Deb - the Nikon is the better camera - better build, better quality for your
money.  With respect the softness of the images you'll find that most DSLRs
will produce JPEG images softer than you'll be used to if you've used a
consumer digicam.  You can sharpen your images in quite sophisticated ways
using Photoshop (lab sharpening is the best but it's a bit fiddly to do).

Each camera manufacturer also decides on the default level of softness
for its images. This can usually be adjusted via camera menu as well as
with imaging software.

I'm curious as to what that "one statement" was that made you decide on
the XT/D50 rather than the 20D/D70.

When I was looking recently, it seemed that about 80% of the price
difference between the D50 and the D70s could be explained by the better
kit lens on the D70s.

If you have no expensive collection of Nikon glass, get the 350D. It offers
more for less. If you need a camera that is better built, get the 20D or the
D200. - What will be the next Canon, I wonder?

Gregor

Buy the camera that you like. Your questions are pointless. You have made up
your mind. Sure, the XT has more capabilities, but if you like the feel of
the Nikon, pull your wallet/purse out.

felt

Of all your thoughts posted the line that stood out for me was 'While
the Canon Rebel Xt has more features that I want, the Nikon D50 felt so
good in my hands'
If you are going to be using the camera frequently then each and every
time will the observation come into your conscious thought  as to how it
feels?  Previous to the Rebel Xt I picked up the model 300 and
immediately the feel in my hands was not right and I put the camera
down, walked away. I really wanted to get that range of camera. A year
later the Rebel Xt came out and the moment I held it, the thing 'FIT'
into my hands and it has been a fit ever since.
So if the Nikon D50 felt like part of your hands then it will be used in
an unconscious manner and you will likely use it up to its maximum.
Fumbling around with a cumbersome object in your hand may forecast a
'dust collector'.
Rose

Minolta 5D: Anti-Shake
Pentax DS: TTL Flash
Nikon D50: 1/500s X Sync
Canon 350D: 8MP

http://digitcamera.tripod.com/#slr

The D70s design is an older generation than the D50 or the 350, which shows
in more noise at high ISO compared to the others.
Mening that D50 is newer and better than the D70s, only lacking some
features that you may or may not miss.
The differences between lenses will be greater than the difference between
the D50 or the 350.
But, the cheap 18-55 kit lenses do not show the full potential of either.
The Nikon 18-70 lens is the most cost effective way to get quality pics.
Go for that one if you do not plan to spend big $ on pro Nikon or Canon
L-lenses.

Hi Deb:

I consider myself an amateur photographer.  I shot with a Minolta 600si
35mm film camera for the last 7 years and moved to digital only a few
months ago.  Since then, I've shot a wedding with a Nikon D70s, a
Baptism with a Nikon D50, a backyard party with a Canon 20D and some
basic indoor shots with a Canon Rebel XT (while demonstrating
photography 101 to a friend (who had just gotten the Rebel XT)).

In the end, photography is all about the pictures and the Nikon D70s,
Nikon D50, Canon 20D and Canon Rebel XT all can take great pictures.
Don't worry about how this camera's sharper or how that camera's got
this kind of color.  One thing I loved about my 600si was that I turned
it on, set the aperture and maybe the metering (spot vs. full, etc.)
and took a picture.  That was it.  I did color adjustments, etc. after
scanning in the developed film.  In fact, for digital, I started out by
turning all of the automated color, sharpening, toning, etc. features
OFF.  Only after experience did I turn on what I felt I needed to turn
on.  For example, during post-processing, I found myself bumping up the
saturation for nearly every shot.  So, because of my own preference, I
decided to save myself some time and have the camera bump up the
saturation on all shots for me so that I didn't have to worry about it
during post processing.

What you should worry about is what you want to do as a photographer.
Do you want to shoot sports?  Landscapes?  Screaming babies?  Birds?

In terms of a camera, think about the features you think you'll need
(example: for sports, you'll want many frames per second and fast
buffering).  For night scenes requiring you to shoot at a higher ISO
range, you'll want something with low noise (the Canon 20D has very low
noise at higher ISO ranges compared to the Nikon D50 or D70 (or D70s)).

In terms of lenses, think about the focal lengths and apertures you
think you'll most need.  Check out what Nikon and Canon have to offer.
Consider price and other features.  For example, maybe you would like
something with image stabilization (Canon) or vibration reduction
(Nikon's system).  If so, then are those features offered in your price
range?  If so, then do those lenses offer the performance you desire?
Which MFR offers what?

If you find that both camera systems offer similar features and prices,
then, yeah, if you have a choice, consider which camera feels better in
your hands!  One of the things I loved about my Minolta 600si was the
weight (nice and heavy) and ergonomics.  Looking through that giant
viewfinder was great and hearing that nice mechanical shutter-clink
followed by the sound of the film advancing was music to my ears and
made taking pictures a blast.  Ease of use was great too.  I could
change settings as quickly as I could snap off a shot.  Enough about my
600si.

All in all, I went with a Nikon D70s.  My brother's got a Canon 20D.
And even though I could share his nice, expensive lenses, I went with
Nikon anyway.  First, I'm narrow minded and just had to have a Nikon
since that's just the brand I've always wanted.  Second, I wanted to
get into flash photography and prefer Nikon's flash system.  I liked
that the D70s could act as a commander and fire off a slave flash
(which allowed me to buy the SB-600 (vs. SB-800), which free'd up some
money for some other stuff, like an IR remote, nicer UV filter, bigger
CF card).  (D50 cannot do commander mode).

My opinion about the D50?  Great camera.  Compared to D70s, the D50
cannot do commander mode and I prefer the D70s' build quality and size.
I think the feature set is otherwise similar.

My opinion about the XT?  It takes great pictures.  However, I don't
like it in my hands.  Too small for me.  I can't hold it very well and
I have trouble quickly accessing the features.  With a big lens on it,
it's off balance for me.  Not very comfortable for me.

My opinion about the 20D?  Beautiful camera.  Low noise at higher
ISO's.  And the 5 FPS is great for increasing your odds of getting a
good picture while chasing around kids at a birthday party. :)

My opinion about 6 MP vs. 8 MP?  Don't fall into the trap of the MP
wars.  Unless you plan on doing a lot of heavy cropping and/or a lot of
very large prints, you won't notice the difference (besides the
additional filesize).  I've gotten a beautiful 12 X 18-inch print from
a 3.2 MP point-and-shoot.

Kevin

Both good cameras, Canon in menu allows u to sharpen the picture. Canon has
more features (if U need them) U will not see any difference in picture
quality (ok a little maybe) going from the Rebel to the 20d, U will see a big
difference on the 2 models from Nikon. I would advise getting the cheaper
Canon but if U want the Nikon I would move up, there were alot of changes
from the D50 to the d70. 8 vs 6 is a difference U have that much more for
croping, adjusting the exposure etc. Also depending if U want larger pictures.
This was an old argument when Nikon had nothing to compete with a lower end
camera with the megapixels, Now they do stop using this argument.  If U can
wait about 2 months canon is annousing the replcement for the 20d so 20d will
come down in price. I think. I have a 20d, the 5d and had the rebel. I would
also look at the menu system how easy to use etc. Higher ISO Canon does
better, Canon makes their sensors Nikon buys from Sony. Nothing wrong with
that but Canon was able to build the sensor for higher ISO. Dont get me wrong
I think Nikon is a very good camera too. I stayed with Canon because of my
lenses, thats why most people select one vs the other then try and justify.
But I will say more Nikon users are moving to Canon than canon users to Nikon.
Watch football on Sunday and see canon. U cant go wron with either choice.
good luck!

The Rebel XT with a decent lens instead of the kit lens.
-Rich

Not necessarily. All digital cameras have sharpening algorithms in
their software. Some of these algorithms are more agressive than
others. It comes down to a matter of personal preference.

In the case of these two cameras, though, it hardly matters at all, as
you can set sharpening to match your own taste, or not at all. I always
use no sharpening, preferring to do my own sharpening in
post-processing.

Ain't it the truth. Nikon does a lot better job with ergonomics; Canon
is more innovative. For me, there were no features that Canon offered
that I could not live without, so I went with Nikon. And, as you note
below, this is only the beginning of it.

Yes. And then there is menu accessibility and button location. Nikon
likes to make almost everything available from a rocker button and a
couple dials all accessible with your thumb. I really like that. Canon
scatters buttons and dials all over the place. Does that mean I could
not learn to use a Canon? Of course not. But it does make the learning
curve a little steeper.

Given the choice between mirror lock-up and spotmeter, it is a toss. I
think I would use one about as often as the other. If the exposure is
so long that you need mirror lock-up, you are likely to have other
vibrations that are going to affect the picture more -- few cameras are
operated in a vacuum. Trucks drive by, gusts of wind come up, etc., so
maybe mirror lock-up is not nearly as critical as people think. OTOH, I
never use the spotmeter, either. If the subject is backlit or has some
other problem that would seem to mandate a spotmeter, I find the
problem is easier to fix in Photoshop. The lower limit on ISO is not
real, either.

I guess you have to choose between ergonomics and the bleeding edge of
technology. :-) Heck, I like both of these cameras a lot. I really
don't see how you could go very wrong with either one of them.