by MrDisco » April 10th, 2009, 6:42 am
Continuing from my FB post
I briefly had the XSi but returned it and got the 40D instead. The 40D is a proper sized body which nearly can be properly gripped in my hand. The alloy chassis gives the body strength and durability but all this comes at the cost of weight. I added the battery grip which makes handling the camera that much easier, but the added bulk is something to consider. The D300 is equally as well built, but is slightly heavier/larger than the 40D. Cosmetically the D300 has more buttons and switches giving you direct access to various functions. The Canon has a cleaner design with features embedded in the menus with the joystick/scroll wheel.
Both cameras have high frame rates. The 40D has 9 cross-hair points (Rebels only have the center point as a cross-hair) which aids in focusing. The D300 has 51 points of focus. The 40D has an older implementation of Live View, but both have their limitations due to the nature of SLR design - it's not the same as a Point 'n Shoot.
No question the D300 is very impressive and out classes the 40D in some areas (i.e. the much higher res LCD back on the D300). On the flip side the D300 is much more expensive with the 40D dropping in price now that the 50D is here. If money were no object and I was starting from scratch I would probably choose the D300 (with 18-200mm lens) simply for its feature set. With money being a factor I can't ignore the better pricing on the 40D.
You should seriously look at the T1i and the D90. They're smaller, lighter, cheaper and have features borrowed from their more expensive counter-parts. The difference in price can be easily applied to better glass which will make a far bigger difference in PQ vs the body. The lenses you can keep for a lifetime while you can upgrade the body as you get better at the hobby. Realistically any camera from the Rebel to pro-sumer class is going to give you stunning pictures when the right skill is applied.
For lenses you'll be better off buying just the body and getting a decent lens separately. The kit lenses are cheap and quite good to learn with but they're limited in their 18-55mm range, their focusing is slower and noisier, and the glass quality is entry level. The Nikon 18-200mm is a very highly rated general purpose lens but at a cost (its about $700cdn here). I use a 17-85mm USM lens as anything else is overkill for me at this point. Filters are not needed, though there isn't any harm in using a UV filter to protect the lens end. A circular polarizing filter will also enhance your pictures where there's a lot of glare (on water for example). Filters can range from cheap generics to very expensive German made quality (B+W).
Don't forget to factor in quality memory cards, and a comfortable gadget bag. For low light photography a tripod is a must.
Some books worth reading:
The Digital Photography Book vol1 and vol2 by Scott Kelby
Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson
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