I'm stumped. I'm undecided on which dslr to buy. The D80 or the Canon 30d. Now, I still don't know exactly what im gonna use it for. basta id like to have better performance than pns cams. i know the upsides and downsides of both cameras and i think their differences are very minimal unless you are a pixel peeper. now the question is this: which company will i be better of giving my loyalty to (buying into their system to) in this country? anu ba mas sulit na system over-all? or atleast mas mura nalang para walang away sa mga fanboys :Grin:

im a newbie and i have no previous lenses of both companies aside from FD lenses from my dad's ol' squeeky canon A1.

Welcome to DPP and congratulations on your first post. To start off, how do you exactly pronounce your name? :) Actually, what's your real first name? Forum Rules dictates...

Cool... another A1 user :D

its Timothy or timo if y'all like...

Cool Timothy. :) Going back to your query. I believe you'll elicit mixed responses here of course... So probably the best advice I could give you is for you to go to your favorite camera store; bring a memory card with you and try out the pieces which are in your current target list... Based on that, first hand experience with the equipment usually helps you guage or feel what system you're going to marry into. Goodluck and HTH. :)

I have (had?) the same dilemma. But mine was a little more complex.

30D - D80 - K10D

Long story short, I decided to go with the Canon 30D just because I have experienced Canon's topnotch service personally and all my relatives and friends have Canon gears which we can borrow from each other. Paging 'insan, pahiram ako ng L lens ha? Hehe, joke lang! >:D

If the deal pans out, I'll have my 30D next week. :)

TMO get a D80.

hahaha maybe i can borrow from people here... :p

both C&N (not CNN) are caplable of doing the job .. :D goodluck

I'm stumped. I'm undecided on which dslr to buy. The D80 or the Canon 30d. Now, I still don't know exactly what im gonna use it for. basta id like to have better performance than pns cams. i know the upsides and downsides of both cameras and i think their differences are very minimal unless you are a pixel peeper. now the question is this: which company will i be better of giving my loyalty to (buying into their system to) in this country? anu ba mas sulit na system over-all? or atleast mas mura nalang para walang away sa mga fanboys :Grin:

im a newbie and i have no previous lenses of both companies aside from FD lenses from my dad's ol' squeeky canon A1.

EXCUSE ME TIMMY!!!

You should know what camera to buy...

as your past team captain... ahem ahem...

sige ka.. sumbong kita kay uncle stu..:)


welcome to DPP!:)

I believe that sometime I was in that situation, but I had a slightly leaning towards Nikon due to having a Nikon MF and an AF lens at hand already.

However, if you really know the capabiltiy of each system, try asking yourself what camaera characteristic are you looking for (e.g. handling, sharpness, less noise). Also check the availability and costs of lenses and after sales service.

To be honest, I can't blame you. Its hard to select a system you will stick with. Its like getting married: its expensive if you have 2! hahaha :D

Its like getting married: its expensive if you have 2! hahaha

Just curious, is this based from personal experience? Haha!

D80 and 30D are both excellent cameras.

Not knowing yet what you'd likely be shooting, perhaps you can check out both cameras and see what feels good in your hand.

Check out the lens line up too and see which lenses you would likely get and check out prices. Lenses are often overlooked in the buying process. Just remember that you'll be using the lenses far longer than a camera body as you'd likely upgrade bodies more often than lenses. Good lenses are keepers.

Good luck.

Any will do. :)

...you can can compare the data on the cameras, better if you get to try them out. Either way, both are good models.

Hi Timo, D80 and 30D are not in the same league so it would be unfair to compare them. I have the same dilemma i don't know if i will stay with nikon, the brand i am using for the past years or make a big switch and go for canon for its silky smooth images and product support. The bigger problem is that i have to sell few of my toys... 2 digi SLR bodies, flashes and few lenses.... i will go for someone who will make me a better deal! hehehehe!

yep, both cameras are indeed performers.

pick one and start shooting....:) .

prices of these models would definitely drop due to newer models, competition, etc....
but the moments you capture are priceless:)

good luck!

you know timmy, i just realized.. it was about a month ago when you were asking me about camera prices.. taking you quite a long time to decide huh?:)

why don't we meet one saturday for team training with uncle stu? ... then we'll have a loooooooooooong talk about cameras...:)

I would get the D80 based on the reviews that I've read. I haven't held a D80 but the verdict is that it has good build quality, although not in the same class as the D200. I've handled a 30D and it's like a plastic toy (sorry guys). =B) Of course, I'm coming from an E-1, which is built like a tank.

If you can have the luxury of checking both cameras, I suggest you do so.

Regards,
Norman

If you can have the luxury of checking both cameras, I suggest you do so.

totally agree.... sometimes it boils down to "feel"

well at least, it went that way in my case :) .

I have (had?) the same dilemma. But mine was a little more complex.

30D - D80 - K10D

Long story short, I decided to go with the Canon 30D just because I have experienced Canon's topnotch service personally and all my relatives and friends have Canon gears which we can borrow from each other. Paging 'insan, pahiram ako ng L lens ha? Hehe, joke lang! >:D

If the deal pans out, I'll have my 30D next week. :)

sure thing.....youre welcome to join the team anytime you want:)

back to the topic.......i would suggest that you try to get your hands on each of the cameras and figure out which one suits your taste, preferences and requirements. As for me, I went with the Canon choice because of the large number of users of canon here in the Phils (AFAIK). I figured that there would be more second hand and brand new accessories that would go around since there are a lot of users:)

I would get the D80 based on the reviews that I've read. I haven't held a D80 but the verdict is that it has good build quality, although not in the same class as the D200. I've handled a 30D and it's like a plastic toy (sorry guys). =B) Of course, I'm coming from an E-1, which is built like a tank.

If you can have the luxury of checking both cameras, I suggest you do so.

Regards,
Norman
Isn't it the other way around? Are you sure it was the 30D you handled? The magnesium alloy built 30D? On the other hand, the D80 is made of plastic.

I've held both, and though the D80 is built quite good, especially compared to the 350D; it feels like engineered plastic nonetheless.

sure thing.....youre welcome to join the team anytime you want:)

back to the topic.......i would suggest that you try to get your hands on each of the cameras and figure out which one suits your taste, preferences and requirements. As for me, I went with the Canon choice because of the large number of users of canon here in the Phils (AFAIK). I figured that there would be more second hand and brand new accessories that would go around since there are a lot of users:)
Harhar the day will come! :D

Anyway, maybe you can canvass with your friends and family on which gears they have? This will make the decision a little bit easier.

Oh and I just want to add how I wanted to wait till March to get the camera because I wanted to get the best deals from Canon's usual March release of cameras and the obvious lower price by then. But then again, I thought if I wait for March, the precious moments I could have photographed during the holidays and the baptism of my godson is worth more than a few thousand bucks saved. :)

Isn't it the other way around? Are you sure it was the 30D you handled? The magnesium alloy built 30D? On the other hand, the D80 is made of plastic.

I've held both, and though the D80 is built quite good, especially compared to the 350D; it feels like engineered plastic nonetheless.
What's wrong with the the polycarbonate plastic used in the D80?

I've dropped my D70 a number of times and it held itself just fine.

You would appreciate a lighter body once you start using your camera for long periods of time. If Nikon had offered offered the D200 in plastic, I would have probably bought that instead of this heavy metal body.

regards.

First of all, both of your choices are already top notch as I've owned them both.

I also suggest holding both in your hands and see which one makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside :)

Once you do that, you can then weigh in which sensor's color rendition you prefer.

I made a Sample set (http://www.flickr.com/photos/davedeluria/sets/72157594308480125/) using both the 30D and D80.

After that, you can then factor in your comfort zone dealing with the fact that gear may break and you will want some sort of local support for the product you buy since you spent a lot of moolah for it.

Sorry, I never said anything was wrong with the build of the D80. I even agree that the 400D/350D pales in comparison to its build quality. I just pointed out to Norman that the D80 is the plastic one not the 30D which is made of Magnesium Alloy, alot like the D200's metal body. It was even one of my choices.

Don't get me wrong with the engineered plastic thing. It's just like Sailboats which are made from engineered plastic. They are tough, but they are still plastic. And there's nothing wrong about that.


Originally Posted by Norman
I haven't held a D80 but the verdict is that it has good build quality, although not in the same class as the D200. I've handled a 30D and it's like a plastic toy

Sorry for the confusion. :S

Randall, yes, I'm sure it was "the magnesium alloy... 30D." And yes, it felt cheap to me. I almost threw it away when I heard the shutter! =B) Hehehe.

Regards,
Norman

hi ANNfran!! and thanks for all your comments and suggestions! hahaha decemder pa ata balak bumili eh... collecting funds! im kinda leaning towards the 30d pero errbody sa camera club ng dad ko is saying i should get the d80 for the same price range... pero i think the 30d is in a different class than the d80. its better to compare it to the d200 if my memory serves me correctly... its a good camera daw and i borrow their nikons when we go out on trips para test drive. i also handled the 30d sa mga stores... hahah i like how nikon feels pero when it comes to iso noice canon diba? pero degrees nalang ata yung diffs nila eh. 10 and 8 mp dont mean anything for me. hay... im gathering infos as much as i can kasi its really expensive investment. im looking for a camera to use for a long time. hindi naman ako upgrade to the next big thing kagad eh... hahaha

Hmmm... that's where we part ways. Because compared to the D80, the 30D is built like a tank. :)

This was even in pros/cons my list:

30D | D80 | K10D

Metal Mg Alloy | Sturdy Plastic | Sturdy Plastic, Weathersealed (?)
Heavy 700g | Fairly Light 585g | Heavy 710g

hi ANNfran!! and thanks for all your comments and suggestions! hahaha decemder pa ata balak bumili eh... collecting funds! im kinda leaning towards the 30d pero errbody sa camera club ng dad ko is saying i should get the d80 for the same price range... pero i think the 30d is in a different class than the d80. its better to compare it to the d200 if my memory serves me correctly... its a good camera daw and i borrow their nikons when we go out on trips para test drive. i also handled the 30d sa mga stores... hahah i like how nikon feels pero when it comes to iso noice canon diba? pero degrees nalang ata yung diffs nila eh. 10 and 8 mp dont mean anything for me. hay... im gathering infos as much as i can kasi its really expensive investment. im looking for a camera to use for a long time. hindi naman ako upgrade to the next big thing kagad eh... hahaha


so next abt out of town thing (which is long delayed already..) ... we'll shoot together na? :D hehehe...

nga eh! hahaha mga kick ass cameras yung dala natin! hahaha

anyway, ive seen the sets... based on that lamang nikon sa colors out of the camera i think... pero if i tweaked the WB a bit cguro kaya din ng 30d... hahaha just wanted to know the two cents of photographers here :) malay naten baka pagdateng ng december may canon40d or 35d na using CCD sensors like nikon o diba? peace!

tagal mo na hindi nagttrain ann! hahaha

changed title of the thread to a more appropriate one.

nga eh! hahaha mga kick ass cameras yung dala natin! hahaha

anyway, ive seen the sets... based on that lamang nikon sa colors out of the camera i think... pero if i tweaked the WB a bit cguro kaya din ng 30d... hahaha just wanted to know the two cents of photographers here :) malay naten baka pagdateng ng december may canon40d or 35d na using CCD sensors like nikon o diba? peace!

tagal mo na hindi nagttrain ann! hahaha

well no rush right, you still have a month to decide, try them out, get more feedback...

OT: no matter how much i train, i still can't beat you... hahaha.. I might join this weekend, i miss the guys..

coming from a D70s and E-1, and now proud owner of two 30Ds, i would say that I am never going back to plastic after the E-1. and like norman said, even though the 30D is 90% composed of Magnesium Alloy, it's nowhere near the built and feel and handling of an E-1. I know only a few here has actually held an E-1. I will never forget that baby. anyhoo, I chose the 30D over the D80 coz of mag alloy, CF card and 5FPS. :D

I would get the D80 based on the reviews that I've read. I haven't held a D80 but the verdict is that it has good build quality, although not in the same class as the D200. I've handled a 30D and it's like a plastic toy (sorry guys). =B) Of course, I'm coming from an E-1, which is built like a tank.

If you can have the luxury of checking both cameras, I suggest you do so.

Regards,
Norman

coming from a journalist, im surprised at your definition of "plastic toy."

and the D80 is built of what? not magnesium-allow i suppose.