An alternative to the Rebel

Author's Rating:

Pros: Fast in operation, great for sports parents

Cons: No ISO 100 setting

The Bottom Line: 
A quality alternative the the Rebel, makes a great camera for sports nuts, or parents of sports kids.

Author's Review
Let me first say, that this not a long term review, but based on a personal comparison of the two leading dSLR models in this sub $750 market. I used the D50 for a day and I liked it.

Nikon D50 with 18-55mm lens, this is the camera that Nikon launched to combat the Canon Rebel and if you already have a Nikon SLR and some lenses and maybe a flash, this is probably the way to go if you are on a budget. In the world of SLR cameras, quite often the cost of the body is insignificant when compared to the investment you make in lenses, flash and other accessories.

If you are directly comparing the D50 against the Rebel as someone looking to buy their first SLR there are a number of things to take into account. The D50 is around $100 cheaper, either with the 18-55mm lens or as a body only, also the display on the back is slightly larger. However the D50 has a 5 area auto focus system vs 7 on the Rebel and of course sports a 6.1MP sensor against the Rebel’s 8MP. Sounds almost like a wash to the Rebel, but there are other major differences that give the D50 the edge in certain areas. Firstly the D50 matches the Rebel in that it can shoot at 2.5 fps, however, with the ability to shoot at this speed for over 135 frames it is a better bet for the parents of sporty kids who want to take action pictures at the game. Note that to be able to run at this speed for the full number of frames requires at least a 256MB card capable of high speed recording. The other feature that tags the D50 more towards action photography is it’s capability to sync flash at up to 1/500 of a second.

In strictly looking at the D50 as a camera in it’s own right without comparing to other models on the market it is a good all round introduction into the world of the SLR. It is backed up by Nikon’s wide range of lenses and flash units and is part of a complete system. Additionally there are many other quality lenses available from companies like Sigma and Tamron. With shutter speeds available from 30 seconds to 1/4000 second, it has a wide enough range to capture almost anything you may come across, as well as a range of shooting modes that cover everything from portraiture to sports. The D50 is a solid performer that offers the user flexibility and quality images at an affordable price.