i don't know which SLR to get..this will be my first DSLR camera, but i am a very fast learner and already have done much research on them.
the only reason why i have a dilemma, is the pricing...
i can get a DSLR D90 for 830 (body+lens)
or i can get a canon T1i for 711 (body+lens)
i just don't know which one to choose, i heard the d90 obviously better, and was told to just spend the extra hundred on a good one even if it is a first camera since its a small difference. those were the 2 i was looking to get, maybe if not the d5000 for 530...
please help? any forums to help me specifically with slrs??
thanks!
An SLR is simply a camera with interchangeable lenses and a mirror- we go to all the trouble of interchangeable lenses because they're the important bit. Until you start to spend a lot more money on the camera body, the truth of the matter is that to a skilled photographer, or if you wish to become one, the body doesn't make all that much difference- limitations are simply things to learn to overcome as you learn the tool and the craft. People shot for many decades with SLRs that aren't nearly as functional as today's lowest-end bodies- some of them even won Pulitzers doing it.
Spend your money on good lenses, you'll see the results from that well before you'll see the results from one body over another. If you catch the bug, your body will probably go for 3-5 years max before you want a new one, but your lenses will go for 10-20 years- but with that said, go with and use the kit lens for whatever body you get for a month or so before you spend any more money- that way you'll know better what you want in a lens.
Up until this week, when Canon USA pulled a lot of lenses off its Web site, their lenses were generally cheaper than their Nikon counterparts. We'll have to wait to see if Canon will do the same sort of price adjustments Nikon did early last year or if they'll stay cheaper. You may also want to compare the two kit lenses in terms of image quality and focal length, they may not be equivalent to one another and in that case you may want to factor that or a non-kit lens into the equation. Should you look at older used cameras, the older Rebel kit lenses were generally poor. That's not true of the current Rebel kits however.
Try the models up and down from what you're looking at if you have a camera store or electronics retailer near you that stocks them- often the ergonomics of one brand fit better than another, but you should have an idea of what the entire line is like before you jump into a single body- as it won't likely be your last camera body. I don't like the feel of the Rebel personally, but I can live with either line absent that- and I could live with a Rebel if I had to- others are more picky about the ergonomics or viewfinders- you'll have to weigh that yourself and hopefully try them out to see what suits you personally.
Nikon's flash systems are generally held to be superior to Canon's, especially for multiple-light setups-- however most photographers are afraid of learning to light well, and manufacturers tend to sell their flashes at higher prices than manual-only 3rd party brands. If you're not afraid to learn to use lighting to your advantage and you don't mind getting manufacturer's flashes, then I'd suggest leaning towards Nikon, though I don't believe the differences are as wide as they once were.
You might also look to see what your friends have, as being able to swap lenses upon occasion is a definite advantage.
The D5000 will not autofocus with "AF-D' lenses, the D90 will, so if you think you may want to purchase older used lenses, or lenses that don't have AF-D or Sigma HSM equivalents, then th D90 or Rebel will be a better choice. If you're not bent on that path, then spend less money on the body and start saving up for a killer lens unless you need more AF points or seriously prefer the D90 to the D5000 in terms of handling.
Images from a $1500 lens on a $500 camera will look like they were shot with a $1500 lens. Images from a $200 lens on a $1500 camera will look like they were shot with a $200 lens for the most part- and for the exceptions, they won't look much better on the $1500 camera even compared side-by-side.
I also recommend budgeting for a heavy-duty tripod and learning to shoot from it as often as possible, it'll do more for your shots than any other single piece of gear.
Since you don't say what you intend to shoot and under what conditions, it's difficult to give more specific advice.
Paul
[Disclaimer: I use Nikon cameras and portable flashes.]