D80 or Xsi

[trey]

Hi! i've been using a panasonic lumix point and shoot for awile and i've decided its time for an SLR. So my question to you is D80/D90 or XSI digital rebel? It would be helpful if you could state some of the pros and cons of each camera.

Also i'd love someone to give me information on the Sigma 50-500mm lense

Is it a waste of money?
Is it a good lense for someone with a tight budget?
Is it now good for nature photography?
Is there any better lense with a similar price you could recommend to me?

Thanks in advance!

Trey

[Gentoo]

Depends on your budget. The D90 is the newest and offers better IQ than the other two but cost more. Video may not be a buying point for you but if you have it you can always have it as an extra feature if you wish to capture behaviors. With the release of the Rebel T1i the D90 price has come down a bit.

[seaspirit]

Being a Nikon user I would go with the D90 (using a D80 right now I would stretch for a D300). Not sure how the Canon compares to the "advanced" (in relation to the D40-60) Nikons.

Lensewise in the price/focal lenght segment three contenders come to mind:
Sigma 50-500 (aka Bigma)
Sigma 150-500 (newer, image stabilized, a tad cheaper, no EX designation)
Tamron 200-500 (no HSM AF drive)

All three have their pros and cons, and you will find plenty of opinions and reviews here and elsewhere on the web. If you can live with a shorter focal lenght a number of x-400mm zooms or 400mm fixed lenses may fit your bill as well. Again plenty of intel can be found here at birdforum. Depending on your whereabout you could be able to fetch something 2nd hand.

Ulli

[RJM]

One good thing about Nikon for the dslr newbie is the built in Help. Need to know a function or menu item, press "?".

Rick

[trey]

Thanks for the replies.

I've changed my mind now and i am looking at the new Canon T1i coming out in May.

it only costs $799 and is 15 mega pixels and i guess has a really good video setting

[Highcountry]

Trey, add a EF400mm f5.6 to your kit and you are good to go for birds.

[trey]

I've decided to bail on the sigma and go for a canon 400mm.

Thanks for all of your advice it really helped me.