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Canon XTi or Sony A100
- Thread starter Stinger1
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maverick777
Gawd
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I would get the Canon simply because it'll give you more options in the long run for lenses and accessories.
Both are very comparable for image quality. Feature wise I would give the edge to the Sony. But that still wouldn't stop me from getting the Canon.
If you haven't actually picked one up in person before, I would HIGHLY recommend holding the cameras in person before making a decision. Ergonomics should be at the top of your list of reasons for making a decision. Followed very closely by lenses.
You might also look at a Nikon D40x or Nikon D80. It's in the same range as the other 2. Also in that range is a Pentax K10 which beats everyone featurewise.
In short. Feel the cameras and look at the lens lineup.
Both are very comparable for image quality. Feature wise I would give the edge to the Sony. But that still wouldn't stop me from getting the Canon.
If you haven't actually picked one up in person before, I would HIGHLY recommend holding the cameras in person before making a decision. Ergonomics should be at the top of your list of reasons for making a decision. Followed very closely by lenses.
You might also look at a Nikon D40x or Nikon D80. It's in the same range as the other 2. Also in that range is a Pentax K10 which beats everyone featurewise.
In short. Feel the cameras and look at the lens lineup.
I'd get Canon simply because of the name over Sony.. I've never liked the sony P&S cameras I've seen, although I personally have only ever owned Canon cameras, as has my mother when she used to use SLRs when she was younger.
I have an XT and I absolutely love it. The first day I had it I was simply amazed at the image quality even at 1600ISO. I've never looked at what Sony has to offer, but Im sure Canon has a wider range of DSLR lenses as well, and accessories.
Canon gets my vote.
-Edit-
I should add that I never actually gave very many DSLRs a chance when I was first shopping around for one.. Since I was completely set on getting a Canon regardless, just wasnt sure what model to get. If I were to do it again, I would look closely at the Nikon D40 and the (new?) D40x, as well as a few of the higher end Canons and Nikons. Depending on what you plan to do with the camera, getting say, a D30 body might be more wise than getting an XT kit. It also depends on if you have any lenses available through friends and what not. I also made my Canon purchase because I thought I had access to older lenses from my mother, but hers were the mounting before the EF lenses that Canon uses now. But whatever, I still love my camera.
I have an XT and I absolutely love it. The first day I had it I was simply amazed at the image quality even at 1600ISO. I've never looked at what Sony has to offer, but Im sure Canon has a wider range of DSLR lenses as well, and accessories.
Canon gets my vote.
-Edit-
I should add that I never actually gave very many DSLRs a chance when I was first shopping around for one.. Since I was completely set on getting a Canon regardless, just wasnt sure what model to get. If I were to do it again, I would look closely at the Nikon D40 and the (new?) D40x, as well as a few of the higher end Canons and Nikons. Depending on what you plan to do with the camera, getting say, a D30 body might be more wise than getting an XT kit. It also depends on if you have any lenses available through friends and what not. I also made my Canon purchase because I thought I had access to older lenses from my mother, but hers were the mounting before the EF lenses that Canon uses now. But whatever, I still love my camera.
Oh, that's easy, a Nikon D80. 
Don't get a Sony, they have no serious photography following. I would suggest taking a look at the D70/D70s/D80 and the XT, and XTi - those are the 2 brands/models you should be looking at for the best future usability and quality for the price. Do NOT look at a D40 if you want to get serious. They are great cameras for the money, however they run a seperate kind of lens mount, and you won't have but 2% of the total pool of lenses available to you - if your comparing the XT to the D40, you might want to get the XT (can't believe I just said that). But, you can get yourself a nice used D70 for around 600 if you spend your time looking (that's including the nicer 18-70mm lens) and a D80 around 800-900. The advantage to the D50-D80 series is they can use all nikkor lenses all the way back to 1959... literally hundreds upon hundreds of lenses to choose from - and very affordable.
Don't get a Sony, they have no serious photography following. I would suggest taking a look at the D70/D70s/D80 and the XT, and XTi - those are the 2 brands/models you should be looking at for the best future usability and quality for the price. Do NOT look at a D40 if you want to get serious. They are great cameras for the money, however they run a seperate kind of lens mount, and you won't have but 2% of the total pool of lenses available to you - if your comparing the XT to the D40, you might want to get the XT (can't believe I just said that). But, you can get yourself a nice used D70 for around 600 if you spend your time looking (that's including the nicer 18-70mm lens) and a D80 around 800-900. The advantage to the D50-D80 series is they can use all nikkor lenses all the way back to 1959... literally hundreds upon hundreds of lenses to choose from - and very affordable.
bashPenguin
Gawd
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Well, it's not that they (Nikon D40) use a separate lens mount, it's that it uses the Nikon F-mount, but Nikon removed the autofocus servo on the camera itself, so you can only autofocus with AF-S/AF-I lenses. Still, it does severely limit the pool of lenses you can use if you want autofocus.
Personally, I'd recommend a Nikon or Canon, they both have great lenses (I still pine for an equivalent of the Canon 70-200 F/4L). Sony's A100 is pretty much a successor to the Konica Minolta line, but I have zero experience with them.
In this case I'd go with an XTi, even if it's a little smallish, but I have giant hands.
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Well, it's not that they (Nikon D40) use a separate lens mount, it's that it uses the Nikon F-mount, but Nikon removed the autofocus servo on the camera itself, so you can only autofocus with AF-S/AF-I lenses. Still, it does severely limit the pool of lenses you can use if you want autofocus.
Personally, I'd recommend a Nikon or Canon, they both have great lenses (I still pine for an equivalent of the Canon 70-200 F/4L). Sony's A100 is pretty much a successor to the Konica Minolta line, but I have zero experience with them.
In this case I'd go with an XTi, even if it's a little smallish, but I have giant hands.
Just get the BG-E3 grip for the XT/XTi and it alleviates any small/large hand issues. Plus it adds the 2 battery capability and makes it easy to take vertical shots with the extra control buttons.
The D80 does not have IS in camera. I cant speak to wether the XTi does. Nikon makes Vibration Reduction lenses for some of their zooms. I have the 80-400mm VR myself but, it isnt cheap, it cost me $1400 but, I love becuse I can shoot at 400mm hand held and, get better results. I still use a tripod most of the time though. Tripods are still necessary in low light.
I know Cannon has gone VR in camera on some models but, I prefer the per lense approach. The best of both worlds would be in camera and, in lense selectable in my view. I have a D80 and love it but, it took me a little while to get that way. I had to learn more to use it than I did with my D50.
I know Cannon has gone VR in camera on some models but, I prefer the per lense approach. The best of both worlds would be in camera and, in lense selectable in my view. I have a D80 and love it but, it took me a little while to get that way. I had to learn more to use it than I did with my D50.
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XTi doesnt have in camera Image Stabilisation. They have the IS lenses for that. You cant really go wrong with the XTI or the D80. I prefer Canon stuff, but thats just because i started on canon. There are pretty much unlimited resources for Canon users out there.