Canon 500d vs 550d vs Nikon D5100 and special offers

[rall567]

I am currently saving for my first DSLR camera. I've been taking pictures for years with a compact (using manual settings) so finally making the step-up.

I originally was looking at a Canon 550d or Nikon D5100, however my budget is tight because I have a baby on the way.

A local store in London is offering the Canon 500d for £500 incl two lenses (18-55mm + 75-300mm) for £500. I thought this was a good deal. At the same store the D5100 (with 18-55mm) is £600, and a 550d (with 18-55mm is £490).

A friend told me the lens kits are usually a waste of money - is this true? However, two lenses to start with for £500 sounds very good (definitely plan to buy a f1.8/50mm when I get my camera though).

I wanted to know what you guys would recommend? Is the extra money I'd need to invest in a 550d or D5100 worth it over and above the 500d?

What you do think?

Ps. I want a good all-round camera will be doing a lot of in-street photography and portraits. I also enjoy gigs, so would be using it a lot in low light (when they will let me into a gig with a DLSR).

[OsmosisStudios]

I'd recommend going down and trying them both out before making a decision: the ergonomics are the biggest difference between the two.

That said; kit lenses are a good starting point from which to learn about lenses. You dont necessarily know what youre going to want, lens-wise, until you try, so a bundled kit-lens is a good place to start. All 3 kits you've listed use a similar 18-55 lens (make sure you're getting the IS version on the Canon or VR version on the Nikon). I'd skip the 75-300 on the canon though: it's okay, but not worth buying; there are better options for very little more. There's a reason it's added in at almost no charge.

550D/D5100 over 500D? Well I'd say the 550D/D5100 at least. The 500D is an older model that wasn't around for long before they updated it. There are some differences.

If you're looking at low-light then a D5100 is likely your best bet, though the 550D is no slouch. The only real downside is 50mm f/1.8 lenses: The Canon's is cheap-as-chips (and unfortunately built as such), and the Nikon is more expensive (but better performing and built). Six and one-half dozen, really.

[Preeb]

One thing to keep in mind, once you start down the road, it's hard to stop. The 18-55 kit lenses are fine to learn the ropes. I've seen some wonderful photos taken with them, so don't feel like you are getting total junk. The downside is that they aren't particularly well built, are slow focusing and don't do well in low light situations. Eventually if you stay with it you will definitely want to upgrade and that's where it gets interesting.

About half of the threads I read on several photo forums are from folks asking what lens they should get, but as far as I've been able to tell, only you know what sort of photography you do and what you need to get the images you want. Once you learn that by using the kit lens, then you will be able to make a decision based on your needs and budget. Any of those kits with the 18-55 lens will get you started. I have the Canon 500d and I'm quite happy with it. I bought it with the 18-55 kit lens, but have since moved on to better glass. Mostly I learned what I wanted by simply getting out and shooting, then I replaced the kit, and went on from there. You can see in my signature what I have ended up with. I'm quite happy with my current kit.

[ripanchy]

Now This 2 cameras priced in this way at amazon:
Canon 550D/T2i with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens (USD 620) or
Nikon D5100 with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF-S DX VR Nikkor Zoom Lens(+USD700)

Which 1 I should buy ?

Pls consider these 4 big points too:
01. Built in auto focus for Canon T2i
02. Battery Life 50% high for Nikon D5100
03. Lower Lens price for Canon cameras
04. Better Image quality for Nikon D5100

will wait for all your valuable comments and points.

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by ripanchy

Now This 2 cameras priced in this way at amazon:
Canon 550D/T2i with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens (USD 620) or
Nikon D5100 with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF-S DX VR Nikkor Zoom Lens(+USD700)

Which 1 I should buy ?

Pls consider these 4 big points too:
01. Built in auto focus for Canon T2i
02. Battery Life 50% high for Nikon D5100
03. Lower Lens price for Canon cameras
04. Better Image quality for Nikon D5100

will wait for all your valuable comments and points.

Canon 550D/t2i or Nikon D5100: which 1 to buy

Cross-posting is discouraged.

[rall567]

Merry Christmas everyone... had a really busy few days, however wanted to say thank you to everyone for the fantastic responses.

Think I am going to go with the Canon 500d (seen a good deal with a kit lens for under £500) and just start taking pictures. Hopefully, after a while I will work out which lenses I need.

Thanks again
Robert

[Preeb]

Originally Posted by rall567

Merry Christmas everyone... had a really busy few days, however wanted to say thank you to everyone for the fantastic responses.

Think I am going to go with the Canon 500d (seen a good deal with a kit lens for under £500) and just start taking pictures. Hopefully, after a while I will work out which lenses I need.

Thanks again
Robert

Good decision. Once you get into it, then you can decide from experience what changes or additions you might need.

[Camille7]

because of work,i also need a camera

[rall567]

Well a trip to the store (and some on-line reviews) and my mind was changed.

I actually ended up getting a Nikon D5100. It felt more natural in my hand than the 600d. The low light performance (especially because I will want to shoot at gigs) swayed me. It was hard to move from Canon after my compact had served me so well for so many years... I hope the Nikon family is just as good.

Thanks again for all the help and advice guys.

[bigben6]

i think you would be happy with either, i think you will be happIEST with the d5100. And your comment that cannon lenses are cheaper confounds me, it kinda bounces back and forth and there is no difference with 3rd party lenses.

Of the glass you till most likely shoot at on of your gigs consider:

35mm f/1.8
Nikkor - 196
Cannon only makes a 35mm f/2.0 for $330 or a f/1.4 for $1400 that i can find
So Nikon is obviously cheaper in that case.

BUT in the nifty 50mm f/1.8 area
Nikkor - 216
Cannon - 120
so in this case cannon is cheaper

ALot of other lenses are so close as to not warrant cost of glass a significant or noteworthy factor.