Hope I am posting this in the right forum.

I'm looking at purchasing my first dSLR for a trip to Europe and have narrowed it down to either a Nikon D3100 or Canon 550D. I have some experience shooting with them but not a lot, would be safe to say that I am an amateur.

Went to a File Foto at Central Changwattana and the sales person there actually recommended the D5100 or 600D instead saying they just easy to learn as the entry-level models but with slightly better picture quality and flip out LCDs.

I was wondering if that would justify spending the extra money, or would I be better off buying the cheaper one and using the money I saved buy a new lens?

Thanks for any input!!!

I would suggest you go for whichever feels the most comfortable in your hands

when taking a photo.

In my book, flip out LCD screens are a bit of a gimic.

Photos are best taken with the view finder against the eye

not at arms length, with added camera shake.

On a technical level you can see a side by side comparison of all 4 cameras here

http://www.dpreview.com/products/compare/side-by-side?products=canon_eos550d&products=canon_eos600d&products=nikon_d5100&products=nikon_d3100

Good luck with your purchase

I would suggest you go for whichever feels the most comfortable in your hands

when taking a photo.

In my book, flip out LCD screens are a bit of a gimic.

Photos are best taken with the view finder against the eye

not at arms length, with added camera shake.

On a technical level you can see a side by side comparison of all 4 cameras here

http://www.dpreview....cts=nikon_d3100

Good luck with your purchase

Thanks for the link, the specs all look pretty similar aside from the flip out LCD. Think I will just go for the entry level one and use the money saved on a lens.

Check out

http://www.amazon.co...Tx1JDH3DLUT0ZBH

I think you will find it interesting and useful in your consideration/evaluation. Also check what Ken Rockwell has to say (although the thread above summarizes what he says about the D3100, D5100 and D90), as he is probably one of the best unbiased, authoritative sources around.

Check out

http://www.amazon.co...Tx1JDH3DLUT0ZBH

I think you will find it interesting and useful in your consideration/evaluation. Also check what Ken Rockwell has to say (although the thread above summarizes what he says about the D3100, D5100 and D90), as he is probably one of the best unbiased, authoritative sources around.

Great link from Amazon thanks for sharing!

hi, i'm using nikon d3100 and very impressed with it. all these camera's are nice just that you need to get a good lens. i suggest you just buy the body and get a better lens as the kit lens is no good.

The flip out LCD screens are great when shooting from a tripod, especially with a remote.

The flip out LCD screens are great when shooting from a tripod, especially with a remote.

and Light & Sound Shows as well.

http://www.pbase.com...chanaburi__2009

Oly E-5 in video mode only works that way.

I do not use the LCD screen much only as mentioned above, however it is very handy to sit back after a shooting event and reviewing the photos with the camera sitting on the table and not in hand.

Win

no expert here, but I like flip out lcds. of course if u can take the shot properly set easily wo having to use it, that's optimal, but the whole point is that its not always the case...mess of a sentence but hopefully u get the drift. taking shots from above head level or down low in addition to whats already been mentioned come to mind. not sure its worth the extra money or not..re quality, nowadays it seems more important to be handy with photoshop and digital tools than anything ...assuming ur starting from a clear slr shot with decent glass on it.

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The flip out LCD screens are great when shooting from a tripod, especially with a remote.

My feelings also. Interesting is that my previous cameras were P&S with flip out screens and I used the lcd nearly exclusively. Now that I got my new GH2 with a lcd touch screen I find myself using the EVF the majority of the time. The reason, the P&S EVF were nearly useless - small size, not sharp, not bright. The GH2 EVF on the other hand is excellent - bright, crystal clear and large view. All the little menu icons and text are now highly readable.

So the lcd is used when I have a need to use the touch screen for touch focus or for video, rack zoom and sometimes it is faster in menu selection, at least until I get the custom buttons figured out. Of course the tripod and those awkward shots such as getting a very low level shot - don't need to lay on your stomach to get that bug shot.

If you have trouble getting candid shots of people you can also use the flip out screen to shoot over your shoulder.

If you have trouble getting candid shots of people you can also use the flip out screen to shoot over your shoulder.

Sneaky!

If you go Nikon spend an extra 5000 baht on a 50 mm 1.8 lens.

It's the best deal you can get.