Canon to Nikon - My thoughts.

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Tom Conte
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p.2 #1 · Canon to Nikon - My thoughts.

I do have to say that the EF 85 f/1.2L is my favorite lens in the whole wide world. Mounted on my 1Ds, the two made a magical machine for portraiture.

Edited on Jan 05, 2006 at 05:31 AM

Dec 31, 2005 at 10:17 PM

Tim Ernst
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p.2 #2 · Canon to Nikon - My thoughts.

"T/S lenses 24 / 90 (No such animal as far as Nikon is concerned)"

Nikkor 85mm f2.8 is a tilt/shift isn't it? Also a terrific macro lens.

I'm in the process of switching from Canon 1Ds2 to a D2x and so far love the new camera system. Many of the controls and operation in general make a lot more sense and are easier and quicker for me to use. I bought the system to use the 70-180 macro and 200-400 lenses - nothing in Canon's bag to compare - and am finding lots of other nice surprises.

Oops, I had better update my signature...

Edited on Jan 05, 2006 at 05:31 AM

Jan 01, 2006 at 01:28 AM

21farms
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p.2 #3 · Canon to Nikon - My thoughts.

mjmetts, congrats on your D200. you posted some good stuff there...looks real good. btw, i also have the sigma 30/1.4 in the canon mount...very nice piece of glass.

tom conte, amazing! i could have written your post on the interface likes & dislikes almost word for word...right down to the unpainted hot shoe and lens mounting procedure

i would add to the list of likes:
• auto ISO feature
• 4 user setting banks.
• ability to leave the top LCD illuminated
• the "easy exposure compensation" feature
• viewfinder gridlines

to the list of dislikes, i would add:
• the two-handed approach to quickly change ISO or WB (on the 20D, you just press one button and then spin the wheel or the dial with one hand)
• image magnification on review involves a mixture of buttons and dials...i'll get used to it but the canon method is easier
• disabling an external flash from firing (but leaving the AF assist illuminator on) is a flash custom function instead of a custom function in the camera

Edited on Jan 05, 2006 at 05:31 AM

Jan 03, 2006 at 06:55 PM

johnnymg
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p.2 #4 · Canon to Nikon - My thoughts.

Tom Conte wrote:
I do have to say that the EF 85 f/1.2L is my favorite lens in the whole wide world. Mounted on my 1Ds, the two made a magical machine for portraiture.

Tom

That's a 'who's who' of HW you've ditched!

.

I'm amazed that you "ended up" with the D200. As someone who has used the high end pro stuff, how/why did you decide on a D200?

Kind regards
JohnG

happy with my D200 .................but still miss 8 FPS.

Edited on Jan 05, 2006 at 05:31 AM

Jan 03, 2006 at 07:21 PM

Pavel
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p.2 #5 · Canon to Nikon - My thoughts.

Hey Michael. I read your post with interest as pretty much all of what you have said is what has applied to myself as well. The image quality and the megapixels are now close enough that it's a mute point .. but the interface and "zen" is where it "is".
So far I'm delighted that I had the gumption to jump ship - and while I want to hang onto my C stuff ... the nikon glass song is hard .... no imposible

to resist for long I'm discovering.

Every day I change my mind at least twice about putting up the rest of the canon stuff for sale.
So many black lenses ... so little cash ... so little willpower

Jan 03, 2006 at 08:24 PM

mjmetts
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p.2 #6 · Canon to Nikon - My thoughts.

Pavel wrote:
Hey Michael. I read your post with interest as pretty much all of what you have said is what has applied to myself as well. The image quality and the megapixels are now close enough that it's a mute point .. but the interface and "zen" is where it "is".
So far I'm delighted that I had the gumption to jump ship - and while I want to hang onto my C stuff ... the nikon glass song is hard .... no imposible

to resist for long I'm discovering.

Every day I change my mind at least twice about putting up the rest of the canon stuff for sale.
So many black lenses ... so little cash ... so little willpower

I
t good to hear mirror sentiments. That sigma lens is sharp! I would like to get one but am thinking about a film body ... so the 35 will likely win out.

Now for a more dangerous question .... so what you think about the different communities behind the brands, eh?

Well I've found really helpful and really unhelpful people on both sides of the fence. If I was going to generalize I would say that the Canon guys are a little more defensive about choosing Canon. I.E. They have so many reasons lined up to tell you why Canon is the better brand, Nikon guys don't care about that as much. I have seen some Nikon guys saying things like: "Nikon people are more creative and they spend much more time shooting." Which just isn't true. Pixel peepers and gear nerds are on both sides and a brand has nothing to do with creativity.

Edited on Jan 05, 2006 at 05:31 AM

Jan 04, 2006 at 10:22 AM

Tom Conte
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p.2 #7 · Canon to Nikon - My thoughts.

johnnymg wrote:
Tom,
...
I'm amazed that you "ended up" with the D200. As someone who has used the high end pro stuff, how/why did you decide on a D200?

Not sure why you're amazed. It's rather easy to explain.

The 1D-series is more than I need, I am not a pro. The bodies are too heavy to tote around. I don't need 8fps of the 1D / 1DmkII. I did love the image quality of the 1Ds, but its "OS side" was painfully slow. The 1Ds mkII is out of my financial reach right now.

The D30/60/10D/20D and 5D all missed the mark in being photographic tools for me. The D30 and D60 had painfully bad autofocus. The 10D also had its AF problems. The 20D was OK, but the small viewfinder was a pain. As for the 5D, I loved the image side, but I disliked the camera side.

The D2X is a fine camera, but also more camera than I need.

The D200 is rather unique in being a true light-weight yet well-built, capable camera in the same spirit as the F100 or the EOS 3. That is what I've been looking for in digital, and how I ended up here. (Apparently I'm not alone.)

If Canon were to come out with a detachable-grip 1-series class camera that was FF, I would be tempted back to C land. But I doubt that will happen any time soon. The 5D is their interpretation of the needs of a serious amateur like me. For me, they missed the mark.

Tom

Edited on Jan 05, 2006 at 05:31 AM

Jan 04, 2006 at 12:58 PM

Spydweb
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p.2 #8 · Canon to Nikon - My thoughts.

Tom, could not have said it any better

Edited on Jan 05, 2006 at 05:31 AM

Jan 04, 2006 at 02:59 PM

johnnymg
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p.2 #9 · Canon to Nikon - My thoughts.

Tom

Thanks for the detailed response!

I like the D200 for many of the same reasons. The bottom line is that it's a very capable 'little' camera. I haven't used it enough to fully understand/appreciate it but so far so good.

That being said I may pick up a 'cheap' D2H to fulfill my machine gun fixation.

Kind regards
JohnG

Edited on Jan 05, 2006 at 05:31 AM

Jan 04, 2006 at 03:48 PM

Tom Conte
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p.2 #10 · Canon to Nikon - My thoughts.

A second-hand D2H is a great idea, given how reasonably priced these are right now on the used market (check out KEH, for instance). For sport shooting, it's a perfect camera.

Tom

Edited on Jan 05, 2006 at 05:31 AM

Jan 04, 2006 at 04:32 PM

rcorrington
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p.2 #11 · Canon to Nikon - My thoughts.

mjmetts,
Thanx for the detailed write up. I've been waiting for some one to take the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 plunge and share their thoughts. I just placed an order for my lens from Sigma4less.com. Thanx again.

-r

Edited on Jan 05, 2006 at 05:31 AM

Jan 04, 2006 at 05:16 PM

Film_Ruled
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p.2 #12 · Canon to Nikon - My thoughts.

I shot Nikon for many years and loved the interface. I had a hard time with the Canon layout on my friend's rigs. It really does boil down to what you are used to. But....in October of 2003, Nikon failed to give me what I needed, a true 35mm format camera that worked correctly with all my lenses.

So I painfully switched. At first, I thought, "What have I done?" The menus and layout on the 1-series did not appeal to me at all. The ones on the 10D, were much faster and easier.

Now I have the 5D, the camera I wanted Nikon to make all along, and I am super fast on it. The D200 looks great. Except for the lousy Canon-like eyepiece, it is like my favorite Nikon, the F100. As you might be guessing, I don't care much for the larger bodies. I do mountaineering, outdoor & adventure photography for a living, fat cameras have no place in my world.

So a small part of me is envious that you all have the D200 to use. But then I use my 24 1.4, 35 1.4 and 85 1.2 on my 5D and realize that it just does not get better then that. The AF on the 5D is wicked fast and really accurate, even in low light.

I have no regrets in switching. Because I can adapt to a layout, but not the loss of a major portion of my vision.

Edited on Jan 05, 2006 at 05:31 AM

Jan 04, 2006 at 05:37 PM

Film_Ruled
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p.2 #13 · Canon to Nikon - My thoughts.

If Canon were to come out with a detachable-grip 1-series class camera that was FF, I would be tempted back to C land. But I doubt that will happen any time soon. The 5D is their interpretation of the needs of a serious amateur like me. For me, they missed the mark.

Don't kid your self guys, the 5D is a killer, well built, well designed pro camera. I have some 16,000 frames on mine now and will pickup a 2nd one soon. I use it day in day out for my work, aka: Day job and for me, there is no better camera. Light, fast and fabulous full frame!

Edited on Jan 05, 2006 at 05:31 AM

Jan 04, 2006 at 05:53 PM

AUnderwood
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p.2 #14 · Canon to Nikon - My thoughts.

and like he said "for me, they missed the mark".

He isn't kidding anybody. It's not a knock on you because you own the camera. I never understand the defending to the death of ones purchase. Silly.

If you have sold yourself on having FF and it's a "MUST" for you then fine. But for others $3k on a semi prosumer body makes no sense.

The reason the D200 is so popular is that it's an item that Canon has been missing in their lineup. 20D was the worst camera I have ever owned (again that's my take and there are plenty of happy users and good for them) and is a step below the D200 and a step above the D70s.

Nikon has done a good job of making a lineup that makes a little more sense then Canon. You've got your entry level D50, your intermediate D70s, prosumer D200, ultra fast smaller file size D2Hs and pro D2X.

Edited on Jan 05, 2006 at 05:31 AM

Jan 04, 2006 at 06:46 PM

Tom Conte
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p.2 #15 · Canon to Nikon - My thoughts.

Film_Ruled wrote:
If Canon were to come out with a detachable-grip 1-series class camera that was FF, I would be tempted back to C land. But I doubt that will happen any time soon. The 5D is their interpretation of the needs of a serious amateur like me. For me, they missed the mark.

Don't kid your self guys, the 5D is a killer, well built, well designed pro camera. I have some 16,000 frames on mine now and will pickup a 2nd one soon. I use it day in day out for my work, aka: Day job and for me, there is no better camera. Light, fast and fabulous full frame!

I emphatically disagree, but to each his own. For me, the 5D has a prosumer build with the same body in essence as a 20D. The VF is not 100% coverage, and yet they deleted the pop-up flash to, I suppose, make it appear more "pro". I think that's cynical marketing on their part. I wanted more info in the viewfinder, like Nikon provides, e.g., shooting mode (PASM), ISO, etc. I wanted more switches and less menu diving. I wanted a camera with a frigging metal bottom, and a solid CF card door, not plastic, for $3k.

So for me the 5D was a killer alright. It killed my loyalty to Canon. I shot 146 frames with it and sold it at a loss.

Tom

Edited on Jan 05, 2006 at 05:31 AM

Jan 04, 2006 at 06:52 PM

Pavel
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p.2 #16 · Canon to Nikon - My thoughts.

I had a canon body ... shall remain nameless as I don't want to stir up the pro 10D camp.

It rained.

I no longer have it.

Guess why?

I wasn't even trying to be an outdoorsy kida guy. This time the build quality counts - for me, anyways.

But yeah ... to each their own.

Edited on Jan 05, 2006 at 05:31 AM

Jan 04, 2006 at 07:27 PM

Doug Quance
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p.2 #17 · Canon to Nikon - My thoughts.

Hmmm....

I notice your equipment sig line is undergoing an overhaul...

I sense new Nikkors coming...

Edited on Jan 05, 2006 at 05:31 AM

Jan 04, 2006 at 07:31 PM

Pavel
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p.2 #18 · Canon to Nikon - My thoughts.

.... you will be right Doug. Don't tell anyone about the planned bank job though

.... that has to come first!

I am trying to become patient with myself over my lack of patience! That way I can't lose for losing!

Edited on Jan 05, 2006 at 05:31 AM

Jan 04, 2006 at 08:04 PM

Film_Ruled
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p.2 #19 · Canon to Nikon - My thoughts.

Pavel wrote:
I had a canon body ... shall remain nameless as I don't want to stir up the pro 10D camp.

It rained.

I no longer have it.

Guess why?

I wasn't even trying to be an outdoorsy kida guy. This time the build quality counts - for me, anyways.

But yeah ... to each their own.

That's too bad Pavel. I had a 20D that I sold with 75,000 frames on it, I shot it in snow, rain, at 16,000 feet, -20 zero, you name it. But like all cameras, weather sealed or not, I protect them since a wet foggy front element is no good. Take a look through National Geographic some time, the most popular DSLR is the 20D. I am sure that will change when the assignments that are bieng shot on the 5D's start to publish. The D200 will change that too.

The ratio of assignments shot for that mag in the last two years on digital are 4-1 in favor of Canon.

By the way, if the D200 were full frame, we would not be having this conversation.

Edited on Jan 05, 2006 at 05:31 AM

Jan 04, 2006 at 08:14 PM

Film_Ruled
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p.2 #20 · Canon to Nikon - My thoughts.

Tom Conte wrote:
Film_Ruled wrote:
If Canon were to come out with a detachable-grip 1-series class camera that was FF, I would be tempted back to C land. But I doubt that will happen any time soon. The 5D is their interpretation of the needs of a serious amateur like me. For me, they missed the mark.

Don't kid your self guys, the 5D is a killer, well built, well designed pro camera. I have some 16,000 frames on mine now and will pickup a 2nd one soon. I use it day in day out for my work, aka: Day job and for me, there is no better camera. Light, fast and fabulous full frame!

I emphatically disagree, but to each his own. For me, the 5D has a prosumer build with the same body in essence as a 20D. The VF is not 100% coverage, and yet they deleted the pop-up flash to, I suppose, make it appear more "pro". I think that's cynical marketing on their part. I wanted more info in the viewfinder, like Nikon provides, e.g., shooting mode (PASM), ISO, etc. I wanted more switches and less menu diving. I wanted a camera with a frigging metal bottom, and a solid CF card door, not plastic, for $3k.

So for me the 5D was a killer alright. It killed my loyalty to Canon. I shot 146 frames with it and sold it at a loss.

Tom

Fair enough, You have said that for you, it did not meet the mark. Just understand though that for some of us pros, the camera is not only pro in design, it is a bargain and can't be touched by too many other DSLR's, including the Canon line-up.

The D200 is an awesome camera, I just need it to be full frame. One day, they will have that, but I shoot to put food on my table so I don't have time to keep switching. There are too many great images to be made in this short life.

Have a good one and enjoy your new rig

Edited on Jan 05, 2006 at 05:31 AM

Jan 04, 2006 at 08:21 PM

Pavel
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p.2 #21 · Canon to Nikon - My thoughts.

I agree on the rain sealing thing. I didn't worry about it much (and kinda try to refuse to even now - out of principle ) and in all likelihood I just got a bit unlucky. I don't want to make a big deal out of it on the one hand, but man it was a bummer too - and while I don't think any kind of sealing is a guarantee - it still is kinda nice to have the peace of mind that such a little bit extra gives you. In my case I get to be a bit more, no, a lot more at ease.

Of course I was thinking of selling it too - great timing eh? I'm trying to think of it in positive terms. I saved on shipping!

Edited on Jan 05, 2006 at 05:31 AM

Jan 04, 2006 at 08:24 PM

Qranc
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p.2 #22 · Canon to Nikon - My thoughts.

The ratio of assignments shot for that mag in the last two years on digital are 4-1 in favor of Canon.

That actually is nothing that would make any difference to me. Nor really should it to anyone else, plenty of examples where the majority made the wrong choice. I am not saying Canon is the wrong choice, hey it's fine for you and many others, I am saying one should make their choice based on their needs and preferences.

Unless one tends to follow the crowd, I was never really good at that.

Edited on Jan 05, 2006 at 05:31 AM

Jan 04, 2006 at 09:31 PM

AUnderwood
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p.2 #23 · Canon to Nikon - My thoughts.

Sorry but I lot's of people call themselves a "pro" but if you ask me a pro body is a 1D series body or a D2X or the few pro film bodies from canon and nikon. That don't weigh a ton.

Not a 5D

But then again the guy calling numbers and having 7 year olds sit in front of a bad backdrop taking shots for the yearbook is a "pro".

Edited on Jan 05, 2006 at 05:31 AM

Jan 04, 2006 at 11:50 PM

Tom Conte
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p.2 #24 · Canon to Nikon - My thoughts.

Aaron,

Methinks there's a D200 in your future . . .

Tom

Edited on Jan 05, 2006 at 05:31 AM

Jan 04, 2006 at 11:57 PM

Film_Ruled
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p.2 #25 · Canon to Nikon - My thoughts.

AUnderwood wrote:
Sorry but I lot's of people call themselves a "pro" but if you ask me a pro body is a 1D series body or a D2X or the few pro film bodies from canon and nikon. That don't weigh a ton.

Not a 5D

But then again the guy calling numbers and having 7 year olds sit in front of a bad backdrop taking shots for the yearbook is a "pro".

Let me educate you a bit since you seem to be caught up in the blind "Pro" hype. When I am hanging on a rope in freezing temperatures on assignment for Rock & Ice, National Geographic Adventure or Outside magazine, I have a light and sturdy camera in my hands as well do most other shooters of this type of genre. We are pros using pro gear, period.

And as for the comment regarding the 4-1 ratio at National Geographic, take that as an indicator of pro preference in that niche field as of late, not what you or any other person on here should be using per se.

It was great chatting with all of you, but I need to get off of here and replace the batteries in my avalanche beacon, fill my hydration pak and get my full frame, lightweight PRO camera system in order for an assignment tomorrow....

Have a good night guys

Edited on Jan 05, 2006 at 05:31 AM

Jan 05, 2006 at 02:09 AM


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