Nikon D40 & Canon Rebel XTi - which is better?

Question

Can someone tell me which camera is better? I'm not a professional photographer, I just want a good camera that I'm going to like for a few years.

Also, is the Nikon D80 that much better than the D40 - considering I'm a beginner?

Thanks!

Answer 1

Hi Mel.  :)   When you ask the question "Which is better,  Nikon D40 or the Canon XTi" for the most part,  you are asking people who probably do not have both, because it is just not cost effective to have two completely different digital SLR systems to choose from and shoot with.    In fact,  you would do better by doing some online research.  There are many sites that devote pages and pages  to reviewing, comparing, contrasting and assessing the features of all the digital cameras.   DPReview (.com) is one such site.  That is what this site is all about....   providing the best information by professional photographers who have field tested the new cameras just so consumers can make informed and intelligent choices for THEMSELVES.   Of course, every one on here has their opinions and some are really good...  but that does not mean it is good for you.     I happen to have the Canon Rebel XTi.   I like it.  I like the features.  I like the images it produces...  but by no means does that mean anyone else answering your question will like it.   That won't change my mind.  I use it and it works for me.   Please take some time to look up the camera review web sites.   You may see something else that just jumps right off the monitor at you.  But then,  I would go to Best Buy or Circuit City... what ever electronic or camera store in your area and check out those models in person.  There you will have a sales person to guide you and answer any questions you have left.   Get the camera that is RIGHT for you!!!

Answer 2

The best camera will be the one with the best lens in front of it and the best photographer behind it. In terms of image quality, I have to respectfully disagree with the other answers -- megapixels have little bearing on the quality of the image, and every DSLR from Nikon or Canon will be able to produce professional, awe-inspiring images if you know how to use them. If you want my opinion on the matter, choose which brand you'd like to go with, and then choose a lens that you'd like to use. Then, consider buying a used book or two off Amazon that introduces you to DSLR photography (I recommend "Understanding Exposure" by Brian Peterson and "The Digital Photography Book" by Scott Kelby) After you've done all that, find a camera that keeps you within your budget. For your first lens, the kit lens that comes with the D40 is actually quite nice. The XTi's kit lens is not that great, and a better choice may be to buy only the camera body (without a lens), and then buy the newer 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS, which has fixed many of the optical issues of the older lens that comes bundled with the XTi. Don't feel as if you're limited to those lenses though, you can add a new lens at any time.

As for the D80, the image quality will be similar -- extremely good. What's different, however, is the build quality, ergonomics, menu system, a few more professional options and the fact that the D80 has a lens autofocus motor built in. The D40 is not able to autofocus on some Nikon compatible lenses because it lacks this motor. This may not be a huge issue for you if you plan to buy all new Nikon brand lenses with the AF-S designation, but it's good to keep in mind.

Try not to get sucked into the "Newest model" sensation going around lately. There is no reason why you would need the XSi over the XTi or XT, and the same goes for the D60 over the D40. In all honestly, most users don't even know the difference between the camera models, differences which are quite small anyways. The D40 may have been "Replaced" by the D40x, and then the D60, but it is still on the market and it still works just fine. If it did the job two years ago, it will do the job now.

Good luck and remember, when you really get down to it, you'll be happy with either camera!

Answer 3

canon is better

but get the xsi instead of the xti

Answer 4

First of all, the right question would be

" Nikon d40 & Canon Rebel XT ", you should compare the nikon d60 and the rebel xti, that's just the price range.

But, that's the question you asked. So, having that said, i think that the rebel xti is a much better camera, it has more megapixels, four to be exact, and is two hundred dollars more expensive. And, i'd suspect that the image quality is quite different too. IN simpler words, the four megapixels make qutie a difference. You can't expect the nikon to compare to the canon. The canon is two hundred dollars more expensive. Don't get me wrong, i'm not dissing the nikon d40, i have one, but if i had the money, i would've gotten the xti, mainly because it's just a better camera, and you literally get more bang for your buck.

Oh, and the nikon d80, is MUCH better then the nikon d40, by far. First of all, it's around four hundred dollars more expensive than the d40, it's a beginner camera, whereby the nikon d80 is a mid-range camera, with ten megapixels, compared to the semi-unreasonable six of the d40. Also, the nikon d80 can autofocus AF lenses, whereby the nikon d40 can only autofocus AF-S lenses,  and the nikon d80 can do both, which saves time, and creates more precision. Hey, if you have the money, you should  get the nikon d80, it's better than the rebel xti, and the nikon d40