I think this debate is interesting. Most 'amateurs' such as myself, are not going to notice any significant increase in IQ, or whatever, by switching, from one brand to another. I got my first DSLR very recently. I have always had Canon, my family has always had Canon. So i bought a 40D. I didn't look at Nikon, don't desperately care what they're doing, the 40D more than does what i need, and i suspect that for most people that is the case. Gearheads don't necessarily make the best photographers from my P.O.V, and constantly switching back and forth from system to system is false economy. Not only do you waste time not being able to take photos, but you lose money overall
I think from a Pro's point of view, the grass, may however, be very different colours on each side because they require such exacting standards from their cameras.
rowan57 wrote:
I think from a Pro's point of view, the grass, may however, be very different colours on each side because they require such exacting standards from their cameras.
Regards
Rowan
Pros don't worry about gear. They worry about light. And they spend their time waiting for (or creating) better light, or finding new and interesting compositions.
Hopefully loads of people will switch to Nikon or where ever.....once Canon sees it's customers migrating and it's products publicly rubbished it will have to up its act..personally, I'm grateful for Nikons latest products....but I've used Canons since 1967 and not likely to change now.
I don't think about switching as I love my 10-22 and 17-55/2.8 IS too much. They also have no equivalents in Nikon. That said, I do want to add a D300 or D700 and even put such ad in the B&S forum. My plan is top have it both ways. I hear it's more fun this way....
floris wrote:
Pros don't worry about gear. They worry about light. And they spend their time waiting for (or creating) better light, or finding new and interesting compositions.
Faster lenses give you more light and last time I heard, lenses were considered as gear...
Competition breeds innovation. I'm just glad that Nikon is making great cameras now so that Canon can get off their butts! They should be embarrassed by the Mark III debacle. I have way too much glass to make the change now. I've gotta decide on either a 5DmkII or 1DSmkII. I'll go checkout the other 10 threads on that topic.
Since I can't sell my 1D MkIII without taking a pretty big hit, there's little chance I'll be jumping ship anytime soon (there's also little chance I'll be buying another Canon body anytime soon). I have thus lifted my moratorium on buying new Canon gear, and yesterday ordered a 580EX II (rebate made it reasonable enough at $320).
Gary Petersen wrote:
A camera is a tool to be used, traded or discarded as you see fit. If it does the job you need then it's fine. I've never understood this brand loyalty love hate thing that seems to go on and on like the energizer bunny.
well put!
I am not loyal to any particular brand unless they are paying me to use their equipment!!!!!
I recently made the jump. I wanted to be able to shoot at ISO 6400 without worrying about it, just like I could shoot at ISO 3200 without worry about it on my 1D Mark III. I can do that with the D700, which allows me to shoot with a couple zooms instead of a case full of primes, with the added bonus (sometimes) of FF, the capability to just carry around a "half height" body if that's all I need, have a great grip which includes a portrait-orientation multi-directional controller, etc. I now have a system available to me that provides a logical upgrade path to a D3 if I feel I need even more FPS (meaning I care share the battery system I'm already using with the D700 for my paid work), or sideways to the D300 if feel I want a high resolution crop body. But for now, my D700's are serving me very, very well.
So far, no regrets. I loved my 1D Mark III - really, I did. But Canon keeps making misstep after misstep, and I think it will take years for them to correct it. 50mm f/1.2L focusing issues, 1D Mark III focusing issues, 50D rushed out the door to compete in the MP wars, 5D Mark II that throws in video but leaves in an antiquated AF system... Sorry, but Canon is a ship without a rudder right now and I have no faith they'll right themselves anytime soon.
It would take Nikon to come out with something extraordinary and several new lenses to change over. I've been more than happy with my Canon gear in general. My only disappointment was the 1D III fiasco and the lack of AF update on xxD cameras, but that's about all. Their L glass is generally superb and they have a great range of f/4 glass that Nikon don't. Also Canon mount is very versatile and I can mount many other brands of glass from Leica, Zeiss, Olympus, pentax, etc quite easily in most cases.
Floris wrote: <Pros don't worry about gear. They worry about light. And they spend their time waiting for (or creating) better light, or finding new and interesting compositions.>
well, not long ago i sold off a lot of my canon lenses and my 1d III. the only canon stuff that i have left is 1 lens and a 5d. recently, i bought a d700 and the 50mm f/1.8. i must say that i'm incredibly impressed with the camera (IQ, AF, build, interface) and in no ways has it let me down so far.
with that said, i will soon be selling the 5d and the lens (after i shoot my next wedding). the move (away from canon) was partially motivated by the "eosfun" i had with the 1d III, and partially because i like how nikon has recently positioned itself. i also got a good deal on the d700... so that really pushed me over the edge.
is nikon perfect? no- actually, i think their lens lineup is lacking in many areas where canon is doing well (35L, 85L, 135L). but, i also see nikon as having a bright energetic future, being the one who is playing catch-up. canon, on the other hand, has rested on its laurels a little too long, in an endless loop of iterative design and nickle-and-diming its customers for every little feature.
I'm just observing from dpreview, potn, and this website that people that have moved to Nikon still so much interested in Canon forum, regardless what they've said about Canon. Why is that ?
Because I know other people are going through a similar thought process to what I went through. There are good reasons to go with either camp, so if I can offer a perspective that's useful, just as I offerred my perspective on Canon gear, I'd like to continue doing so. I don't think that either Nikon or Canon is a perfect choice for everyone.
And in the long run, I'm still interested in Canon developments - just as I'm following the developments of Micro-4/3rds, etc.
Most people who switch brand now switched from another brand to Canon before. Its only natural that they look out for other stuff. We all want to go home somehow, dont we?
