Purchasing a Camera....

[spaz77]

Which is a better Camera, in terms of build quality and function, the canon t1i or the nikon d5000?

[Marin]

Neither.

Try both out, the one that works better for you is the better camera.

[Mescalamba]

Nikon D5000 has slightly better high ISO performace.. I would try them both, if you want buy one.. You need to know how it fits in your hand (for me, Canons always fit into my hand). Both has quite heavy noise filters..

D5000 has little bit more of dynamic range and little bit better colors. But understand that it is really tiny bits. Only bigger difference is high ISO and mpix (500D has 15 vs 12 on D5000).

Theres difference between crop ratio. D5000 has 1.5, and 500D has 1.6. In real life it means, when you use 50mm lens on D5000, you´ll get same view as on 75mm on 35mm camera (for example D3X or 5DMK2) and when you use same lens on 500D, you´ll get view looking like 80mm on 35mm camera. Tough, this is not exactly super-important.. since only thing where is this important is probably wideangle, where you have something like 10-20mm, which translates to 15-30 for D5000 or 16-32 500D .. thats not big difference. There will be bigger difference on telephoto side, but nothing tragic.

500D is slightly lighter than D5000. D5000 is faster in terms of FPS. Not much, but it is..

On other hand, if you couple 500D with some good lens, and you´ll have good light, you´ll get little bit better results, due 15 mpix vs 12 mpix.

D5000 has quite nice life-view tilt-swiwel LCD.. I have this on my G1.. its quite usefull, tough I think in this, Panasonic choosed better aproach than Nikon. Plus on real dSLR, life-view isn´t exactly too much usefull.

Both useses pentamirror for viewfinder, which are almost identical.

500D can shoot full HD video, D5000 only 720p. Tough I still don´t get why someone want to use this kind of camera to take movies.. but whatever..

D5000 is slightly faster in terms of shooting pics (smaller delays between two pics).

D5000 doesn´t have autofocus motor, which means you must get lens with built-in motors.. tough, not big deal, cause theres quite a lot of them..

Summarized.. D5000 is slightly better in lots of things.. but on other hand its little bit heavier and has less mpix (haha, mpix race again).
Lens are around same for both.. cause Sigma + Tamron makes lens for Nikon and Canon. And both manufacturers (Nikon + Canon) has some good lens too.. tough, maybe Nikon has some little bit better than Canon..

My choice would be probably D5000.. as I don´t care much about lightweight, I kinda like tilt-swiwel LCD .. and I really like good high-iso performace, cause taking shots in poor light condition is my favorite.

Tough, I would probably get D700, which suits me better.

[FischOderAal]

Go get to the next shop and grab 'em Then you will be one step closer to making the right decision. The shape of Canon's DSLRs isn't for everyone.

[Dave_Sz]

the shape isn't bad, the horrible, cheap, plasticy feel is...

[Mescalamba]

At this "money" level.. everything has cheap, plastic feel.. well except Olympus EP-1 .. but thats very different kind of camera.

[FischOderAal]

the shape isn't bad, the horrible, cheap, plasticy feel is...

Who cares when the pictures are fine? The shape is much more of a problem if you ask me.

[Mescalamba]

Who cares when the pictures are fine? The shape is much more of a problem if you ask me.

+1 It must fit.

[kinghong1970]

agreed... the XSi fits me fine... especially when you travel all over and size / weight is an important criteria as well...
pics are great too!

[itznfb]

the shape isn't bad, the horrible, cheap, plasticy feel is...

and the cheap plasticy feel of your pentax is sooooooo much better.

truth is, any plastic body from canon and nikon still have metal frames and still feel 10 times more durable and professional than any other brand.

so if you don't have lenses yet it and you're talking about canon vs nikon it really comes down to which feel best to you. can you reach all the controls while keeping your hand in a comfortable shooting position?

also make sure you try out the higher end models since you will eventually be upgrading and once you start investing in lenses it will be more costly to switch brands.

[Dave_Sz]

At this "money" level.. everything has cheap, plastic feel.. well except Olympus EP-1 .. but thats very different kind of camera.

I'd beg to differ.

and the cheap plasticy feel of your pentax is sooooooo much better.

truth is, any plastic body from canon and nikon still have metal frames and still feel 10 times more durable and professional than any other brand.

Ignorance at its best...

[itznfb]

Ignorance at its best...

lol. yes my ignorance is your delusion. the fact you not only compare your pentax to nikon and canon, but go as far as to say its better just shows who is ignorant.

[exemay]

you will never get a definitive answer on this topic.... there are canon users, and then there are nikon users.... difference in the cameras are minimal, but cannon users will tell you that they are best and Nikon will tell you that nikon are the best..... in all reality you gotta go into a store, try them out and see which one fits best in your hands and which you feel you can use easily!

Im fighting for the cannon corner cause they are the best

[Xcel]

500D can shoot full HD video, D5000 only 720p. Tough I still don´t get why someone want to use this kind of camera to take movies.. but whatever..

The ability to change lenses is amazing. Going from ultra wide angle to telezoom with the switch of a lens.

[Mescalamba]

The ability to change lenses is amazing. Going from ultra wide angle to telezoom with the switch of a lens.

Sure but quality of video on this cams.. well, 5DM2 is kinda perfect, GH1 very good too.. 500D seems quite ok.. D5000.. well, take a look to review on dpreview. I wouldn´t buy Nikon for this.. (tough I would buy it for shooting pics.

[Dave_Sz]

lol. yes my ignorance is your delusion. the fact you not only compare your pentax to nikon and canon, but go as far as to say its better just shows who is ignorant.

hahaha. Please do go on, this is amusing...

[hikaricloud]

I'd so go with neither of those and spend a couple extra hundred on a 50D.

My $.02.

[itznfb]

hahaha. Please do go on, this is amusing...

ok... no serious photographer or even enthusiast considers pentax a serious camera system but you think it's the best. i find that amusing.

pentax has one "pro" telephoto, they have no lenses above 300mm and you consider pentax a pro platform. i find that amusing. very amusing actually.

[agor]

Where is this topic about 'pro' camera's and people stating Pentax is 'pro'?
Pentax indeed is nice for entry level DSLR's and have better materials than Canon's Entry Levels (450D, 1000D)

I chose Canon for the big lens collection like the handling more than Nikon

[itznfb]

Where is this topic about 'pro' camera's and people stating Pentax is 'pro'?
Pentax indeed is nice for entry level DSLR's and have better materials than Canon's Entry Levels (450D, 1000D)

I chose Canon for the big lens collection like the handling more than Nikon

well... when this section first opened there were tons of "what camera should i buy" threads and he would always chime in and bash everyone that owned or suggested nikon/canon with ridiculous claims that pentax was somehow superior.

this is one of my favorites of his.... saying he went with pentax because of the lens selection... lol. because having the worst selection of lenses in the industry is definitely a selling feature.
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...4&postcount=62

here is another hilarious one:
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...8&postcount=29

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...5&postcount=22
maybe not on pentax... lol

and here is the winner..... this one is great and should probably be a sticky since it may in fact be the definition of epic fail:
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...7&postcount=21

[agor]

Oh...ok then, didn't do any research, just looked through this thread and found nothing.
Bashing approved by me!

[Tarowah]

I own a D5000 and I am a super noobie when it comes to taking pictures, I went with the D5000 over the T1i because it was easier for me to move around in the settings and change options etc etc, now after having learned a great deal I can pick up the T1i and take pictures just as well as I can with my D5000 and I find that the Canon T1i is just as easy to use now, again when I knew nothing about a DSLR camera the Nikon was more intuitive than the Canon imo, both cameras are so close only a fanboi will say one is really better than the other, as people have said go handle both and choose the one that feels the best in your hands.

[itznfb]

Where is the bashing? Do you actually know anything about cameras or just the BS that agrees with your thinking? Please do step out of that black/yellow box and and open ur eyes. As for the lens selection, yes, sadly pentax have a great one. Bu you wouldn't know anything about that..

pentax has the worst lens selection in the industry. that's a fact. how does that make it great?
where is the bashing? you said a k20 is better than a D300. nuff said.

I never said I find i best. I just find every thing you say amusing. Sad, but very amusing. The fact that you can't be a serious photographer or even enthusiast unless you use nikon or canon is just mind blowing. I also didn't know that long zoom = pro. I guess they only teach that in canikon camp. Even funnier that someone at your level would even consider mentioning anything pro seeing as you only have a d90(great camera, nothing pro about it). Listen, I appreciate the fact that you care about what camera system I use but your level of fanboyism and closed mindedness worry me a smidge. When you get over the fact that I can get great pictures out of my POS pentax then maybe we can talk. Til then please do go on preaching that nothing else exists in the camera world except canon and nikon. I'm sure many will jump on that bandwagon. Be safe...

Damn, they did warn me about arguing with idiots....

yes yes, it's very sad that i'm not delusional about my pentax. and yes, if a camera system doesn't even offer a serious telephoto lens, then it is no way shape or form even close to enthusiast capable. and the fact you say there is nothing professional about the d90 just goes to show you don't know what you're talking about. the D90's high ISO performance is just as good as the D300 and D700. it has the same AF system as the D300 and D700. it has the same metal mounting system and same AF motor as the D300 and D700. what it doesn't have is 51AF points and weather sealing. hmm... not really worth the $1000 upgrade at the moment. i don't care about what camera system you use. i care about the fact that you chase people out of this forum because you're a complete ###hole to anyone that suggests anything other that pentax. you're calling everyone else a fanboy but you're the only one in the photography forum that hasn't suggested something other than pentax. i've recommended canon, nikon, olympus and yes, even pentax. every system fits somewhere and has a purpose. but no one here treats other people like crap because they don't like the same system like you do. you're the only fanboy here and thats why no one here inthe photography section can stand you.

everytime you post you make yourself look even more ridiculous and alienate yourself even more from the people in this section.

[Lestat]

thats too bad i just sold my 20D pretty cheap, that is a perfect starter camera for anyone interested.

8mp is WAYYYYY more than enough, in fact a Rebel XT is more than enough if you get some good lenses.

honestly, i wouldnt start with a 800-$1000 camera, just with something that is $300-400, it saves you a ton to use on lenses, and lets LEARN on a cheaper camera.
when i first started in dSLR i had a Canon 300D i thought it it was WAY to complicated and the fact that there is no image stabilization in the camera (you have to buy IS lenses) really turned me off. most of my pictures were coming out blurry.
but about a year later i went back and got a 350D and started learning, then a 20D, then a XTi (which was just a toy for a few weeks to see if i liked it), and now my 40D. and i have not even scratched the surface of dSLR and photography knowledge.

i am STRONGLY against someone spending hundred and hundreds of dollars on a dSLR when they first start out. get a cheaper older model that is in good shape so if you decide you dont like it and would rather have a nice higher level point and shoot, then you can sell the camera and you are not out a ton of money.
or even start out with something like the Lumix FZ5 or FZ50 where you have full control (FZ5 doesnt allow manual focus but the FZ50 does). both are great cameras and will help you learn ALOT without spending a crap ton of money. the FZ50 is a great starter pseudo-dSLR.

[itznfb]

thats too bad i just sold my 20D pretty cheap, that is a perfect starter camera for anyone interested.

8mp is WAYYYYY more than enough, in fact a Rebel XT is more than enough if you get some good lenses.

honestly, i wouldnt start with a 800-$1000 camera, just with something that is $300-400, it saves you a ton to use on lenses, and lets LEARN on a cheaper camera.
when i first started in dSLR i had a Canon 300D i thought it it was WAY to complicated and the fact that there is no image stabilization in the camera (you have to buy IS lenses) really turned me off. most of my pictures were coming out blurry.
but about a year later i went back and got a 350D and started learning, then a 20D, then a XTi (which was just a toy for a few weeks to see if i liked it), and now my 40D. and i have not even scratched the surface of dSLR and photography knowledge.

i am STRONGLY against someone spending hundred and hundreds of dollars on a dSLR when they first start out. get a cheaper older model that is in good shape so if you decide you dont like it and would rather have a nice higher level point and shoot, then you can sell the camera and you are not out a ton of money.
or even start out with something like the Lumix FZ5 or FZ50 where you have full control (FZ5 doesnt allow manual focus but the FZ50 does). both are great cameras and will help you learn ALOT without spending a crap ton of money. the FZ50 is a great starter pseudo-dSLR.

there are a couple different ways to look at it. a starter camera can be a good idea if you're not sure it's really something you're going pursue long term. however, if you have an enthusiast mind set and you've been using something like a high end point and shoot or bridge camera and know you're into photography as an enthusiast for the long haul then you'd be much better off starting with a prosumer grade or professional camera. prosumer and pro cameras are much easier to learn with since there is a much more direct learning curve. with a starter camera you're generally stuck learning the menu more than actually learning photography. that's mainly what i hate about the D5000 i purchased for my girlfriend. she has a hard time focusing on the concepts of photography because everything is done through menus or a combination of buttons so she has to stand there for a couple minutes getting setup for each shot. even when i'm using i have to stop, scroll through a series of commands and combination of buttons before i'm ready to take a shot. that in my opinion is no way to learn photography. even with my D90 there are still several things i need to stop and go through the annoying menu to change. however, when using my friends D3x and D3 when we do portrait shoots together, i'm able to easily change any setting i would need without taking my eye from the viewfinder. allowing me to focus more on composition, angles, lighting and posing rather than where that setting is 3 menus deep.

that being said, my girlfriend, relatively noob to photography, has much much easier time using my dad's D300 than she does with the D5000. however, she still says she would rather have the D5000 and take longer to learn because it's small and light. sigh.