Nikon D90 or T3i?

[nightsky]

I can get a lightly used D90 along with a 50 f1.8 lens for $500 or for the same price a refurb T3i with 18-55 kit lens

 

[JoeW28]

I'm not a Canon user so I can't honestly critique the T3i. What I can tell you is:
1. The D90 is a camera that does nothing superbly but does everything very well. It just runs and runs and runs and runs. I know of two wedding photographers who do this professionally (they are full-time at this, no other jobs to pay the bills and 70-95% of their billable work each year are weddings). For each of these photographers, their backup or second body is a D90.
2. Every photographer needs a "nifty 50" or 50mm prime lens. A prime is almost always sharper than a zoom (so you will likely get much sharper pictures with a 50mm prime than a 18-55 zoom set at 50mm regardless of the make). Even if you like having a 18-55mm zoom, I'd get a better option than a kit (or if you can't afford a better option than wait).
3. It's always good having at least one lens with a narrow aperture (and f1.8 qualifies). It will give you beautiful bokeh and some great abstracts.

None of this is a judgment on the Canon. It might be a fantastic body or a great buy. But you can't go wrong with a D90 (especially light-used...it just run forever for you and then serve as a good backup). And ever serious photography has a 50mm prime.

 

[jaomul]

In this case I'd say if anyone you know who would be a person you could swap gear with has Canon or nikon go with that, or if video is as iimportant as photos go with Canon. Both are good cameras

 

[nightsky]

I'm not a Canon user so I can't honestly critique the T3i. What I can tell you is:
1. The D90 is a camera that does nothing superbly but does everything very well. It just runs and runs and runs and runs. I know of two wedding photographers who do this professionally (they are full-time at this, no other jobs to pay the bills and 70-95% of their billable work each year are weddings). For each of these photographers, their backup or second body is a D90.
2. Every photographer needs a "nifty 50" or 50mm prime lens. A prime is almost always sharper than a zoom (so you will likely get much sharper pictures with a 50mm prime than a 18-55 zoom set at 50mm regardless of the make). Even if you like having a 18-55mm zoom, I'd get a better option than a kit (or if you can't afford a better option than wait).
3. It's always good having at least one lens with a narrow aperture (and f1.8 qualifies). It will give you beautiful bokeh and some great abstracts.

None of this is a judgment on the Canon. It might be a fantastic body or a great buy. But you can't go wrong with a D90 (especially light-used...it just run forever for you and then serve as a good backup). And ever serious photography has a 50mm prime.

thanks for the info. this really helps make my decision easier.

 

[JosephW]

A T3i/600D for my fellow Brits is gonna' yield you better low light performance and better video, with more options, better features, screen, etc, but with the D90 you're gonna get a professional body (professional dials, buttons and a screen to preview your settings without looking at the LCD) and some beautiful bokeh with that f/1.8.

Looking for functionality and better consumer level features? Go Canon. Looking to get outstanding image quality and pro build quality? Go Nikon.

 

[nightsky]

A T3i/600D for my fellow Brits is gonna' yield you better low light performance and better video, with more options, better features, screen, etc, but with the D90 you're gonna get a professional body (professional dials, buttons and a screen to preview your settings without looking at the LCD) and some beautiful bokeh with that f/1.8.

Looking for functionality and better consumer level features? Go Canon. Looking to get outstanding image quality and pro build quality? Go Nikon.

OF COURSE!!!

Im excited!

 

[JosephW]

A T3i/600D for my fellow Brits is gonna' yield you better low light performance and better video, with more options, better features, screen, etc, but with the D90 you're gonna get a professional body (professional dials, buttons and a screen to preview your settings without looking at the LCD) and some beautiful bokeh with that f/1.8.

Looking for functionality and better consumer level features? Go Canon. Looking to get outstanding image quality and pro build quality? Go Nikon.

OF COURSE!!!

Im excited!

Good luck. As said, it's used as a backup for photographers because it's cheap (it's an older camera) but you're gonna see huge improvements compared to compact cameras, and it's gonna last you into when you get experienced too. However, do try and upgrade your body eventually!

 

[JosephW]

I'm not a Canon user so I can't honestly critique the T3i. What I can tell you is:
1. The D90 is a camera that does nothing superbly but does everything very well. It just runs and runs and runs and runs. I know of two wedding photographers who do this professionally (they are full-time at this, no other jobs to pay the bills and 70-95% of their billable work each year are weddings). For each of these photographers, their backup or second body is a D90.
2. Every photographer needs a "nifty 50" or 50mm prime lens. A prime is almost always sharper than a zoom (so you will likely get much sharper pictures with a 50mm prime than a 18-55 zoom set at 50mm regardless of the make). Even if you like having a 18-55mm zoom, I'd get a better option than a kit (or if you can't afford a better option than wait).
3. It's always good having at least one lens with a narrow aperture (and f1.8 qualifies). It will give you beautiful bokeh and some great abstracts.

None of this is a judgment on the Canon. It might be a fantastic body or a great buy. But you can't go wrong with a D90 (especially light-used...it just run forever for you and then serve as a good backup). And ever serious photography has a 50mm prime.

Wait. What. I'M JosephW. YOU'RE JoeW. WHAT THE ACTUAL F*CK. I go by the name Joe, never Joseph, too!

(sorry for double)