Prior to the 5D3/1DX, I still preferred my old Nikon D2H to all Canon pro bodies for shooting action. Canon I think now has the edge... but I've not shot with current gen pro Nikon bodies. I'm just very impressed with this current system.
Canon and nikon are on par in the same camera category (pro, semipro, enthusiast, etc) with sony and the rest a notch lower in each product segment/tier. A nikon pro body will out-AF an enthusiast canon camera and vice-versa. So the question isn't nikon or canon, it's what your budget is to buy into the best tier and get the lenses you need. The Canon 1dx or nikon d4 would be the "best" assuming you can afford the right lenses for the kind of action you are looking to capture.
Currently its the 1Dx and the newer lenses with the more accurate PDAF sensor/focus distance meter (70-300L, new supers, 24-70mkII, new IS primes etc).
With the D800's left bank AF points that has the work ethics of a dope head and the d600 with dust issues I think Nikon is not in contention for reliable AF. 1dx dumps on the d4 for AF accuracy and reliability.
Right here right now the new 61-point AF system in the 1dx/5d3 top dog limited only to its user's capabilities.
M Lucca wrote:
With the D800's left bank AF points that has the work ethics of a dope head and the d600 with dust issues I think Nikon is not in contention for reliable AF. 1dx dumps on the d4 for AF accuracy and reliability.
Right here right now the new 61-point AF system in the 1dx/5d3 top dog limited only to its user's capabilities.
+ 100 - my opinion, too. I do not know the D4s AF. But D800 imo does not reach 5D IIIs/1D Xs level.
The other question is if one needs the current top AF system ... - we all did great pictures with great cameras before.
If you ask this on a Canon board, people will say Canon. If you ask it on the Nikon board, people will say Nikon. In both cases, you'll get the majority of the opinion from people who have not used any of the mentioned cameras. Helpful huh?
I think timbop makes some good points. I'm currently shooting a 1DX and 1DIV. I went to the 1DX from a 1DsIII for high fps on a full frame body; the significantly improved AF is a bonus. IMO, if you can't get decent AF performance out of contemporary Canon and Nikon pro bodies, then you're probably pointing the lens in the wrong direction.
My 5D II centerpoint keepers on a wedding where higher than a collegues D700 keepers. And I know he knows how to work with it, too (even though he didnīt have the experience in shooting people).
The best AF- system is nothing without the eye behind the camera and knowing how to use your gear.
The D3s (which I owned and used for quite some time) was very very good and at the time I think it had the edge for fast action tracking especially when obstacles were involved. I've had the chance to use the 5D3 (though not 1DX) for a fair amount of fast flight photography and am very pleased with its performance. Going purely from memory I think it bests the 1D4 (which I also owned for a couple of years) and may even have an edge over the D3s (no idea if the D4 has improved upon it but I am suspecting not much if any).
Ben Horne wrote:
If you ask this on a Canon board, people will say Canon. If you ask it on the Nikon board, people will say Nikon. In both cases, you'll get the majority of the opinion from people who have not used any of the mentioned cameras. Helpful huh?
All of the independent tests I've seen have said canon too.
My friend ditched his d4 and d3s and is amazed by the 1dx AF.
I asked this question for educational purpose only. Currently owns a 7d but I was capturing BIFs form Canon xxxd bodies for 5 years. It's good to know what is the best out there whether you are going for it or not. The youtube video is very interesting indeed. Thanks for all the comments.
Hey Jude! I can't say anything about the Nikon AF system, but I can say I've been envious of Nikon's AF performance for many years especially in low light, until I got the 1DX. Now I shoot long after the sun goes down, and still get excellent AF performance. This wasn't true with my 7D, 1DmkIV or any other Canon before. I got it for low light noise ability, and was very pleasantly surprised at the AF of BIF in shade, low light, busy BG with a similar colored subject. It just simply knows what I want to shoot. Again, this probably doesn't help, but I'm sure one happy Canon camper.
It's good to know what is the best out there whether you are going for it or not. The youtube video is very interesting indeed. Thanks for all the comments.