Decisions, decisions.

Bryan's brother, Derek, is a terribly good photographer.  By "terribly good" I mean that every single picture of his I've seen looks like it belongs in a huge, shiny book that costs a fortune and should be set on a rich person's coffee table.

Yeah.

I'm not even a kind-of-decent photographer, but I totally blame it on my camera.   My tiny little piece-of-crap-half-the-time-the-pictures-are-fuzzy- no-matter-what-setting-it's-on camera.  You know the one.

So I want a new camera, and I'm going to get one.  And I really had my heart set on a Nikon D50, or 70, or hell! Even 80! Wahoo!  Because I've seen so many incredible pictures taken with them, and I want a really great camera, and you know, I'm totally rolling around in hundred dollah dollah bills.

Well, Bryan asked Derek what his thoughts on the Nikon were, and Derek recommended this other camera, a Canon (oh, rivalry!) with this weird name, EOS Rebel XT something-or-other that sounds like some sort of SUV.  And Derek totally knows photography, and equipment, and since he knows what the hell he's talking about I feel like maybe I should follow his advice.

And now I'm torn.  I mean, it's not like I've seen (in person) either of these cameras, or held them, or used them, or anything. And it will be awhile until I can afford either one.  But the Canon is cheaper, which means I'll be able to afford it sooner than the Nikon, and Derek says it has all kinds of different lenses (whee!), whereas the Nikons don't have quite so many.  And the Canon whatever-whatever has good reviews, and I mean, it's not like I'm going to be taking professional portraits, or doing wedding photos, or anything.

But I don't know.  I have this strange loyalty/attachment/fixation with the Nikon.  I don't know if I can settle for the Canon.  Like I'd almost rather just get the Nikon D50, instead of the souped-up Canon with the lift kit and fat tires.  Ya know?  Maybe I'm just being weird.

Any thoughts or opinions on what I should do when, in 100 years, I have the money to choose? 

Comments

[Dotty]

I am partial to the Nikon because I have the D50. I also used a really, really, really old 35mm manual Nikon when I was in college for all my photography classes. So me and Nikon go way back. That's not to say the Canon wouldn't suit your needs.

This was incredibly helpful, wasn't it? :)

[Teri]

It is really bizarre the way we are having the EXACT SAME camera debate in our house right now!!! I also have the 2 megapixel, fuzzy crap-guaranteed disappointment camera. We can't afford it, but are looking at either the Canon Digital Rebel or the Nikon D50 or 70. (Or the D80, but that's my husband's vote: you know how the boyz always have to one-up it...)

Honestly, all the cameras in question are highly recommended by People Who Know, and we see the fantastic results from the Nikons ala Fuzzy Peach and <3KB/Kelly, so I think whichever one we go for will be awesome. I say look for a good deal and - the one thing I have heard - is spring for a good lens that is suited to your interests.

I hope we both win the lottery soon!

Excellent Canon chicks:
http://www.superherodesigns.com/journal/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tarabaxter

[courtney]

I have the rebel xt and love it! I know very little about digital stuff and was pretty darn attached to my 35mm cannon-but let me tell you the rebel is amazing. I rarely have a fuzzy picture and even bad pictures come out looking professional-high res and all. You can check out my pictures on flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/79406185@N00/-they're not very exciting but it will give you an idea of the quality. :)

[beautiful mess]

i'm pretty loyal to Nikon, & therefore somewhat biased, but i'm TOTALLY in love with my Nikon D70. i actually went without a digital camera until last year because i just had my heart set on the D70 & didn't want to settle for something less. and, to me, it was totally worth the wait.

i have a friend who has the Canon Rebel. it takes excellent pictures, but i still feel that the D70's pictures (even taken with my crappy photography skills) are better.

have you looked into refurbished D70's? they still come with a warranty & are usually a LOT cheaper than the new ones. mine is refurbished & the only problem i've had with it is a result of whiskey sauce being accidentally poured into all of its crevices. so, yeah, my vote is to go with a Nikon.

[Sarah]

I'm a Nikon D50 girl because my brother had the D70 and I tend to copy anything he does. The D50 has almost everything the D70 has, but is a bit smaller and lighter - and cheaper. Other than that, I have no professional opinion about the advantage of a Nikon over a Canon. Helpful, huh?

[Andrea]

My little point-and-click digital camera (PhotosShot S200 digital elph) is by Canon, and I'm quite happy with it. I have no experience with the really fancy cameras, though.

[fuzzypeach]

Well, another vote for the Nikon:) Love my d50 tho I sometimes wish I'd gone with the d70... ah, money. But I have to say I have seen great things from the Canon Rebel too and want to say that whichever camera you get, get a 50mm 1.8 lens - it's what I take the vast majority of my shots with and it is marvelous. Seen good things from the canon version of the lens too.

[KB]

I have the D50 and love it! Although I think both (Nikon & Canon Digital SLR version) cameras are great and seem to be fairly comparable. I don't think you can go wrong with either of them.

Of course I say definitely go Nikon though :)

[Elle]

I have the Nikon D50 and it's the greatest! So easy to use, great picture quality, etc. I LOVE mine. I highly recommend it.