more about the photographers ability, than the gear. Both of the camera's you name will allow you (with skill) to take extremely good photos.

[tumberlina]

Cool thanks for the help....hi ho hi ho it's off to the shops i go...with a eenie and a meenie and a miny and a moe !!!

[Roosta]

Do you need video capability ? if not, the Canon 50D or 7d (budget depending) would be my pick. I have the 50D, looked at the Nikon 90, my brother inlaw loves his, but the 50D had everything I wanted and more. The 7D has video if you need it, I and others will argue the difference between the two as a DSLR (leave video out for a sec) the build quality and feel AS suggested above of the 50D is better in my opion and others, weather sealing and so forth, will be your main guide, hold and feel the controls, can you comfortable reach all functions on the body.

Have fun, all good camers you've mentioned.

[silkdiver]

I am with Roosta, I went through all this a short time ago.

1st: decide if you want video (I decided not as I would prefer to have a dedicated video cam if I decide to go that path)

I was hell bent on getting the 550D, then after deciding I didn't want video, I ended up with the 50D for much the same reasons as Roosta said & it was only $120 more. I have smallish hands so the "feel" was a bit of an issue on deciding, and I must admit the 50D feels better for me. So far I am happy, my only problem is my own lack of knowledge & skill.

[MarkChap]

The 50D is discontinued, gone, finished, no more, there may still be the odd one floating around, particularly from grey sources, but on the whole not a good recommendation to make. Of course there will also be some second hand.

The 7D HAS video, and mighty fine video at that.
Apart from your very entry level DSLR's, Nikon D3000 and Canon 1000D, you are going to get video, whether you want it or not, so don't go out there thinking you can get one without video.

The 550D is a great camera, so too is the D90, so to are the new offerings from both camps, the Nikon D7000 and the Canon 60D.

Tammy the best option for you, is to go into your local Camerahouse store, hold both of the cameras, see which one feels best, your fingers will fall to the major controls better on one or other, that is the best camera for you.

And before anybody jumps up and down, yes I know I work for Camerahouse, but they are franchise stores, so individually owned, and Tammy doesn't have any other options in Mackay. And I said look at, not necessarily buy.

[Roosta]

So far I am happy, my only problem is my own lack of knowledge & skill.

Hay mate, did you look into that magic lantern book and dvd, I may not have mentioned it to you ? If not, AP Sponsors link, fishpond, magic lantern 50D, well worth the $30 odd bucks + free delivery at the mo. Take a look...

[ving]

i am a biased nikon user and i have the d90, it rocks.

that said either camera will do you. both a great. as stated go and hold each one and see how you go... but really there is not bad decision between the 2

[CharliC]

I also have a Nikon D90 and I love it..... Like the others have said the best thing to do is to hold the camera and you will know once u play around with it a little......... I've had both Canon & Nikon and prefer the nikon but that is only my opinion, just depends on what u want to do and how much u want to spend... hope that helps

[silkdiver]

Hay mate, did you look into that magic lantern book and dvd, I may not have mentioned it to you ? If not, AP Sponsors link, fishpond, magic lantern 50D, well worth the $30 odd bucks + free delivery at the mo. Take a look...

Hey Roosta, you did & I did indeed buy it, I am waiting for it...zzzzzzz

[silkdiver]

The 50D is discontinued, gone, finished, no more, there may still be the odd one floating around, particularly from grey sources, but on the whole not a good recommendation to make. Of course there will also be some second hand.

Hmmm I know there are still some around NOT grey market, and as for not a good recomendation, it was my opinion & thoughts!

[MarkChap]

silkdiver,
The only reason I think it is not a good recommendation is the simple fact that they will be/are hard to get locally. (as in not grey)

If you know of some that still remain, that's good, there are still peoples looking for them.

[tumberlina]

Thanks so very much for your help and advice and I will go and hold both and see what sort of feel I get. I have read all the comments and I'm leaning more towards the nikon d90 at the moment only because nikon are all about making cameras and nothing else where as canon manufacture lots of other things aswell which tells me they are more of a specialist concerning cameras. Just sort of a gut feeling if you get my drift, so once again thank you all for the words of wisdom and support and I hope I will have some cool pics to show you all very soon. Tammy. ( fingers crossed)

[peterb666]

silkdiver,
The only reason I think it is not a good recommendation is the simple fact that they will be/are hard to get locally. (as in not grey)

If you know of some that still remain, that's good, there are still peoples looking for them.

The 50D is readily available at a good price as a new purchase. Maybe not from your locality but places like Paxtons and others in Sydney have them. It is an excellent buy for a new camera purchase so I would encourage anyone seeking a well built Canon with a reasonable level of direct control in a tough body to buy one. The 50D is more robust than the 60D and if you don't need video, a no brainer of a choice.

P.S. Would also make a good buy as a near new second-hand camera.

[peterb666]

Hi all, I am having trouble deciding on which camera to buy. I currently own a little Sony but would like to get a lot more serious with my photography, cause i thoroughly enjoy it so much. Have been looking around for a month now and have found 2 that i am interested in. I'm tossing up between a Canon 550D and a Nikon D90....Can anybody give me some advice on the two i have chosen of even recommend another camera for me to look at....any help would be greatly appreciated.... Tammy.

I recently acquired a near new Nikon D90 off another AP member. The D90 is an excellent camera with great controls. The only thing I don't like about it is the limitations on live-view but then I am coparing it with cameras like the Olympus E-P1 which are specifically designed for live view. I have Nikon leanings and so it was a no-brainer for me to go Nikon rather than Canon but Canon are great too and, quite frankly, generally have an edge in choice of lenses. Either brand will serve you well.

I like the D90 over the Canon 50D as I think the direct access controls are much better thought out than the Canon. The Canon is marginally better built (but there is nothing in it), however the situation has been reversed with the newer models of each, the D7000 and the 60D.

I wouldn't personally buy the 550D as I would find the direct access controls too limiting. Personally, I find the control layout on the 50D not really as intitutive as the Nikon D90 and the 550D offers less in the way of direct controls.

It doesn't really matter which of these types of camera you will go for, picture-wise, they are all fine.

Cheers

PeterB666