D80 vs 30D now... or wait until march 2007?

[Velk]

Hi, this is my first thread, first of all I'd like to warn you about the upcoming english mistakes; I'm not fluent.

I've been thinking a lot about cameras recently, and I can now formulate a precise question: should I purchase either a D80 or a 30D or wait until the 2007 PMA, when Canon will unveil its next generation of DSLRs? I only have three choices:

-Wait for the PMA and get a cheap and somewhat disappointing Rebel Xti (I don't like the body and many other things),
-Buy a 30D,
-Buy a D80.

You should be aware that I have an EOS mount Tamron 17-50 (which is great), it would cost me 50€ to have the Nikon mount.

I'm quite worry about Nikon lens market (used or new) and their upcoming Full Frame Body, which, as I understand have been in the past years clearly under Canon ones. I would probably buy a Full Frame before the next 5 years.

I've read a lot of things about the 2 cameras and I've drawn this little comparison board, which might be quite false at some points:

http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/7072/sanstitrejr2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

I've been asking people about wether I should buy a D80 or a 30D and a majority told me "Canon all the way... safer choice, great ISO performance, better image quality ( :confused: ) , wider lens choice and much more used by professionals photographers."

That is just great...:( What do I do now with all of this, please?;)

[jkwilborn]

Hi, this is my first thread, first of all I'd like to warn you about the upcoming english mistakes; I'm not fluent.

I've been thinking a lot about cameras recently, and I can now formulate a precise question: should I purchase either a D80 or a 30D or wait until the 2007 PMA, when Canon will unveil its next generation of DSLRs? I only have three choices:

-Wait for the PMA and get a cheap and somewhat disappointing Rebel Xti (I don't like the body and many other things),
-Buy a 30D,
-Buy a D80.

You should be aware that I have an EOS mount Tamron 17-50 (which is great), it would cost me 50€ to have the Nikon mount.

I'm quite worry about Nikon lens market (used or new) and their upcoming Full Frame Body, which, as I understand have been in the past years clearly under Canon ones. I would probably buy a Full Frame before the next 5 years.

I've read a lot of things about the 2 cameras and I've drawn this little comparison board, which might be quite false at some points:

http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/7072/sanstitrejr2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

I've been asking people about wether I should buy a D80 or a 30D and a majority told me "Canon all the way... safer choice, great ISO performance, better image quality ( :confused: ) , wider lens choice and much more used by professionals photographers."

That is just great...:( What do I do now with all of this, please?;)

The Nikon has many more important (to me) points that the Canon. One that is especially important is comfort of controls. I will tell you I have always been a Nikon person, but have found that many people have wished they had bought the model that I had over many other cameras. I really don't agree that the camera lens is more used (maybe new either) since I have had lens that I have had, for like 20 years and I can still use them on my D70. Of course they are not CPU lens, but nobody had them then. Also 2 MP more could look brighter if you said 2,000,000 + picture elements (pixels) more! Which is a substancial difference. What do you know about the noise level of digital circuits when used in photography? I would suggest you get hold of a camera and computer and actually "see" the noise that can be produced and if there is a descernable difference. I would say I doubt it. I have done this with my D70, cranked the ISO to the bottom and top and stared at both to 'actually see' what I could make out.

Then there is the raw file, which I assume you must use to be able to make use of some of the finer points of the camera, if not, you really need some way to evaluate how each camera computes the different color, (jesh, I can't recall all the different settings) that can be modified to affect the photograph. I, personally, think the noise item is way overated, since most people don't even know what to look for... If you do, you are more advanced than most!

If you aren't using the raw format, you should move that way. It gives you total control and you don't lose information in the photograph data that you would if you are set to JPG or TIFF. Both use algorythms to determine how the end result will be and they actually make adjustments that shifts and loses data to make the end product. Not with the raw format, it is always there what ever you took that day will still be there even if you produce JPG, TIFF or whatever may come about..


Of course, we all have opinoins and favorites that cause us to 'descriminate' between cameras, makers, lens, lens manufacturers and so forth. I believe you will probably like what ever you end up with. But since you did lay out some points, you have MORE plus points on the Nikon side. I have been VERY happy with all of the Nikons that I have owned (and still have) and have really never felt that I lost anything not buying one of the others. I also have a Mamiya RZ67 medium format and a Toyo 4x5 inch large format (which is small to an 11x14 inch camera), I guess it's all relative!!! Good luck, I'm sure you like whatever you decide on and if you wait until 2007, Nikon will have thier "NEW" one coming out in a few months more, then Canon , then ...et infinitum (however it's spelled!!)
Again, best of luck, we all face the same delima.

Jack K. Wilborn
Central Point, OR

[coldrain]

Not sure why you think the AF is faster on the Nikon (it is not) and why the metering would be better.

But just buy what you like best, I guess.