How do you compare the New Canon Rebel to the Nikon D80 for low light action pictures

Hi, I noticed that your question hasn't been responded to yet. Are you still looking for an answer? If so, I recommend you re-submit it on http://www.DigitalCamera-HQ.com, so it will have a better chance of being noticed. These days it looks like most questions are being answered within a few days. Good luck!

Andrew

http://reviews.cnet.com/digital-cameras/canon-eos-40d-body/4505-6501_7-32572247.html

For Canon devotees, the EOS 40D is a great camera and remains an excellent choice compared to most of the dSLRs in and around its price class--with one exception. Despite its many attractions, the Canon EOS 40D doesn't clearly outshine the Nikon D80, which costs a lot less. Though the 40D has the obvious advantage for action shooting--almost double the burst rate and a higher top shutter speed--the D80 generally feels a bit faster and more responsive for single-shot photography. I think the 40D ultimately does deliver better photo quality, but some people might find the differences more subtle than the price differential warrants. And, of course, the more expensive Nikon D300 remains a wild card until we've tested it. So for the moment, the 40D gets a hearty, if not wholly unqualified, endorsement.

This is not a fair question to ask =). There are to many variables that have to be matched up to do a feasible comparison. The biggest factor for either of these cameras will be the lens that is used.

http://www.dcviews.com/reviews/Canon-Rebel-XTi-Nikon-D80/Canon-Rebel-XTi-Nikon-D80-review.htm

8.7

CONCLUSION

8.8

You will buy and use a d-SLR to get the best possible combination of control, flexibility, speed and image quality. The Canon EOS Rebel XTi and the Nikon D80 both live up to that expectation. Even the most demanding amateur photographer will not be disappointed by those cameras. Both cameras can be operated automatically, but offer full manual control for high levels of accuracy in exposure, focusing and color. The Nikon D80 has more features, but the Canon EOS Rebel XTi is easier to operate. Due to the exchangeability of lenses all subjects can be captured with great ease from super wide angle to super tele and for special subjects like macro to tilt&shift. Canon offers a broader line-up of lenses , often with image stabilization. The speed of the cameras is almost equal. No noticeable start up or shutter delay, fast and accurate AF and a 'motor drive' of 3 frames per second up to 40 or more JPEGs (about 10 RAWs). Image quality of these 10 Mp cameras is very high. Resolution is fabulous and noise levels are moderate even at ISO 1600. In RAW format mode with a fixed focus lens you will get the highest image quality, in which case the EOS Rebel XTi performs a bit better than the D80. Image quality seems no longer restricted by the sensor, but by the JPEG-settings and the applied zoom lens. Every zoom lens below $750 dollar reduces the 100% quality of the images. Because of the fact that high levels of sharpening in combination with noise reduction and JPEG compression tend to significantly reduce the image quality, the default in-camera sharpening of both camera is very modest and may lead to ' soft' images is some cases. JPEGs are suitable for high quality prints up to 16x12" and for prints up to 40 to 26 inch RAW is the best image format.
If you want the highest image quality, user friendly operation and sensor cleaning the Canon EOS Rebel XTi is your camera. In addition the price is $200 lower than of the D80. The EOS Rebel XTi comes standard with good RAW-software, which is optional for the D80 at extra cost. In case you want a camera with a robust body, extra features and better flash performance, the Nikon D80 is a very good choice. But, as said before, none of these two cameras will disappoint their user.
If you have a D50, D70 of D70s an upgrade to the D80 may be an option: more pixels, higher responsiveness and better image quality at higher ISO values can give the photographer more satisfaction. For the same reasons an upgrade from the EOS 300D to the Rebel XTi may be worth the investment. Even from the EOS 350D the step to the Rebel XTi will be interesting. The answer to the question which camera of those two is the best, is very simple: 'The camera with the best lens', because in this comparison operation, speed and image algorithms are not the real restrictions in use and quality.

The links i give below are proofs of my statements hence i like to link them to my answer to to the sites.

There is good and bad in every product.We just have to weight the pros and cons.

http://photo.net/equipment/nikon/D80

D80 or D40/D40x?

Nikon has come up with various designs for doing autofocus. Throughout the 1990s, autofocus involved a slot in the back of each AF lens and a screwdriver blade coming out of the lens mount. In the 21st Century, Nikon decided to put small autofocus motors in most of their new lenses, with a purely electrical connection between camera body and lens. For backward compatibility, bodies such as the D80 have the screwdriver blade in addition to the electrical autofocus connectors. The D40/D40x bodies do not have the screwdriver blade and hence do not work with many Nikon AF lenses, even ones that are still in production but whose designs have not been revised. If you have or think that you might want some of the older design lenses, the D80 is a better camera.

In the "creative" exposure modes, the D80's second control wheel provides a big boost to operating speed. The D80's superior autofocus system makes it a better body for sports and action.

The D40 is a better body if ultimate compactness and light weight are important. You can throw the D40 into a bag when you think that you might want to take pictures, not just grab it from the shelf when you have a big photographic idea.


Canon’s EOS 400D / XTi improves on its predecessor in several key respects, and for some buyers, that’s all they’ll need to know. After all, the earlier EOS 350D / XT was by far the best-selling entry-level DSLR, so if the new one’s even only a little bit better, that’s recommendation enough.

Of course the market’s become more competitive in recent times and while the new 400D / XTi is indeed better than its predecessor, there’s some tough new rivals.

Sony’s A100 is the 400D / XTi’s biggest competitor and for little extra outlay, it boasts built-in anti-shake and a kit lens with a slightly longer focal length. Adding anti-shake to the 400D / XTi takes its price comfortably above the A100 kit, and that’ll be enough to steer many towards Sony.

In its favour, the Canon has a smaller, lighter body, lower noise levels at high ISOs and many more anti-dust features, although they were far from 100% infallible in our tests. It also has access to Canon’s wide range of lenses and accessories and there’s no denying the company’s brand cachet.

The bottom line is the 400D / XTi handles well and delivers great quality images at a low price. We would highly recommend upgrading the kit lens, but as a starter package which has plenty of room for growth, it represents excellent value.

http://www.cameralabs.com/features/10Megapixel_DSLR_test/page6.shtml

Nikon D80


The Nikon D80 is arguably the best camera of the three. It beats the 400D / XTi and A100 in almost every respect, sporting superior design and build quality, the biggest, brightest viewfinder, more sophisticated AF, greater customisation and a secondary status screen which many will find easier to read in bright light. While some test results were very close, the D80 also resolved the greatest detail and many will prefer its handling of high ISO noise to the Canon.

In these traditional photographic respects, the D80 is comfortably ahead of the Canon 400D / XTi and Sony A100, but there’s one key difference: it’s also comfortably more expensive, especially when you add the cost of a lens. And if that lens happens to feature Vibration Reduction to combat camera shake, you could be spending double that of the Sony A100 kit. The D80 also doesn’t have the anti-dust features of the Canon 400D / XTi, which additionally comes in at a much lower kit price.

To be fair, the D80 is pitched at a slightly higher-end market than the Canon and Sony models. It’s designed for someone who wants a step-up from an entry-level DSLR, but can’t or won’t stretch to something like a D200. So if you’re the kind of person who would value the superior build and viewfinder of the D80 while also exploiting from its more sophisticated AF and flash control, then we’d say it’s worth the higher investment. If however you’re on a stricter budget, or don’t think you’d use the D80’s more sophisticated controls and features, you’ll be better off with the Canon or Sony.