Canon T2i or Nikon D90?

okiemom23 · Mar 4, 2011

I'm trying to decide which camera i want to get as my first DSLR.....I have a budget of $800 (maybe a little more). I want this to last me for a good while because I don't forsee me having this kind of money to invest again for a long while...Any suggestions?

GooniesNeverSayDie11 · Mar 4, 2011

Well you could get the T3i for the same price as the D90 probably. They are all nice cameras. But I would go for the Canon T3i. It has higher resolution, and better video. The D90 on the other side has a better body with the top LCD, and a slightly faster frame rate. Maybe there is some other things that owners can chime in about. ( Ideally, if you could find a deal or a really good condition used Canon 50D, I would take that over everything else )

mhk1058 · Mar 4, 2011

Both nice cameras. The Canon is a more recent camera, I wouldn't be tempted by the higher resolution though, Nikon has plenty enough for large prints and Nikon noise control is excellent - this gets harder with more pixels. I have a D90 so am probably biased, the top LCD is very useful and , well, I just like the look and feel of the camera.

xjoewhitex · Mar 5, 2011

Agreed top lcd is very useful, something that is somewhat new to me upgrading from the d40x. I really didn't think I would use it that much, but going back to the d40x im completely lost in what im doing lol. You can adjust settings on the fly without having to bring up the menu. Also im not a canon user but as far as I know there are different mounts to the lenses, and could possibly be another before too long as I have read. Nikon has always been the same, so there wouldn't be an issue when buying new/old lenses. I dont have a d90/T2i so thats really all I got.

Jace · Mar 5, 2011

I've decided to go with the D90, but now I'm having a hard time with lenses. I'm trying to keep my total purchase as close to 1,000 as possible, and I've been told to try to get a lens around f1, but everyone I've seen so far shoots my budget in the head. Are there other lenses I'm just not seeing that may be in my price range?

xjoewhitex · Mar 5, 2011

f1? haha I really don't see that being necessary or within budget at all. What is it you are interested in taking photos of? Im unsure of the current d90 prices, what is the amount you would have left over within your budget?

Jace · Mar 5, 2011

If I buy one used off of amazon it's around 670, new they seem to hover around 800.

As far as what I will be taking photos of.. well, everything, lol.

Jace · Mar 5, 2011

Ah, and I misremembered: He said try for around 2.8, not 1 as I said above.

xjoewhitex · Mar 5, 2011

Jace said:
If I buy one used off of amazon it's around 670, new they seem to hover around 800.

As far as what I will be taking photos of.. well, everything, lol.

Without specifics you might better off just researching different lenses here on the forum and see what you can find.

Samerr9 · Mar 5, 2011

If you can afford the T3i, I would recommend it. I got the 60D and now the T3i have taken alot of its option like the flipping screen the wireless flash control, the manual sound control for vedio. In vedio, it shoots at 1080 and 720. It has the same senson of the 60D and the 7D. As it is very new you will enjoy all the new stuff. But yes i want to say the the built quality of D90 is better and the top screen is nice but not worth it for me.

SrBiscuit · Mar 5, 2011

just thursday i got my nikon refurbed d90 for $644 shipped from cameta. comes with a 1 year warranty, and my shutter count is 633.
pretty good deal. the best bang for your buck lens-wise will be the nikkor 50mm 1.8 which can be had for around $120 (less for refurbed or used) at reputable dealers like adorama, cameta, etc...
it will be the fastest lens in that price range, and will af with your d90.

Jace · Mar 5, 2011

I'm so torn

KmH · Mar 5, 2011

All of the Canon Rebel cameras only have 1 wheel to set aperture and shutter speed. The D90 has 2 wheels for setting shutter speed (on the back) and aperture (on the front).

None of the Canon Rebel cameras have color-aware metering, while all of Nikon's cameras do.

All of Nikon's cameras spot meter at the selected foucs point, if I read the Canon manuals correctly the Canon Rebels only spot meter at the center of the viewfinder.

GooniesNeverSayDie11 · Mar 5, 2011

Compare the Canon EOS Rebel T2i vs Nikon D90

After digging more into the details. I think I would go with the D90 as well. SO I change my original advice. ( although I stand by the choice of taking a Canon 50D used over a new D90 )