Now thanks to some explanation in another thread, I think I finally understand the crop camera vice full sensor lens differences in DSLRs. That brings me to the entry level DSLR decision.
Seems to me the xti and d80 are about the two best entry DSRLs. But, I really know I'm not buying a body but a Lens Suite. The money is in the Lens, bodies come and go. So ... I've research an endless amount on both Canon and Nikon lenses as well as gone to a store and felt both cameras and lens and concluded the following ... please comment on where I am wrong. BTW, I'm looking from the perspective of making 11 x 14 or 16 x 20 prints (of which I have made hundreds with film).
The D80 kit lens are nice for snapshots but if you read the reviews, I mean really read at places like
http://www.fredmiranda.com/ or
http://www.slrgear.com/ or
http://www.photozone.de/ many reviewer do not take kindly to the DX lenses. Words like cheaper quality, poor optics, etc. (not just the kit lens either). Nikon big lens are WAY out of my range, 5K lens
The Xti Kit lens is reviewed as total crap. Canon seems have three lines available, their consumer with fair prices, Digital lense for the crop cameras (EF-S), and their L line (big bucks). Clearly going L line, you have the lens for a lifetime. Going consumer line ... slower lens, lighter, cheaper quality, going EF-S a potential disaster when Canon moves to full sensor in the next generation (which is rumoured ... technology is alway getting better). I think Nikon digitals are all mostly 1.5 crop cameras except the top end so they seem heavily invested in it.
So I dont know which way to go. I think probably the D80 is a better body (slightly better) than the Xti but in terms of lens selection ... not so good. Nikon lens reviews dont seem like they used to be on the newer lens. On the other hand, the Xti, forget the EF-S lens, seem to be able to get outstanding optics usuable in the future.
Help ... what am I missing here?
