I'm considering switching to Nikon too. I want to upgrade to a good body from my Canon 30D .. tried the 40D (low-res LCD), 50D (noise), 7D (noise, ridiculously high file size, images ok but nothing exciting for the price). I'm tired of Canon's silly megapixel obsession.
Considering selling all my lenses and going with
- Nikon D700
- Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8
- Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8
For my type of work, the only reason why I would consider Canon is for the 24L and 35L. When Nikon gets fast wide angle primes, Canon has nothing on Nikon, IMO.
I think you should try out the camera at a camera shop and make sure you like the setup and feel of the camera. Nothing is more frustrating then dealing with Canon's menus and button layout. Nikon has very simple layouts, with easy to use menus. Images are nice but getting to those pictures with ease is also VERY important as well.
So switch if you want! You'll get to hang around here.
You alone will have to decide if its going to be Canon, or Nikon, or both. I have retained some of my Canon gear, especially my lenses - and my APS-C body, and just recently decided I am going to be selling off much of it as I have finally again become comfortable with using my Nikon body and gear. It's definitely a process, or at least is has been for me. I started out with Nikon and then switched to Canon and have been back and forth since having both gear. There are certain lenses in both lineups that have no duplicate in the other, so my suggestion would be to do as much reading before you decide, and then go and rent a body and lenses for a weekend and see that you think. Call it a valuable experiment in the worst case scenario. Good luck!
saaketham wrote:
Is the Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8 a good alternative to the 70-200 f/2.8 VR? I currently use a Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 non-IS/VR and find it ok.
I would never even consider giving up an IS/VR lens for one without, unless I used a tripod most of the time. Really, switching systems rarely does much for anyone. About ten years ago nature photographers switched to Canon because they had IS lenses and no one else did. That would be an exception. If you use flash a LOT, that might be a reason to use Nikon system. I would never, ever, switch systems just for a camera. New ones come out every six months and make last year's "hot" camera obsolete. To me it seems completely silly to switch an entire system just to get a camera body. A tilt/shift 17mm lens or 200-400mm f4 VR lens, perhaps. Never a camera. They come & go.
I've been shooting Canon for just over 6 years, that's all. I have been waiting for a decent advanced amateur DSLR body from Canon since the 30D. I tried the 40D, 50D, 7D and have been disappointed with some aspect or the other of the three. I love my 30D though, but now I need faster AF for birds, more megapixels (12 at most on an APS-C) for cropping, large prints, etc. Canon seems to have gone megapixel crazy for the last 3 camera releases (50D, 5DII, 7D) and I don't see why they'd go back now.
Maybe I should keep my 30D which I like, and one of the Canon lenses I like .. the 70-200mm f/2.8. And also get a Nikon and try it out for myself. I guess switching completely would be crazy. I have no complaints about Canon lenses that I own, but it's just my need for a low pixel density, fast AF, feature-laden body which produces outstanding results that's making me consider Nikons.
saaketham wrote:
I've been shooting Canon for just over 6 years, that's all. I have been waiting for a decent advanced amateur DSLR body from Canon since the 30D. I tried the 40D, 50D, 7D and have been disappointed with some aspect or the other of the three. I love my 30D though, but now I need faster AF for birds, more megapixels (12 at most on an APS-C) for cropping, large prints, etc. .
Instead of blowing money switching to Nikon camera (only to see Canon come out with exactly what you wanted 6 months from now,) why don't you put money into a decent lens capable of taking the photos you want to take? I'm thinking of 300mm f4 IS with 1.4x. It's cheaper than the Nikon 300mm f4 VR. OH WAIT! Nikon doesn't have VR on their lens. Or, what tripod and ballhead are you using? Or, do you have a flash with Better Beamer etc. to put some fill on your birds? Lots of BETTER ways to spend money rather than just a camera. The lens, tripod, and flash you'll likely keep for 10+ years.
Two23 wrote:
Instead of blowing money switching to Nikon camera (only to see Canon come out with exactly what you wanted 6 months from now,) why don't you put money into a decent lens capable of taking the photos you want to take? I'm thinking of 300mm f4 IS with 1.4x. It's cheaper than the Nikon 300mm f4 VR. OH WAIT! Nikon doesn't have VR on their lens. Or, what tripod and ballhead are you using? Or, do you have a flash with Better Beamer etc. to put some fill on your birds? Lots of BETTER ways to spend money rather than just a camera. The lens, tripod, and flash you'll likely keep for 10+ years. ...Show more →
True .. The more I think about it, the more I realize that I really like shooting with Canon equipment. I'm familiar with their menus, buttons, software, etc. But, at the same time, I also need a low pixel-density, fast AF body to upgrade to (and not the > $2500 models either). That's the reason I'm wondering whether it'd make sense to have my feet in both the Canon and Nikon ponds and not be exclusive to either brand. But, that brings its own set of problems.
My current birding lens is a Sigma 500mm f/4.5. It does a decent job, not the greatest, but neither am I. As for tripod .. I bought a sturdy Bogen tripod a few years back and other than breaking my back hauling it around, it's been good to me. The pan-head is also a Bogen - I don't use a ball-head. I don't have a Gimbal or anything fancy like that. My flash is a Canon 420EX, but I don't have a Better Beamer.
If you're going to switch, do it because you love the lenses that Nikon offers. Of course the body plays a role but ultimately bodies will continue to get updated. With the release of the 7D and the Mark IV, I think it's pretty likely that the next 5D incarnation will have better autofocus and speed...just depends on whether you want to wait. So again, it comes down to the lenses...
