canon digital rebel xt vs nikon D40. which is better for first time DSLR buyer? TIA

On Mar 9, 9:30 am, joe smith wrote:


I think you need to consider how you want to use your camera in the
future. Remember, with a DSLR, unless your a point and shoot guy,
your biggest expense will come in your lenses as you become more
comfortable with the camera and want to get more creative. As you buy
more and more lenses you being to build a system so when it comes time
to buy your next body, say either the Canon 30D or Nikon D200, this
will depend on the lenses you bought and the system you built. In
other words, your first DSLR usually determines the system you will be
using for years to come. Don't get me wrong, some people do switch
but it becomes much more expensive when you've invested $5000+ in
Nikon lenses and now you want to buy the new Canon Body ($900 for the
body and another $5,000+ for all new Canon lenses). Either way, both
are great systems so you can't really go wrong.

Consider the type of photography you want to do and then take a look
at what lenses are available for each system, because, trust me, you
will find yourself wanting a new lens quicker then you think.

Personally, I'm a Nikon user with no plans to switch.

It very probably doesn't matter a bit. Unless you get into buying the
$1000+ lenses very quickly, it just won't matter. Even for low-light
performance, it doesn't sound like the bottom-end Canon has much of
anything over the D40.

i don't really plan to buy new lenses. does d40 produce better quality
than the rebel xt with the kit lens?



On 9 Mar 2007 08:56:25 -0800, "jaraz"
wrote:

On Mar 9, 9:30 am, joe smith wrote:


I think you need to consider how you want to use your camera in the
future. Remember, with a DSLR, unless your a point and shoot guy,
your biggest expense will come in your lenses as you become more
comfortable with the camera and want to get more creative. As you buy
more and more lenses you being to build a system so when it comes time
to buy your next body, say either the Canon 30D or Nikon D200, this
will depend on the lenses you bought and the system you built. In
other words, your first DSLR usually determines the system you will be
using for years to come. Don't get me wrong, some people do switch
but it becomes much more expensive when you've invested $5000+ in
Nikon lenses and now you want to buy the new Canon Body ($900 for the
body and another $5,000+ for all new Canon lenses). Either way, both
are great systems so you can't really go wrong.

Consider the type of photography you want to do and then take a look
at what lenses are available for each system, because, trust me, you
will find yourself wanting a new lens quicker then you think.

Personally, I'm a Nikon user with no plans to switch.

On Mar 9, 10:38 am, joe smith wrote:
i don't really plan to buy new lenses. does d40 produce better quality
than the rebel xt with the kit lens?

On 9 Mar 2007 08:56:25 -0800, "jaraz"
wrote:



On Mar 9, 9:30 am, joe smith wrote:

I think you need to consider how you want to use your camera in the
future. Remember, with a DSLR, unless your a point and shoot guy,
your biggest expense will come in your lenses as you become more
comfortable with the camera and want to get more creative. As you buy
more and more lenses you being to build a system so when it comes time
to buy your next body, say either the Canon 30D or Nikon D200, this
will depend on the lenses you bought and the system you built. In
other words, your first DSLR usually determines the system you will be
using for years to come. Don't get me wrong, some people do switch
but it becomes much more expensive when you've invested $5000+ in
Nikon lenses and now you want to buy the new Canon Body ($900 for the
body and another $5,000+ for all new Canon lenses). Either way, both
are great systems so you can't really go wrong.

Consider the type of photography you want to do and then take a look
at what lenses are available for each system, because, trust me, you
will find yourself wanting a new lens quicker then you think.

Personally, I'm a Nikon user with no plans to switch.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

The kit lenses are probably fine for some low light situations at the
widest focal length but remember, as you zoom with those kit lenses
your f-stop is going to be reduced, letting less light in, with
unfavorable results. This is when you start itching for that 1.4
lens. As for the quality, I believe you will be happy with either. I
suggest going on to Flickr.com and searching for photos by Camera
Type. See what you like.
You can also check out http://www.imaging-resource.com/IMCOMP/COMPS01.HTM
to compare results side-by-side.

Hope that helps and good luck.

On Fri, 09 Mar 2007 11:38:09 -0600, joe smith
wrote:

i don't really plan to buy new lenses. does d40 produce better quality
than the rebel xt with the kit lens?

Not planning to buy accessory lenses is up to you, of course, but the
main advantage of a DSLR, and a justification for the extra cost and
weight, is being able to change lenses.

The kit lenses for both Canon and Nikon are very good, though, and I
doubt you will see any difference between these and the expensive
lenses when viewing on a monitor or printing up to 8x10 inches. But
you do limit yourself in other ways, for instance speed (max aperture)
and no image stabilization.

KS

In article ,
joe smith wrote:


Depends on your needs. Try them out, compare their features, how they
fit in your hands, and compare the selection of lenses, then buy the
camera that best meets your needs. Both are excellent cameras.

On Mar 9, 6:51 pm, King Sardon wrote:
On Fri, 09 Mar 2007 11:38:09 -0600, joe smith
wrote:

i don't really plan to buy new lenses. doesd40produce better quality
than the rebel xt with the kit lens?

Not planning to buy accessory lenses is up to you, of course, but the
main advantage of a DSLR, and a justification for the extra cost and
weight, is being able to change lenses.

The kit lenses for both Canon andNikonare very good, though, and I
doubt you will see any difference between these and the expensive
lenses when viewing on a monitor or printing up to 8x10 inches. But
you do limit yourself in other ways, for instance speed (max aperture)
and no image stabilization.

KS

The kit lens on the Canon is NOT as good as the kit kit lens on the
D40. Most reviews criticise the quality of the Canon kit lens & praise
the D40 one.

On Mar 9, 5:38 pm, joe smith wrote:
i don't really plan to buy new lenses. doesd40produce better quality
than the rebel xt with the kit lens?

On 9 Mar 2007 08:56:25 -0800, "jaraz"
wrote:



On Mar 9, 9:30 am, joe smith wrote:

I think you need to consider how you want to use your camera in the
future. Remember, with a DSLR, unless your a point and shoot guy,
your biggest expense will come in your lenses as you become more
comfortable with the camera and want to get more creative. As you buy
more and more lenses you being to build a system so when it comes time
to buy your next body, say either the Canon 30D orNikonD200, this
will depend on the lenses you bought and the system you built. In
other words, your first DSLR usually determines the system you will be
using for years to come. Don't get me wrong, some people do switch
but it becomes much more expensive when you've invested $5000+ in
Nikonlenses and now you want to buy the new Canon Body ($900 for the
body and another $5,000+ for all new Canon lenses). Either way, both
are great systems so you can't really go wrong.

Consider the type of photography you want to do and then take a look
at what lenses are available for each system, because, trust me, you
will find yourself wanting a new lens quicker then you think.

Personally, I'm aNikonuser with no plans to switch.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Yes

On Mar 9, 12:30 pm, joe smith wrote:


One disadvantage of the D40 is that it doesn't have an autofocus drive
pin. This means that in order to have autofocus you need to use lenses
that have their own focus drive (AF-S and AF-I lenses). AFAIK the
Canon doesn't have that restriction.

-Gniewko