As I consider switching over to Nikon, I'd like to ask some former Canon users who converted to Nikon for some advice regarding what to expect after switching and what kind of adjustment will be needed. Thanks
The prosumer bodies (D700) have a more professional build and less shutter delay than the prosumer (5d/d2/50D) bodies. You can manually focus using the rangefinder "indicator" pretty easily, which I really like. -rob
Well, ok, not the images. But everything else is the other way around. It will take you a couple of weeks to fully figure it out. The first few times changing lenses can be particularly annoying when you try to figure out if the lens is jammed!
May 21, 2009 at 10:14 AM
Andre Labonte Offline • • • • • • Upload & Sell: Off
Rob Chisholm wrote:
The prosumer bodies (D700) have a more professional build and less shutter delay than the prosumer (5d/d2/50D) bodies. You can manually focus using the rangefinder "indicator" pretty easily, which I really like. -rob
I don't see the D300 or the D700 as prosumer bodies. They are build like an F6 which nobody would call prosumer. Just because they do not have the integrated grip does not make them any less professional. Granted, the D3 and D3x are something special.
And comparable lens comparison would also be appreciated. I have some ideas like 16-85 or 70-300, but I don't know how/where they would compare to Canon counterparts.
The thing that you have to get use to most is that your images will be in focus. HAHAHHAHAHAHAHA j/k (Kind of)
I was a canon shooter for 4 years and immensely enjoyed shooting with the 300D, then the 20D and a host of “L” lenses. Wanting to upgrade my body so I purchased a 40D, which did not focus properly. After returning the camera body I felt discouraged, as I had kept reading about the mounting quality issues with Canon. I decided to just sit on my purchase and wait for 5D mark 2 or something else……….something else came along alright. I was in a store and they had a D300 and for laughs and giggles I picked it up. It had a 35mm f2 on it and when I picked it up it just seemed to fit like a glove. I can honestly say what sold me on the switch was that it just “felt right” The ergonomics of the Nikon felt so different from what I was use to with the Canon. It seemed silly to dump all of my equipment and switch to the dark side but I thought if this camera feels this good to hold I will probably take it more places and simply shoot more pictures. For me that is the ultimate goal.
I went online sold my Canon stuff and have never looked back. I love the low noise in 1600 iso, I love the intuitive control lay out, the sound of the shutter and the image quality that I get every time I use it.
What is also interesting is I shoot with a Pro doing weddings every Saturday and he uses Canon and he is constantly plagued with issues. His 580 flash works half the time, he returned two copies of the 24-70 L as his Tammy 17-55 2.8 was sharper in all tests, and the mounting error and focusing issues. In all fairness his 70-200 2.8 is sword sharp and makes killer images. Every Saturday after the wedding he contemplates making the switch. The usual phrase goes “One more issue and I’m switching.” He does love the layout of Canon and that works for him and he makes amazing pictures with his gear.
Again I have come to realize that it’s more the person behind the camera and as long as they are comfortable with the tools they are using, than its all good. Some people love Canon some love Nikon. I wish though that Nikon would update their full frame prime line-up.
I have now moved to a D700 and find that I have found the camera for me.
My final word is that I am enjoying using Nikon and am happy that I switched. I also have enjoyed everyone’s support here in this forum.
Tobin28 wrote:
The thing that you have to get use to most is that your images will be in focus. HAHAHHAHAHAHAHA j/k (Kind of)
Very true!!
I have also converted from Canon. I used from 10D to 40D and 1D, 1DII, and 5D.
The first thing I noticed was that Nikon focuses right. I converted to D700 from 5D (well, actually I went to Leica M and then to Nikon). Also, Nikon consumer level lenses are much sharper than Canon. For example, 70-300VR is super, old 28-105D is very good as well. There is not much clear separation between consumer and pro level except for the built quality.
If Canon had D300 or D700 class bodies, then I might have stayed with them, but 50D line is not built like D300, and 5D is not D700... Canon needed a small 1D or 1Ds to match D300/700.
The only weak point of Nikon is the lack of fast primes such as 24/1.4, 35/1.4, 50/1.2 (AF), 85/1.2 (with USM focus), or 135/2 or 200/2.8 with fast focus motor. But then, if those nice lenses do not focus well on consumer bodies, you can not use ultra thin DOF...
For zoom lenses, I like Nikon better. 24-70 is super, and so is 14-24 (I sold it in favor of 10-24, though). I have had 24-70L and 16-35 II L. I don't have any experience with 70-200, but 70-300 is much better than Canon counterpart. Nikon may be missing F4 line, but then, 28-105 and 70-300 are very good if you can live with variable aperture...
Anyway, I am overall very happy with Nikon.
Hope this helps.
Hiromu
I have to admit that I had some visions of "crossing over" too .... before Canon released the 5D Mk II, and the easy availability of AF-confirm adaptors changed everything! Now I am happily shooting with Nikon, Olympus and Minolta lenses on my 5D II. To me, this is a cross-marriage made in Heaven.
I have both systems and really the biggest thing for me is editing the photos. You will have to devise a different workflow and use different software. i.e. NX2 vs DPP I have not been happy with ACR for either systems. Other than that everything else was trivial.
I switched over fairly easily a few months ago. It takes a little while to remember that the lens mount the opposite way, zooming is the opposite, dials work the opposite, CF cards go in in reverse, other than that no worries. I couldn't possibly consider running both Canon and Nikon together so made the jump 100% as all the lenses I regularly use are superb in the Nikon camp, very glad I made the change, in actual fact I wish I had done it a year before.
Regarding the Canon 24-70, that particular lens is one that Photozone.de's reviewer noted that he had the most trouble with on the Canon side. It took him four copies, I think, to get a good one.
Well, I guess everybody has a nemesis and mine is the Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8 USM L. It took me 4 (f-o-u-r) samples of the lens to get a good one - please note: "good", not a "great" sample. The first three variants showed rather hefty centering defects which spoiled the results quite a bit.
But everything else is the other way around. It will take you a couple of weeks to fully figure it out. The first few times changing lenses can be particularly annoying when you try to figure out if the lens is jammed!