Mac Digital Camera Update

Thanks to everyone who weighed in with their recommendations for a good DSLR camera.

I haven't purchased yet, but I have made my decision. Once I started looking carefully at the replies in the comments to my previous post on this topic and then going to informative sites like Digital Photography Review and Steve's Digicams, the playing field of choices quickly narrowed down to two good cameras that fit within my budget: the Canon Digital Rebel XT (350D) and the Nikon D70. Several of you mentioned that I shouldn't obsess over the megapixels, as everything over 5 would be really good, so I actually was looking at both the 8 megapixel Canon 350D, and the original Digital Rebel 300D, thinking I could get the 300D for less and invest in a good macro lens.

Unfortunately, while all the web resources are extremely helpful at narrowing down the purchase decision to two strong contenders within my budget range, they are extremely unhelpful at helping one decide between more or less equal quality cameras. If anyone from these sites happens to read this, I think it would be helpful if you had some quick chart on these cameras, ranking the top 3 you recommend for different types of photographic situations: Top 3 studio DSLRs, Top 3 Macro DSLRs, Top 3 Sports cameras, etc.

Continue reading after the jump to see which I chose and why.Ultimately, the internet fails us in these situations. It can get us 90% of the way there, but then non-internet steps have to be taken. So, on the better advice of the TUAW readers, I started hitting a few camera shops and getting my hands on the different models I was considering. I found immediately that my left-handed self felt much more comfortable with the weight and balance of the Nikon D70 in my hands than I did with the Canon Digital Rebels, which felt like they were missing a left side. Of course, for my purposes, the camera I chose would most likely be on a tripod 90% of the time, so not much need for hand balance.

My next concern became simply, which camera had better image-quality and better available macro lenses. For this, I started asking everyone in the camera shops and different people I know in photography. Some people said Canon was better, while others swore by the D70. I heard that the Nikon was better for macro work, but that they were really more or less equal if I were able to save money on the Canon to buy a much better macro lens than I could afford with the added expense of the Nikon.

Fortunately, I work in a University so I was able to get in touch with someone who teaches photography and knows a number of people in the industry. David's recommendation (Thanks, David!) made the final decision for me: "I, as well as most of my friends who are pros use the Nikon digital cameras. They just hold up and retain their value better. The only ones who use the Canon cameras are sports and fashion shooters who need the Canon lenses that can focus faster. Side by side, however, the Nikon lenses are sharper for studio-type shooting which it sounds like you'll mostly be doing, and the images from the Nikons are a little nicer." I won't be doing anything close to approximating sports and fashion shooting.
Speed of focus is not of vital importance to me.

So, I am going to wait about a month till the D70s starts flooding the market and then try to grab a D70 on the cheap. Once I get it in my hands and tinker with it a bit, I'll post some about using it with my Mac if that interests any TUAW readers. Let me know in the comments. Now to find a good macro lens...