New Question: Nikon D40 or Canon Rebel XT?

[psykon99]

For awhile I was pretty sold on the XT/XTi series (though leaning toward XT) - and I still am, but after reading several VERY positive reviews - especially in low light - AND Mr. Rockwell's ravings about it - it's now back in the running. I thought the 6 megapixel thing would bother me with larger prints, but it sounds like he does ok.

Thoughts?

[matthewchj]

I'd get the XT instead of the D40. I think the biggest reason why the XT is better would be because the D40 cannot autofocus with all Nikon lenses, but only AF-S lenses, with Nikon's silent wave motor built in, or third party lenses with hypersonic motor. It cannot autofocus with any other lenses.

Also, Nikon's sensors are generally noisier than Canon's when they are pushed up to high ISOs.

[smc1377]

Yeah, the non-ability to autofocus using all Nikon lenses with the D40 automatically rules it out in my book. Plus, owning a 6mp DSLR already (Canon 10D), it sorta limits you on how far you can crop down on an image. Yes, they can produce nice images, but if you ever find yourself not having the correct reach with your lens, or want to crop down to a certain area, it can be very limiting.

[kirbinster]

Well unless you own lots of old non-AF-S lenses that should not be an issue. I have made some very nice 8x10 prints with my D40 even when in some cases I have cropped away over 50% of the image. Megapixels are not as important as you might think. The key things are the glass, the sensor and the person behind it. I love my D40 and would buy it again.

[Isilwen]

I don't have either but find myself in the same boat, decision-wise. I was planning to get the XT but have since seen a lot of portraits taken with the D40 and very much prefer the quality of these prints. The warm and cool tones really make a difference to me and I am really liking the cooler look in the Nikon shots. I tend to have to adjust that with my current Canon and would love to cut out that post-processing step.

Also, my soon to be sister in law has the D40 and my mom called me immediately during their recent visit and said it was the camera I've been looking for. She and I are both photographers and I trust her judgement.

From what I can tell, it really boils down to preference and your personal style.

[psykon99]

Ok, so I just spent about an hour at Best Buy messing around with both these cameras, and I gotta say, I really like the D40! I'm shocked - since last time I leaned heavy toward the Rebel XT. I did get to spend alot more time with the cameras this time though.

On the up side, I love being able to change color saturation right on the camera. The menu system is VERY intuitive - and I found a fast way to access ISO, white balance, etc (last time I apparently was doing it the long way).

I really wanted to like the XT. I don't like the idea of having the auto focus motor in the lens. I'd like the 2 extra megapixels (even thought i know it really doesn't make too much of a difference). It has the 7 point auto focus system. BUT, when it came down to it, I just liked the interface of the D40 better. AND, I didn't think the 1.5" screen would bother me, but after using it for awhile - it really did.

So - I'm leaning D40 now - but I have one major question: has anyone had any problems with their D40 pop up flash breaking open? I ask only because the display models at both Best Buy AND Wal-Mart both had their pop up flashes broken open. Is this a fairly delicate part? I'm going to post the same question in the Nikon thread. Durability is important to me.

[smc1377]

I don't like the idea of having the auto focus motor in the lens.

What about this don't you like? Cause whatever it is, those are the only type of lens that you can use with the D40 since it has no internal focus drive motor.

I do agree with you on the menu system on the Rebels. It could have been simplified. I like the menus system on the mid to upper range Canon cameras better where there are dedicated buttons for changing each setting.

[wulf]

I have two lenses for my D40 - the kit one and an old Nikon E series 50mm. Not only can the camera not adjust the focus, I also have to manually set the aperture, so it only works in full manual mode.

Guess which is my favourite lens.... ;)

Since my primary purpose of getting a DSLR was to be able to take much more control of my pictures, I don't have a problem with running in manual mode most of the time, even when I occasionally put the kit lens back on. YMMV (you'll notice that most of my shots are relatively static things like plants and not fast motor sports) but I have found the D40 to have been a great choice for me (plus, while heavy enough to feel solid but not so heavy to be a burden for carrying around all day).

Wulf

[ELAY]

I own a D40 and love it. It is all I could really justify in my budget at the time, and I am very happy with it. Picture quality is great, and it is a joy to carry and shoot with.

If you don't have aspirations to buy alot of lenses, then the D40 is perfect. My problem is that I started out thinking I wouldn't have aspirations, but have now developed some.

If I had to do it over again, I might consider a D70 or a Canon. Like Wulf, I also have a manual focus 50mm lens and love it, BUT there are times when I miss shots when using it because I get the focus wrong or am too slow in focussing. The thing is that there are a lot of very nice older/used lenses out there made by Nikon, and the D40 can only autofocus with a fraction of them. It means that either I have to sacrifice AF, which is an issue, or buy the newest AFS version of a lens, which often means that buying the lens is out of reach. It also means that many third party lenses won't autofocus with the D40.

I won't wade into Canon v. Nikon, because I don't know the Canons well, but I can tell you to carefully weigh the AF issue before you buy a D40. For a lot of people it won't make a difference -- but for others it might.

EL

[Griggs]

I just wanted to rehash the thread because I'm am now looking and wondering the same thing. I have found the D40x with 10.2 MP which eliminates the whole 6 MP isn't enough debate, anyone else who can chime in on the deabe, I'd like to hear it. I've found a D40x kit on Amazon for $600.00 which is pretty fair

[Lennyd]

I have the D40 and I love it. I have a 50mm Nikon F1.8 and a Tamron 180mm macro that won't focus with the D40. For the macro it doesn't matter because all macros are focused manually anyway. I miss the AF on the 50mm since my eyesight is not that great. But my other lenses are all new and can AF.
I think the Nikon vs. Canon debate comes down to this : What lenses do you think you will buy in the future ? I knew before buying the D40 that I wanted the Nikon 18-200mm. That's why I went with Nikon. Otherwise I don't think there is much difference between the two. They are both great cameras. I think the lenses that you choose makes more difference than the camera. Plus you can use the lenses for a much longer time if you take care of them. Camera models come and go.

[Griggs]

Anybody have any issues with refurbished? I'm seeing some great deals on refurbished bodies.

[Booter]

Why spend $800+ on the Rebel or DX40? What's the big deal? I think you can get some pretty good shots with a $300. Pentax Optio A30 or Casio Exilim or an Olympus point and shoot. My photography teacher used to say, if you can't get that 'money shot' with a point and shoot, a $1,000 digital SLR won't help you much. And neither will slapping on a $500. 100 or 200 mm lens either. Unless your a professional or photojournalist a point and shoot is all you need :)

[jdepould]

There are plenty of things P&Ss can't do, and most don't have manual controls.

[Major_Small]

My photography teacher used to say, if you can't get that 'money shot' with a point and shoot, a $1,000 digital SLR won't help you much. And neither will slapping on a $500. 100 or 200 mm lens either. Unless your a professional or photojournalist a point and shoot is all you need :)I'm sorry, but what a joke... point and shoots are great for snapshots, but for real artistic control you absolutely need an SLR. Not necessarily a $1k body, (my first SLR was a fully manual vivitar that cost like $125 with lens), but you do need the control an SLR gives you. The good equipment won't make you a better photographer, but lesser equipment may limit what you can do.

Do you need a 1Ds mark III with L glass primes? no. but do you need more control than a P&S can give you? yes.

But back to the topic. As for refurbished bodies, it really depends. I personally wouldn't, but it really depends on where it's from. If it's from a reputable dealer, maybe. If it's from ebay, no. Just remember that 'refurbished' can mean anything from "barely touched display model" to "thrown down three flights of stairs and fixed with electrical tape"

[inkista]

Why spend $800+ on the Rebel or DX40? ...

Errr... the ability to time a shot without shutter delay screwing things up? To use a 400mm prime telephoto lens? To mount a reversed lens for extreme macro shots? To use a 8mm circular fisheye to shoot equirectangular/cubic panoramas handheld in four shots? Bulb mode for astrophotography? A useable ISO 800? To do tilt-shift photography? The ability to do razor-thin DoF shots with apertures wider than f/2.8? Available light shooting handheld without a flash? Lightning fast autofocus? The ability to trigger the shutter with a remote control? Because you learned how to shoot with a 35mm film SLR, and it's the most comfortable form factor for your hands? E-TTL off-camera flash?

Oh, and I wouldn't pay $800 for that. I'd pay $600--that's the price Adorama has for both the XTi and D40X kits. (Well, actually, I'd pay less, because I'd just be getting an XTi body, but y'know what I mean).

And I actually don't think it's true that if you can't get it with a P&S you won't get it with an SLR. I know plenty of shots I couldn't get with my G9 that I could with my XT and 50mm f/1.8. Available light handheld without a flash is not something P&Ses do well, any more than SLRs are good at fitting into a pocket.

You can use both a P&S and a dSLR. Why does everybody think it has to be "either/or" instead of "and"?

I'm sorry, but what a joke... point and shoots are great for snapshots, but for real artistic control you absolutely need an SLR. ... The good equipment won't make you a better photographer, but lesser equipment may limit what you can do.Mmmm.. Not sure I agree with this either (aside from the "lesser equipment may limit" bit). My G9 gives me plenty real artistic control: full manual, RAW, off-camera flash, etc. And while it's certainly more limited than my XT and Ls in terms of focal length, iso, and aperture ranges and lens quality--it's far less limited in its ability to be with me when I see something I want to shoot. Even an L lens can't do much if it's not with you.

[morfasie]

I own a Nikon D40x and also love it. The Af-S lenses, if you have a lot of old lenses you must maybe worry, but otherwise, I see no problem, because you just buy the AF-S lenses from Nikon or the HSM lenses from Sigma.

[Olivier H]

Notice a thing : the Rebel XTi may be less noisy in low lights, it also tends to burn high lights more than the D40.

I was meaning to say that I personnaly like best the Nikon camera manipulation, with the two command dials that are very useful... But then I remembered the D50, D40 and D40x have only ONE command dial... Whell then :p

A pro for Nikon (in my opinion) is that the bodies seem more sturdy than the Canon ones, and an itsy bitsy heavier, which I personally like for stability.

[Major_Small]

Mmmm.. Not sure I agree with this either (aside from the "lesser equipment may limit" bit).that's really all I meant by that whole thing... I'm good at overshooting goals when it comes to writing things >.<

[Booter]

You kids sheesh! I'm old school. It's all about the light and how to work it, not a $1000. lens and image stabilization yadda yadda. If you know what you're doing, you don't need to throw away $500., or 800. bucks. The big two, Nikon and Canon are suckering you in. $$$ $$$$ $$$ I'm seeing some incredible photos with mere point and shoots.