first time buyer, need help please?

Question

All right so im stuck between buying a Canon Rebel XSI or a Nikon D3000. The Canon comes with a bag, 4 gb memory card, and all the other stuff in the kit along with a 18-55mm lens and a 55-250mm lens all together for $759.00 + tax. The Nikon, on the other hand, is only $500 but it just comes with the kit and an 18-55 mm lens. This is my first DSLR camera, and im torn between these two. Im just wondering which camera is better, if the extra lens is worth the extra money, should I buy the Nikon and buy the 55-200mm Nikkor lens for a little less, etc. Any advice is appreciated. Thanks!

Answer 1

Although the Nikon D3000 and Canon XSi are both nice cameras, in my opinion you shouldn't overlook the Sony A330 and Pentax K-x.



First, lets look at prices for each of the 4 cameras at B&H ( http://www.bhphotovideo.com ).



D3000 w/18-55mm lens, $549.95 with a $50.00 "Instant Savings".



XSi w/18-55mm lens. No price at B&H. Their listing says its been discontinued by Canon. A forum on Amazon says the same. Apparently the XS and XSi are being replaced by the T1i and T2i.

The T1i lists for $799.95 with a $100.00 "Instant Savings".



Sony A330 w/18-55mm lens, $549.99 with a $50.00 "Instant Savings".



Pentax K-x w/18-55mm lens, $513.99.



The A330 has several features not found in the D3000. First, the A330 has arguably the best Live View of any current DSLR. Second, the A330 has an in camera focusing motor. Third, Sony has their version of Image Stabilization (IS) in the camera body. The D3000 doesn't have Live View nor does it have an in camera focusing motor. If you want auto focus you have to buy Nikon AF-I or

AF-S lenses. Nikon has their version of IS (called VR) in some of their lenses but not all so you pay for it over and over. With the A330 any lens designed for it and meant to auto focus will. Plus, every lens used becomes, in effect, an IS lens. The A330 uses the venerable Minolta Maxxum "A" lens mount introduced in 1985. A Maxxum AF 35-70mm f4 zoom or 70-210mm f4 zoom will auto focus on the A330 and be an IS lens. The Sony web site lists over 100 compatible lenses.



Advantage A330



The T1i has Live View and video capability. Canon, like Nikon, has their version of IS in some, but not all, of their lenses. Again, you pay for it over and over. In my opinion, Canon has created some confusion with the EF-S lenses since they are NOT compatible with their full-frame (5D, 1D) DSLR cameras. So a person who begins with a T1i or T2i and adds 2 or 3 EF-S lenses has to buy all new lenses if they decide to upgrade to a 5D or 1D.



The Pentax K-x offers the following for a mere $14.00: Live View, video capability, double/multiple exposure capability (a feature seldom found on cameras costing 2 or 3 times more), an in camera focusing motor and Pentax's version of IS in the camera body. Again, all of those features are missing from the D3000. The K-x uses the "K" lens mount first introduced in 1975 so any lens designed for that mount is compatible. Although there are limitations when using a 35 year old manual focus lens it can be used and becomes an IS lens. Pentax lenses designed for their long discontinued AF 35mm film cameras will auto focus on the K-x as they should.



Advantage K-x over all 3 competitors and especially over the T1i since the K-x is $185.96 less.



So you decide for yourself which camera gives you the most for your money. In my opinion its like deciding whether to buy a car with a manual transmission, no air conditioning, an AM-FM radio with no CD player (D3000) or paying the same for a car with an automatic transmission, air conditioning and an AM-FM radio with CD player (A330) or paying $14.00 (K-x) more and adding a sun roof to the car with the automatic transmission, air conditioning and AM-FM radio with CD player.



If it were my money it would go to the Pentax K-x.

Answer 2

Hands Down XSI!!!!!!!

It is way better than the D30000

Ive tried both

the D3000 is over rated and you can out grow very fast

I like theCanons more because they have more options than Nikons

and almost all Canon lenses are compatible with all the bodies

and Nikon has AF in the lens not in the body and not all the lens have AF

and try looking on Ebay and Craigslist

im sure youll find it cheaper

but you may not get all that stuff but you can



But Id go check them out and see which you feel most comfortable with

Answer 3

I prefer Nikon, but now there really isn't much difference in quality. The best bet is to go to the camera shop and see which one feels better. Also, what are your friends shooting, if everyone has Canon, it's better to get the same gear.



For 500.00 with the D3000, you can go onto Craigslist and get a 55-200 non-VR for around 100.00, the VR is around 150.00 used. You're about 100.00 cheaper than a Canon that way.



Check ebay for Cameta Camera, they usually have Nikon at good prices.



Here's some stuff shot with a Nikon D300:



http://cgipix.com/Portfolio_Photographer_Wildlife_Scenics_Landscapes_Sports.htm

Answer 4

I've never had a bad experience with either. If you do your homework and conduct yourself businesslike you'll never have an issue. There have been pups who didn't grow to MY standards but that can happen with anyone and any pup. Pups are a gamble. Like you, you actually cared enough to do your research and got a REAL German Shepherd Dog. There are several people on this site who didn't and paid just as much as you did, and have a dog that sort of looks like a GSD if you squint but doesn't have the same genetic temperament, sound build, or working ability. Heck a lot of them don't even have sound bodies and came from breeders who don't x-ray. Instead of saying "Ehhh, my bad, I should've researched" many argue their dogs are wonderful when it's obvious they're second class compared to a well bred dog and some even breed them -hence the white GSD, the oversized GSD, and the long coat GSD breeders who flood this site and the Classifieds in the local newspapers around this country-....