Apple and Oranges.
the 400XTi is a high end consumer body, the D80 a semi-pro model. The D50 is closer to the 400 in the marketplace and product positioning IMO. Compare the D80 to the 30D is you want to compare something.
The D80 feels like a mix between the D70 and D50 when you hold it.
The D200 feels a bit closer to the D2x.
It seems like Nikon is positioning more inbetween the Canon models, but maybe Canon is positioning more inbetween Nikon models. Confusing. :)
As long as it feels good.....
I want a D2x now. :)
Rockwell is just a guy with an opinion. There are plenty of opinions out there and it’s upto the reader to balance them out, read between the lines realise they’re all a bunch of dingo’s kidneys, go get themselves a camera and start taking pictures.
Nikon vs Canon? If you swapped the badges over the Canon brigade would be shouting Nikon and the Nikon brigade would be shouting Canon.
[quote=Prof_Fate] Apple and Oranges.
The 400XTi is a high-end consumer body, the D80 a semi-pro model. The D50 is closer to the 400 in the marketplace and product positioning IMO. Compare the D80 to the 30D is you want to compare something. [quote]
I compared the XTI 400D to the Nikon D70 this weekend. The XTI is flying off the shelf by the way.
Outside photos seem a little dull or under saturated compared to the D70. Placed a Polarizer on the lens and shot came out excellent. Same with inside using on camera flash. D70 tended to over expose XTI was excellent at exposing faces and people well but seemed to underexpose the background. When adjusting the D70 down the D70 seemed to have more contrast than the XTi almost to a detriment.
I have always thought the D70 blew out the highlights a little and was a bit contrasty, but have learned to work with it and compensate. I am sure after working with the XTi and compensating for your own likes and dislikes the photos would be excellent.
I really don't think that its the HARDWARE that matters, it the ARTIST using the HARDWARE. A great photographer can make either the D70 or XTi perform phenomenal feats.
I don't even know what spot editing is. Does my 30D have it?
I love my 30D. I'd marry it if I could. Although, if the D80 had ben out last spring.... who knows.
Spot Metering. :D
It is when the meter only measures the light from a small 'spot' in the viewfinder. This allows a more precise measure of the subject without the entire scene being averaged in.
Quite handy, but not having it can be compensated for with a good zoom lens.
For whatever it's worth, a whole lot of pros are switching to Canon because of their higher resolution sensors, as a result of that, there is a whole lot of second hand lenses available for Nikon at comparatively lesser prices that the Canon lenses. I think that is an important factor for those of us who are never going to see the need to crop or print to extremes (amateurs).
