new guy needs help

[subhuman]

Hi , I am new to SLR photography but not photography in general...I currently own a Canon point & shoot that I have had for about 10 years... I am wanting to upgrade to a SLR film camera.....I like taking pictures by feel (does that make sense?) I shoot mostly in black& white and some color, of old buildings, landscapes and some portriats, also I like to take pictures on cloudy rainy days also of the sky and moon ( which is just about impossible with a point and shoot) Unfortunatly we only have one camera shop here, the guy is really pushy and didnt really want to answer my questions just sell his expensive stuff... So I got on the web and found this site. I want to learn all I can about photography. Is there really any camera better than another?I read on a post here that" for a beginner the Nikons are very complicated & hard to learn to use" will any higher end name brand camera take pictures that I want?.....and it looks like I will have to be ordering from online so I need all the help I can get..... Thanks

[another view]

Is there really any camera better than another?

No. After all the dust settles from the 'great' Canon vs. Nikon debate, I really don't think it makes that much of a difference. Case in point - another regular poster here switched from Nikon to Canon last year. He had specific reasons for doing that and - as far as I know - is still happy he made the switch. But from the standpoint of me looking at his work, I couldn't tell you what images were shot with which camera. They're all good - he shoots what he shoots and how he shoots. It's his eye and technical knowledge that make it happen. Sure, some subjects are pretty demanding on equipment (sports, concerts, etc) but most of it comes from the photographer. Put his Canon in my usually-Nikon weilding hands and I'll bet the theory is proven again (at least after I figure out how to turn it on...).

I'll say this though - it's probably best to stick with one of those two brands. I don't think that one brand would be harder in general to learn to use, nobody would stand for that. People who shoot one roll of film a year won't deal with something complicated, and pros who shoot every day might miss a shot if their gear is too complicated. Maybe if you're comparing consumer cameras to pro cameras, the pro gear is pretty complicated.

I agree with why you need an SLR - make sure it has some manual controls. Not knowing your budget, check out the Nikon N80 but someone else will have to make a Canon recommendation. If you do buy online, click on the "shop" link at the top of the page, and use the link to whatever store you end up buying from. It doesn't cost you anything extra and this site gets a few bucks for the referral.

Welcome to the site!

[Outdoorsman]

The advice I usually give people when buying a new camera is this: Go to the camera shop and try out every camera that fits your budget. Then leave and go to another store and try out every camera that fits your budget. Repeat until you know what you like. Then buy online for cheap!
Basically, treat it like a new car- the test drive is essential. Few people buy cars without test-driving them first.
The two brands you will look at are Nikon and Canon. As another view said, the N80 seems to be pretty popular. From a Canon user's viewpoint, I like the Elans. I also agree that it would help to know your budget. If you're willing to spend a few grand, you'll get the best film camera available. If you're willing to spend a few hundred, the options are much different. I shoot a Canon Elan 7N ($300 at B&H) and it was very easy to learn, though I already knew Canon, and I made the switch pretty smoothly. I have large hands, so it was totally essential to get the battery pack- it gave me more room on the bottom end of the grip to accomodate my pinky. I tell you this because ergonomics are important- if it doesn't feel good in your hands or is too heavy, then you might not enjoy shooting it that often.
Very important also is to look at the cost of lenses and accesories for your camera, as well as the performance specs on them. Some lenses might not be so hot, while other flash units might work better or have better quality ratings, etc. You will want to examine the whole Nikon and Canon systems to find out what you will be in store for when you buy into one or the other.
Remember that the camera should only do what you tell it to- you are the one weilding the tool, not the other way around. It's kind of like the NRA rationale: "Guns don't kill people- people kill people."
And as a footnote: I shoot Canon because it is the best for me, not because it is necessarily the best for everyone else.

Not to stir the pot, but I never hear from Nikon shooters why Nikon is better, but I always seem to hear why Canon is better. -ducks Nikon samurai's blade-

[paulnj]

I OWN NIKON AND CANON GEAR.....BOTH TAKE IMAGES ;)

NEITHER IS BETTER OR WORSE as a whole

MY reason for going CANON (from nikon ) was the right price at the right time for a DSLR and canon having cheaper LONG PRIMES and IS(image stabilized) in them.

my nikon film gear STILL works just as good as ANY canon film gear .... to me ;)

you need to go to a BEST BUY, ELECTRONICS OUTLET and /or that camera store with the no answer guy and FEEL how a nikon or canon fits YOUR HANDS and HOW YOU like the control setup.

from there...... B&H online order of a REBEL TI/ ELAN 7N(canon ) OR N75/N80(nikon)