looking at purchasing a DSLR in the £500-700 range.....it looks like Cannon and Nikon the main 2 candidates.....the D90 or eos 550d. Anyone got one and any advice on prices/ spec. Cannon has higher megapixel yet Nikon has more fps.....how will this affect pic quality/useability given im a relative beginner? And isnt the D90 an older model likely to be replaced??

Any comments or advice welcome

Dan

I went for the D5000 as I thought the folding screen would come in handy

Very happy with the results so far - comes out generally on a par with the Canon 550 in many reviews

+1

The D90 is too getting a bit long in the tooth now so rule that one out.

Having MEGA pixels isn't the panacea of a good photo either - it's the way the are used. A high fps is also good but in this range you can't expect anything moderately outstanding unless you look at the Sony cameras but their reviews really rule them out on quality grounds.

As Bryan says, go for the D5000 as a decent overall camera but consider having a different kit lens when you buy it.

Always found this site to be of help..

http://www.dpreview.com/

I have a EOS 450D that I bought 18 months ago.

I don't think you will notice any difference in quality of photos between the Nikon and Canon. What you need to do is "test drive" each one to decide which you prefer from the point of view of control layout and features.

And a lonely voice from the back of the classroom quietly said Pentax K-7.

I have one and it's more recent bigger brother the K-5 and they are my preferred manufacturer mainly due to being corrupted by my late father.

As has been said go try them and make sure they feel right.

I have a Canon 50D and can only say great things about it! Ive literally just come from my photography lesson at the local school and some of the results ive been getting are really surprising me!

However, I may consider selling it in the near future as, unfortunately I had a go of a full frame 5D tonight.

my advoce would be to take into account the cost of accessories, ie lenses/flashguns etc. I got a sony alpha for my birthday a couple of years ago however the cost of additional lenses is prohibitive

my advoce would be to take into account the cost of accessories, ie lenses/flashguns etc. I got a sony alpha for my birthday a couple of years ago however the cost of additional lenses is prohibitive

To be fair I think anyone who has got to the stage of investing £500 to £700 on a DSLR will have looked into the cost of additional lenses already :|

To be fair I think anyone who has got to the stage of investing £500 to £700 on a DSLR will have looked into the cost of additional lenses already :|

unfortunately my now ex bought mine and didn't

i have a 550d and have to say its an awesome camera but the money should really go towards good lenses

the kit lense is okay but its bigger brothers are needed to get the best from it.

i have a 450d DAn its pretty impressive , if your local come and have a play with it , hands on etc ,

If your local come and have a play with it , hands on etc ,

Oh how I laughed :rofl:

Be afraid Dan...........be very afraid

Oh how I laughed :rofl:

Be afraid Dan...........be very afraid

Brimma stop whatever you were tinking now.......im sure pete is merely offering a helping hand :S

thanks 4 the advice guys.....going to do some window shopping, will update when i part with the readies :'(

Bear in mind that the Nikon D5000 has no AF motor which means it can only focus lenses with the motor built into the lens, to be fair that's a decent amount these days but it can restrict your choice particularly with some of the slightly older primes which are still decent and can be had for a reasonable price.

John

I wouldn't rule the D90 out at all, as suggested earlier - it's a brilliant camera with great flexibility, and it's really hard to pick out any faults with it that amount to more than minor niggles. The price needs to come down a bit now the D7000 is out, but the ability to use older AF lenses is worth that bit extra over the next step down - the cheapest Nikkor 50mm F/1.8 amounts to the best £90 you'll ever spend

Oh how I laughed :rofl:

Be afraid Dan...........be very afraid

Oh dear , its not friday at 5 is it bryan

Not wanting to be too controversial - but anyone else using Olympus?

I have an e-500 and planning upgrade to an e-620 around Xmas.

Seem great value and amazing results - plus the lens kits are superb.

I wouldn't rule the D90 out at all, as suggested earlier - it's a brilliant camera with great flexibility, and it's really hard to pick out any faults with it that amount to more than minor niggles. The price needs to come down a bit now the D7000 is out, but the ability to use older AF lenses is worth that bit extra over the next step down - the cheapest Nikkor 50mm F/1.8 amounts to the best £90 you'll ever spend

I've been using a D90 since they came out a couple of years ago, having previously owned a D70. I've been delighted with the results, it's a well engineered robust camera, with amazing low light, high .ISO capability. A clue that Nikon got this camera pretty spot on from the outset is that it has never had a firmware upgrade issued for it.

I personally saw nothing in the D7000 spec that has made me want to upgrade.

I wouldn't necessarily upgrade from a D90 to a D7000, but for a new buyer it might make sense. Everything on the D7000 is just that little bit better, especially low light performance and movie mode.

Everything on the D7000 is just that little bit better, especially low light performance and movie mode.

It's also £1094 body only from Jessops..........a little bit over budget :S

  At the other end, even the new entry level £450 Nikon D3100 is brilliant although it's lacking in quite a few useful features - ability to easily change multiple parameters, exposure bracketing, AF screw drive, etc. I know a guy who still shoots with a Canon 400D and gets stunning results, and you can hoover up the higher spec 450D (but now discontinued) with a kit lens for around £400 if you look around carefully. I've seen 500D kits going for £500 too.

Practically speaking though, most of these cameras are very good at what they do. Stick some quality glass on them and you can get results easily as good as much higher spec models. It might be worth looking at buying the body only, and adding with one quality lens to get you started.

Edited 9 December, 201015 yr by Interphase

It's a Nikon vote from me.

I'm a Pro user, and Shoot a Nikon D3 and D3x for a living.

Personally, I find the Nikon's (especially the D3) are better in low-light than the Canon's.

Nikon and Canon bits are more common, and can be cheaper than Sony/Minolta, Olympus etc. - loads of Nikon and Canon bits on eBay etc.

The Nikkor Len's are very good, maybe the 18-105 VR would be in your price range along with a body?

The D90 aint a bad body at all, and remember it also has a HD Video mode. (ok, only 720p) Can be bought for £731.49 inc 18-105 VR Lens.

Check out This link for fairly up to date prices. Be careful tho, sometimes its cheaper to buy a body from one shop, and a lens from elsewhere!

Al.

cheers for the advice guys........i really am going to have to go and sample some real ones in shop and then maybe look for the best deals on line, before the VAT rise

You do need to get "hands on" with a camera to ensure it is a comfortable fit in your hands; everyone is different.

The Nikon D20-90 series are a fairly large camera and so a good fit for my huge hands, I dont have any trouble with microscopic buttons !!

I would ignore the fact it was launched 2.5 years ago as the DSLR market is now fairly mature; buying a newer model is now like buying a new TV or Hifi; more about looks and gizmos than actual functionality.

Look to get a discount on the RRP and put the money towards one of the excellent "VR" stabilized zoom lenses.