Which SLR camera to buy: Canon Rebel XTi or Nikon D40?

August 2, 2007 6:53 AM

I want to step into the big bad world of digital SLRs but don't really have a huge budget. Please help me choose between the Nikon D40 and the Canon Digital Rebel XTi (also known as EOS 400D).

I currently have a point n' click Canon A95, which I use mostly for shooting food photos (evidence is on my Flickr stream). I've had this camera for a couple of years now, and would like to graduate to an SLR camera. The Canon camera's limitation is the ridiculous amount of time it takes to acquire focus sometimes (makes a mess of moving subjects like people), and its uselessness in low-light photography. I'd like to be able to shoot portraits and street photographs also, and am looking to buy an entry level SLR. I don't expect to be shooting wildlife or landscapes much, since I don't get to travel anywhere as much as I'd like to.

My photography guru friends recommended the Nikon D80, but that's $200 more than the Canon Rebel XTi and also beyond my budget. I don't want to spend more than $750 on everything put together, so my choices are between the Canon Rebel XTi and the Nikon D40.

Which of those cameras would you recommend? I also intend to buy a f/1.8 50 mm lens to go with the camera, which should be a fast enough lens for day to day photos. Any other lens recommendations?

posted by madman to technology (27 comments total)

I'm not sure why these questions always omit the Olympus E-500/E-510, but it is a darn good entry dSLR. You can get it with the two lens kit for less than the competiton costs with a single lens. All the reviews I've ever read have rated it on par with the Canon and Nikon offerings.

I'm no pro, or barely even a serious amateur, but I love my E-500 and feel that it represents a heck of a lot of camera for the price.
posted by daveleck at 6:57 AM on August 2, 2007

You could also get a Pentax K100D kitted for your range, so that's four cameras to choose from.

I would recommend getting a body that is compatible with older lenses, to give yourself more options. I think the Canon is better than the Nikon in that respect... IIRC the Nikon is only compatible with the newer lenses, unlike it's more expensive cousins.

The Pentax is also a good choice for compatibility. Ultimately you want a lot of good glass choices... I think that's more important than the sensor or whatever else. Imaging-wise, I think they all pretty much take great pictures at this point. Shoot RAW and you probably won't notice much of a difference.
posted by selfnoise at 7:04 AM on August 2, 2007

I <3 my XTi. But since this is the low end of the spectrum, most of the Nikon vs. Canon arguments aren't really going to matter that much. I honestly think you'd be happy even if you flipped a coin, but there's many good reasons why the XTi has dominated sales for the past several months.
posted by cowbellemoo at 7:06 AM on August 2, 2007

(daveleck is quite right that the Olympus dSLRs are quite nice, but I've found that there are advantages to going with something common, in terms of availability, advice, used-lens selection, etc. So I'm going to just go ahead and pretend that the 4/3rds system doesn't exist at all!)

For cost-effectiveness, the D40's probably your best bet, though it limits your access to older lenses in a way the XTi doesn't. I've also heard really good things about its interface. On the other hand, I love my Rebel - most of the time I use a 35mm f/2 lens, which gives a rough approximation of the 'normal' length you'd get with a 50mm lens on a 35mm-film camera.

I'd actually also recommend the D80, but like you said, out-of-range. But in the end, both Nikon and Canon will presumably be fine: You might want to look at various lenses that tempt you for each line, read some reviews, and see which one seems to offer a more tempting path. This is, all told, a decision that you probably can't make in a way that you'll actually regret; both are fine. The two key points to look at, I think, are whether the grip is acceptable (many find the Rebel's too narrow, I know) and whether the lens limitations of the 40(x) are going to bother you.
posted by Tomorrowful at 7:08 AM on August 2, 2007

daveleck and selfnoise, I live in India. It's a lot easier to get my hands on lenses and other equipment for Canon and Nikon. Plus of course they're the leaders in the business.
posted by madman at 7:11 AM on August 2, 2007

Also, try to get a hands-on test. Ergonomics is one thing that could actually be a big difference for you on these models.
posted by selfnoise at 7:11 AM on August 2, 2007

I will, however, warn against going off of the big two brands (Nikon & Canon). You'd be shutting yourself out of their huge second-hand markets for lenses, which will be an essential option for anyone on a budget.
posted by cowbellemoo at 7:11 AM on August 2, 2007

I suspect the Nikon vs. Canon is a lot like Mac vs Windows. They're both so close that it really comes down to personal preference.

I have an XTi, and I don't find the low light performance to be a problem for me. Maybe I just don't know what I'm missing, but even at ISO 1600, I don't notice all that much noise, and ISO 800 may as well be 100 for noise. So, I'm not sure what you've heard there, but I don't think it's the problem you think it is.

I've had trouble focusing through cages at a zoo, and I've had trouble focusing when it's very dark (maybe that's the low light performance you were thinking of?), but generally focus seems quite fast and I don't have an issue.
posted by willnot at 7:20 AM on August 2, 2007

As a XTi owner (and a Canon fanboy :x), I would recommend the XTi.

But like others have said, it's basically a coin flip between the two. Both are great cameras for the money.

One thing you might want to consider, however, is the fact that the D40 no longer has auto-focusing on the body itself, but relies on the lens to have the auto-focusing motors inside them.

This isn't a big deal on all the newer lenses (as they all have auto-focusing in their lenses), but can cause some headache if you pick up some older lenses.
posted by carpyful at 7:22 AM on August 2, 2007

willnot, I was talking about the problem with my Canon A95, not with the XTi.
posted by madman at 7:27 AM on August 2, 2007

The first thing about dSLRs that you will always read is that it is about the lenses. Nikon is making some great lenses at ridiculous prices. There newer VR ('vibration reduction' image stabilization) lenses are quite nice and affordable and wonderful for someone who is starting out since it helps with the shakes. In fact, if you got the D40 body and slapped on the 18-200mm VR lens (you might be able get both for 1k), you wouldn't need anything else.

You should hold both. One will probably just feel better for you. There are benefits to the XTi, and there are benefits to the D40. In the end, I think the D40 is a better starter camera and will get the beginner better results easier.
posted by dios at 7:34 AM on August 2, 2007 [1 favorite]

One thing about the D40: I think you can get it kitted with the very nice 18-55 Nikor lens or kitted with the 18-55 and 55-200 lens for like $700. Between the 18-55 and 55-200, you are pretty golden for most things (until you start getting to advanced or specialized needs).
posted by dios at 7:37 AM on August 2, 2007

The XTI is small. You should check the grip with your hands before buying it.
posted by smackfu at 8:29 AM on August 2, 2007

I bought the D40 after a lot of research. The kit lens, it seems, is better than the one that comes with the Canon. I wound up buying the camera body and the 18-200 lens (because I was going to be in a situation where I'd need to switch lenses often) and couldn't be happier.

You can learn an awful lot from Ken Rockwell. Great reviews and his manuals for the D40 are far better than what Nikon provides.

My advice is this: spend your money on the lens right now. It'll still work with whatever camera you buy in the future and will hold its value well. I looked at used cameras that were high end only a year ago and they sold for less than the difference between the D40 and the D80.
posted by ChuckLeChuck at 8:33 AM on August 2, 2007

seconding the pentax k100d... the body is amazing due to the included image stabilization and excellent low-light capabilities.

if you want IS on a canon or nikon, be prepared to shell out several hundred bucks per lens.
posted by kneelconqueso at 9:19 AM on August 2, 2007

The lenses is what makes the difference with the Canons and the Nikons. Realistically you cannot go wrong with either, I would choose whichever has the best battery life and start saving your pennies for a really nice lens (buy a really nice lens no matter what you get, it will make a world of difference).

As always, check out dpreview before buying.
posted by iamabot at 9:21 AM on August 2, 2007

I love my Canon, but if your friend has a Nikon and has lenses he will let you borrow, then go Nikon. The camera cost is often the tip of the iceberg. It's the lenses that really drive up the cost.
posted by chairface at 9:33 AM on August 2, 2007

Love my Nikon D40. One point very much in its favor: the on-screen help system. Select any option (ISO, metering, white balance, etc.) and press the ? button. A description and explanation of that feature or function appears on the screen. Tremendously helpful when you're learning the ropes.

The kit lens is good (for the price range) and I got the 55-200mm VR lens on Amazon for $249. Combined, it makes a heckuva setup for a DSLR beginner.
posted by Bud Dickman at 9:41 AM on August 2, 2007

Also, regarding the 50mm f/1.8 lens...everything I've read sings its praises for low-light photography and very sharp pictures.

However, it does not auto-focus on the D40. Some people don't think that's a huge deal because you'll probably be manually focusing as you learn more.

I've been reading on Flickr about rumors that an AF-S version of the f/1.8 is coming soon, so you might want to wait on that. Or not. :)
posted by Bud Dickman at 9:45 AM on August 2, 2007

Also consider a used RebelXT or D50. There isn't much about the XTi that really has me wanting to upgrade to an XTi. The XT turns on quickly, focuses quickly, has good low light performance. I think the only thing that really interested me in the XTi is that it has a larger buffer, and really, even that's not a big deal.
posted by Good Brain at 9:51 AM on August 2, 2007

I have been advised against buying a used SLR of any make because you have no idea how well the previous owner maintained it. Is this good advice?
posted by madman at 10:26 AM on August 2, 2007

I have an XT, my kit lens has some pretty bad abberation at 18mm, and my close friend has a d70 and his kit lens is nice, but his images are noisier at any given ISO and I really like the color saturation of the canon kit lens better than his nikkor kit lens. Also, definitely get the 50mm f/1.8, it is dirt cheap for a lens and you'll love how fast it is.
posted by Large Marge at 10:54 AM on August 2, 2007

I can't speak to the Nikon D40 but I have an XTi and I love it. I also, however, have small hands and like to throw my XTi into my purse since it's pretty light.

The 50mm f/1.8 is a very good, inexpensive lens that any new dSLR owner should have. However, on a cropped sensor, it's actually going to be pretty telephoto.

Additionally, if you are into food photography, the Canon 50 f/1.8 has a longish minimum focusing distance. This means that if you're sitting at a restaurant and want to take a photo of your food, you'll have to lean way back or push your dish far away from you.

This is why I decided on a 28mm f/1.8 lens for my restaurant related food photography. On the XTi it's approximating a 50mm focal length, and I can comfortably take a few shots from my seat. And later on, crop out the distracting elements.
posted by kathryn at 12:36 PM on August 2, 2007

All things being equal you have to get hands on with the camera. I was set on the D50 until I held a D40. It felt more comfortable, and the controls seemed easier to reach when held in a shooting grip. Just remember that the 50mm lens is more like an 80mm lens. Typical of most DSLRs the lens factor ranges from 1.35x to 1.5x the focal length. Yes it would be nice to have an f1.8 lens, but if you are considering it for your "normal" lens you should look at the 35mm f2.o for about the same price.
posted by Gungho at 1:17 PM on August 2, 2007

My wife swears by her Rebel XTi. She's spent a good deal of money on lenses and would love to move up the line, but she doesn't feel at all limited by the XTi.
posted by lhauser at 7:47 PM on August 2, 2007

As a dude that works in a camera store, I suggest the following:

1. As people have mentioned, go to a store and feel the cameras. The XTi and D40 are tiny, and it is important that they feel like they have a good grip on them.

2. A 50mm f/1.8 will be manual focus only on the D40, but autofocus (and cheaper!) on the XTi.

3. XTi has five focus points to D40s 3.

4. Nikon has, by far, a cheaper and better flash (they call 'em "speedlights" these days) selection.

If, after the advice of everyone here, you have more particular questions feel free to e-mail me.
posted by ztdavis at 9:55 PM on August 4, 2007

I recommend the D50 ... they are discontinued, but you can still find some "new in box" and "like new" bodies -- they are on Craigslist and Ebay often, and various Amazon sellers carry them. You could definitely get your hands on the D50 an a nice lens (kit lens or otherwise) for well under $700. Like the D80, they are compatible with Nikon's full line of autofocus cameras. My sister has the D40, my dad has the D50, and I just upgraded from the D50 to the D80. If you're new to DSLRs, the D80 is probably more than what you need -- you can get fabulous pics from the D50 on the auto settings. Like the D40, it's extremely user friendly, but unlike the D40, they accept a broader scope of lenses.

I'm not a Canon person (personal preference, as everyone has mentioned)... Canon is my top choice for a point and shoot, but for a DSLR, not so much. Nikon is known for their optics and has a long history of making (as far as I am concerned) the best glass money can buy. I have friends with Canons who are totally satisfied and would never go over to the "dark side," of course.
posted by jacksides at 3:52 PM on August 5, 2007