Nikon from a Canon perspective
Posted: April 20th, 2011 | Author: Wade | Filed under: Gear | 18 Comments »Asking photographers about their preference between Nikon and Canon is the faux pas behind many an unending online squabble. Both brands boast no shortage of rusted-on supporters who insist in all sincerity the superiority of white or the supremacy of black.
Others have decided that in the long run it doesn’t really matter. You make a decision and you invest in lenses and accessories and then you bear the brunt of that decision, come what may. And you get on with making pictures.
The truth is that for a long while each brand has tended to leapfrog the other. So proponents of one camp might be upset about their autofocus for a generation, but the next thing they know they have the upper hand in ISO. It’s such a big call to change sides that most never do.
If you’re anything like me that means you haven’t taken a serious look at the other mob’s offerings for years. And if you’ve been at all curious, please read on.
In light of this, I am about to take a thorough look at the Nikon D3s from the perspective of someone who has for the last decade used Canon. I’ll pitch it directly against its archrival and see what we come up with.
But as you know the Internet has no shortage of comprehensive camera reviews already, so I’m not going to reinvent that wheel. Instead, think of this as a fresh look at Nikon’s offering from the perspective of a Canon user. The question it will answer is “am I missing out on anything?”
There can be a vast difference between the perspective of someone who uses a camera to make an income in the real world and the technology experts who tend to write camera reviews for them. To that end, I want to conduct this one with crowd-sourced input. I’d like to know what’s important to you so I can build that thinking into the comparison I’m about to undertake.
I am after stuff such as why you chose the brand you did (specifics), whether you stick with them now because you continue to believe they’re the best (and why), whether there is something deep down you acknowledge the opposition does better (and what), and beyond that, anything else you really want to learn from this exercise.
So please add your thoughts to the comments below and I’ll report back here with a verdict. The outcome may confirm your thinking. On the other hand it might update some ageing perceptions.
When buying a camera I’m not interested in tribal wars between camera brands, my aim is to get the best tool for the type of photography required.
As you say: “make a decision and you invest in lenses and accessories and then you bear the brunt of that decision, come what may. And you get on with making pictures.”
My current gear:
Pentax K7 DSLR – its certainly not a common choice but fitted my requirements for being weather sealed, long battery life, affordable and importantly immediately felt more intuitive to use than other DSLR’s I’ve used in the past. Of course this “intuitiveness” factor will be totally different for each person.
Canon S90 compact – used for events when “real” professional looking cameras aren’t allowed or when I need a camera in my jeans pocket. The large sensor (for a compact) and F2 lens are very handy.
Panasonic TZ15 compact – currently lent to family. To date Panasonic LUMIX TZ cameras have consistently been the best compact ultrazooms I’ve tested.
HTC Desire cameraphone – last resort when I have no other cameras handy. Given enough light and a subject that isn’t moving it can take quite good photos eg: http://www.flickr.com/photos/neeravbhatt/4670658205/in/set-72157624081702629
If I find my pictures are not meeting my expectations, I will first look to myself as the culprit and then scrutinize my gear to see if one solution over another will help me reach my goals.
I am a Canon user with a fair amount invested in the brand. I am very brand loyal and have to have a fundamental belief that the brand I am with will continue to innovate over time. I would say that my primary affinity is for Apple, BMW and Canon and I have been a customer for more than 20 years. They have not let me down yet.
AFAIK Canon marketing vastly outspends Nikon in Australia
A press release from Canon Australia PR at H&K a few hours ago says:
“GfK data ranks Canon at the top of the DSLR market in 2010 with 56% volume share and 59% value share, 6-point increase in units and 5-point increase in value compared to 2009.*2 Canon also held the No. 1 position in the fixed lens market (compact cameras) with 16% volume and 21% value share.”
AS you mentioned, cost is always a biggie, if starting out, updating or changing over – so how do you rate the respective bang for buck D3s v Mk 4?
Menus are often a topic of discussion for or against brand choice & ease of use is obviously important under pressure in the field (granted familiarity is a factor) – so how do you find the ease of use of respective menu systems?
Any major pros of one over the other than you perceive?
Ultimately, the end result – do you find them comparable or one better than the other on average or under certain conditions?
One recommendation I always give people just entering is shoot with what your peers do. If those around you have Nikon, they will be able to give you support and guidance, same for Canon.
I prefer Nikon Lens and the F-Mount system some of the old lenses are fantastic.
for a $2700 camera you should not expect this to happen.
Without exception, all my friends shoot with Canon or Nikon. Without exception they are all happy with the choice they have made.
As both brands seem to be closely matched in capability, I’d be more interested in the handling. I get the impression from Nikon users that they may have an advantage here.
That would have been the ultimate opportunity to change brand. But it turned out that the images I saw online and appealed the most to me were mostly shot on 5D.
What other reference is better than real-life examples? So I chose to continue with Canon for that reason. Would all the images that I saw and liked be shot on a Nikon or whatever other brand, I would probably be using something else now.
Still this is not a scientific-based choice as I just chose what “I” think provides or provided a few yaers back an image-output that looks best without wasting time in camera raw or photoshop.
I’d like to try Canon but…
I want a Leica!
With the underwater series I admit I’m using a non-Canon or Nikon lens but a faster/better/more accurate focus system would be sweet.
The one feature I though Canon would persist with from the latter film days was the eye control for focus point movement/choice. I know a lot of people found it not to work, but on an EOS 50E that I did try for a while, it was brilliant.
But thats all really.
I do think that the D3 was a killer model for Nikon, and we are yet to see Canon respond I’m sure they will.
When I went to photog school, I had to get a dslr and ther was no way in the world I wanted a crop sensor. In my price range there was no way I could afford the D3/D3X, etc, and I had gotten to hold the 5d at PMA and it just felt right.
So I got the 5d. The shitty thing is, like others have posted, I shoot in a lot of low light situations (live music photography) and Nikons are better for that.
I also hate the lack of as many autofocus points as their other cameras have, too, as I wear glasses and in low light I rely on autofocus (i realise I will get pillorised for this and that I should manually focus, but at -8.75 I need the extra help).
But I will stick to Canon unless Nikon come up with their version of the 5d in terms of price range and it is infinitely better than Canons. Otherwise I will just work with the tools I have.
It came down to these two brands as I was advised that if there was any chance in the future that I would take photography seriously later on life then Nikon or Canon would be the best bet.
Would I ever buy a Canon DSLR? Well it would have to be something really special as I would have to replace all my glass specialised accessories.
What would I tell someone today buying their first DSLR? First find out what your friends shoot as you might be able to share lens with them (hopefully good trustworthy friends) and then pick up camera and try using it in the store, are the controls easy to use? does it feel right?