OK. I've spent about 20 hours reading and rereading articles on the net and I've only changed my mind twice a day, about which camera to buy. It really is a toss up. Unlike 25 years ago when glass ruled and you bought a lens system and the camera was only needed as a light-tight box to hold the film, today's cameras actually make a difference. Each processes data coming through the lens differently and yield, sometimes, drastically different results. All cameras do an adequate job of giving you adecent picture, but some cameras fit one's personal vision much better than others. And herein lies the problem, for me.
I've decided to go with Nikon over Canon. Canon is a great company and they have super products, but from a user-friendly pov, Nikon can't be beat. Their current crop of cameras are very intuitive for the photographer and some of the stuff they have as standard features make so much sense, I can't see why Canon hasn't incorporated them. I'm talking about things like one-button deleting and easy card formatting (which ought to be done after every upload) and data embedding into the EXIF file. Most photogs use this for copyright notice, but you're free to add two hidden lines of text as you see fit into every image.
So it's Nikon this time around. But what model?
I've determined that the D40, even though labeled as an entry level model, does quite a lot considering its price tag. In fact, the D40x, D60 and even the D80 don't offer much more, even though the D80 is twice the price. You're not really getting 2x your money's worth. So the D40 is a got bet.
Beyond that is the D200 the D300 and D3. The D200 has been replaced by the D300. In fact the D300 is SO good relative to the D200, it makes no sense to go the the D200 even at discounted, clearance prices. The D3 is $5350, and that's just ridiculous. And some say the D300 is pretty close to it, spec wise. The D300 is available locally for $1870, body only. (To put things into perspective, though, the Canon EOS-1DS MKIII lists for $8250 and is, arguably, the world's best, right now!)
But the D40 is only $540, and THIS week, it can be had at Blacks (web only) for $470 including the 18-55mm kit lens. I'd need this lens, anyway, with the D300.
So it looks like a no-brainer. Relative to the others it's practically free! Over the D300 it's a savings of about $1200 which can be put towards more esoteric glass, like a 12-24mm ultra-wide.
The only thing stopping me from putting in the order this minute is the thought that I'd eventually end up with the D300 anyway, so why not just get it over with and forget about the D40? The D40, though, is the light-as-a-feather-go-everywhere camera and that's important to me.
Maybe I need them both! :)
I've decided to go with Nikon over Canon. Canon is a great company and they have super products, but from a user-friendly pov, Nikon can't be beat. Their current crop of cameras are very intuitive for the photographer and some of the stuff they have as standard features make so much sense, I can't see why Canon hasn't incorporated them. I'm talking about things like one-button deleting and easy card formatting (which ought to be done after every upload) and data embedding into the EXIF file. Most photogs use this for copyright notice, but you're free to add two hidden lines of text as you see fit into every image.
So it's Nikon this time around. But what model?
I've determined that the D40, even though labeled as an entry level model, does quite a lot considering its price tag. In fact, the D40x, D60 and even the D80 don't offer much more, even though the D80 is twice the price. You're not really getting 2x your money's worth. So the D40 is a got bet.
Beyond that is the D200 the D300 and D3. The D200 has been replaced by the D300. In fact the D300 is SO good relative to the D200, it makes no sense to go the the D200 even at discounted, clearance prices. The D3 is $5350, and that's just ridiculous. And some say the D300 is pretty close to it, spec wise. The D300 is available locally for $1870, body only. (To put things into perspective, though, the Canon EOS-1DS MKIII lists for $8250 and is, arguably, the world's best, right now!)
But the D40 is only $540, and THIS week, it can be had at Blacks (web only) for $470 including the 18-55mm kit lens. I'd need this lens, anyway, with the D300.
So it looks like a no-brainer. Relative to the others it's practically free! Over the D300 it's a savings of about $1200 which can be put towards more esoteric glass, like a 12-24mm ultra-wide.
The only thing stopping me from putting in the order this minute is the thought that I'd eventually end up with the D300 anyway, so why not just get it over with and forget about the D40? The D40, though, is the light-as-a-feather-go-everywhere camera and that's important to me.
Maybe I need them both! :)
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