Nikon D50 or Rebel xt

[racefan]

It seems like Nikon/Cannon make these two cameras very similar in price.
I'm looking for my first dig slr and I've just been waiting to see what each offers.

With Cannon's recent $100 rebate, I can buy an xt body only for about $585.
I can now buy the Nikon D50 w a Nikon 28-80mm f/3.3-5.6 G Autofocus Lens
for about the same price. I have a Cannon 28-105 good lense so I was simply going to use this lense on the Rebel XT body.

I'm sure it comes down to preference of brand. Any thoughts on these two cameras? I don't need alot of extras. The camera is simply used for vacations, kid sports, etc so the 6.0 vs 8.0 doesn't make a big deal to me.

[Clyde]

Flip a coin. Really, these are both first rate cameras, and will do fine.

The canon might be a little better for sports photos, since it is supposed to be better at high ISOs. That is to say that it can take less 'noisy' pictures when you have to use a fast shutter speed in relatively low light. Some people will dispute this, and even those who don't won't claim the difference is between good and unacceptable photos.

Personally, if I already had a lens, I would get the canon. However, you are in the happy position of not having a bad choice in front of you.

Buy one and enjoy!

Clyde

[coldrain]

the D50 actually is very good at high ISOs, this is certainly not the area where the XT is a better choice.
Which 28-105 do you actually have? There are a number of different lenses of that focal range. Some are not so great, while others are very good.

The 28-80 of that Nikon is not a great lens, it is a kit lens for a film SLR and they bundle it with the D50 to get rid of old stock. With the 1.5x crop factor the 18-55mm D50 kit lens gets the same range as the 28-80 on full frame.
So, if you get a kit lens I would advice a 18-55, on both the XT and the D50, so you get the wide angle range you are used to with your 28-105 on your film SLR.

The Canon is more complete in features, but both are capable of very good image quality, they are both ranked highest in the entry level DSLR class. If you have a 28-105 f3.5-4.5 I would go for the XT, since it is a very nice lens. But if you are one of those people that really can not live with how the XT's grip is formed, then the D50 may be a better idea, so be sure to hold them.

**edited** Thank you Clyde, for pointing out a very confusing typo :)