I’ve been bitten by the shutter bug. Recently, I decided to move into the DSLR world. The Canon SD880IS is perfectly fine and still travels with me everyday. However, for the special pictures, I need a camera that can capture stunning pictures and night time shot.
In researching my purchase, I evaluated 3 models: Canon Rebel T1i, Nikon D90, and Canon 50D. All are very good choices for any shutter bug. They offer great image quality, manual controls, a good image sensor, and a nice LCD with Live View. I have to note that the Nikon has 12.3 megapixels vs. both Canons with 15.1 megapixels.
The Canon Rebel T1i and Canon 50D are very similar in specs. They both share the same image sensor and the new Digic 4 processor. However, the T1i lacked the build quality I was looking for. It also felt too small in my hands. If you have a tighter budget, the T1i is a fantastic option.
So I narrowed down my choices to the Nikon D90 and the Canon 50D. The Nikon D90 is getting rave reviews for being quick, intuitive, and an all around great camera that performace like you would expect.
The Canon 50D is the updated version of the highly recommended Canon 40D. The 50D is a very fast camera with continuous shooting at 6.3 frames per second compared to the Nikon D90’s 4.5 frames per second. The body of the Canon 50D is constructed from magnesium alloy with improved weather sealing than the Canon 40D.
The Nikon D90 has the ability to record HD video. The Canon 50D cannot. The Nikon offers many features that are not present on the 50D. In my opinion, it’s a matter of preference between Canon or Nikon. However, when you choose a brand, you should stick with it. Most of the time, the accessories you acquire for your current DSLR, such as lenses and filters, can be transferred to a new model of the same brand.
Price for all three will vary depending on which retailer you go to. Amazon.com came through for me with this purchase. You’ll find out what I decided on with the unboxing pics.
Canon T1i – $821 with Free Shipping (comes with an EF-s 18-55mm IS kit lens)
Nikon D90 – $1,140 with Free Shipping (comes with a 18-105mm Kit lens)
Canon 50D – $1,280 with Free Shipping (comes with an EF-S 28-135mm IS Kit lens)
