How long before it's obsolete?

[cosgti]

I've wanted to get a Digital SLR for some time, and now that I'm considering the D80 or Rebel XTi I'm starting to second guess myself.
I used to take a lot of my pictures with my old Canon AE-1 and I loved it because I had access to a darkroom. I loved the camera for all the adjustments I could make and get creatice when shooting.

I've had a couple of low-end digital cameras (i.e., Coolpix 2.5MP) and they're great for what they are, point-and-click cameras, but I want something more....and better quality shots.

I figure a DSLR may satisfy my need for wanting to get creative with shots and all that, but now I just worry about how long it's going to be before a new one is obsolete. The D80 has 10.2MP, which seems like more than enough because I don't plan on blowing up pictures to a very large size. But maybe I'm wrong. Is there a visible difference between a 10MP and 17MP, when looking at 4X6 prints?

Any input it appreciated. I'll never hear the end of it from my wife if I but the D80 for about $1K then say I need a new one within three years.

[cdifoto]

I've wanted to get a Digital SLR for some time, and now that I'm considering the D80 or Rebel XTi I'm starting to second guess myself.
I used to take a lot of my pictures with my old Canon AE-1 and I loved it because I had access to a darkroom. I loved the camera for all the adjustments I could make and get creatice when shooting.

I've had a couple of low-end digital cameras (i.e., Coolpix 2.5MP) and they're great for what they are, point-and-click cameras, but I want something more....and better quality shots.

I figure a DSLR may satisfy my need for wanting to get creative with shots and all that, but now I just worry about how long it's going to be before a new one is obsolete. The D80 has 10.2MP, which seems like more than enough because I don't plan on blowing up pictures to a very large size. But maybe I'm wrong. Is there a visible difference between a 10MP and 17MP, when looking at 4X6 prints?

Any input it appreciated. I'll never hear the end of it from my wife if I but the D80 for about $1K then say I need a new one within three years.

First of all, don't worry about obsolescence. Superseded doesn't mean useless. It just means superseded.

Second, you wouldn't notice a difference between 3MP and 100MP in a 4x6 print - let alone 10MP and 17MP. You would even be hard pressed to see a difference between 4MP and 10MP in an 8x10 print.

Third, great images start with you, not the gear. You can still take crappy pics with $10,000 worth of equipment if you don't learn to use it. You can take awesome shots with a $200 P&S if you know what you're doing.

[Rhys]

Obsalesence means nothing. Most stuff I buy is obsolete by the time it hits the shops.

If you bought a 300D brand new tomorrow (somebody might have an unused one in a stockroom somewhere) it's already obsolete by 3 years or so. It still works and still takes great photos so what's the problem?

Mobile phone ranges change every 6 months. Camera ranges change every 12 months. The phone and cameras don't suddenly stop working.

The trick is to buy just before it becomes obsolete because prices drop to about half before a camera becomes obsolete. Makes no sense at all to spend $1000 on something that'll be $500 in 12 months time.

[cosgti]

Does anyone have an opinion on the D80 versus the Rebel XTi? I like the price of the Rebel more, but whatever camera I buy I want to keep for as long as possible and grow with it.
Maybe the D80 has some advanced features (that the Rebel doesn't) that I may want after a bit of use?
Just some background, I'll be shooting a lot of portraiture, nature, and sports (cycling).

[Warin]

I'll freely admit that I am a Nikon guy, so of course I will say the D80.

Egonomically, it is a far better camera. It isnt so small that at least one f your fingers generally hang off the bottom of the grip. Also, the control dials are positioned better.

But... the XTi is pretty nice too.

I prefer Nikon's Creative Lighting System to Canon's speedlights. You seem to get more, including the wireless controller built into the D80.

[jamison55]

I have both the Rebel XT (predecessor of the XTi) and a Nikon D80. If I had to choose between one or the other right now, I'd choose the Nikon. If the choice was between the 20D/30D and the D80 - well that would be a little tougher.

The Nikon definitely feel better in my big hands. I've been a Canon user for 3 years and I like the ergonomics of the D80 better than those of the XT, again the 20D/30D is also better. The D80 has a bigger, brighter viewfinder than either the 20D/30D or the XTi. 10 point AF, gridlines in the VF (I love this feature). And Nikon's wireless flash system is my favorite part of this camera.

The Canon has a better sensor. I like the look of the Canon files better. Canon jpegs tend to be a little warmer, while the Nikon a little cool. Since I mainly photograph people, I like the warmer skintones of the Canon (though the Nikon has the ability to shift the AWB tone to make it warmer by default). Canon still wins at high ISO, the the Nikon jpeg NR has really improved to the point that ISO 1600 shots are very usable. The Canon XTi also offers the dust removal feature not present on any Nikon DSLR.

When you buy a DSLR, however, you are buying into a system more than just a camera, so it's important to step back and look at the big picture.

Both Canon and Nikon offer excellent systems. Nikon wins for flashmetering and ease of use of the wireless flash system. While they both have excellent lenses, Canon has more with a fast accurate USM motor. Nikon has an equivalent (AF-S), but they are fewer in number, and tend to be in the more expensive lenses. Canon has more excellent mid range lenses, like the 85 f1.8, 70-300 IS and the 17-40/70-200 f4s. On the other hand, the Nikon system (with the focus motor in the body) works better (in my short experience) with third party lenses. Sigma and Tamron both have excellent optics available at a fraction of the cost of the Canon or Nikon equivalents.

Bottom line is they are both excellent cameras attached to market leading systems. I think it boils down to which features are more important to you. If you intend to take more low light, no flash photos, I think the Canon is better at that. If you want more features built into the camera, than the Nikon wins.

FWIW - when I bought my first DSLR, I had a choice between the D70 and the original Digital Rebel. The D70 was more feature packed, but all of the reviewers gave the DReb the edge in image quality. That, and the fact that the D70 was $300 more at the time made my decision for me, and I have been very happy with the images from my Canons. I now can own both systems, and love them both for their individual strengths.

And I agree that DSLR's never really go obsolete. I am still using a 20D and it still give me as good photos now as it did when I bought it almost two years ago...

[cdifoto]

Jamie your post sounds like you're keeping the Nikon after all. Is that true or am I reading too deep?

[jamison55]

Yep - keeping the Nikon. I'm really digging the lighting options that the D80 + SB800 gives me. I'm still getting the 5D though. Next season I see myself shooting with a 5D for the available light stuff and a D80 for the flash stuff.

[murrays]

How do you define "obsolete"? IMHO, a good camera will never be obsolete so long as it continues to take outstanding photos. Is an older watch obsolete or a nice pair of speakers? New models come out, but that doesn't change the quality of images taken with an older camera.

Computers go obsolete because newer software and operating systems come out that bog older systems down. When the light going through your lens changes, your camera will be obsolete

-murray

[cdifoto]

How do you define "obsolete"? IMHO, a good camera will never be obsolete so long as it continues to take outstanding photos. Is an older watch obsolete or a nice pair of speakers? New models come out, but that doesn't change the quality of images taken with an older camera.

Computers go obsolete because newer software and operating systems come out that bog older systems down. When the light going through your lens changes, your camera will be obsolete

-murray

Nuh uh! That means the lens is obsolete!