Canon Vs Nikon

Hey,
I am a beginner and I am in the process of buying my first DSLR. I am stuck between Canon and Nikon. There are a couple of technical differences that I don't understand at all .

So here are my doubts. 1) Nikon D7000 doesn't have auto focus motor, how important is that. As I am a total beginner and really don't even know how to focus manually, How badly will not having a motor affect me.

And in general, how much more expensive are the same lens for model with motor compared to the one without the motor.

Canon/Nikon . . . mangoes/papayas . . . same same, but different.

They are both well established systems. There is no right or wrong, you'll deal with the limitations/peculiarities of both. In short, you can't make a wrong turn.

And, as you are a Beginner . . . learn to focus (Page 1 of any camera manual) before you worry about auto focus motors (Page 236 of the manual

I think you have opened up a Pandora's box

Agree with post no 2

Canon or Nikon?

Coke or Pepsi
Rin or Surf
Colgate or Pepsodent
Maruti or Tata
Sony or Phillips

Here's something to help resolve the choice: http://www.photosafariindia.com/articles/beg1-slr.html

Read that and then post informed queries.

Nikon D7000 does have a built-in autofocus motor.

Nikon 50mm f/1.8D (old lens without motor) costs around 6-7K, whereas 50mm f/1.8G (new lens with motor) comes with a price tag exceeding 13K.

Biman, sorry I was trying to say Nikon D5100. The price difference seems to be quite large. It does seem better to go for the D7000, might be cheaper in longer term.

But again, if I do take D5100, how difficult is it for me to be able to focus manually.

You have hit on a major difference between Nikon and Canon DSLR bodies. Canon builds focus motors into the lenses, so they work with all Canon bodies. With Nikon you need to buy a top of the line body or be restricted in lens choice. For Nikon, the line between pro and consumer is sharper than for Canon. And if you learn how to use one, the other seems backward - like Japanese and Indian motorcycles.

You seem to worry a lot about focus. Might I suggest going into a camera store, getting your hands on a camera, putting your eye behind it, and try . . focusing

IMHO, it takes hardly 5 minutes to learn the trick of focusing and practice makes one perfect.

Stop reading and start clicking. It's much like swimming. Get into the water and you will learn. You can't go wrong with either of the brands. World's best photographer/photography awards have been won with both the brands.

Thank you all!

Appreciate the comments and the time.

I have a much better understanding now

Take a look here: http://www.dpreview.com/articles/956...-a-digital-slr and here: http://www.dpreview.com/articles/916...s-buying-guide

This is a very good site and you can find all the details of cameras like this:
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikond5100

Better would be first own it or try a friend's, half your doubts will be cleared the moment you actually sit with it and start to play around. Here you might well get confused and since the title itself is one hell of a traffic muncher, its better to let his thread open till someone bites the bullet!

If you can't get to use/try/test one out, download the user guide of any model and read thru it. Will atleast get you started on understanding DSLR's and how complicated/complex/easy they are to use for you.

May be you will love the creative freedom that a SLR provides or hate the complexity and go for a P&S.

he he I've seen D3's used as point and shoots...narendra.d

Hey to the OP go down the camera shop get one in your hands with zoom, stand at the doorway of the shop with the thing for five minutes and all will be revealed..

Canon V Nikon personal choice, nothing more.