Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT vs. Nikon D70 DSLR

Canuck digicam site Digital Review has a comparison of two primo digital SLRs: Canon's Digital Rebel XT and Nikon's D70. Obviously, either unit will get the job done but, even though the Canon has a higher resolution, they give the Nikon a slight edge, saying it has a richer feature and function set and represents a better value. But they do give props to Canon for their new DIGIC II image processor, which is faster than its predecessor and has lower high ISO noise.

[Via Digital Photography Blog]

[Jeff @ Dec 19th 2005 2:14AM]

Man, you'd have to really be a major Nikon die-hard to pick the D70 over the Rebel XT. There is really no contest between these two cameras - I don't know what this guy is even talking about. I read through this comparison and they trade off a bit between features, but in all of the important categories (mirror lockup, supported ISO's, noise reduction and image processing, resolution, grip support, etc.) the Rebel XT stomps all over the D70 and leaves it in the dust.

The D70 is simply a generation behind the Rebel XT. Does this mean I think the D70 is a bad camera? No - in fact I almost bought one a while ago. But it was arguable whether the D70 was a better camera than the *original* Digital Rebel - it's really no contest between the D70 and the XT. Yes, the D70 has some features the Rebel XT doesn't and vice versa - I'm saying the Rebel XT has most of the advantages that matter, including better image quality (which is all that actually matters in the end).

Unless you are loaded up with Nikon glass (and some people honestly are), I can't see how spending $1200 on a D70 kit vs. $1000 on a Rebel XT kit is anything but a waste of money. This article sure doesn't convince me otherwise.

The photo examples he shows were obviously not even shot with a tripod (they are both very soft), which makes them useless as comparison shots. He obviously also had to shoot them at ISO 200 because the D70 doesn't even support ISO 100.

When the DPReview review is released, I expect you'll see more meaningful comparisons made in controlled tests. Supposedly will be up by the end of the month.

[Minuk @ Dec 19th 2005 2:14AM]

Umm. The D70 with kit can be had for $1000 if you know where to look.

The D70 was a step ahead of the Digital Rebel. The XT is an update of the Rebel. No more, no less. The fact that it's 8 megapixels doesn't mean anything, just that the pictures have more pixels in them.

You were right about one thing, people who like Nikon will buy the D70. People who like Canon will buy the XT. The XT is a lighter smaller camera, but the D70 has a solid feel with slightly more options.

We can sit here and argue over whatever inconsequential feature on one makes it a superior camera, but that doesn't change the fact they are in the same class. The only question that really remains is PERSONAL PREFERENCE. People will choose whichever camera fits their needs best. Trying to explain why one is better or not explicitly is as fruitless as the Mac vs PC battle.

[Pardu @ Dec 19th 2005 2:14AM]

Likewise, you can find the XT *kit* for $850 if you know where to look as well.

That article read like a reason why the author didn't want to get rid of his D70. It's also amusing to see quite a few 20D users actually selling their cams in favor of the XT as well says a lot as well.

http://www.whichlens.com/index.php?blog=5&title=canon_350d_vs_canon_20d_comparison_revie&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1

[Carl @ Dec 19th 2005 2:14AM]

"The D70 was a step ahead of the Digital Rebel. The XT is an update of the Rebel. No more, no less. The fact that it's 8 megapixels doesn't mean anything, just that the pictures have more pixels in them."

You obviously don't know much about the Digital Rebel XT. It isn't just a Rebel with 2 more megapixels.

It has a completely different image processor, the DIGIC II,... which is superior to what was in the original Rebel. The same processor is used in the 20D and other PROFESSIONAL series Canon dSLR cameras (including the EOS 1ds Mark II).

Comparing the D70 with the XT is unfair anyway. They aren't in the same class. Sure they are both "prosumer" dSLR's, but the XT is a generation ahead of the D70 in terms of the processor technology that is being used.

Again, as it has already been said, it comes down to preference and what gear you use now. If you have Nikon glass... go with the Nikon (but I would say go for something a step up from the D70 even if that is the case)... if you have Canon gear... go witht he Canon.

If you have neither? Well... if it is a D70 vs. XT question. Go with the XT.

Then again, i'm sure Nikon will be coming out with a sucessor to the D70 sometime this year... so if you are a Nikon fan... wait.

[theBroken @ Dec 19th 2005 2:14AM]

So what they're saying is the D70 features are better but the pictures are worse.......hmmmmm isn't THE PICTURE the most important result of a camera?

I don't care if it "feels" good in my hand, but the pictures are cr@p.

[Minuk @ Dec 19th 2005 2:14AM]

"You obviously don't know much about the Digital Rebel XT. It isn't just a Rebel with 2 more megapixels."

Umm, no. I was comparing the XT to the D70. It's obvious that the Rebel XT is much better than the original Rebel. I was making the point that the D70 and XT are on the same level, which they are. The XT is not going to take spectacularly better images than the D70, and vice versa. It's all about the little features, and that is just more about tools that make it easier for the user to take pictures the way they want to.

To put this argument to rest, it doesn't really matter whether you own a Rebel, Rebel XT, D70, or 20D. If you're a crappy photographer, believe me, you're going to take crappy pictures whether you spend $899 or $2000.

[Tom @ Dec 19th 2005 2:14AM]

Where can I get a Rebel XT kit for $850?

[bootykika @ Dec 19th 2005 2:14AM]

noobs argue about bodies
experts argue about glass
pros let their work do the arguing

[Carl @ Dec 19th 2005 2:14AM]

"To put this argument to rest, it doesn't really matter whether you own a Rebel, Rebel XT, D70, or 20D. If you're a crappy photographer, believe me, you're going to take crappy pictures whether you spend $899 or $2000."

Agreed.

[Mary @ Dec 19th 2005 2:14AM]

In response to Carl. - I hear you. I know two people, both sucked as photographers to begin with. One bought a Rebel, one bought a D70. ZERO improvement in their photographs. Those camears are a waste in their hands.

[Mary @ Dec 19th 2005 2:14AM]

Ooops sorry Minuk.

[Ralph @ Dec 19th 2005 2:14AM]

I just bought the Rebel XT. I almost bought the original rebel, but I thank God i stumble across the XT on the search engine. Man I was headed for a bad mistake. Buying the original rebel and then....BAAM!!! the xt kicked my @#%.
The Rebel XT and the D70 are great Cameras, but if you put them head to head with two photographer that have the same skills and take the same pictures, The photographer holding the XT has a slightly higher advantage over the one holding the D70. So I'm sure Nikon will bring out soon the predecessor for the D70,and then we can really put them head to head, so Both cameras are great. It's up to you whether you trust the Canon name or Nikon. I've always bought canon, so I got the XT, but don't get me wrong, I did tested the D70 and was equally impressed. I just happened to be a Canon man.

[Frederik te Water @ Dec 19th 2005 2:14AM]

Check this review ( http://www.bythom.com/D70REVIEW.HTM ) on often-debated D70 vs 300D/20D issues like..:

1. auto vs manual possibilities
2. camera body build quality

1. Feature-itis. If the Digital Rebel is a crippled 10D, the D70 is an enhanced D100! Love the meter, love the flash, like the improved controls and menus, not missing much of anything (realistically, only the missing mirror pre-release is a functional thing that I miss).

2. The plastic takes a beating. Say what you will, but I've already seen plenty of evidence that the D70 can shrug off bumps, drops, and scrapes.

After reading lots and lots of reviews and comparisons, both by technicians as well as experienced photographers, I think I will decide to buy the D70, which I also used for a few shots.

Good luck deciding, this is not an easy one,

Freek te Water
Amsterdam, The Netherlands

[Frederik te Water @ Dec 19th 2005 2:14AM]

Check this review ( http://www.bythom.com/D70REVIEW.HTM ) on often-debated D70 vs 300D/20D issues like..:

1. auto vs manual possibilities
2. camera body build quality

1. Feature-itis. If the Digital Rebel is a crippled 10D, the D70 is an enhanced D100! Love the meter, love the flash, like the improved controls and menus, not missing much of anything (realistically, only the missing mirror pre-release is a functional thing that I miss).

2. The plastic takes a beating. Say what you will, but I've already seen plenty of evidence that the D70 can shrug off bumps, drops, and scrapes.

After reading lots and lots of reviews and comparisons, both by technicians as well as experienced photographers, I think I will decide to buy the D70, which I also used for a few shots.

Good luck deciding, this is not an easy one,

Freek te Water
Amsterdam, The Netherlands

[Guy @ Dec 19th 2005 2:14AM]

Pardu: " you can find the XT *kit* for $850 if you know where to look "

I made up my mind, but where would you recommend that I look?

All good wishes,
Guy

[blaise @ Dec 19th 2005 2:14AM]

im going to get the nikon d70 today. i personally belive its built better and has a better lens kit than the one supplies with the xt. d70 also has a larger ccd than the xt. when the next nikon come out i'll be able to keep my lens and just upgrade to a body. the xt is an excellent slr in all respects, but just feels like a toy compared to the d70.

[pancake @ Dec 19th 2005 2:14AM]

I have my XT up on eBay and just bought a D70 instead.

The XT is a toy. It HAS ONE FREAKING ADJUSTMENT DIAL. What this means is you have to modify that dial by pressing another button, which often leads to you taking your face off of the camera. The XT's flash synch sucks. The buffer is lower than the D70.

I wanted a semi-pro camera and I got a point and shoot that can change lenses.

That said, the image quality of the XT is amazing. It may have a slight advantage in that respect, but unless you just want to point and shoot and have extremely small hands, go with the D70.

Besides, its much cheaper to get good Nikon glass than Canon glass.

[Chad @ Dec 19th 2005 2:14AM]

I've had the same dilemna in terms of choosing which camera to buy (D70, DR XT, or 20D).

First off, I've sampled all three at the local camera store, and there certainly are vast differences in all three.

The Canon Digital Rebel XT felt so CHEAP and SMALL! Why in the world would they want to shrink this camera from the original Digital Rebel is beyond me. I thought I was going to break it. The lense that came with it was plastic and pretty cheap looking. Shame to as I've read great reviews about the picture quality of this camera, but at $900 bucks, I've got to like the whole thing. Had it had the same feel as the first Digital Rebel, I'd considered it much more.

The Nikon D70, now there's a nicely built camera that feels like you just spent $900 bucks. The lense that comes with it is top notch at about $300 retail and the menu buttons and software is much easier to read and manipulate. I've read great reviews about this camera with a sprinkling of mixed reviews as well, so I'm attributing a lot of the mixed reviews to user error. The Nikon software is an extra cost with this camera which sucks. I have Photoshop with the new RAW plug in, but it still should be included like the Canon is. I'd say that the D70 is more of a semi pro camera versus the Canon XT being more on the consumer side IMO.

Now the Canon 20D feels great and has the great picture quality of Canon in terms of low noise and high speed photography. However, it should as it costs about $500 bucks more than the D70 or Rebel XT, and that is without the purchase of a decent lense as the stock lense is pretty much plastic garbage. So essentially it will be placed out of the reach of many amatuer photographers.

I will most likely be choosing the D70 as it has the greatest balance of ergonomics, picture quality, and price of the 3. I really wanted to like the Digital Rebel XT but it just wasn't a rounded out enough package. Canon should think about their primary customer (being men) and how large their hands are compared to the toy housing they came up with. They also should give thought to the included lense. The D20 is a wonderful camera at $1400, but you get a measly $100 lense with it...how pathetic.

[Karl Nixon @ Dec 19th 2005 2:14AM]

Saying the XT (or EOS 350D in Europe) is a toy is absolutely ridiculous! I have an XT and believe you me, for what I do, the Canon is the far superior camera. As has already been stated, what matters here is IMAGE QUALITY (a department in which the Canon is faultless), so I for one couldn't care less if the XT 'FEELS' inferior, because it isn't. Bear in mind that the Nikon tends to underexpose and the Canon tends to overexpose - comparing results taken in strong sunlight, the pics from the Canon look a lot brighter and more natural, whereas the pics from the Nikon look very dark and far too rich. At the end of the day, the two cameras are very evenly matched, however whether we like it or not the Canon is the more advanced - which isn't to say that it should be everyone's choice.

[Stephen Persson @ Dec 19th 2005 2:14AM]

No one is saying the Xt/350D IS a toy but it sure FEELs like a toy (and my hands are only slight larger than average - size 7.5 medical gloves). I too spent months reading all the reviews and comparing photographs and finally purchased the D70 which I have been thrilled with. I was very influenced by Ken Rockwells balanced comparitive review between D70 & Canon 20D(http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/20dd70.htm) I haven't seen any photos which indicate the superior image quality of the XT over the D70 - I have seen individual photos I preferred from both cameras but couldn't honestly say there was any consistent winner. It is true that I have seen greatly magnified and heavily cropped photos of XT which are slightly better than D70 because of the higher resolution but then recently saw some RAW D70 images which were amazingly sharp (better than large fine JPEG D70) so with image manipulation you can get what you want (almost). For 99.9% of amateurs you will NOT notice a difference in image quality up to 11 x 14'' photo size(and thats huge - for me anyway). At the end of the day I agree entirely that they are both excellent cameras that in the right hands will create excellent photos. The D70 just feels right in my hands and it is truly a very easy camera to learn and use (and offers free firmware upgrades from time to time - don't think Canon do this).

[Jim... @ Dec 19th 2005 2:14AM]

"to #1 jeff,... i read through the review and i have to be totally honest here... as i read through "your" review it appears to me that you must've had the tv on at the same time because what your going out of your way to point out are extremely minute. "canon can go down to iso of 100, while the d70 can only go down to an iso of 200... kinda redundant isn't it..?

and i've got news for you, as #2 minuk pointed out, you can get your hands on a d70 kit in the $1,000 arena... infact if your willing to go out of your way you can get it for even less. i spent about a month researching & purchasing "all" the components of the d70s kit and i got "everything" in the kit, including a "2 gig" card for a grand total of $725 bucks! and then i won a bet with one of the reps at the local "ritz camera" who swore up and down that there was no-way i could've gotten it for less than $1200 minimum. i brought everything to his store with all the reciepts... i walked away with a brand new tripod! i'll admit it wasn't the best tripod on the market, but the point was made, & played...

and as for better photo's from the rebel xt... well there i have to question how that is when just about every review of nikon & canon lens has shown that nikon has the lens quality hands down...?

"the d70 rules!!! just wait till the d80 hits the shelves!"


jim