Nikon or Canon for a beginner?

[mpeltier]

I am pretty new to digital (and to photography). I recently purchased the Olympus 700 (10x optical zoom). I have taken about 1500 pictures with it (my dogs are not to pleased, slightly blind now) and the more I shoot with it the more I want a better camera. Right now my two options are the Canon D30 or the Fuji S1. Prices right now are about $200 apart with the Fuji S1 about $2300. My question is more to which I should choose. From what I have read the Fuji has the ability to “interpolate?” images in the 6mp range but you can also do this with software? The reviews were fairly consistent about the D30 having better color reproduction and a lot easier to shoot along with the image being either just as good or more often better than the Fuji. I am leaning towards the Canon just because it is a name I associate more with Photography but I keep hearing that it doesn’t have seals and hence is more prone to dust, etc. I don’t have a specific use for this (weddings, sports, etc.) I just want a good camera (SLR) that takes good pictures with a wide variety of accessories. Further down in this forum someone had mentioned the fact that you were basically marrying into that product line so I am guessing that is what it comes down to. Any help/feedback you could provide would be greatly appreciated.
Thanx

[Ken Neb]

I just got my D30 30 days ago and I love it. The enitre line of Canon EF lenes (not to mentions other brands) are at my disposal. I found the pics are high quality and it feels like a "real camera". Don't know anything about the Fuji S1, but the D30 is great. Good luck.

[Denise]

Hi,
I too am relatively new to photography but got involved with digital about three years ago. I have progressed from more or less point and shoot digital cameras to my D30 and would not change. As I did not intend on staying a novice forever, it was the best decision I could have made. The learning curve was quite steep but this would be the case when changing from any point and shoot camera to an SLR. As I was not lucky enough to have any lenses at all, it has been quite an expensive venture, but of course there is no need to buy everything on your wish list at once. From browsing photography forums it would seem that Nikon and Canon owners tend to stick with the brand they are used to, mainly I suppose because of the accessory investments made. If you can I would suggest that you try both the Nikon and the Canon digital cameras to see what feels right for you. IMHO you cannot get a better camera than the D30 for prosumer use.

[oops]

Canon D30 is/is not for the beginner. You gotta love the image potential and buy into the learning curve. But beware: your "buy" will be considerable.

The BIG plus for me was the support of this forum and their links. Without that you have nothing but heart-ache and "but it doesn't work that way!".

If you love photography, love digital, are not afraid of the digital darkroom, and want the cutting edge of the art; go D30.

But the learning curve is steep, don't let anyone fool you! My learning curve started with the G1, which we all thought was the perfect camera. After a whole manila folder of downloaded "tips" to make the G1 perform as advertised I realized I was the "prosumer" and Canon was the "giant" and I could work around their corporate schedule. Fuji is no different.

Who has the best bunch of folks with the same vested interest willing to share ways to help you make the machine do what you wanted and expected it to do?

I spent 5/k on the D30. We are all in this together, and they havn't let me down one time!

[Kenmc]

I have had many "experts" and local camera shops say that the Fuji has a big problem with dust on the sensor. The local shop even went on about the static charge on the CCD causes an intense attraction of the dust particles. I don't know how much to believe that statement, but it DOES get dirty... I know a local who only uses the Fuji in the studio with one lens. When he was taking it to sporting events and changing the lens outdoors he hated the camera. He said if he changed the lens twice on the side lines it took hours to correct all the dust spots on the pictures.

It was best put to me, "If you have a stock pile of Nikon lens already go with the Fuji and learn to clean it or save for the D1. If you are looking to build a lens collection buy a Canon."

I picked up the D30 and have loved every picture I get with it.