[Tass]

Hello Everyone, im new to the DSLR fold and seeking advice...

I am in the market for a Digital SLR with a maximum budget of £500. The reason for my urgancy is that a friend is selling his Nikon D70s body only for £275 and it is in flawless condition, barely used and only several months old. He wants an answer by tommorrow and I am torn between buying the Nikon and spending the rest of the budget on a Lens OR buying a brand new Canon 400D with Lens (£499 at Jessops).

Any advice or opinion will be greatly appreciated!

Cheers, Tass

[Soupdragon]

I'd personally go with the canon, at least you will have a full warranty if the worst should happen.

[stepheno]

Soupy is right about the warranty but that is not the only reason for choosing a camera. The D70s is an excellent camera and choosing that will allow you to choose a lens rather than have the Canon kit one. Have you tried the cameras for size - I presume you have handlesd the Nikon but can you get to a shop to try the 400D?

Don't forget you are buying into a system - Nikon or Canon? I think, in your shoes and knowing what I do now I would probably get the Nikon. £275 for a mint D70s sounds good and it's not a lot to lose if it fails. But that's negative thinking - remeber, whichever you get, you are into that system.

Oh by the way.... Drop in the Welcome Forum if you get chance and don't forget the Member's Galleryand the Equipment Reviews Section.

[Tass]

Cheers for the advice - i guess it really comes down to which is the better camera? I want to make the right choice as I will not be looking to replace it for several years. Looking at the Canon it does seem loaded on features, although the price means i would not be able to get a decent lens. Then again the Nikon is great value...

Arrrrrrgh I guess it may come down to flipping a coin!

[Steve]

Look at the accessories to as Stepheno has said. You are not so much buying a camera but you are buying into a camera SYSTEM and so whichever you choose now, you will pretty much stick with far beyond the life of the camera body.

Are you happy with the range of lenses and accessories that Canon or Nikon do, do you think their prices are fair, does one or the other makes seem better value in this area, does Canon or Nikon have one lens or accessory that you simple must have?...these are all very important considerations as you may well upgrade your camera body but once you have some lenses etc you will be tied to the make that those lenses work with. Most people agree that its very rare for a user to sell all of their equipment to buy into another make, some do it but only a very small number...

The Canon 400D is a much newer camera and has the latest technology but my advice would be that if you are happy with either body, then your decision should be based on the range, quality and prices of the accessories you are likely to add.

[Soupdragon]

There is truth in what the others say but you won't get a lens much better than the Nikon kit offering for your remaining £225.
It's worth bearing in mind that the nikon lenses are slightly higher in price than Canon (lat time I compared) so you may find that a limiting factor.

As a turnkey solution, the canon also comes with some half decent software un-like Nikon.

The following things trump the D70s in spades.

LCD screen size.
10mp.
Mirror Lock Up (albeit a custom function)
High ISO noise control.
Economically priced lenses and accessories.
Full warranty.
Unless the guy is a best buddy/ soul mate then you only have his word for how well it has been treated.

The only downside I can see for the 400D is it's diminutive proportins.

And I am not saying these things because I own one, I actually use a Nikon D80.

[Gavin Hamilton]

Hi, I personally use and prefer a Canon BUT If all else fails and you can't reach an easy decision just pretend you are a wild-west gunslinger and your camer is going to be your six-shooter. Give Billy the Kid a Colt 45 and he couldn't shoot or even point it properly at anything. Give him a Remmington and see the opposite. What I'm saying is simply an SLR should feel right and be able to be an 'extension' of your arm just like a sixgun to a gunslinger. If it comes to your eye quickly and easily and its controls are where you feel they should be, then consider the 'Gunslinger' decision. After all, sometimes that quickly grabbed shot is the one that gets you the fame.

[Dabhand16]

Got to agree with Gavin here. It has been said many times and by many people (me included) that given two cameras of equal capability (yes , I know in this example it could be argued they are not absolutely equal) choose the one that feels better to hold and esiest to select and adjust the various controls and settings. When I was at this crossroad, I went for the Nikon. You might find the Canon is better for you.

It is true that you are buying into a system, but you also need to buy into a system you find comfortable to use. I'd let this factor decide which way you jump.

There is another otion you have not considered. You could get the 400D body and a different lens. The 18-55 Canon kit lens is not at the top of the tree in the lens world.

[sillyconguru]

Originally Posted by Soupdragon

The following things trump the D70s in spades.

LCD screen size.
10mp.
Mirror Lock Up (albeit a custom function)
High ISO noise control.
Economically priced lenses and accessories.
Full warranty.
Unless the guy is a best buddy/ soul mate then you only have his word for how well it has been treated.

The only downside I can see for the 400D is it's diminutive proportins.

The following things trump the 400D in spades.

Spot metering
1/500th sec flash sync
Better handling (subjective, but it's bigger anyway)
2 (external) LCD displays.
Easier manual operation (2 command dials)
It's not a Canon

[remus]

I agree with the advice already given.You should go to your local photo shop and try the feel of both the Canon and Nikon.
A few weeks ago I joined the forum to ask the same question. Having been given the same sort of advice I went to a shop to try out the cameras.
Both were nice, but for me the way the Nikon D80 felt in my hand said this is the camera for me. One week on I am a very happy chap.
Also the D80 has a lcd display on the top to show some of the settings, which works for me.

[Soupdragon]

Originally Posted by sillyconguru

The following things trump the 400D in spades.

Spot metering
1/500th sec flash sync
Better handling (subjective, but it's bigger anyway)
2 (external) LCD displays.
Easier manual operation (2 command dials)
It's not a Canon

I own the D80 and love it to bits and I think the Nikons handle better , but I'd take a 400D over a D70s.

[sillyconguru]

Originally Posted by Soupdragon

I own the D80 and love it to bits and I think the Nikons handle better , but I'd take a 400D over a D70s.

Traitor!

[Soupdragon]

Originally Posted by sillyconguru

Traitor!

You used to frequent another photo forum but I can't remember which one!