DavidJB wrote:
If i was buying into a system from scratch, I'd argue slightly in favour of Canon since the 5Dmk2 is signfiicantly cheaper...
This of course assumes you want to process 21MP files, or 24MP from the D3x. There are very many people for whom 12MP is about perfect, and unfortunately Canon have abandoned that arena now as far as full frame is concerned. I hope nikon don't go the same way any time soon.
For most people shooting for a hobby, the idea of making 40x60 prints is a dream that just never happens, not because their camera can't do it, but simply because it's going to cost money to get printed, and framed and hung on the wall, and, well, it just never happens.
What does happen is that a lot more people print up to A3 (or A3+) and for that, a "high quality" 12MP camera like the D700, D3 and yes the 5D mark 1 is perfectly adequate.
For many working pros, their shots get printed even smaller than this, at least for 99.9% of the time.
What I have never understood is why people feel the need to bash other brands or models so much. Perhaps they have a psychological problem, if there is any chance at all that they are not on the 'winning side' in a feature for feature comparison, even if their current camera already produces excellent results. It's as if they need the constant validation that they made the right choice (no one likes to think they made a bad choice), and all I can think is that they are not getting their self esteem from the the shots they themselves are taking, but instead from the equipment they own. Sad really.