Re: Looking for digtal SLR

dj_nme wrote:

Tass wrote:

I am looking for a digital SLR and I am narrowing my list down. My short
list is the Canon Rebel XT and the Nikon D70. I basically know the
features listed for each but I am looking for opinions on which is the
better overall camera. Wear, body construction, picture quality etc. I
currently own the Canon S50 5MP and am very happy with it but want to play
more and add lenses as time goes on. Your opinions would be appreciated.


Being a Pentax *ist-DS user,

I'm a Nikon D200/D70 user, the D200 will even meter with old lenses, the D70 leaves you all manual or modify the lens. I think there are a few really old ones where the aperture does not function at all on a D70, I might be mistaken, I was trying to get extension tubes for a new lens and ran into this issue but it's generally not a big issue for any of these if you don't own old lenses and don't have really strange requirements.

Canon switched their mount but it was for good reasons, they are more aggressive about developing new products than Nikon and Nikon lenses can be used on a new Canon... not that it would be practical for most people.

Third party lenses for Nikon mount sometimes need to be modified also, I've got a Sigma 12-24 that lacks some odd features on a D200 and could be sent back to Sigma for alterations.

there is one factor other that I think that you should take into account before making your selection.
If you are likely to be looking for second-hand lenses or want to be able to try out older lenses, then I suggest that the Nikon D70 is the way to go.
The reason is fairly simple, that all of the Nikon bayonet mount lenses will fit the D70, although may only be usable in manual mode only.
The older Nikon lenses will fit and focus to infinity on a D70, the same can't be said for older Canon lenses on a Rebel XT.
At least with Nikon, you can be pretty sure that if it made for (or to fit) Nikon, it will work.
Canon abandoned compatibility with their manual FD lenses when they adopted their curent EOS mount.
Also, Canon like to subtley change the electronic communication from lens to body with newer cameras and so that lenses made by other manufacturers may not work on a newer body (camera bodies don't last for-ever) and literaly force you to either buy Canon made lenses, buy a new lens or get your current lens rechipped (which-ever is cheaper or more practical at the time).

Before the canonistas chime in with "but, you could use an adapter to make the FD lenses fit an EOS", simple fact is that the Canon brand adapter has been "out of print" for nearly twenty years (and is an expensive collectors item) and it is at best a kludge (it only works with a few special lenses and also acts as a 1.2x tele-adapter).
The only adapter that is worth getting for any SLR camera is an M42 adapter, because it allows you to use some nifty older lenses and does not have optics to degrade the image or act as a slight tele-adapter (of which a FD to EOS adapter has both).
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Canon EOS 400D & Nikon D40x : EOS EF lenses
    ... every lens in sight to get my quota of "sellen' lenses". ... No, surely not, Nikon makes no mistakes, ever. ... not anything from Canon" ...
    (rec.photo.digital.slr-systems)
  • Re: Nikon will not go to full frame...
    ... By and large I find that Canon users believe that one of the following ... I find that Nikon users believe that one of these is most ... Canon's lenses are also, in many instances, ...
    (rec.photo.digital.slr-systems)
  • Re: Canon - Nikon Observations
    ... claims that Canon lenses are superior to Nikon. ... Canon _usually_ delivers equal or better results at equal or lower ... Nikon and Canon lenses pretty closely until you moved up to the ... someone wanted that type of lens, ...
    (rec.photo.digital)
  • Re: Canon - Nikon Observations
    ... What I meant to say that in each price class for lenses, ... Canon _usually_ delivers equal or better results at equal or lower ... Nikon and Canon lenses pretty closely until you moved up to the ... someone wanted that type of lens, up until recently that would have ...
    (rec.photo.digital)
  • Re: Digital SLR Beginer Help
    ... I am considering between the Nikon ... D70 and the Canon 20D. ... The flash sync, if I remember correctly, was also a slight advantage ... I am also convinced that the offerings in the lenses department are ...
    (alt.photography)