Need Advice on DLSR Purchase!!!

Dave:

I am in a similar situation and I'll explain my predicament.  I shoot the older Nikon D-80.  I love it and I'll keep it for sure.  I shoot primarily birds but I cannot afford a $25,000.00 500mm prime.  I mount a Nikkor 80x400mm AF VR but it shoots only to f5.6 at 400mm, (f4 at 80mm).  I need light.  I can make up for it by being able to boost my ISO without getting "noisy."  Birds often take more enlarging and cropping than landscapes, (or macros).  The D-80 gets "noisy in enlargements at about ISO 320-400.  If I can boost this to ISO1,200-1,600, I can take the "poor-man's-route."   The D-7000 seems to be able to shoot, (as one person stated), ISO1,600 enlagements "with impunity."  If I can do it by going to 16mp as opposed to the current 10mp as well, then more the better.  I've done a lot of research and this week actually spoke to 2 users personally, (one of them actually in the field with it at the time who went from the D-90), (in addition to reading reviews).  I also need to be able to mate my current Nikkor lenses to the new body.  I'm going D-7000 which seems to be a really "pro" camera at a significantly lesser price than say a D3S.  I hear that there are issues with video, but I don't plan on shooting video other than just for fun.  All the folks who taught me anything happen to shoot Nikon.  If they were shooting Canon, I'm sure that I'd have an EOS.  I just can't speak about Canon but I've met folks who swear by Canon.  I hope that htis helps just a tiny bit.

Ray Swagerty----Charleston, SC

I have always liked Nikon's glass.  Whichever you choose, Nikon or Canon, will be the brand you stick with because they don't mix their products.  Both are good.  My Nikon D70 was solid and I upgraded to D300.  Again, I love it.  The biggest lens I have is the Nikon 200-400F4 with a 1.4 telextender.  I find this is great for birds in flight or perched.  

The glass makes a difference.  I don't know if they still make it, but Tamron put out a great lens, light weight and reliable: 200-500.  Yes, that big and it was under $1000.  It was slow at 500mm: 6.3.  But I took a lot of good shots with it that won some contests!  

I found that the camera body is the thing you change out over the years.  The lenses stay with you.  Take a look at the quality of lenses you might want to buy in the future and see if that helps you choose.  Good shooting!

The Nikon will most likely give you better low light performance.vs that particular Canon model.  I cannot find the low light scores on that Canon at dxomark.com.  Currently, the prices for Nikon's larger telephoto lenses are less than Canon but I have seen it the other way around a year or two ago.

Personally, I like using the Pentax K-5 with a Sigma 500mm but to each is own. 

Congratulations on the next big step.  Both are fine cameras and both companies make excellent glass.  I would try both and find what you like and don't like about either.  When it comes to bird photography, the key is going to be the lens you use and not necessarily the body.  Kit lenses are okay, but the professional lenses of either manufactuer are excellent.  I would buy either and rent some lenses to try out first before making a decision.  I personally love my Canon products and have owned many of the pro lenses.  Take you time and most of all, learn to use your camera and settings properly to get the most out of your photography.

-Bryan

Hello there :)

I just recently purchased the Canon T2i for Bird/Wildlife photography, etc - so far absolutely loving it!!

The 55-250mm IS Lens is wonderful!

:)

If you're thinking Canon, they just released the Rebel T4i & Canon says the T2i will be discontinued. It's only a couple hundred dollars more than the T2i, has the new Digic 5 processor & can shoot 5 frames a second (which is close to the 60D's 5.3/sec frame rate). One of the interesting things about the T4i in the spec sheets is its ability to track moving subjects & maintain focus while taking video. This was a problem w/ earlier Canon cameras that were able to take videos. The camera will be available at the end of June.

I'm not promoting this camera, tho' I'm a Canon user. I just found this new camera very intriguing & a distinct possibility for you. Here's a couple of links to one brief & one in depth review.

http://pdnonline.com/gear/Canon-Unveils-18MP-E-5927.shtml?imw=Y

http://www.dpreview.com/previews/canon-eos-650d-rebel-t4i

Hope you enjoy whatever you buy. Looking forward to those new pics!

Joe