newbie need advice

[pvibes]

Hi All,
I am ready to buy my first DSLR and have been torturing myself with what to get and I'm not really sure how to make the decision. I've been considering the Nikon d200 (the banding problems scare the hell out of me even though I hardly understand what that is all about) and the new D30 or possibly the D5.
While I don't want to trigger a nikon v's canon debate I just wonder how people made their intitial decisions. I'm reading and learning heaps but I nervous about making the wrong choice.
I've joined a local photography club and have booked in for lessons that don't start until May. I'm interested in nature and travel photography and eventually would like to try some Macro work as well.
Any thoughts??? I really want to buy something and get started although I'm already having a ball looking at other people's work.

thanks for any advice.

Trish

[kaitanium]

well people here will sway you towards canon of course =P (not saying nikons are bad cameras)

when i bought my digital rebel about a year and half ago my main deciding factor was cost. basically it was a great camera for the cost and one that allowed me, a beginner at photography, to get my hands on a SLR. later i found out that i had saved myself some money to buy lenses (gotta mention canons nice and wide selection of lenses over nikons), and many would recommend getting a body, but ontop of that good lenses to back it up for a good body and a bad lens isnt a good combo but a ok body with good lenses can do much more. my family has always own canon products and so that was factored in too. so yes spend what you can on a body but really leave the cash for the lenses that will back that body up, unless of coures money isnt an issue

i wanted to start simple so as to not overwhelmed and impeed my learning process with all the knick knacks of more expesnsive bodies (a 300d can do alot more than my old ae-1 could have done). and let me tell you that my what some may now consider, "inferior" canon 300d is still rocking on hard and allowing me to capture awesome shots. of course ive found some constraints of the camera but sometimes its fun working with constraints. in the end it boils down to your own composition skills and not if you have the biggest baddest camera out there.

[emidyl]

Aside from $ issues, the most important thing is feel and fit in your hands. Both have pros and cons. When I made my purchase the 20D just felt right in my hands. The Nikons felt a little bulkier and somewhat clumsier for me to use.
Both have quality glass available. Then I had a decision to make between 20D and 350 and the selling points to me were better viewfinder, build quality, and user interface and position of controls.
No right or wrong answers, just what works for you be it Nikon or Canon.

[Dorman]

PVibes, consider that you're not buying a camera body so much as you are buying into a camera system. Take a look at the selection of lenses and accessories offered by both Canon and Nikon. Canon seems to have a wider selection of proprietary lenses, but with third party manufacturers like Sigma, Tamron, and Tokina there's a ton to choose from in regards to add-on's from both big ones.

What is your budget for a body and starter accessories? What features do you think will be important to you as you get into photography? (for example - how many frames per second, megapixels, robust body, etc)

Lastly go to a camera shop and hold some camera bodies and get a feel for the layout of the controls. You may find a Canon fits your hand like a glove, or a Nikon to feel the best, or even a Pentax or Olympus...

[jjonsalt]

...you are buying into a camera system.

I agree. When I considered everything, cameras, lenses, flashes, et. I went with Canon. Also I reconized that more pros are into Canon than Nikon. While it's true that there are third party lenses, flashes, et. I try to stay with the Canon brand for my Canon system.

[Woolburr]

The biggest consideration is how the camera feels in your hands. If you do not like the feel of a camera, you are not going to use it all that much. Go to a camera store that allows you to do hands on and try the various brands until you find the one that is right for you. I've been using Canon gear for over 30 years now...because I like the feel of it. My last job even provided me with top of the line Nikon gear, but I used my own personal Canon gear because the Nikon stuff just didn't feel right.

[chink]

I went with canon because I already had Canon lenses that worked with my film SLR it didn't make sense for me to go to a new system.