Brucej67 Loc: Cary, NC

The best camera is allways the one I can't afford, so I stick with second best and take great pictures. Mabey it is me and not the camera after all :)

nyweb2001

Nikon or Canon are close in features and ease of use. I have a Canon Rebel XS and my dream is a full frame Canon ! I stick with Canon because I'm used to them and can keep the lenses when I upgrade !

FrankKello

That's like asking which car is best. Depends on what you want to use it for. I like Canon's as they have the largest selection of lens. However we are splitting hairs with Canon and Nikon. Both will get the job done. What you want to look at are the camera's features. Do you want a camera for just landscapes and portraits or do you want on for action shots? Action shots require more frames per second and fast lens. Most all cameras will get the job done for landscapes.

FrankKello

That's like asking which car is best. Depends on what you want to use it for. I like Canon's as they have the largest selection of lens. However we are splitting hairs with Canon and Nikon. Both will get the job done. What you want to look at are the camera's features. Do you want a camera for just landscapes and portraits or do you want on for action shots? Action shots require more frames per second and fast lens. Most all cameras will get the job done for landscapes.

Brucej67 Loc: Cary, NC

But a Sony A77 will get the job done faster :)

Michael O' Loc: Midwest right now

USAEllie, everyone is being nice and not pushing the particular make they use, which is the proper way to go in discussion groups. Unfortunately, that doesn't answer your question. You can see what makes I've used and that I now use Canon. What started me toward reviewing Canon very closely and eventually to going to a pretty complete Cannon array ? You can watch almost any outdoor sporting event on TV and when they swing to "photographer row" you will see a SEA of white-barreled lenses (Cannon), usually with no other lenses showing. I figured that if the pro sports photographers used Cannon almost exclusively, there must be quality and value there, so began to investigate the truly extensive Cannon product line, and their specs.

I have used and was greatly satisfied with Leica, Contax, Rollieflex, Linhof, and Nikon, but now use exclusively Canon and am very satisfied with their product. Any camera is good if used within its capabilities, but my preference is Canon. Suggest you look them over.

They have as complete an offering as anyone, so review and settle on a body and lens or lenses, and then select from another manufacturer or 2 or 3. Then compare apples and apples according to what you envision and therefore the the similar units you have selected as "possibles". If it's 35mm you want, Cannon and Nikon seem to be the largest selling now, but Sigma, for one, sells its slightly lower cost line fairly widely. I have and like Sony too, but for video rigs only -- which is their forte. Pentax has a good and long history too.

When you have narrowed your choices down to a model from each of the manufacturers you think you'd like to consider, I suggest you phone B&H in New York at 800 / 947-7785 to see what their tech people have in the way of comments and suggestions re your comparative analysis. They have a huge 2-story store that occupies a city block, they are as reasonable as anyone in the industry, and their tech people will talk with you until they have answered all of your questions, and they will not hassle you to buy. It is a pleasure to deal with them. They are as reputable as you'll find anywhere ! Cannon will send to you technical catalogs that will help you size up their line of mid and top range bodies, and a separate one on their myriad array of lenses. Phone 800 / 652-2666. All manufacturers have a tech line I suppose; it's just that I don't know them. Dial 800 / 555-1212 to get their corporate numbers. Good luck with your analysis -- and with your shooting once you get your new rig ! .......Michael O'

naturalite Loc: Up state NY

I like-a the Lieca....but no have-a da coin.

Brucej67 Loc: Cary, NC

Throw one other item into the equation and this would be cost for comparable cameras. I am sure that if you look at the top end Nikon to Canon line you would be paying twice as much for the Nikon. If you compare the top end of the Canon to Sony (Alpha) they would be roughly the same cost with Canon offering better features in some area.

alaskanfrog Loc: Alaska

Leica is a brand preferred by many professional photographers, especially those who do a lot of professional field work, or professional portrait photography. You pay more for the camera but you also get more.

Nikon & Canon are great market cameras in that they are more commercialized and do a great job at publicizing and marketing their products. There isn't anything wrong with that, but there are better cameras on the market that don't get the attention that Canon or Nikon do. In essence, some of the other camera companies might actually prefer this because they can afford to be selective about their clients.

I have friends who use Leica cameras and they love them. One of my friends actually still uses and prefers the Leica "film" camera because of the quality you get from shooting with actual film that cannot be achieved in digital.

In your case, choose a camera that suits you and suits your photo needs. Your camera should fit your shooting style and abilities. The only way you will know is to actually use a camera you're interested in buying. The best camera for you should feel good in your hands and has features that are easy for you to use and understand. It's as simple as that. Good luck...

GH2man Loc: Portland Oregon

One day a fellow was showing me his Leica. I'm sure he paid a lot of money for it. I laid down my Panasonic Lumix FZ-50 next to his--it was the exact same camera. Panasonic has used Leica lenses in the past, but I see they now carry the Lumix name (Like on my new Lumix GH2). This is my first interchangeable lens camera so I am spending a lot of time with the 200 page manual.

Larry

docrob Loc: Durango, Colorado

some brief therapy might be called for

GordonB. Loc: St. Petersburg, Fl.

Ellie, I don't mean this to be harsh but.....
How much research have you done on cameras other than asking a group of photographers what is the best camera?
Nobody knows what you intend to mainly use a new camera for and nobody knows how advanced you may be which I doubt is not too much if you think Nikon (an excellent camera, BTW) is THE best of all others; everything is relative. You would be doing yourself a favor and really spend time and lots of it coming to some type conclusion as to what your needs are (meaning do you have a particular subject matter that you plan on shooting; will you be taking mainly sunsets, your dog or cat or whatever, and then find a camera thru research that will do the best job for what you need it for. Hopefully, you get the message. You are the only one who can answer these questions.

The best of luck to you in finding the camera of your dreams.

kbarnes42 Loc: North Carolina

I am a Nikon person. This is not to say it is the "best" camera. What I would recommend is that you but your second camera first. What that really means is to not just get the bare essentials camera.

silver Loc: Santa Monica Ca.

There is no "best". Whatever makes you feel good is the best. All digital cameras do about the same thing these days. Anybody that says that there camera is "best" is just silly. In addition to all of my digital and film cameras I have a dollar plastic camera that I bought at a dollar store and I love that camera. As far as I know my dollar plastic camera is the best.

prestonphoto Loc: Bath, NY

Ok - plain and simple - each camera has it's own die hards. Go to a camera shop and find the one that feels comfortable to YOU. Examine it - do you feel comfy with wanting to figure out all the settings? Hold it up and look in the view finder, adjust the lens on it, look around the store at things - does it feel right? Feel comfy with it? There's your answer. As a few have said - there's no bad camera - just the person using it so feel comfy with your choice, take your time with it - and all will come good.