Just a Rant... about Cameras....

[Konotashi]

My mom has a Canon Rebel XTi. I used to love this camera, and the more I use it, the more I hate it.

I want a Nikon D3100 for my birthday. Reading reviews, it does much better than my mom's camera in low light, and has a wider ISO range. I searched for a Rebel XTi vs. Nikon D3100, and was quite shocked. The Nikon basically obliterates the Canon, and the Canon costs almost twice as much!
Here's the comparison.
Canon Rebel XTi vs Nikon D3100

My main issue is the low-light. The Canon. Is absolutely. Terrible. In low light. Even with the large lens (55mm) , the photos come out super noisy, which makes editing them a complete PITA.

Here's a photo I took tonight. I had 3 2100 watt lights on him. I'm not happy with the photos this camera takes, at all.
This is the original. (Just cropped and resized).


Here's the heavily edited version, that I'm still not happy with.


I would LOVE to get the Nikon D3100 for my birthday, which is in March. However, I don't know if my dad will pay $600 for a camera for me. My mom can't help him pay for it at all, because insurance tripled this year, so she's struggling financially.
I'm more than willing to help pay for it, but being the impatient bugger I am, I would much rather not wait for the end of March to come along. I was considering getting the Amazon credit card, which has no interest if you pay off the item within 24 months. (The camera qualifies for the 2 years). I'd definitely have it paid off by then, but I don't know if the card would be worth it.....
Sorry, I just had to rant. I want to throw this camera into the wall sometimes, but unfortunately, it's all I have to work with right now, AND it's my mom's stupid, over-priced photo snapper. (She never even uses it!)

[ShenzisMom]

Do yourself a favour and do not get the credit card. It sounds fine and dandy until life throws the unexpected at you and oops, turns out I can't pay it before the 24 months is up. And the interest is crazy. Don't put yourself into debt so readily... be patient and you will get your camera. I know its hard, but its only 2 months away

[JakodaCD OA]

actually I think the 2nd pic is pretty cool

here is the nikon on qvc alot more expensive that 600, it's the whole package
Nikon D3100 14MP SLR Camera Bundle with 18-55 Lens & Software - QVC.com

You can make 169.00 a month payments on it ..don't know if you are looking for such a big package tho.

[ladyfreckles]

I have a Canon 7D, which is quite expensive, and even I have noticed that it preforms awfully in low light. Canon's are a bit infamous for that, which is why I want to add a Nikon to my camera collection eventually. The only thing I will warn you about regarding Canon vs Nikon is that while Nikon may seem less expensive immediately the lenses can add up. There was a joke in my photography class that Canon is a poor man's Nikon and some truth does ring to it. Don't take on a CC to get a camera. When I got mine we took out a small loan from our bank and we paid it off in two months (despite it being a 12 month loan). CCs are high interest and dangerous to mess with. We never put anything on our CC that we can't afford to pay off that month.

[Konotashi]

In all honesty, I'm afraid of credit cards. I would imagine that (without interest - which is says will not be charged unless you don't pay within the 24 months), it'd be about $25 per month. I could pay at LEAST $80 per month on it and have it paid before the due date. So far, this is the only thing I've considered getting a credit card for, that was a non-emergency.

[Konotashi]

Originally Posted by ladyfreckles

The only thing I will warn you about regarding Canon vs Nikon is that while Nikon may seem less expensive immediately the lenses can add up.

I'm probably going to use the camera mostly for portraits and sport photography. (Dog sports, that is). Although, experimenting with lenses IS fun....

[ladyfreckles]

Originally Posted by Konotashi

I'm probably going to use the camera mostly for portraits and sport photography. (Dog sports, that is). Although, experimenting with lenses IS fun....

Yeah that's what I bought my 7D for. I have 8FPS. I want to get a Nikon D700 next.

Another important thing to note: if you ever decide to upgrade to the higher end cameras, Nikon is more expensive by several hundred dollars. This starts when you get to the full frame models (D700 vs 5d mk ii). But Nikon is more affordable in the beginning especially with the model you are talking about.

[Konotashi]

Originally Posted by ladyfreckles

Yeah that's what I bought my 7D for. I have 8FPS. I want to get a Nikon D700 next.

Another important thing to note: if you ever decide to upgrade to the higher end cameras, Nikon is more expensive by several hundred dollars. This starts when you get to the full frame models (D700 vs 5d mk ii). But Nikon is more affordable in the beginning especially with the model you are talking about.

From what I've read, there aren't any negatives about it that would make me iffy or second guess myself about getting it. Main complaints are that you have to auto-focus with some lenses and there isn't a microphone jack. I can live with that. It seems to be the best camera for the money.
Hopefully I can get a Nikon D300 some day. (But I'm sure they'll have new models out by the time that day comes). lol

[AbbyK9]

I don't know if you've been to it, but Ken Rockwell's site has a lot of great camera reviews. You may not want that Nikon D300 after looking at all the reviews.

Recommended Cameras

You can also save money by buying body and lenses separately instead of a kit, and considering a refurbished camera vs. a brand new one. Adorama (Digital cameras, all other cameras and everything photographic - Adorama Camera Store) often has good deals on refurbished equipment, and B&H Photo has an entire used section for refurbished equipment here Buy and Sell used cameras and lenses - B&H Photo Video

[1sttimeforgsd]

Have you checked out TigerDirect.com, we have got some good buys from them in electronics. I do not know that much about cameras but I found this it may not be as good as the other one that you mentioned.

NIKON D5100 16MP Digital SLR Camera
NIKON D5100 25478 Digital SLR Camera - 16.2 MegaPixels, 3" LCD, CMOS Sensor, USB, HDMI, GPS Geo-tagging, 1920 x 1080, 30 fps
Only $799.99