janet30176

I'm about to venture into a more committed educated way of taking pics. I am actually studying on taking good pics and not just clicking away. I have never owned a camera with removable lenses so I am studying what all that means also. I am favoring a Canon over the nikon right now mainly because of price. I don't want to spend over $600 and would like a decent lens with it. Please give me your reason for getting one over the other. Tia.

LWW Loc: Banana Republic of America

NIKON legacy glass is plentiful and bulletproof.

For $600 one can buy a Nikon D50/70/90 and a NIKKOR 80-200 AF-D and run circles around rigs costing many times as much.

Charlie'smom

I recently got my first digital camera that has removable lenses. Before I decided on what to get, I did a lot of research on cameras in my category. I read reviews by experts, as well as read reviews by customers and their satisfaction with their purchases. I ended up buying a Nikon purely based on my personal research.

AK Grandpa Loc: Anchorage, AK

I would go with a Nikon D3400 bundle. Bag, strap, battery & charger, camera body, and 2 lenses (usually a 18-55 and 70-300 or something similar) is usually around $600 at Best Buy or Costco . . .

dat2ra Loc: Sacramento

Tia. There is no simple "answer" to your question. "Which is better" is argued ad nauseum and is generally neither productive nor accurate. Since your budget is so limited ($600 seems like a lot of money, but doesn't go very far for a lens and a dslr camera body, I'd suggest buying used from a reputable source and talk to a friend who shoots what you do because it will affect the kind of lens you should buy, and even the body. I'm a long-time Nikon shooter and prefer them, but would not say that Nikon is "better" than Canon nor whould the converse statement be accurate (although here, it will be made). Welcome to the Hog and enjoy your adventure!

Joe Blow

Generally, Canons cost slightly more than their Nikon competitors. But, Nikon lenses are significantly more expensive than Canons, although that may be mitigated with third party lenses.

Canons and Nikons are good cameras. You won't go wrong with either make.

As a suggestion, a used Canon Rebel T4i with 18-135mm lens would do you well. https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/801723776-USE/canon_6558b005_eos_rebel_t4i_digital.html

This has an 18 MP sensor with a nice lens that covers a very wide range with an articulable screen. It would be a very good introduction to DSLRs.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

It doesn't matter. Pick one and run with it. Neither camera will hold you back from making bad pictures, nor will either one offer an advantage to help you make better ones. Canon's offering matches Nikon's feature for feature. The pictures you take with either camera will likely not be any different from each other. In the bigger scheme of things $50 one way or the other is not going to make a difference.

Ed Bearden

Hello Tia,

It really comes down to preference. At the $600 price point both brands are very similar. So at this point it is going to come down to comfort. Aka ergonomics. I would spend some time holding the bodies of the models you are considering and asking yourself can I reach the controls. Make sure to use the proper holding technique. Left hand cupping the lens (and body if you have big hands like me) and the right hand on the grip. Now try reaching all of the controls that are located on or around the grip while the left hand is supporting the weight. Think of yourself as an artist and your camera as your instrument. If you want to play your instrument well, you must easily be able to reach the controls. Don't worry about what all the buttons do, you will learn that over time.

As for lenses both brands have very good lenses that can be used on other bodies, if you decide to upgrade at a later date. One thing to keep in mind if you are purchasing a crop sensor camera and you later deside to upgrade to a full frame sensor. Your crop sensor lens can be used but it will not be able to take full advantage of the larger full frame sensor. When using a crop sensor lens on a full frame sensor the is also around a 1.5 or 1.6 offset in the focal length. For example a fixed focused 35 mm crop sensor lens used on a full frame sensor will be the equivalent of about a 58mm lens. Just something to keep in mind if you plan to make the switch later on.

Best of luck and happy shooting.

Ed

Joe Blow

A newcomer asks a relevant and intelligent question and your response is "really"? Come on dude, quit already. If you can't respect an earnest question then don't offer your opinion.

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

Don't limit your field so quickly. For the price of a beginner Canikon system, you can get a beginner Pentax K-70 system which is Weather Resistant.

swartfort Loc: Evansville, IN

Hi Janet!!

Don't mind Rongnongno.... He obviously didn't take the nano second it takes to see that today is your first day here and that in your question you were VERY clear as to why you were asking your question. (You will find some snark here, but blow it off and have fun)

I thought your question was well posed.

I shot film for years but then got out of photography for about 20 years. My wife surprised me with a Nikon d3400 kit for Christmas. I am having a ball and even as a "beginners" camera, I am finding that the enjoyment of getting out of the "auto" mode is really helping me to decide that I want to get better...just cause I want to get better. (if that makes sense?)

If she had asked me before purchase, I probably would have gone with either a Refurbished or used camera in the "next step up" category. You can find reputable online stores that have quality equipment galore that is either slightly used or factory refurbished. I don't know about Canon, but I would suggest in the Nikon line, a used or factory refurbished D5200 or D5300 and an 18-140mm lens. It might be close to budget, but that would be a GREAT start.

THEN, the sooner you can get to youtube and learn how to get off the Auto program, the sooner your photography will really start to blossom!!! Good shooting!

Whuff Loc: Marshalltown, Iowa

The OP’s name isn’t Tia, it’s Janet. Tia is an acronym - “Thanks In Advance.” Forgive us Janet. We’re a bunch of old farts. Welcome to UHH.

Walt

TheStarvingArtist

If I had known that you could remote trigger a flash with a Nikon I would have bought that instead of Canon. But you should like either one well enough.

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

If you use the "Search" function at the top of the page, you will find many discussions on Canon vs Nikon.

OddJobber Loc: Portland, OR

Let's not confuse folks, Joe. You might want to say articulating instead. Check it out in your Funk and Wagnall's.