Better feel or Better Image Quality

[briancameranew]

Hello all. I have been thinking about getting my first DSLR so I have checked out reviews online and have been comparing different DSLRs. I am leaning towards getting the Nikon D5100 refurbished from B&H. I like the nikon D5100 because the reviews say that it is better in image quality than it's competitor, Canon T3i. I want to spend as little as possible so I have thought about getting refurbished or used cameras. I have also looked into getting a Canon T1i refurbished or even a Canon XSI (used). I have gone to Best Buy and Target and have held the Nikon D5100 and have noticed that the camera is pretty small and the grip was not that comfortable. I then held the Canons they had on display, the T3 and the T3i and pretty much instantly liked the feel or grip. My grip on the camera felt more natural. So here is the situation. I like the Nikon d5100 because of the reviews I have read (i've thought about getting a nikon d3100 but think that it may be too beginner level or that the image is better on nikon d5100) but the grip of the Nikon is not the best. I have thought about getting the Nikon d5100 and then buying a battery grip. But I also don't want to spend too much money, which is why I thought about the T1i or XSI. What are your thoughts or recommendations.

 

[TonysTouch]

If you want a great feel and don't need the best video pick up a used d90

 

[Fred Berg]

The reviews about cameras and the picture quality are secondary to your own inclination about how right a camera feels in your hands. If the Nikon doesn't feel good, you aren't likely to get the most out of it. In this situation, going purely on my own experiences and habits, I would buy the Canon. If the cameras are about the same level, there won't be that much to choose between them anyway: the Nikon will be stronger on some points, the Canon on others. How you connect to your camera and the relationship you have with it depends a lot on how it feels when holding it.

 

[Bukitimah]

Every beginners will ponder on this. Once you have started, it does not matter anymore. In simple term, just buy one you feel comfortable and get started. Before you ever get to use every single buttons, you are likely to want to upgrade.

There is no cheap and perfect beginner camera. All brands are almost the same for the same price. So, once you are on a particular brand, you are likely to be loyal to that brand. I would suggest Nikon or Cannon since they are the most popular and easy to buy/sell later.

All the best.

 

[Derrel]

Canon and Nikon look almost the same. Both end with -on. Both have five letters. To me, the Ni on the lenscaps looks sexier than the Ca on the lenscaps, so, I tend to prefer Nikon over Canon. At the T- and 5xxx level, I'm not sure that either company's offerings have "all that much" difference between them, so I would choose which one to buy based more on the higher-end cameras that you will one day hopefully own. Both companies make excellent lenscaps. And excellent cameras. It's gonna be pretty hard to go "wrong" with either a Canon or a Nikon.

 

[pixmedic1 1]

Canon and Nikon look almost the same. Both end with -on. Both have five letters. To me, the Ni on the lenscaps looks sexier than the Ca on the lenscaps, so, I tend to prefer Nikon over Canon. At the T- and 5xxx level, I'm not sure that either company's offerings have "all that much" difference between them, so I would choose which one to buy based more on the higher-end cameras that you will one day hopefully own. Both companies make excellent lenscaps. And excellent cameras. It's gonna be pretty hard to go "wrong" with either a Canon or a Nikon.

^^^really nothing to add to that. its all true. If one brand was significantly better than the other on either the pro or consumer end, there wouldn't be any debate over it. there would only be "this is the camera you should buy".

 

[TonysTouch]

Canon and Nikon look almost the same... so I would choose which one to buy based more on the higher-end cameras that you will one day hopefully own. Both companies make excellent lenscaps. And excellent cameras. It's gonna be pretty hard to go "wrong" with either a Canon or a Nikon.

I definitely agree. I learned on a Nikon and bought my first Nikon while in Japan. So I will always buy Nikon. Derrel got it right though, don't base your decision on an entry level body, look at the higher end bodies that you might buy used one day and their lens lineup. Then get your new camera and don't look back. You will be happy either way.

I upgraded from that first camera by buying the D5100 and am disappointed by the ergonomics. But most of Nikon's bodies have a wonderful feel to them.