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I'm very keen on getting a DSLR but I can't decide between the Nikon D90 and the Canon 550D. I know there are lots of praise for both amongst BB members but is there any reason why I should sway towards one more than the other?
I'm trying to get the best deal I can by buying online. So far cameras out of Hong Kong seem to be the cheapest. Does anyone know of any super duper websites (anywhere in the world) I can look at?
TIA for any advice!
I have been a Canon girl since the days when silver had a lot to do with producing a photo (takes a moment to reminisce)
I think a good reason to go Canon is that when you want to get extra lenses, flashes, filters etc it is very easy to find Canon. Most photographers are Canon converts that I've met and there are just a lot of Canon goods around. And they work. Well.
Very exciting purchase. Good luck
I recently got a d90. Love it! The accessories were all easy to find from teds cameras.
One thing to be aware of. I looked at getting from overseas too, but you must pay extra costs if it's over either $1000 or $1500 ( sorry can't remember exactly) and it's cheaper buying as a kit. Which will take it over the $1000 mark. Email the websites but I certainly found it cheaper in aus. Go to the big stores and get from there is my real advice especially because the warranty you receive for overseas isn't always viable in aus.
Oh and get uv filters for the lenses.
I got the d90 plus 55-105 and 55-200 kit. The big lens is amazing.
Good luck with your choice :)
Try camerasdirect (au) website. Great deals and highly recommended. Also, a friend recently purchased from Harvey Normans during the sales.
I've got a Canon 500. Love Love Love it! My original SLR (non digital) is a Nikon.
It could be just a matter of Holdens vs Fords. When I see professional photographers they either have a Nikon or Canon.
Have fun with your new purchase :leap:
We have the Canon 550D with twin lens kit and also bought the 50mm Macro lens which I totally recommend! It's only around $150 but man it takes the most amazing photos! Make sure the lenses you get have IS as well as I think they sell some without it. Makes a difference in clarity! As for why we chose Canon over Nikon I think it is a bit like CBG mentioned, we have always had an Ixus for years since digital came out so it made sense to us to use a Canon, plus one of the most amazing kids photographers uses Canon and her stuff is incredible and I wanna be like her :rofl:
Have you seen the dpreview website? Loads of great information there to read and get confused over!
I use Nikon and of course I am going to say choose Nikon lol. My first DSLR was a D70s (which is the older version of the D90) and it is/was a great camera :) If you can go into a shop and feel both of them in your hands then give that a try. Sometimes it comes down to what feels more right in your hands too.
Be a bit wary of buying from Hong Kong. Make sure that the store has an Australian office because if there is any issues, such as warranty claims, then it makes it easier. Also you might get charged GST by customs if it's over $1000.
I've shopped locally at digitalcamerawarehouse or vanbar and they are quite competitive.
HTH :)
Nikon v Canon is like Holden v Ford.
My bestie and her partner are/were both photographers, she is doing her masters in photography, he doesn't do it as a job any more, just hobby.
He is a Nikon guy and she is a Canon girl. I've used both their cameras and personally I prefer the Canon. So when I get my camera next month I will be getting the 550D.
I personally much prefer Canon. If there isn't a clear winner for you go in store for a hold, I found thats what helped me make my mind up. It has to feel comfortable in your hands and I just couldn't stand the Nikon.
Thx heaps for all your advice girls! I'll head to a camera store today and check them both out. I think I'm leaning towards the Canon as I've had my Ixus for several years and it's been a little winner. I definitely need something that can capture a great shot in any circumstance though, you know what kids are like - my little Ixus just isn't fast enough! :lol:
The site in HK has the canon for $723 and it comes with the following: Canon EOS Kiss (the 'branding' name used in Asia) X4 550D Kit+EFS 18-55mm IS+Battery+UV. Sound OK? My parents bought both their cameras from HK without any issues. The only thing with the warranty is you have to send it back to them in HK.
With regards to the second (bigger?) lens, what would I use it for?
T, I've used my 55-250mm for whale watching photos, getting up close of the ****ies eating sunflower seeds next door and yesterday I was using the lens to take photos of flowers in the garden, birds high in the trees and up close shots of my doggie.:
I'm interested in getting the macro lens. Tanstar, where do you get it for $150?
Canon 550D we have - love it!! The video recorder on it is awesome, so awesome, that we no longer use our HDD recorder anymore as we don't have to!
Have fun buying!
CBG - Im pretty sure Harvey Norman have it for as low as $128 at the moment hun. Even at the full price of $150 it's a great buy! We got all our stuff at HN and got a great price with the bag, SD card, and the 50mm macro - now for a 17-55 lens, another macro and the list goes on........ stop me NOW!
Woah, so much to think about!!! Hmmm, I might get the extra lens later. The 18-55 would be good enough to begin with, yeah?
Girls, I can get all this (see below) from the HK seller for $723 and that also includes 2 yr warranty, but you need to send the camera to HK. I'm cool with that though. I'd need to buy a memory card if my existing one doesn't fit but they're cheap these days anyway. Is this a good package?
Brand New Kiss X4 Camera Body*
EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens
Battery Pack LP-E8
Battery Charger LC-E8E
Power Cord
Interface Cable IFC-130U
AV Cable AVC-DC400ST
Wide Strap EW-100DB III
EOS DIGITAL Solution Disk (CD-ROM)
Software Instruction Manual (CD-ROM,* PDF)
Camera Instruction Manual (CD-ROM, PDF)
Extra Rechargeable Battery
58mm UV Filter
T, I think 18-55 is a good start. I was using it the majority of the time until I started getting the 55-250mm out.
Sounds pretty good hun - remember all those cords and the things listed other than the camera and the lens aren't worth anything although it looks like alot of stuff! With that camera the HD video takes up alot of space so you will need a good quality HD card as well which are not that excy but excier than some! I use my standard lens most of the time unless I am up in the kids faces taking close ups of them and then I get my macro out. It's a bew-ewdiful thing.
You girls rock :hug: This has been so helpful!
Tanstar - lol, agree! I think it seems like good value for the body, IS lens, extra battery, extra warranty (although in HK) and the UV filter, yeah?
We have the Canon 550D with the standard 18-55mm lens which I use 80% of the time, but I also got a Tamron 180-300mm macro lens which I love love love - I find my big lens is great for taking those non posed toddler pics from afar as you can zoom in from miles away un-noticed, and great for nature shots.
Personally I find the Canon very comfortable in my hands, but as I like to use the view finder rather than the LCD screen for taking pics I find I have to squash my nose up against the back of the camera a bit too much (maybe I have a big nose LOL)
Thx Naomi :) All advice is helpful! Lol at the big nose :lol:
I think I've made my mind up - we are getting the 550D! Will be sure to post back once we've got it and have had a good play and let you all know what I think.
I'm so excited!!
:leap:
You'll love it T.
Then you can start on the 365 Project.
LOL CBG! I'm off to look at that thread now :)
Im a Canon lover aswell. I have a Canon 500D and its fantastic. Also have smaller canon IXUS camera too and its also fantastic. Have only ever bought canon cameras, always upgrade from them to more Canon cameras and couldnt recommend them enough.
I have a Nikon and while I love it one thing that annoys me is the lack of zoom? I know I can buy extras for it but I don't want to spend more money if you know what I mean.. Mine is just for basic family ect pictures..
it does take great pics though.. Dh's cousins DH is a professional Photographer and he said the difference between Nikon and Canon is the same as Holden and Ford.. You either like one brand or the other. They are just as good as each other.. They just offer different features so you just need to decide which one offers you more for your money :)
Good luck shopping
Enjoy your new camera - they are great!!
I’m just looking into buying a DSLR at the moment and this thread has been great! :thumbsup:
So thanks from me too for all the great information. :hug:
I bought the Canon 550D and it's amazing!! Love it!
I'm a bit late hun but I posted a similar thread late last year and I ended up getting the 550D. It's awesome as you probably already know!! Congrats on your new camera :)
BTW what is the other lens you're talking about, micro something????? Is it for close ups or just for clearer pics?
OK, I’ve decided, I’m joining the Cannon EOS 550D club too. :lol:
But lenses, I need help too please.
Do I get the 18-55 + 55-250 or the 18-135? I presume the 18-135 is more versatile and you don’t have the hassle of changing lenses? But what am I missing out on if I don’t have 250? Will I regret it? I’d like to get the 18-200 but that’s getting a bit exxy for me now.
Canon. Purely because my toddler has picked mine up and thrown it twice now and it still lives. Both my SILs and FIL (i think?) have had trouble with the lenes on their Nikons.
ETA, Oh hoorah! you got one :)
Rachel, you'll love the canon it's great :) I got the twin lens kit on the internet for around $1180 which included a memory card, cleaner, extra charger (I got the case separately on the internet that was really cheap from China, but it's the real canon case). They twin lens kits are priced from about $1400 to $1700 in the shops. The 18-55 lens is standard I think but the 55-200 is the one you can really zoom in and it's great for taking pics from very far away. I just came back from a holiday and took some stunning pictures of these boats going by (they were very far away but in my pictures they look like they are very close :)) and the pictures I took from the helicopter were fantastic too.
I bought the Kiss (Asian model) brand new off eBay from a seller (a digital goods retailer) in Melbourne. I got the camera with the 18-55 IS lens plus a telephoto lens and wide angel lens for $855. I was stoked with that. The only difference with the Kiss is it only as two languages - English and Japanese. English is good for me :D
ETA: I'd like to buy the super zoom lens down the track
Yep, Miss B, I’ve decided I’m going the twin lens kit.
Wow Taurean :thumbsup: that is an awesome price. It’s really pays to shop around doesn’t it. :D
Rachel, I got my twin lens kit on ebay, brand new from an Oz supplier (so for the warranty the camera has to be sent to Sydney) but I suppose they send it off to China as that's where they source the cameras from. I was toying with the idea of buying directly from China for a couple of hundreds dollars less, but if anything goes wrong I'd have to send it to China directly. I ended up buying from a seller that had the most cameras sold, I figured they would be pretty reliable! lol. If you need any info PM me hun :)
Well... our local shops has a Bing Lee so I went up there this arvo (instead of having an afternoon nap which I really needed) armed with my internet prices to see what they could do for me. I was prepared to pay a bit more because I’m so excited and I want it now... but...
They are totally out of stock and have no idea when they’re getting any more because of the Japanese earthquake. :( I didn’t think of that, poor Japan. :(