what to choose?

Hello.
I want to buy my first DSLR and although I never even had a P&S (my camera is a Nokia N73) I learned a whole lotta stuff about DSLR's and photography, mostly thanks to you guys. So, thank you! You've been a great source of knowledge and inspiration.

But now I need you to be impartial and tell me what would be best and why, between the XTi, Nikon D80 and Canon 40D. My budget is about 900-1000 EUR maximum. So with the XTi I could afford some nice stabilized zoom, with the D80 I could get a Sigma 17-70 2.8-4.5 macro (seems a pretty decent lens) and with the 40D...well....frankly even the nifty fifty is out of my budget. I don't know if I want to invest so much in photography...I won't do it for money, I'll do it from passion only.

Well, the XTi seems a pretty neat camera but...
-I don't like its build and its small grip
-no spot meter
-a lot of chroma noise at ISO 1600 in low light
The XTi is 450 EUR.

Now, for 622 EUR I can get the D80:
-bigger, brighter viewfinder
-spot meter
-better build
-two command dials (correct me if I'm wrong)
-better metering
-same or better AF
-ISO 3200(oh well...worth mentioning)
-interesting flash (acts as commander for other Speedlights etc)
-some other things that I may forget cuz I just woke up

But the D80 doesn't come without its problem:
-noise noise noise...when comparing http://www.imaging-resource.com/IMCOMP/CO​MPS01.HTM
the D80 doesn't seem bad at all! But searching Flickr I found some nasty shots at ISO 1600. This one is pretty good:
http://www.flickr.com/​photos/dmcantrell/2193​949979/
But this is pretty horrid:
http://www.flickr.com …e1999/111331962​7/sizes/o/
Or is it? XTi owners, give me feedback! Is that a very bad picture?

XTi photos seem to have a higher amount of chroma noise but better texture.
http://www.flickr.com …lalba/220302803​4/sizes/o/
Well it's still a horrible picture and it obviously has a lot of motion blur, but the details seem better.

Well...on to the 40D. It's cool, it's better, it's freakin' expensive and it's large and heavy as a brick. Well, I hate that. I don't like the XTi with its way too small size but I held a Nikon D50 with a neck strap and I couldn't imagine myself carrying it in the summertime while climbing a mountain. It was heavy and cumbersome, although it felt very good in my hands. So the fact that the 40D is even LARGER and HEAVIER than that D50, the XTi and the D80, while being very expensive, is a big drawback. A very big one.

I could overpass that drawback but it seems that IQ-wise the 40D isn't that much better than the XTi: http://www.flickr.com …erlab/228948222​6/sizes/o/
This still has that chroma noise. Very bad. Enabling the NR would kill the >6 FPS...I feel that 900EUR for the 40D is too much...for a brick-sized camera that doesn't deliver considerably better IQ than the XTi. OK, the 6.5 FPS is very, very nice! The magnesium alloy body is cool also, as the here-and-there weather seals. But...900 euros...

So, frankly the D80 seems the better camera for my money(considering that I could afford some glass also). But...is the ISO 1600 performance so much behind the XTi? Please be impartial and honest...I know it's a Canon forum and of course that I know that Nikon is the "enemy". But you guys are not fanboys. You're photographers! So...waiting for your replies.

Honestly, given your budget the 40D seems like it is off the table. A dSLR is a kit of gear, and if all you can afford is the body then you are looking at the wrong body.

As for the D80 vs. the XTi, I can't comment on all those links (flikr trawling is useless, you cannot assess the photographer and that affects noise more than the body) but I have been watching the various noise dicussions over a long time and I'd be surprised if the XTi had worse noise than the D80.

So, I think the Xti probably represents the best choice for you as it is a good performer and allows you to get the most additional kit. Only you can decide if you can live with it's ergonomics and size.

One other possible, since you are wide open on maker you could also look at Pentax. The new K20D is out and so the K10 prices are pretty low. Noise is no better than the Nikons but the ergonomics of the K10 might appeal to you.

I haven't used a Nikon D80, but I have used the D70 & D50 (my almost MIL has the D70 & my boyfriend has the D50), & I have the Canon XTi.

Personally, out of all 3, I like the XTi. I find Canon more user friendly than Nikons, but that's a personal choice. I take better photos with a Canon than I do with a Nikon, but that'll be because I'm more comfortable with the camera.

Go to your local camera shop & have a play around with the different cameras, see which one you prefer. Also, if you like the 40D, but can't afford it, why not have a look at the 30D or 20D instead?

Good luck, enjoy! The transition between a P&S camera & DSLR is great! I've only had my Canon a month or so, but it's opened up a whole new world of photographic opportunities!

Get the 30D....

Sorry but those flickr images you link too are very poorly done to make any kinda of judgment call by.

Master-9 wrote in post #5032208
Get the 30D....

Not a bad idea if the OP likes the ergonomics of the 40D, this is in budget.

I like the 30D a lot more than the Nikon D80.

If not the 40D get the 30D.

get what ya budget but aim high on lenses.

I had an XT and upgraded to a 30D and then a 40D. I've played with the XTI. Based on your post, I would guess the 30D would probably fit your needs best.

Thank you for your fast replies.
The thing is that the 30D is still about 700 EUR and really, I feel that it's in 40D territory. I just have the feeling that if I'd go with the 30D I'll blame myself for being too cheap for the extra 200 EUR. Really, I don't know why I feel that way but I don't think I'd be happy with the 20D/30D. I feel that the 40D is more of an upgrade and it's worth it. On the other hand the xxD series seem just a little bit too heavy and large...The D80 feels perfect.

Well I guess I want to know if 40D's noise at high ISO is --A LOT-- better than the noise of the D80 at the same ISO speed. Of course I'm not interested in the noise reduction each camera is capable of, I care about how clean the signal is in the first place. So, IQ wise, is the 40D a much better camera than the Nikon D80?