DSLR: Nikon D50 versus Canon D-Rebel XT

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brigden

brigden

Diamond Member
Dec 22, 2002
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I posted a thread a few weeks ago asking for advice in buying a DSLR for a friend's daughter as a Christmas gift.

(If you must know, the family isn't very well-off; they've been good to me, and I wish to repay their loyalty with a gift for their daughter.)

Anyway, the choices are down to the Nikon D50 and the Canon D-Rebel XT. Yes, I know there are better cameras out there, and yes, they're only a few hundred more, but these are the choices made available to me, and I've been told not to exceed them.

So, which camera should I choose?

I know very little about photography, but from what I've been told, both would make an excellent choice. The intended user has indicated (she has no idea she'd be the receipient) that the Canon has the edge because it offers a depth-of-field preview button and mirror lock-up, although the Nikon has a better build quality.

Your opinions are appreciated.
 
Miklebud

Miklebud

Platinum Member
Nov 20, 2002
2,459
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I'm subscribing to this thread. Because I'm in the market for an entry-level DSLR. I want to hear some opinions of people who've used both. I myself have only used a D50 and liked what I saw.
 
GTaudiophile

GTaudiophile

Lifer
Oct 24, 2000
29,767
33
81
Canon Rebel XT (Body): $565 @ BuyDig.com
Nikon D50 (Body): $496 @ DBuys.com

How much is your total budget? I would buy the one that leaves the most room for better glass. Can you throw a Tamron 17-50 F2.8 for $450 into the mix? If so, I would get her that.
 
GTaudiophile

GTaudiophile

Lifer
Oct 24, 2000
29,767
33
81
Remember... Bodies come and go but lenses are forever. If she loves photography, it's not just a camera but an investment in a lens system. Nikon and Canon (and Zeiss) have the best glass in the world. Like I said, spend as little as you can on the body and invest the difference in good glass.
 
fuzzybabybunny

fuzzybabybunny

Moderator<br>Digital & Video Cameras
Moderator
Jan 2, 2006
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The D50 doesn't have DOF preview nor mirror lock-up? Those are instant killers for me, but may not be for her.

Mirror Lock-Up is absolutely essential for taking pictures that require a long shutter speed. Without MLU, the vibration from the mirror slap when the shutter opens will vibrate the camera just enough to blur the picture, especially with long telephoto lenses. I simply will not use an SLR without MLU. I don't care what brand it is; if it doesn't have MLU, I'm not getting it. This isn't that big of an issue if you don't take pictures with long telephoto lenses or shots that require a long shutter speed.

DOF preview: This is really isoteric, but I require this not for previewing DOF, but for manually stopping down lenses when I want to reverse mount them for macro. Modern lenses nowadays do not include mechanical rings for stopping up/down its aperture. All the stopping up/down is controlled in the camera body. If you reverse mount a wideangle lens on a camera, you get a very powerful macro lens, but reverse mounting means you won't be able to stop down the lens anymore since it no longer has that electrical communication with the camera.

The workaround to this is to mount the lens normally, set your desired aperture, then press and hold the DOF preview button to stop down the lens. Then, while you're still holding the button, take off the lens and it will stay stopped down. Without a DOF preview button this would be impossible, but I would guess that for 99% of people this feature is not an issue.
 
F

FilmCamera

Senior member
Nov 12, 2006
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Personally I would get the Canon. Nikon isn't bad, but Canon has the edge right now and most likely in the future as well. The glass for both brands are excellent.

It just depends on what you expect for the future. But I would invest in the Canon.
 
K

kami333

Diamond Member
Dec 12, 2001
5,110
2
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She clearly shows a leaning towards Canon, so go with Canon. I use mirror lock up a lot, it can help squeeze the last little bit if you are somewhere without a tripod, as well as using it with a tripod.

If you have a good local store you might consider trying to buy from them (non-chain) if they will let you exchange the camera for the other one if it turns out she would rather have the other one. Probably a long shot but might be worth it (though it might be cheaper just to pay the 15% restocking fee online).
 
fuzzybabybunny

fuzzybabybunny

Moderator<br>Digital & Video Cameras
Moderator
Jan 2, 2006
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Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
Spend as little as you can on the body and invest the difference in good glass.
Click to expand...

Within reason.

If it's a difference of, say, $100 between a more expensive XT and a D50, there isn't much point in buying the cheaper body and spending that $100 towards a lens, the sobering reason being that $100 is really a plunk in the bucket when you're talking about getting multiple quality lenses.

Think of it this way: I have about $3000 in lenses and $600 in my camera.

Which would be the more worthwhile investment:

A $500 camera with less features + $3100 in lenses

or

A $600 camera with more features + $3000 in lenses

The point is that that $100 saved and put into the lenses will not make that much of a difference overall in the quality of lenses you get.
 
jpeyton

jpeyton

Moderator in SFF, Notebooks, Pre-Built/Barebones
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Aug 23, 2003
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When I bought my DSLR last winter, I had the same choice to make.

Not knowing a ton about photography at the time, all I knew was that Canon and Nikon had the most widely available lens systems.

I went to CompUSA, picked up and played around with both cameras.

Bottom line: the Nikon felt more like a camera designed from a shooter's perspective. Better viewfinder, much more comfortable to hold and manipulate in my hands; the Canon felt small and awkward in comparison.

All specs aside, when you consider the fact that a person will click the shutter tens of thousands of times during the camera's lifetime, you want to make sure it's a camera that will fit them like a glove (ergonomically).
 
S

Staples

Diamond Member
Oct 28, 2001
4,953
119
106
I am just going to say D50. Cheaper and it eliminates what I hate about my Rebel, the viewfinder.

And there are a lot of brand name fanboys in here so this is not the best place to ask.
 
dug777

dug777

Lifer
Oct 13, 2004
24,778
4
0
From the time i've spent playing with them in store, the D50 was so far ahead of the Canon on terms of ergonomics (both to hold and the viewfinder) that i wouldn't even consider a 350D instead...

I've seen excellent photos from both cameras, so any crazed Canon fanboys who try to tell you otherwise are full of sh1t ;)
 
yhelothar

yhelothar

Lifer
Dec 11, 2002
18,409
39
91
Pentax K100D. It has the mirror lockup, DoF preview, and built in image stabilization. And it has a better viewfinder than both.
 
yhelothar

yhelothar

Lifer
Dec 11, 2002
18,409
39
91
Originally posted by: tfinch2
Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
Remember... Bodies come and go but lenses are forever. If she loves photography, it's not just a camera but an investment in a lens system. Nikon and Canon (and Zeiss) have the best glass in the world. Like I said, spend as little as you can on the body and invest the difference in good glass.
Click to expand...

http://www.eisa-awards.org/history/2006-2007/photo.html
Click to expand...

QFT. Every brand has their best glass. Canon and Nikon just have the most glass, but not neccessarily the best.
 
B

bozack

Diamond Member
Jan 14, 2000
7,913
12
81
Originally posted by: tfinch2
http://www.jr.com/JRProductPage.process?Product=4112935

In body IS, and if you order tonight they include a 1 GB Sandisk memory card.

I played around with this camera this weekend and it's pretty nice. The viewfinder is nice too. I'm tempted to snag this tonight....
Click to expand...

Here is another vote for the K100 Pentax, I did some extensive research on this and I went with the pentax and am very pleased, but that kit you linked is for the body only....

of the two I would say Nikon, but to not look at the Pentax is a mistake IMHO. Great camera, with great lens options for less than both the Nikon and the Canon.

Good luck
 
I

imported_Pablo

Diamond Member
Jan 20, 2002
3,714
1
0
I was very happy with my 300D, but it was larger than the newer rebels. I like the feature set of the Rebel over the D50, though.
 
R

randomlinh

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
20,846
2
0
linh.wordpress.com
I'd be tempted to look at the k100 too if it's viewfinder is even better. I'd just be weary on glass. Nikon and canon are easy to find a good selection of used glass on places like fredmiranda.

With that said, I'd have to lean towards the D50. I have a 300D, and I love canon... but the viewfinder is starting to really irk me. more so than before. A 30D would solve that, but it's well beyond the price range you're looking for :)
 
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