billnourse Loc: Bloomfield, NM

Not trying to start an issue, just making an observation.

A guy in my photoshop class was asking for a recommendation for a very entry level camera. He is a Dmad guy and does not want to be a photographer, just wants an adaquate DSLR in the 500-600 range. Being the Canon guy that I am, I immediately started thinking of a good Canon to suggest.

I was in Sam's Club later and they had a Canon t6 and a Nikon D3400 each with an 18-55 and 70/75-300 kit lens, bag and the usual extras. The Nikon was 599 and the Canon was 549. The specs on the Nikon are so much better than the Canon that I had to rethink what I would recommend to him. For what he is wanting and a price difference of only 50 I am going to have to suggest the Nikon.

I think that as the level of the cameras go up the gap between Nikon and Canon narrows and the D80's compare favorably to D7200's, but at the very entry level, the Nikon definitely has the upper hand in value and features. Flame away.

Bill

illininitt

Good entry level camera is a Canon T3I! Got a great deal on a refurb. and it worked great! After a few years I wanted to upgrade and get a "camera for life." I went to Greentoe.com and got the best deal anywhere on a Canon T7I. I'm in over my head with this one....but I already sold my T3I on Ebay. I will have to take it out soon to see if everything works ahead of my trip to the Badlands/Custer St. Park/Mt. Rushmore/Sturgus and the Black Hills! As long as it has Auto I'll be fine. (like in my car...no hassel)

rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA

The next question should then be:
Can the photographer actually make use of those extra features? Will having those features result in better photography? Paying more for additional features that won't be used is not wise spending.

Jakebrake Loc: Broomfield, Colorado

If he doesn't want to take photography seriously, why in the world would he want a DSLR when a nice point and shoot or a bridge camera would work quite well for him?

rjaywallace Loc: Wisconsin

Bill, searching Google, I find nothing relevant for “Dmad”. Was it mis-spelled?
Regarding your recommendation, is cheap always the best choice?

billnourse Loc: Bloomfield, NM

DMAD (Digital Media Art and Design. It is our community college's digital media and graphic arts department. Most Universities have a DMAD program. My google search turned up references to different college DMAD programs.

This guy wants a DSLR, not a point and shoot, even though the P/S would probably serve his purposes.

Not about cheap being the best choice. I'm sure that for what he wants either of the cameras I listed would serve his purposes. I was just commenting on my discovery that the Nikon offered considerably more features for almost the same money and based on his wants/needs/budget I would recommend the Nikon over the Canon even though I am a die hard Canon guy.

Bill

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

The entry level Nikon's are definitely a better choice for what you get for the money as far as features but they may not be the best choice for some people. The bodies are smaller than the Canon T series Rebel bodies and Canon's ergonomics are friendlier.
When one of my daughters was interested in getting a DSLR she came to me for advice and we went over all her options and we decided it will be Canon or Nikon so she could use my lenses.
I lent her 3 cameras to play with to decide what she preferred. I don't own a 3000 or 5000 series Nikon so I lent her my D7200. On the Canon side I lent her a 70D and a 100D (SL1). The reason for the baby Rebel was its size, I wanted her to handle a small DSLR body (she's the smallest daughter and has pretty small hands). I taught her how to use the menus and change settings on all 3 cameras and off she went.
After about a month she made her decision and explained why. She chose the 70D because she liked the way it felt in her hands and she found it to be the easiest of all 3 to learn and use. She said the D7200 was awkward compared to the 70D. She didn't like the menus and she said it was much easier to change settings on the 70D. She said the 100D was just to small.
She ended up with a factory refurbished 80D.

But, when people ask my advice for a beginner DSLR I usually recommend the D3400.

Jakebrake Loc: Broomfield, Colorado

I don't think it's NIKON offering more features and a better deal, but COSTCO.

billnourse Loc: Bloomfield, NM

Nikon 3400 is 50 more than the t6 based on Nikon's and Canon's web pages. Same price difference as the package deals at Sam's Club.

I prefer Canon feel and menus, but that is what I am used to. For someone that does not own a DSLR and is going to have to learn either one, I doubt it makes much difference.

Bill

Rongnongno Loc: FL

First I was about to *groan* then read the full post.

Regardless of your preference choice, you might want the guy to try 'hands on' on both cameras. The price at this point is not an issue unless the guy is a coffee addict and will have to forgo his starbuck a few times.

Purchasing into any system means being locked onto one due to the lens cost so I think you might want to also want the guy...

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

The entry level Rebels (T3/T5/T6/T7) are all very bare bones DSLRs, usually based on technology that is up to 5 years old. The 'i' models typically have much newer technology and represent a much better investment. I would not recommend a T3/T5/T6/T7 to anyone. So in your comparison I consider the Nikon to be a better value and choice even though I have been a Canon user since 1976.

For Canon, I would strongly suggest looking at the refurbs: http://shop.usa.canon.com/shop/en/catalog/cameras/refurbished-eos-digital-slr-cameras

A refurb SL2 or T6i, especially the T6i with 18-55mm and 55-250mm lenses at $659 is a good deal.

billnourse Loc: Bloomfield, NM

grosan???????

I don't think with this guy there is going to be "Locked into a system" He is not really interested enough to have a system. Just wants something adaquate, but DSLR. A point and shot would work for him, it's just not what he wants.

Bill

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

No flames necessary. Full disclosure, I am a Nikon user, have been since 2003. Reading the various Canon rumor sites, and based on the reports from the recent photo shows, Canon has taken a paradigm shift and will probably (hedging my bets) concentrate on mirrorless development for consumer cameras. The unknown is, will they go after the Sony A9 market with a completely new lens mount, which they have done before, with an entire mirrorless design?

billnourse Loc: Bloomfield, NM

The d3400 is pretty much Nikon's bare bones. There are the d3300 and 3200, but even they spec better and are less expensive than the t6. I was just making a comparison as to what each maker offered for basically the same price and which was the best value for the available features.

I hate to admit it, but in the entry level catogory my beloved Canons just don't make the grade.

Bill

PHRubin Loc: Nashville TN USA

I'm thinking you meant 80D as in Canon, not D80 which is Nikon.