Cannon 60 D or Sony A 580 for a amateur user

[aditya]

hello ,
I am in a big dilema ,.. I want to buy an SLR .. but not able to decide on which one ...

I have seen Cannon 60 D and i am inclined to buy it .. I know it is a good camera .. but the cost is little bit more ..

I have recently found out that the Sony A 580 is also good .. i need help is deciding which one is better ... Sony is 20 % less in cost than Cannon ..

[ALwin]

Depends on what your priority is: if you want to save costs go for the Sony, that cost saved could be used for other items such as memory cards and lenses. However Canon being in the business longer will have a wider range of lenses available, many good ones can be picked up cheaply as second-hand from reliable dealers. A second-hand lens may have a lot of external cosmetic scruff however it's the internal glass and the mechanisms which make a good lens.

People who've had good experiences with Canon will recommend the 60D, those who like Sony will recommend the 580. It looks like these two cameras are within the same target consumer group, mid level photographers. Compare their specifications, visit a shop, feel them out, etc.

Also think about where you plan to go with photography in the future. Remember that there are different sensor sizes out there and not all lenses are designed to be used for every sensor size.

Personally, if it were for myself I would probably get the Canon (also because I'm a little biased against Sony), as I mentioned before they being in the business longer has gained a reputation as a company which is very knowledgeable about photography. Sony is catching up though. But I've already invested a lot into Nikon, though I do have a 5DII and a S95. I have also used a Sony DSLR before but that was a few years ago and I didn't like that model, things may have changed a lot since then.

With the A580, there is one feature that irks me: though it has dual memory card slots (Sony's own Memory Stick Duo card slot and a SD slot), from the way you need to flip a switch to select which card is active, it seems you can only use one at a time unlike the Nikon bodies like the D3 series or D7000 which can use both cards at the same time. And obviously you need to invest in two different types of memory cards. Similarly to the Sony, Nikon D300s uses SD + CF card, two different types, but compared to the Memory Stick Duo, SD and CF cards are more common and can be easily found in the bags of most photographers.

[somneim]

Dude never go for Sony no matter which camera. Sony emerged in this area several years ago and I have worked with it and with panasonic.... I have to say that the result are quite far from satisfied.

[Allamand]

Don't forget that while Sony may be new as a brand in the DSLR market, they bought the Konica Minolta business and so all KM A mount lenses are also compatible.

[Troy]

My personal opinion - Canon.

You seem to be worried that it costs a bit more than the Sony. If this is the main issue, then why not go for a slightly lower end DSLR from Canon. If it is your first DSLR then im sure other models (500D, 550D, even 1100D) would be great cameras to start off with. I have used the 550D and it was more than enough camera for a complete beginner.

Canon and Nikon are the two 'big-guns' in DSLR photography. As such, no matter how much people don't like it, they are the better choice, especially for a beginner. Second hand lenses and accessories will be more widely available, and at cheaper prices. There will also be more help from others as they are more popular. They have also been around a long time, and have the advantage of experience over Sony.

However, having said all this, either camera i'm sure would be an excellent choice.

Obviously this is just my opinion. But if i was in your blacklisted_site i'd be willing to go lower end for a bigger brand.

[BrianMDoucette]

I am a Canon shooter (I have used Nikon in the past), so I would recommend the Canon.

I believe that sticking with a well know DSLR maker will give you a bigger field to play in. For instance, take a look at the lenses available for the Sony and then take a look at the lenses available for Canon or Nikon...
My 2 Cents,
B...

[Allamand]

How about this for a bit of advice...

Visit several shops and try out both cameras in different environments. Then make your own decision. Remember that with a DSLR the body will probably be a short term investment (as lenses are the most important factor) so consider what glass you may want to buy in the future.

I work for Sony and would very much like to hear that we got another sale, but if the camera doesn't have the right feel, and you think in the long term that the lens investsment isn't right, please choose the Canon (or any other manufacturer) equivalent.

Ultimately, you can get opinions from die hard fans on forums, but you should be happy with your purchase and have lots of fun with it.

[ashi]

Everyone will give there personal experience with the camera and will vote for the one they likes but that doesn't mean that you should like the same. The best ways to choose is to visit a local camera store try and handle both models and see which feels better for you. And than make your mind for one. Both the cameras has there pros and cons its just depends on your requirements which suits best.

[Troy]

Everyone will give there personal experience with the camera and will vote for the one they likes but that doesn't mean that you should like the same. The best ways to choose is to visit a local camera store try and handle both models and see which feels better for you. And than make your mind for one. Both the cameras has there pros and cons its just depends on your requirements which suits best.

Not necessarily true. I'm personally not a massive Canon user, but i think they are a better gateway in to the serious photography world than Sony.

Getting to a shop and handling them is the best thing to do though. A good idea would be to handle higher end models of each brand, as you will be upgrading eventually. This could help you establish a brand that suits you and your style.