DSLR: Canon 400D or Nikon 80D

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SpitefulPentium

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Hi fellas,

I am going in for a DSLR and I need to decide between these two.
* Canon 400D with a Canon EF-S 18-55mm Lens + accessories
* Nikon D80 with Nikon AF-S 18-135mm DX G ED Lens + accessories

here is a side-by-side comparison of the two at dpreview.com
Digital Cameras Side-by-Side, 2 cameras: Digital Photography Review

I'm more towards macro and landscapes/panaromas than telephoto.
the 400D has a smaller sensor and hence a 1.6x factor as compared to 1.5x of the D80.

more inclined towards the D80 after going through various reviews and some review/ tutorial videos. also, how is JJ Mehta as far as price/warranty/service (after-sales to be more specific) is concerned?

what do the TE shutterbugs think? if you suggest any particular one is better please explaing why...

Many Thanks.:)
 
Hello,

You have asked a question which has asked many times before and I am going to give you a reply which has been given many times before :)

1) Both the D80 and 400D are very good cameras. In the right hands, they can produce excellent results. So there is nothing like D80 'better' than 400D. However, on certain parameters, you might be inclined to prefer one over the other. For example, the D80's ergonomics is superb. But the 400D is small and good for travel. So look into what are the pluses and minuses of both cameras and decide which parameters are important for you.

2) Its not the camera which is important, but the system. When I say system, i mean Canon v/s Nikon system and it includes all the lenses, accessories, flashes which these two systems provide. Canon's Image Stabilization lenses are unbeatable while Nikon's Flash system is superb. So again, look beyond the camera and think of what system you want to get married to.

3) After sales service. I have heard lot of good stories about Canon's service. I am not even sure Nikon has a service center here.

4) Future of the company. Canon already has a full frame camera. Nikon has said they are not interested in full frame DSLRs. So if you want to upgrade to full frame, Canon is the obvious choice.

The points I have mentioned above should get you thinking. Sorry if they have confused you more :P
 
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No it perfectly makes sense. Thanks,

between the two I 'was inclined' towards the D80 based on the reviews, but some how small things keep popping up.

Like you said, Canon's Image stabilization in lenses is good plus its got a self cleaning system, where in a film on the sensor vibrates to shake of any dust that would have settled on it. quite handy I'd say, than using a blower brush.

how about the sensors in both (Canon - CMOS / Nikon - CCD)?

About full frame, do you mean to say that you can change just the sensor in the same body, when they are released in the future?
 
Full frame cameras are the ones which have sensors the size of 35mm film (roughly). All other DSLRs have smaller sensors which introduces a cropping factor of 1.6/1.5x. Cropping factor means if you stick a 18mm lens in front of a 400D/D80 (which are not full frame), the actual range is 28mm (18 x 1.5).

The self cleaning system is good to have, although it has not been proven to work 100%.

Canon manufactors its own sensors (CMOS) while Nikon uses Sony sensors (CCD). So any day Sony will use the best sensors on their cameras instead of giving to Nikon (don't this too seriously :hap5: )

Have you held both cameras in your hand? Do that and go by what feels good. I bet you'll love the D80 cos its professional looking. But remember that Canon offers excellent lenses. They have 4 awesome lenses in the 70-200mm range itself. One f/2.8 with and without IS, F/4 with and without IS and of course the 70-300mm IS which is a good cheap zoom lens.

Basically, think beyond the camera dude :cool2:
 
SpitefulPentium said:
I'm more towards macro and landscapes/panaromas than telephoto.

the 400D has a smaller sensor and hence a 1.6x factor as compared to 1.5x of the D80.
Click to expand...

Unless you are thinking of turning professional...its even-stevens between the two. Traditionally Nikon has handled landscapes better than Canon, but that does not in any way mean that Canon is bad. Its 99.8% of Nikon for landscapes... and everything else is pretty much the same. As Astrono_me said...both cameras in the right hands will produce incredible images.

Also the Crop factor difference of 0.1X has almost no real world effect.

SpitefulPentium said:
more inclined towards the D80 after going through various reviews and some review/ tutorial videos. also, how is JJ Mehta as far as price/warranty/service (after-sales to be more specific) is concerned?
Click to expand...

JJ Mehta is one of the most reliable retailers in the business :). Your location is "hell" in the post above.. . how far is that from Mumbai? :P :P If its near... then in case you need warranty... it might be more convenient.

astrono_me said:
2) Canon's Image Stabilization lenses are unbeatable while Nikon's Flash system is superb. So again, look beyond the camera and think of what system you want to get married to.
Click to expand...

Though if your priorities are landscapes, you should use a tripod, in which case you donot really need Canon's superb IS.... ohhh... and IS lenses cost a bomb. Also you wont really need Nikon's flash system for landscapes either. But I do agree... you get married to the whole system :)

astrono_me said:
4) Future of the company. Canon already has a full frame camera. Nikon has said they are not interested in full frame DSLRs. So if you want to upgrade to full frame, Canon is the obvious choice.
Click to expand...

I am not sure how the future of the company is related to having a full frame camera. Mind elaborating on this please...

@ SP... You should know that Canon's full frame 5D will cost you the better part of $3k. Also Canon's top of the line EOS Mark III has a 1.3X crop factor...

SpitefulPentium said:
Like you said, Canon's Image stabilization in lenses is good plus its got a self cleaning system, where in a film on the sensor vibrates to shake of any dust that would have settled on it. quite handy I'd say, than using a blower brush.

how about the sensors in both (Canon - CMOS / Nikon - CCD)?
Click to expand...

Even though I have a EOS 400D, donot choose Canon for the cleaning system. I am looking for the link where i read this...Canon's shaking sensor doesnt clean anything. Less than 5% of the dust on the sensor was removed. Though you do have other in camera options like "Dust delete Data" that seem to work reasonably well.

astrono_me said:
Full frame cameras are the ones which have sensors the size of 35mm film (roughly). All other DSLRs have smaller sensors which introduces a cropping factor of 1.6/1.5x. Cropping factor means if you stick a 18mm lens in front of a 400D/D80 (which are not full frame), the actual range is 28mm (18 x 1.5).
Click to expand...

So basically you lose some range on wide angle end... but gain some at the telephoto end. 18mm is 28mm... but 200mm is 300mm.
 
^ Well wolfff has disected pretty well, but I don't get the point in comparing D80 with the 400D ;)

D80 matches the 30D in pricing, and to be frank its a really really tough one.

I'd probably go for 30D because of slightly better lens choices and high ISO IQ, but it heavily depends on what kinda photography is your primary concern ;)
 
Well @ JJMehta D80 is 35k body only, 400D is 45k with kit lens. Assuming 5k for the kit lens.... it comes to 40k both ways. In gray market however, the price diff. is around 7k. Not sure if he is buying in India or abroad though.
 
There's no use comparing the 400D to the Nikon D80. Both are addressed at different markets and price points. Considering *body only*, the D80 is superior in every way... Pentaprism Viewfinder, Spot metering, better grip and ergonomics, better construction, ISO 3200, Secondary settings LCD, 11 point autofocus... its basically a no contest. However if you are inclined to spend on the D80, I'd rather compare the D80 with the Canon 30D which is around 100-150$ more than the nikon D80 and is comparable in features. Also if you buy either of these bodies, don't even look at the kit lens. For nikon, I'd get a 18-200VR to start with. For canon I'd get a 3rd party Tamron 17-50 f/2.8 and a canon 70-300IS. Also add a 50mm f/1.8 prime for low light work for cheap :P.

@Wolff: The nikon 18-135 kit lens is around 300-350$ alone. Its not a lame lens like the canon... its a very very good lens. However I'd still not take it cos 135mm without vibration reduction/image stabilization is useless. If budget is tight, the 18-70 is a better lens.
 
the nikon 18-135 is having some problem like autofocus.....so check for same in the market for the same......get the 18-70 lense it is a better lens....
 
astrono_me said:
4) Future of the company. Canon already has a full frame camera. Nikon has said they are not interested in full frame DSLRs. So if you want to upgrade to full frame, Canon is the obvious choice.
Click to expand...

Ok, I meant that Nikon had publically announced once that they are not interested in developing full frame cameras, so we *may* not see a FF from Nikon.

Also, since Canon develops its own sensors and already has a FF, the day won't be far when FF cameras become affordable....just a speculation.
 
agree (now) that D80 would be comparable to 30D from Canon.

I've also read about the 18-135mmm DX having focusing issues and produces soft images. dont know if the guy used it properly or not.

@Chaos: the 18-200mm VR is close to 44k @JJ Mehta.

since I'm buying from India, dont think that's an option. the cheap 50mm f/1.8D looks good as a starter lens.

moreover I have a tripod and now look forward to use whenever I take landscape or night photographs. so in that case would a 18-135mm DX be ok?

I take it that the above lens can also be used for macro.

your comments.

any other choice in lens? how much is the 18-70?
 
^^You can just hold the lens in front of the body, switch the body to Tv and it works :P. I have a 350D. I didn't bother getting the 400D cos I felt the extra money was better spent on lenses. My current lens set is

Canon EF 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5
Tokina 19-35mm f/3.5-4.5
Canon EF 50mm f/1.8
Canon 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L
 
Well I'm stuck at the same juncture, and for me, D80 > 400D cause :

1. Spot Metering

2. Dual Dials

3. Status LCD

4. Pentaprism Viewfinder

5. *Much* better grip (hold 'em both and you'll notice rightaway ;))

The point though is, service !
 
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