D. Diggler wrote:
There does seem to be a real issue with lock-ups based upon many user reports that I've seen.
This is what I referred to:
How would you define many?
2, 10, 100, 1000, 10% of all shipped D800?
The Internet was "full" last year of D7000 AF issues with those raising their voices via this new channel. I do not suggest to ignore the pain and inconvenience someone has whose camera is affected by a problem, but the internet is an incredible magnifier of issues of normal magnitude.
My take: it gets "worse" as those sites need traffic (ad funded model) which leans toward a more exaggerated style of viewing of things and reporting of it.
Perhaps the situation is reversed in European markets, but in Canada, equivalent Nikon and Canon glass are reasonably close to each other, but there is the occasional big price gap. According to photoprice.ca (the cheaper option is marked):
Canon 35/1.4L: $1420
Nikon 35/1.4G: $1795
Canon 85/1.2L II: $1950 Nikon 85/1.4G: $1700
Canon 24-105/4L IS: $1090
Nikon 24-120/4G VR: $1165
Canon 24-70/2.8 II: $2342 Nikon 24-70/2.8G: $1647
Canon 70-200/2.8L IS II: $2290 Nikon 70-200/2.8G VR II: $2130
If you start with just the two 2.8 zooms, you'll actually be ahead by about $855 with Nikon glass, at least in Canada, and they are top-of-class performers too.
I'm also disappointed in the detail in the model's eyelashes in the first picture. I will gladly take the D 800 off your hands for half of what you paid for it!
taob wrote:
Perhaps the situation is reversed in European markets, but in Canada, equivalent Nikon and Canon glass are reasonably close to each other, but there is the occasional big price gap. According to photoprice.ca (the cheaper option is marked):
Canon 35/1.4L: $1420
Nikon 35/1.4G: $1795
Canon 85/1.2L II: $1950 Nikon 85/1.4G: $1700
Canon 24-105/4L IS: $1090
Nikon 24-120/4G VR: $1165
Canon 24-70/2.8 II: $2342 Nikon 24-70/2.8G: $1647
Canon 70-200/2.8L IS II: $2290 Nikon 70-200/2.8G VR II: $2130
If you start with just the two 2.8 zooms, you'll actually be ahead by about $855 with Nikon glass, at least in Canada, and they are top-of-class performers too.
Problem is that I already own Canon glass. I would have to sell that, and buy new Nikon glass (since used Nikon glass is hard to come by right now). I will always loose some money in the process. But I agree, if you start from scratch, the differences aren't that big anymore if you level them out. Canon glass is easier to come by though.
Does anyone else find the grip of the D800 a bit less secure than the D700?
I handled a D800 again this morning at the local pro shop with my D700 right next to it and it seems there's less of a lip for you fingers to hook into and the thumb rest (or at least where your thumb rests against the back of the camera) is raised up less.
Wonder why they did this - was the D700 uncomfortable for some so Nikon softened it a little?
jhinkey wrote:
Does anyone else find the grip of the D800 a bit less secure than the D700?
I handled a D800 again this morning at the local pro shop with my D700 right next to it and it seems there's less of a lip for you fingers to hook into and the thumb rest (or at least where your thumb rests against the back of the camera) is raised up less.
Wonder why they did this - was the D700 uncomfortable for some so Nikon softened it a little?
Yes - I agree. I like the indent on the D700 more than the D800.
I switched from Canon to Nikon back in Feb. I was shooting 1D IV and 5DII with 70-200 2.8 IS II and 35, 50, 85, 135 prime L lenses. I shoot weddings and family sessions and the metering and not so high ISO with canon was killing me. After switching I love the Nikon gear. Dynamic range is much better than Canon. While shooting outside there was never an issue with color or metering but once inside a dark church, Canon was not nearly as good as Nikon. The Nikon speedlites are leaps and bounds ahead of canon. Rear curtain for off camera flash, no problem, can't do that on a Canon 580EX II. Nikon's 50/1.4 looks like a little toy but it really delivers awesome quality images.
I now have 2 D4 and a D800. It's just mind blowing how good Nikon is. I have no regrets what so ever about switching. In fact I'm very happy that I didn't take the chance.
Don' t hesitate if you're thinking of switching.
+10. I generally dismiss the constant gear churning and system changing that I see on this forum, but after getting a look at that pelican image (I shoot wildlife, mostly birds with Canon gear), it's possible that a change of equipment might be in my future.
Unless, of course, Canon comes up with a 36 megapixel camera capable of that sort of stunningly clean detail. Which I suppose is a possibility...
That was very much my experience over 3 years ago as well. The D700 had just been released and was getting rave reviews, Canon countered with the 5D Mark II and I bought both just to see what I was missing. I was very frustrated with the AF of the 5D and found that the Mark II was no better and my 1D Mark II was getting a little "old" in regard to IQ at higher ISO's. My only alternative at the time was the 1Ds Mark III and I didn't feel like spending $8k on a body alone. After testing the D700 and the 5D Mark II side by side, it did not take long for me to make my decision. With Canon I had always thought my technique was a little "off" because I had more non-keepers than I wanted from a shoot, after switching to Nikon I found that I had at least 20-30% more keeper images than when I shot Canon. It wasn't "me" per se, but my system limiting my ability to capture the images I wanted. Mostly this was due to the AF system as I found the CAM3500 to be far superior than even Canon's 1D Mark X series. I also found the IQ and high ISO ability of the D700's measely 12MP sensor (don't need anything bigger for most of the work I do) to also be superior to the 5D Mark II. But most important was the AF. It did not cost that much to switch because I purchased mostly used lenses for Nikon that were top notch. The Nano coat f/2.8G zooms have no rival from Canon IMO and I was getting images that were so sharp and the focus so spot on from Nikon it made me cringe for how many years I "accepted" what I was getting from Canon.
The Canon 5D Mark III is what the Mark II should have been, they put their best AF system in it which is what they should have done years ago, and if you don't think they did that because of the pressure of the D700 then think again... Canon would have been more than content to keep putting sub-par AF systems into their 5 series bodies because outside of the AF system and framerate the 1D series doesn't offer much more, at least with what matters to my style of photography.
I had the pleasure of reviewing the Canon 5D Mark III for the past couple weeks along with one of my favorite lenses of all time, the Canon 135mm f/2L. While the 5D Mark III shows a marked improvement in AF (you'd hope so with their best AF engine now in it) I still found that during Single Shot AF mode and using the center focus sensor it would still miss focus at times. Also, in AI Servo mode and continuous shooting with a moving subject I still found quite a few OOF images. Was I really challenging this system, absolutely, could I have used a better lens with faster AF, yes, but the 135 ain't no slouch either. At the end of the few days I shot with the 5D Mark III I found no reason for me to switch back to Canon and, in fact, I found more reason to stick with Nikon. For existing 5D Mark II shooters with Canon I would say the 5D Mark III shows a great improvement in AF and in IQ and would be enough to keep you in the Canon camp.
If you're a Nikon shooter or a recently switched Canon to Nikon shooter then I would be hard pressed to recommend going to Canon, IMO I still believe Nikon has the superior product. The combination of the AF system and the lenses for Nikon has proved to be far more reliable for my style of shooting (photojournalistic style wedding and portrait) than anything that Canon has to offer. For this reason I have decided to stay with Nikon. In fact, I would even venture to say that if you don't need the MP, then the D700 is still a superior body to the new Canon 5D Mark III, and at less than half the price used, that opens the door of possibilities.
