Below is my christmas present to be purchased.


http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelDetailAct&fcategoryid=139&modelid=14256

A local store has the camera new and I will be getting the 25 to 55 lens with it but I am buying a 55 to 150 lens for taking pics of my son playing sports.

I will also be buying a bag to carry it all.

What do you think.

BTW: I am a Canon person all the way.

I would actually recommend going with the D80 for several reasons.

a) the Nikon D80 has a more ergonomic body as compared to the Rebel XTi.
b) the Nikon D80 includes a screen protector (yes thats worth a lot)
c) the Nikon D80 has a better viewfinder. It is larger and has optional grid lines.
d) Nikon has a better warranty.
e) Yes the Canon has a dust remover, but it also causes a one second delay when starting the camera. If you purchased a D80 with 18-200mm lens you wouldn't need to remove the lens. The Nikon has a 0.18 second startup time.
e) The D80 has more in-camera built in photo editing features.
f) The nikon D80 has a 11 point AF as compared to 9 point AF on the XTi

I see you are looking at buying 2 lenses. I would recommend you go with a Nikon 18-135 or a Nikon VR 18-200. The 18-200 is more expensive but gives you a very large zoom in a compact lens.

Good luck with your camera search

BTW: I was a canon person

Here is my 2 cents....
(On top of everything KR mentioned...already)
Nikon.. all lenses AF and Non-AF use will use the same mounts... what does this mean for you? Well any (I mean ANY) Nikon lens you find, old, new, auto focus, manual, used what ever, will all work with your Nikon. Cannon uses a AF mount and a manual mount so if the camera is AF (which it is) that means you CAN NOT use the Cannon Manual mount lenses.
That reason alone was enough to help me choose Nikon when I was purchasing my outfit.
On the flip side, if you are really satisfied with Cannon, and don’t mind the fact that you will have to purchase their AF lenses only, then load and fire. It’s a fine camera system, and will probably take photos comparable to what you will get with the Nikon.

Hmmmmmm..

Thanks for the input so far. This is the kind of info I need to know. Especially due ot the fact I have equipment to fit neither one yet.

TYIA

For what it's worth, and there's a whole thread on it here on the forum, I have the D50 from Nikon and wouldn't trade it for the world. We did our homework for a few months before we purchased and it was the best buy for us.

I don't know much about the D80, except that it's the upgrade from the D70, a great camera, but if it's anything like the D50, then I'd go for it.

The benefit of the D50 over the higher model Nikon's IMHO is user friendly use. The D50 is more for folks who aren't photo pro's (like me). The D70+ to my knowledge require more savy photographers.

Maybe I need to look at the Nikon more. I am a Canon man but I may have to switch. The only good thing I have heard about the Canon is that it takes pictures faster than a Nikon. This came from a professional photographer here in Jackson, TN. IS this true????????

No, my Nikon is amazingly fast at taking pictures and has a faster startup time than the canon.

They both are fast, in the world of professional photographers there were only two choices Canon or Nikon, both have pluses and minuses, both are good cameras, you wouldn’t be unhappy with either one. Of the photographers who chose what, the Canon guys tended to be more sports and news photogs, while most of your commercial shooters preferred the Nikons. (Never forget there are always exceptions.)
Point is they are both fine cameras, the both have great optics and mechanics the only real difference is that Nikon will use all lenses made for Nikon at anytime, old, new, manual, and auto focus whatever you got. Cannon AF will only use the Canon AF lenses, and Canon manual will use Canon manual mount. The reason they work that way is Canon puts the focus motor in the lens while Nikon puts the motor in the camera, so what you were told is probably true, by a fraction at least. Canon having the motor right in the lens will focus a tad faster in AF mode.
If you already have lenses or anything well that’s what I would buy, if not the choice is yours.

Edit:
(Oh another reason I really like Nikons, the view finders tended to be a tad brighter than their Canon counter parts. With the F3HP it have diffrent ground glass inserts you could get, for a price of course. LOL But being able to see better was a help espically when you got a client breathing down your neck)

Well friends, I purchase me a camera tonight.

Here is what I started with: http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelDetailAct&fcategoryid=139&modelid=14256
The same as the first post. I then purchase me a 70 to 300 zoom lens and a 2 gig card to hold the pics.
Now I will be looking locally for a caring case.

I hope this EXPENSIVE camera I just bought will justify my needs. It is a lot of money just for me to have fun taking pictures Especially when I am trying to put back for a house.

I don't think you'll regret the Canon. Next to Nikon I'd say they're the best for the buck. I almost choose them before going to the Nikon. I'll obviously still with Nikon from now on, but Canon is a solid brand.