Nikon or Canon: I have a 5 year old Canon Rebel & two lenses. It was what I could afford at the time. I'm thinking about upgrading, but at this point I'm really not sure whether to...

sojourner52 Loc: Dallas

I have a 5 year old Canon Rebel & two lenses. It was what I could afford at the time. I'm thinking about upgrading, but at this point I'm really not sure whether to stick with what I have or move to Nikon. A D80 or a D90 or such.
Any advice for this hobbyist?

mdorn Loc: Portland, OR

Moon52 wrote:

I have a 5 year old Canon Rebel & two lenses. It was what I could afford at the time. I'm thinking about upgrading, but at this point I'm really not sure whether to stick with what I have or move to Nikon. A D80 or a D90 or such.
Any advice for this hobbyist?

You are implying that you can afford much more now... that's good. What kind of photography do you hobby with? What is your new bigger budget? :-)

sojourner52 Loc: Dallas

mdorn wrote:

You are implying that you can afford much more now... that's good. What kind of photography do you hobby with? What is your new bigger budget? :-)

I shoot landscapes and and some people. New budget, $6-700 for a body, Plus the price of 1 0r 2 lenses. The lenses depend on speed and focal length.

MagicMark

Moon52 wrote:

I have a 5 year old Canon Rebel & two lenses. It was what I could afford at the time. I'm thinking about upgrading, but at this point I'm really not sure whether to stick with what I have or move to Nikon. A D80 or a D90 or such.
Any advice for this hobbyist?

Hi Moon,

While I can't make that decision for you I can offer some personal insights. I've been a Canon user since I was 16 years old ( I'm 48 now) and I just recently had to make the same decision as you have.

I love Canon and they have some great cameras but I've been wanting to do some "in camera" multiple exposures since I was 16. And I've been waiting for Canon to offer a camera with this feature for under $1000 (I've waited 32 years now) but Canon won't do it so I made the switch to Nikon and I'm glad I did because the D5200 by Nikon offers not only multiple exposure but an incredible 24 mega pixel sensor that has noise well under control even at 3200 ISO and it's not bad at 6400 ISO either.

So if you're looking for a camera with maximum control, great image resolution and for under $1000...Nikon may be just be what you are looking for.

Anyway, which ever you choose I wish you all the best! :)

chaser48 Loc: Texas

MagicMark wrote:

Hi Moon, br br While I can't make that decision f... (show quote)

Moon 52. I would go with a Nikon 5200. BUT, I am a Nikon "snob" as wife calls it. Been using Nikon since 1970 :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D

traveler90712 Loc: Lake Worth, Fl.

Mr. Moon,
I too would suggest a Nikon (I'm a Nikon user, D7000).

BUT, there will be a learning curve. If your willing, with your experience, you should have no problem.

Good Luck, keep us informed!

Ched49 Loc: Pittsburgh, Pa.

I have Nikon cameras but since you have a Canon camera with two lenses, wouldn't it be cost effective to stick with Canon?

buffmaloney Loc: Indiana

What Canon lenses? Are they compatible with Canon DSLRs? If so, consider the cost of replacing them with Nikon glass if you go that route. I personally prefer Nikon, but the stingy side of me doesn't like to waste 2 perfectly good lenses, assuming your 2 are perfectly good. That said, I got a Nikon refurbished D7000 for $619 from Adorama...maybe it was B&H.

jrb1213 Loc: McDonough GEorgia

Your budget won't allow you to change brands. You can get a used T4i for around $600, but that is body only. If you want more camera than that you need to start thinking $800 to $1000 for the body only (Canon 7D and Nikon d7100. These are crop sensor. If you want full frame double, triple or even quadruple those numbers and your EF-S lenses won't fit a Canon full frame camera.
If you just want more mp think about the T 3 I as well. Then you are in your price range .

sojourner52 Loc: Dallas

buffmaloney wrote:

What Canon lenses? Are they compatible with Canon DSLRs? If so, consider the cost of replacing them with Nikon glass if you go that route. I personally prefer Nikon, but the stingy side of me doesn't like to waste 2 perfectly good lenses, assuming your 2 are perfectly good. That said, I got a Nikon refurbished D7000 for $619 from Adorama...maybe it was B&H.

Camera is a Rebel XT DSLR
Kit lense - 18-55 / f3.5-f5.6
2nd lense - 35-105 /f3.5-f4.5

As one can see,these aren't really the best glass Canon has. That's why I'm considering changing systems. Bodies are just about disposable. A good lense is forever. Nikon has used the same mount since the 50s. Canon has changed their mount a couple times.

lighthouse Loc: No Fixed Abode

Yes if you want to. Better to change now than later.
But to be honest I think I would aim higher than a D90 to make the change more worthwhile.
You are right, the gear you have is "basically give away stuff".
What about a refurb D7000, a Nikkor 50mm F/1.8D and a Sigma 10-20mm 1:4-5.6 EX DC HSM with an aim for a decent 70-300mm further down the track?

Moon52 wrote:

I have a 5 year old Canon Rebel & two lenses. It was what I could afford at the time. I'm thinking about upgrading, but at this point I'm really not sure whether to stick with what I have or move to Nikon. A D80 or a D90 or such.
Any advice for this hobbyist?

buffmaloney Loc: Indiana

Moon52 wrote:

Camera is a Rebel XT DSLR
Kit lense - 18-55 / f3.5-f5.6
2nd lense - 35-105 /f3.5-f4.5

As one can see,these aren't really the best glass Canon has. That's why I'm considering changing systems. Bodies are just about disposable. A good lense is forever. Nikon has used the same mount since the 50s. Canon has changed their mount a couple times.

If you decide on switching to Nikon, maybe you can list that stuff on craigslist.

MagicMark

Moon52 wrote:

Camera is a Rebel XT DSLR
Kit lense - 18-55 / f3.5-f5.6
2nd lense - 35-105 /f3.5-f4.5

As one can see,these aren't really the best glass Canon has. That's why I'm considering changing systems. Bodies are just about disposable. A good lense is forever. Nikon has used the same mount since the 50s. Canon has changed their mount a couple times.

Moon,
I sold my two Rebels (the XT and the Xsi) and two lenses (18-55 kit and 55-250mm) on ebay to help with the cost of my new Nikon. It was a wise decision for me.

klaus Loc: Guatemala City, Guatemala

lighthouse wrote:

Yes if you want to. Better to change now than later.
But to be honest I think I would aim higher than a D90 to make the change more worthwhile.
You are right, the gear you have is "basically give away stuff".
What about a refurb D7000, a Nikkor 50mm F/1.8D and a Sigma 10-20mm 1:4-5.6 EX DC HSM with an aim for a decent 70-300mm further down the track?

I agree, a refurb D7000 would be a nice upgrade! You could get an on-line quote from KEH for your used Canon gear or try to sell it on ebay. That should cover the price of at least a prime. I would suggest the AF-S 35mm 1.8 since it is considered a "normal" lens on a crop body.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Moon52 wrote:

I have a 5 year old Canon Rebel & two lenses. It was what I could afford at the time. I'm thinking about upgrading, but at this point I'm really not sure whether to stick with what I have or move to Nikon. A D80 or a D90 or such.
Any advice for this hobbyist?

Moon, welcome to the Hog.
I'm gonna have to be the lone defender here.
I've been a Canon digital shooter since 2008. My first Canon was the T90 when it first came out (Look it up) and Nikon has never caught back up.
Canon has the #1 camera in the world right now with the 1Dx. Yep, I know all the Nikon guys just burst into flames, but thats just the way it is. The innovation and the trickle down are just there.
You already have some lenses, look into the refurb or used 7d. Then buy only one lens to go with it, the EFs 15-85. Then decide on the second lens as you develope a need for it.
It's not all about pixel quantity, but quality.
I wonder why there are almost twice as many Canon shooters as Nikon? At one time, it was the other way around. Hmmmm.
Moon, again, welcome to the Hog.
Good luck. SS