Nikon D80 with 18-70mm Lens - £680.76 NOW £638.40

Horlock

I'm looking to buy a cheapish DSLR camera and so far I'm in a toss up between the Cannon 400D and the Nikon D80.

I'm shopping for both, but the only really good deal I seem to have come across so far is this one. However, I'm not sure that it is a wonderful deal and would like some confirmation before, buying one myself.

Anyway the details of the offer I have found are as follows:

NIKON D80
SAVE OVER £115

Tax Free Price

£680.76

High Street Price £799.89

Product Code 041220
Features

* 10.2 Million Pixels
* Refined II-Area AF System
* Ancludes AF-S DX Zoom Nikkor 18-70mm Lens
* 2.5" LCD Screen

From Dixons Tax Free http://www.dixonstaxfree.co.uk

lightisfading

Nice price (i'm assuming you know you need to fly somewhere to get that price, right? ). It looks like a good deal to me. And out of the D80 and the 400D i would without a doubt go for the D80 (the canon is far too small IMO + the lens they box with it is rubbish, the D80 has a nice good quality lens and a metal alloy body.. just to start)

Horlock

i'm assuming you know you need to fly somewhere to get that price, right?

I was just thinking about that and thought if you just wanted it cheap (and didn't want to fly - I want cheap and am already booked to fly). You could always book a one way flight eg Belfast to Cardiff on 3 November costing less than £25 including taxes with BMIBaby. Check in without any luggage, buy the item and walk straight back out of the airport - because you don't go through checks to leave the airport. Ok airline might get in a bit of a fuss - but I don't know if this is any reason not to!

skintscotsman

that's an excellent price, and the 18 - 70mm lens is a fairly decent kit lens.

Horlock

probably not the place but here goes anyway - I've been out of the slr business for a long time and just about to get back into it.

I assume that all my old manual lenses (ie canon fd fit) will be of no use whether I opt for cannon or nikon. I was going to go for canon because I like my old stuff - but I'm fairly sure it will be of no use. Is there any market for it? Sorry for the questions - but they are about moneysaving

skintscotsman

some of your canon lenses may still work on a canon DSLR

they will not work on a nikon

Give the forums on http://www.digi-darkroom.com/ a try, they will be able to answer your questions.

Horlock

Price has now dropped - plus they are now offering the Cannon 400D for £453.67

lellie

It depends what you want to be taking photos of and how likely you are to upgrade in future..

If you're interested in music photography - you go for canon.. if you're interested in landscapes - you go for nikon.

Also - if you're intending on going high-end eventually I'd recommend going with canon.. If you're happy sticking with this camera for the forseeable future then it doesn't matter so much - I'd also suggest the olympus E500 - it's affordable and a fantastic camera.

skintscotsman

lellie wrote:

If you're interested in music photography - you go for canon.. if you're interested in landscapes - you go for nikon.
.

that's quite a sweeping statement - i shoot music photohgraphy regularly and use a nikon and know countless pro's who also use nikon

condyk

skintscotsman wrote:

some of your canon lenses may still work on a canon DSLR

Sorry but no FD mount lenses will fit a current EOS mount body, be it film or digital.

Personally, while I am a Canon owner and very happy with my gear, at the price point you're looking at the D80 kit represents best value for money. Decent lens and well build body with good handling.