Canon 30D Vs. Nikon D80 Kit ... need advices/opinions

[kiway]

Hello,

After some review, I came down to these two great cameras. I have chance of getting one of the following kits for about same price.

I need some advice and or opinion of some seasoned photographers.
What I am looking for is a just good general performing camera. I plan on getting better lens later on as my skill improves.

Canon 30D with
EF-S 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6
EF 75-300 mm f/4-5.6 III USM
Or

Nikon D80 with
18-55 mm 3x f/3.5-5.6G ED AF-S DX
55-200 mm 3.6x f/4-5.6G ED AF-S DX

All advices and opinions would be appreciated.

Thank you all…


Thank you for your great responses!

Canon Xti feels too small in my hands and these two cameras are within my budget so that’s why I came to these two kits. I went to the store and felt both 30D and D80 in my hands and I feel both are just right. I know I am splitting hairs when coming to picking one or the other. But before I commit to one, I'd just like to hear some insight from people who might have experience using these cameras. Thanks.

[Rhys]

Hello,

After some review, I came down to these two great cameras. I have chance of getting one of the following kits for about same price.

I need some advice and or opinion of some seasoned photographers.
What I am looking for is a just good general performing camera. I plan on getting better lens later on as my skill improves.

Canon 30D with
EF-S 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6
EF 75-300 mm f/4-5.6 III USM
Or

Nikon D80 with
18-55 mm 3x f/3.5-5.6G ED AF-S DX
55-200 mm 3.6x f/4-5.6G ED AF-S DX

All advices and opinions would be appreciated.

Thank you all…

The Nikon has AF assist in-body. The Canon doesn't have AF assist unless you use the flash aF assist - which doesn't always work all that well and is fiddly to switch between modes.

[coldrain]

The Canon EF 75-300 III is not amazing, quite soft at 300mm. It does however offer at least the option of 200-300mm.
The Nikon 70-300G version (not in your listed kits) however is even worse at 300mm.

The best cheap 70-300 lens you can consider is the Sigma 70-300 APO DG.
It offers an 1:2 macro mode for free.

The two kit-lenses 18-55 are not bad for kit lenses. Both have their plusses and minusses.

The 55-200 lens class if cheap and unremarkable, for the money they are ok but that is all. This goes for the Nikon, Sigma, Tamron, Canon and Pentax 50/55-200mm's.

You get what you pay for... cheap and unremarkable lenses.

In case you have no photoshop cs2, if you want to do good RAW conversions you will need to add to the price of the D80. Nikon's RAW conversion software costs $150. The Canon comes with good RAW conversion software.
There are many RAW conversion software packages though.

I like the Canon sensor's results better most of the times.

[aparmley]

Hello,

After some review, I came down to these two great cameras. I have chance of getting one of the following kits for about same price.

I need some advice and or opinion of some seasoned photographers.
What I am looking for is a just good general performing camera. I plan on getting better lens later on as my skill improves.

Canon 30D with
EF-S 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6
EF 75-300 mm f/4-5.6 III USM
Or

Nikon D80 with
18-55 mm 3x f/3.5-5.6G ED AF-S DX
55-200 mm 3.6x f/4-5.6G ED AF-S DX

All advices and opinions would be appreciated.

Thank you all…

To answer the above bolded comment, both cameras are more than "good general performing camera." if you're only interested in purchasing "good general performing camera" then I'd look into the D50 and the XTi. Save some money if you don't need all the features of the D80 or 30D. Use the money you save and invest it into lens, higher quality lenses will effect image quality more than any differences between entry level cameras and enthusiast level cameras.

[zmikers]

To answer the above bolded comment, both cameras are more than "good general performing camera." if you're only interested in purchasing "good general performing camera" then I'd look into the D50 and the XTi. Save some money if you don't need all the features of the D80 or 30D. Use the money you save and invest it into lens, higher quality lenses will effect image quality more than any differences between entry level cameras and enthusiast level cameras.

I agree with this. I am not pursuading you to buy canon, I am only using canon as an example because that is what I have. I decided on the xti instead of the 30D and am 100% completely happy with it. aparmley is right, the lens is going to get you better image quality before the body will, if comparing the xti to the 30D.

Choosing between Canon and Nikon can not be decied by anyone but you. I'm sure you will hear many arguements for both, but most will be an bias statement based on the fact that people push what they own and think that the opposition is the "Devil." Do as much research as you can and, please, go into the shop and put both cameras in your hands to see how they feel before you buy. This is very important. Again only as an example, The xti is much smaller and lighter than the 30D so many people do not like this. I personaly prefered it as I do a lot of treking.

Anyways, sorry for the long post, I hope this helped even a little.:D