[Hoo Haa]

Once again excuse my lack of knowledge on these subjects, but I was given a Nikon D50 as a present & before I look to the future to buy lenses etc I wanted make sure I have the correct camera brand in terms of price

Therefore which will cost more in the long run in terms of DSLR + lenses etc, if you comapare Nikon to Canon for like for like products ? Hope that makes sense.

[stepheno]

I could more easily give you a date for Armageddon Either route will lead you to penury and the debtors prison because whatever lenses you have there will always be better and more expensive just round the corner. It's difficult to compare specific lenses within the two camps and then you have to consider Tamron and Sigma who make some excellent lenses. You'll have no problems with lenses for your D50 but as to the original question I would say If you plan spending on Canon L lenses then sell the wife now, remortgage the house and put the kids into service. HTH

regards

[Joe T]

I wouldnt say either is more expensive tbh.

[Gary Bagshawe]

Canon Canon Canon, (nikon's are for girls)

But on a serious note, I don't think that there is much in it. You will always have the Nikon users saying that there system is better and the CANON users saying that there's is better. If you were lucky enough to be given a Nikon as a present I would stick witht that.

[Dave]

Originally Posted by stepheno

I could more easily give you a date for Armageddon Either route will lead you to penury and the debtors prison because whatever lenses you have there will always be better and more expensive just round the corner. It's difficult to compare specific lenses within the two camps and then you have to consider Tamron and Sigma who make some excellent lenses. You'll have no problems with lenses for your D50 but as to the original question I would say If you plan spending on Canon L lenses then sell the wife now, remortgage the house and put the kids into service. HTH

regards

ROFL ....if only it wasn't true

[Steve]

I think both manufacturers have good value and shocking prices equally. Some of the expensive equipment from both is just ridiculously priced and only professionals and lottery winners have that sort of expenditure available.

At the other end of the scale to buy entry level camera equipment now has become much cheaper, all the manufactures have improved the quality and features while reducing the costs.

We all want more for less though so both are too expensive

[Dave]

Just to throw a spanner in the works, I thnk the Nikon budget SLR's are better value for money if they include 18-70mm kit lens. Reason being that lens is renowned for being a cracker & was one of the main reasons I moved over from a Canon 300D with kit lens.

As you move away from kit lenses though, as others say the prices can start to go a bit mad.

Hey I even considered going back to Canon a while back with concerns over costs between the two manufacturers. Thread here

[Steve]

I think that the D50 with 'Kit lens' offers exceptional value for money and the D200 with its weather sealing is better value than the current Canon 5D. Obviously the 5D is full frame though so it depends on what you want. You can't really go wrong with either make and Aas always try before you buy is my advice

[noah]

aye, seems that they both hit different pricepoints.

d50 seems the best budget at £400odd
30d seems the sensible next step up at £8-900
d200 does it for me at £1100odd
then the 5d is you need full frame
1dmk2n for the sports chaps at £2000
d2x for pro studio or tough as hell work
1dsmk2 for pro studio

they seem to alternate nicely

[Dave]

Like your thinking Noah...never looked at it like that before & I to tell the truth I think you are spot on !!!

[Steve]

If you ignore all the accessories and add ons that you are likely to buy after the purchase of the camera and look at it objectively then Noah's answer is spot on (and a great observation ). One thing you must always do though is not buy just on recommendations, both Canon and Nikon have been in the game for years and will no doubt continue to in the future but it is you that will be using the camera now.

One very important point that many people seem to overlook when first buying equipment is how comfortable it feels in your hands and how easy it is for you to work with. All the cameras listed in this thread are different sizes and weight, plus the controls are located in different areas and the menus systems (even within the same manufacturer) work differently. If you buy the best camera in the world and it is not easy to hold for you, or you can’t easily access the controls then you are not going to be happy in the long run and your photography will suffer.

[Dabhand16]

As a matter of interest, refering to Noah's comments on the D2X, the pros that I work with are going over from Bronica and Pentax 6x7s to D2Xs, and their feedback is that the Nikons are not as robust. The ones that prefer the Pentax swear by them. (Rather than at them)

Nevertheless, being able to recieve a CD in my hand at the end of a shoot, because they have mobile downloading and duping kits, is so conveinient, I think digital is here to stay.

The preview makes life so much easier. They don't routinely bracket everything now, so everone's a winner. They use the 17-55 f2.8 lens mostly.

[Dave]

Cheers Graham for that.

What exactly is your job within the photography business ? You have me intrigued

Thanks for making me feel even better about my last purchase....the 17-55 f2.8 . Now to try & improve skills to make most of it