Switch from Nikon to Canon

[Solberg]

Talking of new Canons cameras, when is the 40D replacement due?

Also, is the Nikon D90 coming out anytime soon?

[DoN]

interestingly, in WRC the majority of guys with WRC media vest (which means they have to visit atleast 10 or more rounds of WRC per year - so i guess you can call them PROs) use canons...
http://don.vn.cz/temp/repo/findnikon2.jpg
http://don.vn.cz/temp/repo/findnikon.jpg

[Martyn]

While it's true that the majority of sports shooters use Canons, I know a lot of people that use Nikon and their pictures are no better or worse.

I'm Canon, I just chose them because I prefered them. I wouldn't want Nikon not to exist though, if only just to keep Canon on their toes and make them competitive!

I have a feeling that Canon's lens range is a bit more varied (but I've not researched Nikon's as much so I don't use it), so I could be wrong.
Also, as naive as it is, I think that the lack of an obvious, simple, clear difference between "pro" and "not pro" (L lenses) in the Nikon system makes people think that the Nikon stuff isn't so good. I'd imagine someone would think...

"Hmm, Canon 70-200 f2.8 L or Nikon 70-200 f2.8? The Canon is white and has a red stripe, which must make it a pro lens... the Nikon looks like any other lens..."

Either way, a camera is a camera, they're all good, you're not really going to go wrong with either at a pro level, and it's the eyes behind the camera that takes the photos!

[nomix]

Most professional press photographers use Canon. Canon did a great trick back in the 80s when the EOS-system and the EF mount was brand new. They went around to every single event of anything, boasting long, fast, expensive lenses, lendingen them to anyone who could use them, for next to nothing.

It was so effective, that the number of papers and magazines basing their gear on Canon went up by a large margin. The EOS system was also very inovative in its early days, and for practical use, it took Nikon a while to get back in the ballgame. Pentax had its outing as the most popular system because of AF in the early 80s, but the EOS system was better, so they were ran out of the game.

Another reason why Nikon hasn't gotten back on par (relatively close, closer than any other system, but not on par) is that until last year, if you wanted a full frame camera, you had to get a Canon. Either that, or you had to get one of those Nikon D70s with a Kodak full frame sensor, and beside getting relatively good DR and the focal lengths you were used to with film, there really wasn't much point in that.

Anyhoo. If you don't need 22 megapixels, Nikon is just as good a system as Canon. Their only shortcomming right now is that the Nikkor 70-200 performs a lot worse on FX than the EF 70-200 on full frame. This can, however, be dealt with by getting an 80-200 which is said to perform well.

I would prefer the Nikon D3 over the 1Dmk3 (I won't make the comparison between the D3 and the 1Dsmk3, they are different types of cameras), but I think in the end, I'd go for the Canon lens system.

But that's if you're going into the very expensive full frame market. If you're getting into the consumer market (as most of us are), there are no real differences. The D300 is a bit better on higher ISO settings than the 40D, but not much. It's faster, though, so that's a valid argument. The D300 is weather sealed, but not very well. The 40D is noticably more reasonable than the D300. Other than that, I fail to see that any of the two are wastly superior to the other. I've tried both, they're good cameras, but neither really beats the other.

Further, you could just as easily look into any other system on the market. Olympus HAS proved their right to be called a pro contender with the E-3, Pentax has put out the excellent K20D, and Sony has had their a700, which in terms of IQ perform just as well as the D300, on the market for a long time.

I would also make a case for the lenses provided by Pentax. They've got a really nice and interesting line of digital primes, which are very good. Even if it is ad speach, Pentax said recently that the only lens in their lineup they had to do something about when they made the 14mp K20D was their 18-55 kit lens. Yes, it's ad speach, but it does comply with what I'm hearing from Pentax users.

So, what's my point I hear you asking? My point is, that since all the systems today perform so similarily that it's foolish to really make one out as the better, there is no need to change system unless you HAVE to.

If you've gotten a job as a photojournalist at your paper, you use Nikon and they Canon, then there's a case to get a Canon camera. If you HAVE to have 8fps, then there's a case for getting the D300. If you think you need weather sealing, or want to prioritize that, then you go for Pentax/Samsung or Olympus.

Remember, switching systems is expensive. It won't make you a better photographer, and it will take time to adjust.

Meh, keep your gear.

[Raparperi]

Originally Posted by DoN

http://don.vn.cz/temp/repo/findnikon2.jpg

I found one, what did I win?

(the one in the lower left corner, D2/D3-series body and SB-800 flash)

[francis]

Canon for my is the right choise... better lens (price), body´s more simple and great contruction... is a choise, for my canon in the front line

[rootrider]

Originally Posted by francis

better lens (price)

what lens is better for what price?

most of the time when people say this it's because they don't fully understand the other system. Not that this changes what you're doing at all..

[Alok]

Originally Posted by rootrider

most of the time when people say this it's because they don't fully understand the other system.

I didnt, this thread is such an eye opener. As for the price, I am not really concerned because the switch wouldnt cost me pretty much anything, but what my initial question was to find out why almost all pros used canon, that if there was something so über about Canon that I've been missing out.

It seems my questions have been answered.

Here's a big cake for all!

[bobo_1314]

I hear from people that the Canon EOS-1Ds has a much faster autofocus when using in a sports environment, when the subject/s move very quickly. But with the introduction of the Nikon D3, things have changed now. The upcoming D3x seems to be comparable to the EOS-1Ds. I personally think the mid-range DSLRs are about the same for both Canon and Nikon, and it really boils down to which gear suits you better, both in terms of functionality and ergonomics.