My Nikon DSLR was stolen last November and I've been using my iPhone since then. I have the money now to replace it but am completely stuck as to what to get. I think I've narrowed it down to a Canon EOS 500, 550 or 600 but which? If I go for the old 500 I can get a good deal (les than the price of the 600) that includes a standard lens and a 75-300m lens but I've been told that's not so good. I don't use video much and prefer taking shots with close detail more than landscapes. I will want a macro when I can afford it. Rather than take advice from shop assistants I thought I would ask the 365ers instead as you know your stuff!
Thank you for posting this as I am currently trying to weigh up the differences between a canon 550D and a 600 and could do with a few pointers or info from anyone that has either camera.
I could do with some advise too, I've got a Nikon D40X, and was thinking of upgrading to the D90 and dont know if it is worth while or not? Or I might spend the money on tuition, possibly the OU course??
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That's my advice. and, I get repetitive I know, but if you're on a budget consider adaptor rings for film SLR lenses, The Canon EOS range fits adaptors to almost all lense mounts, you could pick up a 70-320mm zoom, a 50mm f1.8 and a 35-70mm zoom with a Pentax PK mount from film SLR cameras for about £50 on eBay (thats not each thats in total)
@Karlo57, The D7000 has rendered the D90 practically irrelevant IMO. If you can find one, it's an excellent camera. At the same price point, I wouldn't even think about the D90. The CMOS sensor is the biggest difference you'll notice, which among other things gives much improved low light capability.
Counterpoint. If you had Nikon, why switch? Unless everything Nikon you had was copped, stick with Nikon. The Digi's of Nikon and Canon are different from an aesthetic point. To a Nikonian, a Canon is menu ridden and very "busy". If that's what you want, go for it, But remember, you'll be replacing a lot of things, down to filters (Nikon normal size is 52mm, Canon is 58mm). Worry more about brand than model. Think.
However, if you were to go with a Nikon, the D7000 is the way to go. For the money, it is the best thing on the market. IMO, and many others.
my advice: stay away from kit lenses, and in particular don't sacrifice anything for a cheap, variable aperture long zoom (e.g. 75-300). A good quality lens is worth every cent, and like Dave said you can pick up some nice older lenses quite cheap. (The more you value optical quality over speed of focus the better value you can get... and that's fine if you like shooting subjects that stay still). Why Canon anyway? Do you still have any Nikon lenses?
I just bought (yesterday) a 600 which I love!! Spent a few weeks looking at the options and although I only ever look through the viewfinder, I like the swivel-screen, and how the menu works.
Want to get a zoom lens and a 50mm so will check out other older topics for suggestions...
@lauralatham
It depends of what you want. To me there's a huge difference between the 550D and the 600D. If you want to use off-camera flash, the obvious choice is the 600D. It's the cheapest camera you can have that has the pop-up flash as a master unit controlling other flashes wirelessly. And also, it has the swivel LCD. Just my two cents on this discussion. Cheers!
@karlo57 I have beaten my D90, used, abused, been to hell and back with it and love it. i can say it can handle shooting in 600+ degrees without a problem. you can't go wrong with nikon. an 18-200vr lens is a good starting lens, and a 50 prime, but i am a bit of a nikon biased kinda guy :)
I bought the 600d a few weeks ago.. I already had canon lenses.. Its taken me a while, but I am really happy with it now. For me it was about the flash options that made me go 600d over 550 d.. good luck
@hasselhotch 600D has the wireless flash control feature other canon's (except for the professional 7D) do not have. This is not to be overlooked if you shoot with flash a lot.
There's a huge difference in being able to shoot wirelessly with only one unit. For the budget of one 580 EX II (that you would have to stick only in the hot-shoe with 550D), you can almost buy two 430 EX II and have two slave flashes off-shoe in the 600D.
Besides, even if you have a 580 EX II as a commander and other units as slaves, the controls are easier in the camera menu, in the 600D.
Flash buttons suck.
Thank you everyone for your helpful advice and comments. I have to say I'm quite tempted by the 600d as I like taking photos from a low perspective and can't always see through the viewfinder so a swivel screen would be very useful. My current compact that I use has one and I have used it for some of my shots when I can't physically get my head close enough to the floor to see the screen or look trough the viewfinder.
Thank you for the thread my wife and I are also thinking of buying either of the two canon dslr mentioned...my question is we plan on buying the body and avoiding the kit lenses that being said...I want to focus more on landscapes and my wife wants to work on portraits..what lens/lenses would you recommend if we could only afford to start out with 1-2 lenses?
@cluvlj@dieter thanks for the advice and question why canon? my first film SLR 20 years ago was a Canon and I loved it. Once it broke I just had point and shoots and I finally got a DSLR about 18months ago - the Nikon that was stolen - along with everything else so I have no equipment at the moment at all. I think it's just nostalgia but I can see there's as many reasons for Nikon as Canon!
Also thanks everyone for the advice about staying away from the kit lenses, that's really helpful as I probably would have gone for quantity over quality! So, now I think I've decided on a Canon 550 or 600 with a 50mm lens and will save up for the other ones (and borrow my friend's lenses!)
Now I know what I'm aiming for too. Thank you Laura for posting this. You are probably going to get yours before I get mine. Let me know how you get on with it.
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That's my advice. and, I get repetitive I know, but if you're on a budget consider adaptor rings for film SLR lenses, The Canon EOS range fits adaptors to almost all lense mounts, you could pick up a 70-320mm zoom, a 50mm f1.8 and a 35-70mm zoom with a Pentax PK mount from film SLR cameras for about £50 on eBay (thats not each thats in total)
600d is the same as the 550d but the screen can be tilted
The 550d has done really well at the tipa awards
link
http://www.tipa.com/english/award-details.php?iId=1769&sAward=Best DSLR+Advanced
@lauralatham just updated this for you
However, if you were to go with a Nikon, the D7000 is the way to go. For the money, it is the best thing on the market. IMO, and many others.
Anyone know how we report spammers ? ^
Want to get a zoom lens and a 50mm so will check out other older topics for suggestions...
It depends of what you want. To me there's a huge difference between the 550D and the 600D. If you want to use off-camera flash, the obvious choice is the 600D. It's the cheapest camera you can have that has the pop-up flash as a master unit controlling other flashes wirelessly. And also, it has the swivel LCD. Just my two cents on this discussion. Cheers!
There's a huge difference in being able to shoot wirelessly with only one unit. For the budget of one 580 EX II (that you would have to stick only in the hot-shoe with 550D), you can almost buy two 430 EX II and have two slave flashes off-shoe in the 600D.
Besides, even if you have a 580 EX II as a commander and other units as slaves, the controls are easier in the camera menu, in the 600D.
Flash buttons suck.
Also thanks everyone for the advice about staying away from the kit lenses, that's really helpful as I probably would have gone for quantity over quality! So, now I think I've decided on a Canon 550 or 600 with a 50mm lens and will save up for the other ones (and borrow my friend's lenses!)
@lauralatham Thanks for this thread very useful.