$650 DSLR for Christmas (Cannon vs Nikon)?
Should I go with the Nikon D3100 or Canon XSi as my first DSLR camera?
I'm going to do mostly casual photography and portraits of dogs but would like to get into action sports like skateboarding.
The Nikon feels better in my hand but which ever brand I go with now is going to be long term because I'm going to invest in lenses, so I want to pick the brand better for me long-term
I own two, the Rebel XS and he eos t1i, both are excellent cameras. But Nikon makes an excellent line of cameras also so which ever you feel more comfortable with - go for it.
Currently the XS = $500 and the t1i is about $650 and does video.
Nikon D3100
GO with what feels best for you. No sense in getting a camera you are uncomfortable with especially if you plan on making this a long term investment.
I recommend Nikon due to the fact that the lens compatibility is unmatched by any other manufacturer. Canon is fine if you can get past the horrible customer service, lens format changes, and seemingly cheap ( in my opinion) components of their entry level to mid-grade dSLRs.
Image quality is based on photographer ability so if you know what you are doing, no one can tell which brand you are using by just looking at the image.
D3100 is unbeatable.Best price/performance, and well, XSi is 2+ years old so it's not fair to compare.Canon hasn't introduced a competitor yet. But D3100 will still be great for what you'll use with it.
Here's a post called 'Buying a DSLR, what's important, megapixels, features, brand, price and which one to buy - http://www.the-dslr-photographer.com/2009/03/which-dslr-to-buy.html
Go to a photography store and hold the cameras in your hand. Both brands are very comparable. I prefer Nikon, myself because of the way it fits in my hand. For entry level check out the new Nikon D3100 and for a great mid range camera check out the Nikon D7000. If you don't have too much money to spend then get an entry level camera with more expensive lens. If you want a good lens stay with the lens that has focal ratio of F/2.8 and below, also look for the following features; AF (auto focus) and VR (Vibration Reduction). The lens that start with a focal ratio of F/4.5 are a good value and are a fraction of the price, but as they say, you get what you pay for.
Cross reference the cameras that you are thinking about by googling both model numbers + the website "snapsort". This will give you the pros and cons to both cameras. Make sure you do at least two weeks of research before you pull the trigger on a specific camera, lots of things to think about. Good Luck.
Honorable mention for an overall good Canon cameras: Cannon T2i for entry level and Cannon EOS 7D for mid range
I just like the way my D3100 feels in my hand and the colors it gives me, but the T2i has slightly better specs. Check out snapsort review below.
http://snapsort.com/...ikon_D3100
Ps: Don't count on any of these cameras to be your primary video camera.