Canon EOS 500D (Rebel T1i) or Nikon D90

[dk87]

Hi,

I am thinking of buying a digital SLR camera but am not sure which one to get and was just wondering if I could ask for some advice?

I would say that I am interested in Landscape, Travel/outdoor, Spontaneous and some night/low light level photography. The two Cameras I was thinking about was the Canon 500D and the Nikon D90. Which one would you recommend for me to buy?

I have looked at some photos taken by both cameras and some of the Canon 500D seem clearer with more 'vivid' colours but obviously this could be very dependent on the photographer and settings used! But a lot of people have recommended the Nikon D90 too, over the Canon 500D!

What would you recommed?

Thank you!

[kirbinster]

I see you have double posted this - here and in the Nikon section. I bet more people here tell you to go for a Canon and more over there tell you to get a Nikon. They are both good and what you should do is hold the cameras in your hand and see which you like better. This is like saying what is better a Ford or a GM - there is no right answer.

[bearly]

i agree... they are both great cameras, and you won't be disappointed with either. go to a store and hold them and see which you like better.

you might also want to consider looking at the lenses and see whose line you prefer (though they too are similar), because once you pick a brand you'll probably stick with it since you invest a lot into it

[natek313]

In addition to the advice already given (going to the store and holding each camera and going through the menus and settings), don't give too much weight to the photos you've seen that were taken with each camera. Contrast, clarity, color reproduction, and such have a lot more to do with the lens that is mounted on the camera - the camera only sees what the lens allow it to see.

[inkista]

Those two bodies are pretty even-stevens. So, imho, it comes down to not just the feel in your hands and the ergonomics and the price, but two more issues.

1) Do you want a commander flash in your pop-up? (i.e., do you plan to swallow the red pill and go Strobist?)

and

2) the glass.

If you have friends or relatives who shoot with SLRs, getting the same mount system can be useful, since you could pool/share/swap lenses. Lenses are expensive, being able to get your hands on them for free is a good thing, that for me personally would trump the "feel in your hands" bit. Also, if you have legacy glass from an earlier film SLR system, this may also dictate which system you want to shoot, if it's still compatible.

Thirdly, each camera brand/mount system offers a different lineup of lenses. Many of those lenses are similar and can be found across each system, but some do not. Canon has nothing comparable to Nikon's 10mm fisheye, 14-24, or 35mm f/1.8. Nikon does not have a 17mm tilt-shift, a 400/5.6 prime, or a 50/1.8 that will autofocus on their entry level bodies. Only Pentax has a selection of pancake lenses. Only Olympus offers f/2 zooms. Only Sony has autofocusing Zeiss lenses.

Which of these lenses you'll need or can afford is going to be up to what you want to shoot and how you want to shoot it.

Learn about lenses. Learn what the focal length and max. aperture and all those abbreviations mean. Look at the pricetags on B&H or Adorama. I know this will seem like a completely bass-ackwards way of looking at it, but your lenses are actually going to be your permanent purchase. The camera body is easily the most disposable part of the system.

Most people upgrade their camera body in three to five years, like any other digital equipment (computers, phones, iPods, etc.) The glass can last you decades.

[Kbaby]

Hi dk87,

I'm also having the same issue... I've narrowed it down to those exact 2 models...

I currently have an older Olympus model and want to upgrade but decided to go with Canon or Nikon but its a tough choice from what I've seen so far.
I did play with both models and to be honest, to me, the nikon felt much better in my hands but I preffered the way the canon was set up. (Whether I could change these things in camera once I get it home, I wasn't sure... the guy trying to sell it to me had no idea what he was doing or talking about)
I wasn't too keen on the setting panel being ontop of the camera on the nikon but I did love the swivel lcd screen which would make certain shots much easier. A downside of the Nikon was if I ever did want to shoot HD videos with it, apparently it can only store 5mins of recording each session (not that I was planning on using it for this, but hey... If the functions there....)
I also noticed that alot of my local camera stores seem to stock more Canon stuff so that is also another thing I should think about.

Anyways, these are just a few of the things I have to try and decide, don't know if it will help you but let me know how you go and what you decide, you may help me =)

[Raoul Isidro]

Both models are equal to me. Could the purchase price swing the vote?
Any one of them you choose, you are buying into a system of lenses and add on gadgets for that particular brand. Look also on the angle of it being a system camera... i.e, does it share the same size batteries to other older models, same size battery grips, etc?
Cheers!

[camera.patty]

You can't go wrong with either a Canon or a Nikon. I was in your shoes last year when I decided to upgrade from my Kodak. I searched online, read reviews, etc. But what it came down to was actually holding the cameras in my hand. For me, the Canon just felt more comfortable to me. This was important considering how my time I spend out and about with my camera.

[boljak]

I've owned both the t1i and d90.
d90 is better than t1i imo.
easier to use,great body and button placements and it also has a top lcd.
pick the d90 and you'll be satisfied with it.