Nikon D90 V Canon EOS 550D

[johnf3f]

No harm in waiting a bit, there will be new products about which will make the used ones cheaper!

[pressld2]

When I upgraded from my D70 to the D300 I did it because I wanted to be pushing against my limits and not those of the camera. It looks to me, from a quick glance through your Gallery, that your at the same stage. You're getting some great shots with the kit you've got and if you can manage the price leap up to the D300s/7D level you won't regret it.

Jim is right that image quality is 90% (or more) down to the lens. But it's important that the camera sits nicely in your hand and feels right. With a purchase like this you need to get your hands on both models before making a decision. Even if you ultimately end up buying over the net.

Dave P.

[turkeyneck]

Originally Posted by johnf3f

No harm in waiting a bit, there will be new products about which will make the used ones cheaper!

Yeh John that is what is in my mind, I can afford the D90/550D now but I'm thinking I'll hold back for a while til I can afford an even better upgrade and hopefully new products will be out which will in turn lower the price of the D300s/7D.

You're getting some great shots with the kit you've got and if you can manage the price leap up to the D300s/7D level you won't regret it.

Hey Dave I'll take that as a great compliment as I've seen the high standard of your photography
That's the thing, 'you won't regret it', I'll never ever purchase higher than a D300s or 7D, so if this is my top aim why purchase something below that? I may regret it if I buy the D90 now and then a year later wished that I'd gone for the D300s.
Til then I'll keep plugging away with my stepsons D60, I'm sure though he's going to want it back soon as it's his DSLR. Hopefully he won't get bored with his Xbox soon, or at least not til winter has truly set in.

[turkeyneck]

OH NO!!!!!

Well.............I've finally done it.

I'm now 2K in debt thanks to the 'plastic fantastic' but sitting next to me un-opened is a canon 7D,, Tamron 90mm macro, Sigma 70-300mm OS tele and numerous other bits and peices, I think the technical word is accessories.

I finally managed to get my hands on all the cameras I wanted to, using various shops in around the midlands whilst visiting family there. Thing is, I ended up buying locally from the shop I wasn't going to, funny how better you get treated by 1, they think youre gonna spend a wad and 2, if you deal with the boss of the shop. After my previous dealings I must take back what I said and today customer service was excellent

I ended up going for the canon as I'd taken on board what numerous people advised on here about chose the lens and then put the body to that. I'd like a MPE lens in the future that is once I've cleared some off the credit card and my wife is talking to me again

Thank you everyone who contributed on this post, it's great to have the advise from all the experienced people out there.

Right then, I'm off to walk the dog and then unpack all this kit

[Stinky Bob]

Originally Posted by turkeyneck

OH NO!!!!!

Well.............I've finally done it.

I'm now 2K in debt thanks to the 'plastic fantastic' but sitting next to me un-opened is a canon 7D,, Tamron 90mm macro, Sigma 70-300mm OS tele and numerous other bits and peices, I think the technical word is accessories.

I finally managed to get my hands on all the cameras I wanted to, using various shops in around the midlands whilst visiting family there. Thing is, I ended up buying locally from the shop I wasn't going to, funny how better you get treated by 1, they think youre gonna spend a wad and 2, if you deal with the boss of the shop. After my previous dealings I must take back what I said and today customer service was excellent

I ended up going for the canon as I'd taken on board what numerous people advised on here about chose the lens and then put the body to that. I'd like a MPE lens in the future that is once I've cleared some off the credit card and my wife is talking to me again

Thank you everyone who contributed on this post, it's great to have the advise from all the experienced people out there.

Right then, I'm off to walk the dog and then unpack all this kit

Thats brilliant but don't you mean unpack the kit and then walk the dog with the kit

[johnf3f]

Glad to hear you have taken the plunge! Sorry to hear about your credit card!
You mentioned about the retailer you used - if it's the one I am thinking of (Carmarthen Camera Centre) then I have found them to be very helpful (though not always the cheapest - but reasonable) and I have bought NOTHING from them! If it's not then I gave them a plug anyway!
Back to your camera - I think you will be very pleased with it and the Tamron 90mm can give you some VERY detailed macro shots, I don't know about the zoom as I have never used them but I have used a few of their other products and pound for pound they have been very hard to beat.
Good luck - I hope you will enjoy the new toys and I am glad you thought of your dog first!

[Jim Ford]

Well off topic, but you Welsh types will like it!

A couple of years ago my wife and I were camping on the Gower. After some days of exploring the local countryside, we decided we wanted a historic venue.

I looked at the map and saw Carmarthen and said to my wife "I believe there's a castle there, let's give it a try". We drove some distance to get there, and as I approached Carmarthen I said "I've seen the castle in photo's, it's very big, we should catch sight of it soon and see directions to it". As we got nearer I became irritated that there were no directions pointing to the castle and we couldn't see it. At this point we were near the police station so I went in and said to the desk officer:

Me: "I'm looking for the castle."
PC: "Well, we _have_ got a castle - it's down by the river".
Me: "But it's a big Edward the 1st castle, surely there must be directions to such an important historic site?"
PC: "Carnarvon"!
Me: "Carmarthen?"
PC: "_Carnarvon!_. You can get there, but it's 100miles away!"
Me: "Oh no - what am I going to tell my wife?"
PC: "Tell her the Yanks bought it!"

I bet the PC still relates the story to his mates.

JIm

[Michael A]

I'm a canon user (7D) i'd steer away from Sigma 105 macro used 3 and all had problems. Also know of two other local amateurs who have had problems with the quality of this lens. If you can't have Canon or Nikon the Tamron 90mm is streets ahead of the sigma.

[Jim Ford]

Originally Posted by Michael A

If you can't have Canon or Nikon the Tamron 90mm is streets ahead of the sigma.

And the Zuiko 50mm is streets ahead of all of them, being "..it's the nearest we've yet found to a technically perfect lens.. " according to the highly regarded dpreview site!
;^)

Jim

[turkeyneck]

Hey John your right in your assumption and yes very helpful again as I went back today as the ring flash I purchased didn't work or rather it was not compatible with my body so I found out once I'd rang the imports supplier. Any way all sorted now. I have been using an old Tamron 90mm lens, one that I purchased secondhand and is not 1:1. The new 90mm is great, not that I've had much chance of getting to grips with the camera as yet. It was a toss up between the Sigma 105 or the Tamron 90, no real reason why I went with the Tamron in the end, feels a bit plasticky but does the job. That's rotten luck, having three duf Sigmas Michael
From using a Nikon D100 then my sons D60 it's a massive leap up into the stratosphere with the 7D, jeepers you need an O level just to understand the manual. Seems to be menus coming out of everywhere, give it a couple of years and I'll be fluent
Hey Jim, that story about Carnarvon and Carmarthen! My Father, living in the Midlands at the time had organised to meet a couple he'd met whilst on a foreign holiday. Any way the mobile phone signal wasn't good when they organised the rendezvous and my Father travelled from Derbyshire to Carmarthen whilst his friends travelled from Manchester to Carnarvon. Not so bad from Manchester but it's a killer from the Midlands. Now, ask me did I laugh when he returned home over eight hours later?......................too darned right I did, I was in tears