I have been away from the forums for a while, and was suprised to find some of my favorite Canon posters have switched or (Lee) thinking about the switch to Nikon. I'm not trying to start anything, just making an observation. I have great respect for Alistair, Lee, Redman, and others who are making a "business decision" to switch. In this economy, we can ill afford the kick-in-the-cherries, switching camera systems brings to the table.
I am ordering a D3 and a couple of lenses (my accountant just fainted) to see for myself, but I would appreciate any feedback from the people who have switched or switching. I will run both systems for now and try to make an informed decision. I have never used Nikon before.....Canon since the A1, so some help from the "N" guys would be much appreciated.
As I wrote over on your Canon post Richard, welcome back, I do hope you are well. I figured you took the frequently given advice of 'get out and shoot' a bit too literally and disappeared for weeks!
Anyway, as you know, I switched and so far I am in the familiarisation process of getting my head around a new layout and configuration but so far I am loving it. It has been a long time since I was this enthusiastic about a new camera, in fact the last one was years ago when the 1D2 was released. 1 month to get fully comfortable with the D3 and D3x before the motorsport season kicks off and I will be madly busy.
I started this thread a while ago and in combination with various loans and evals got some great feedback from the people here, quite surprising how many former Canon sport shooters moved! Hope you find it useful.
tons of stuff here about folks who switched, so you can get varied opinions. i did and here is a summary of my view on it. You can go to my website to see what type of stuff i shoot:
1) Yes, the D3 is a better camera than the MK3. It works better in low light (I shoot lots night baseball, NFL, NHL, etc). The camera really focuses and my success rate is higher. My MK3's had focus issues in certain situations that cost me images--especially on warm days shooting MLB. I just couldn't trust it. I remember reviewing images from the MK3's and seeing a good number being off or soft. Now, I am amazed that i can pull so many "as is" and transmit them quickly from the D3's. Saves tons of time on deadline.
2) Everything is 'backwards' on Nikon so I miss just being able to blindly swap lenses, knowing where the switches are etc. But you get used to it and this fades as an issue.
3) Nikon prices their long lenses REAL high. This is almost a deal breaker. If you want to buy a 400 2.8 or longer in addition to a full complement of shorter lenses, be prepared to ask the government for a bail-out loan. The Canon long glass is every bit as good and cost quite a bit less. However, Nikon does have a few amazing lenses: 200 2.0, 200-400 (below), the new 500 4.0. IF the MK3 was a great camera (it isn't), then no one would switch.
4) the 200-400 is a wonderful lenses. some argue it isn't as sharp or quick as a 400 2.8, but i disagree. if you use it for daytime events, it equals the prime. i know several guys who shot at Beijing and swear by the 200-400, even in low light venues. i really hesitated at first given that my canon 400 2.8 was my 'primary' sports lens, but have grown to really love this one--it is also much easier to carry around or take on a plane. I have shot the Nikon 400 2.8 VR and it is great too.
5) NPS is good--and don't charge like CPS is now starting to do for their different levels of service.
6) my Nikon's have been reliable. i mention this since i went through a lot of problems with the D2H which caused my switch to Canon years ago. many of my associates still refuse to shoot nikon due to all the issues they had in the past with them--but these guys are still shooting Mark 2's and did not move to the 3.
7) don't forget the D3 is full frame--so your long lenses will become 30% shorter. this is good and bad depending on what you shoot. there is a great article on sportsshooter written by one of the sports illustrated photographers where he mentions this as an advantage for his work. so if your are 'used' to shooting film and knowing how to use each optic length, you are in luck. also the 70-200 VR vignettes so keep an eye on nikon issuing a replacement.
Thanks for the feedback.....the 200-400 is a lens I am considering. If I have read correctly, the D3 crosspoints work up to f5.6, and from what I have seen, the D3 is probably 2/3rds stop better high ISO than my MKIII. That should offset some of the f4. I wouldn't expect any zoom to run along side a high dollar prime....even a rather pricey zoom. I would like to see a thread on the 200-400.
Alistair,
Your link pretty much trumps this thread....thanks.
Very nice work.....thanks for the link. I didn't believe the lens (or the 70-200 for that matter) would hold up with a tc, but it looks like it will. Do you have the 1.4 tc?
Great stuff, you may have just sold me on that lens. I've been debating adding a 300/2.8 along with my 400/2.8.Maybe it would be more cost effective to sell the 400/2.8 and just get the 200-400/4 and lighten the load at the same time.
I found the switch very easy, once you get past the left/right thing with zooms and attachments. Straight out of the box the D3 and D700 performed flawless. I sold used glass and bought used for the most part and did real well. I would like Nikon to update a few for sports with AF-S lenses like the 85, 105 and 135 for indoors. Ergonomics takes just a bit of getting use to but once learned I find it much easier to use. Good luck which ever route you take.
was a canon shooter for 4 years and immensely enjoyed shooting with the 300D, then the 20D and a host of “L” lenses. Wanting to upgrade my body so I purchased a 40D, which did not focus properly. After returning the camera body I felt discouraged, as I had kept reading about the mounting quality issues with Canon. I decided to just sit on my purchase and wait for 5D mark 2 or something else……….something else came along alright. I was in a store and they had a D300 and for laughs and giggles I picked it up. It had a 35mm f2 on it and when I picked it up it just seemed to fit like a glove. I can honestly say what sold me on the switch was that it just “felt right” The ergonomics of the Nikon felt so different from what I was use to with the Canon. It seemed silly to dump all of my equipment and switch to the dark side but I thought if this camera feels this good to hold I will probably take it more places and simply shoot more pictures. For me that is the ultimate goal.
I went online sold my Canon stuff and have never looked back. I love the low noise in 1600 iso, I love the intuitive control lay out, the sound of the shutter and the image quality that I get every time I use it.
What is also interesting is I shoot with a Pro doing weddings every Saturday and he uses Canon and he is constantly plagued with issues. His 580 flash works half the time, he returned two copies of the 24-70 L as his Tammy 17-55 2.8 was sharper in all tests, and the mounting error and focusing issues. In all fairness his 70-200 2.8 is sword sharp and makes killer images. Every Saturday after the wedding he contemplates making the switch. The usual phrase goes “One more issue and I’m switching.” He does love the layout of Canon and that works for him and he makes amazing pictures with his gear.
Again I have come to realize that it’s more the person behind the camera and as long as they are comfortable with the tools they are using, than its all good. Some people love Canon some love Nikon. I wish that Nikon would update their prime line-up.
My final word is that I am enjoying using Nikon and am happy that I switched. I also have enjoyed everyone’s support here in this forum.
Richard, I think you will be very pleased with your decision to add to your kit. I did it also, except I was coming from Nikon and added Canon. I've written my initial impressions here
However, most of my complaints are skin deep (controls seem backwards to me)...I do miss the AF in my D2X, and D300 with this new body, but the IQ is wonderful. Enjoy your new addition!
Jim
As a Nikon user since I got my Nikkormat FS in 1967 I fully appreciate the tug...
2.5 years ago I got a Canon EOS D30/50-1.8 quite by accident and came to like it, and while I've upgraded to a 30D, I have no desire to let go of my Nikkors...well most of them at least...
When the D700's successor is released in a few years, I look forward to being able to afford a D700 to lock on to my two 50s...and my 85, 105, 135, 200 and 300mm MF lenses....
As luck would have it, I just this week found a Nikkormat FS to put back on my shelf in place of the one that had simply wore out from so much abuse...
Tim Ashton wrote:
trenchmonkey (BIF) regularly uses his 200-400 with the 1.4 wide open on d300 as well as a d2x and D3.
Best you PM him as he is in both camps too
tim
I think Will is fully in the Nikon camp now, seems as I saw the last of his Canon equipment listed on the B&S board.
mill4570 wrote:
I have been away from the forums for a while, and was suprised to find some of my favorite Canon posters have switched or (Lee) thinking about the switch to Nikon. I'm not trying to start anything, just making an observation. I have great respect for Alistair, Lee, Redman, and others who are making a "business decision" to switch. In this economy, we can ill afford the kick-in-the-cherries, switching camera systems brings to the table.
I am ordering a D3 and a couple of lenses (my accountant just fainted) to see for myself, but I would appreciate any feedback from the people who have switched or switching. I will run both systems for now and try to make an informed decision. I have never used Nikon before.....Canon since the A1, so some help from the "N" guys would be much appreciated.
I'm confused that so many users think that switching is such "a kick in the cherries". Lenses, both here in B&S and on other venues hold their value very well. There is some loss when selling a body, but overall, if one is careful not to "give away" their old lenses, its not the astronomical expense that so many cite as an excuse not to switch.
I figured you took the frequently given advice of 'get out and shoot' a bit too literally and disappeared for weeks! 
