Canon vs. Nikon

[imisky]

from experience and playing with a few friends nikon D40x/D80/D300 to canons Xsi/40D/50D/5DmkII i would have to say that no matter how many times i touch a nikon body it just doesnt feel right for me, and i know when my nikon friends play with my Xsi they feel the same, it just doesnt feel right especially the aperture/shutter speed dial that nikons have compared to canons single dial + rotating wheel.

as for a 1.6x crop body (the rebels to the 10,20,30,40,50D to the new 7D) you will find the 70-300mm to be hard to use and without IS the angle of view is just too narrow, a slight shake and you will get blurry pictures most of the time unless you are on a tripod especially when you get close to the 300mm range.

if you are after underwater close ups grab the new 100mm f2.8L IS macro that canon released this year and you will be in awe that picture quality that it gives off.

these days there are alot of 40D/50D on craigslist for sale for quite cheap since the 7D came out and they are probably the better choice to go for if its in your price range. the new 100mm macro however is hard to find used.

 

[IPT]

that last pic rocks!! I also have had my Canon gear in some seriously COLD weather (-20 F) with no issues, condensation, no issues, and some light rain too. Haven't submerged it yet though and hope not too, ever .

 

[iceemn360]

those remind me of the photos of the k7

http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/...ws-rumors/43011d1252772218-pentax-ads-k-7.jpg

 

[Deep Thief]

It all boils down to what are you using? I use Canon, I will never switch. I have too much invested in the glass(lenses) to switch. Its all what you start with. If you start with Nikon, you will stay with Nikon, If you start with Canon, you will stay with Canon. I am partial to Canon and love mine. I have had a 10D, 20D, 30D, and a 40D at one time or another, and two at one time mostly. I have done photography as a profession for about 3 years and enjoyed it. I have never had a Nikon but would not be afraid to own one. I have used a friends and it was good.

The glass on Nikons tend to cost more. Better, IMO, NOT. Look at any sporting event and look at the photogs. They all have the big white lenses. Those are Canons. There is a reason for that. Canon has the best glass around bar none. That is my opinion though. Find a good deal and stick with it. A good photographer can make a good pic with whatever they have to use. Good luck, Mark

 

[Deep Thief]

Oh by the way, asking Canon vs Nikon is like asking Chevy vs Ford. Its all opinion and what you have dealt with in the past. YMMV, Mark

 

[dendronepthya]

The better question may be which lenses do you want/need? Once you figure that out, finding a body to shoot it is much easier. I have a Canon 5D mk II specifically because I wanted the Canon holy trinity (35L, 85L, 135L), but once Panasonic came out with a 20mm f/1.7 pancake for micro-4/3 I bought a GF-1. The lenses absolutely drive my purchase decision because they are more likely to stay around while camera bodies come and go.

 

[xtm]

I'd argue that point. During winter workshops we almost always have a camera or two go down due to moisture; it's always the Nikons. Canon, on the other hand does just fine. Here's a fun little testimonial. Pay special attention to the last picture. :lol:

http://canonfieldreviews.com/7d-1-weather-sealing/

Luminous Landscape disagrees

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/essays/antarctica-2009-worked.shtml

In a summary session on the last day at the Peninsula I asked everyone to report on any equipment failures. Here's the tally.

The top LCD on a 5D MKII spontaneously cracked; Another 5D MKII had a jambed on lens caused by a loose screw, a 1Ds MKIII reported intermittent problems; a 1D MKIII kept reporting Error 99; one Hasselblad reported electronic lens connection problems; two Canon G9's failed (no G10s had any reported problems), and a Nikon 80-400mm lens came apart. No Nikon bodies (mostly D700s) failed in any way.

The largest group of failures through were among the Canon 5D MKIIs. Of the 26 samples of this camera onboard, one quarter (six) failed at one time or another, and while three recovered, the other three never did. In all cases it appeared to be water or humidity damage. Of particular concern were two cameras which stopped working while completely protected within Kata rain covers during a light rain ashore. They came back to life the following day though and were mostly fine for the rest of the trip, but one died permenently just before the end of our voyage.

Got weatherseal?

 

[dendronepthya]

My 5D's rear LCD spontaneously cracked. As for water though, I took it out in a hellish rain storm while visiting DC and it worked fine. The rain was coming down so hard it was as if I was standing in a shower. The camera was exposed for hours.

 

[RichK]

These threads are like...never mind. I have used both systems and each takes a fine picture if the person behind the view finder has a clue as to what they are doing. For me, it's all about the ergonomics. I shoot Nikon and think they have an edge over Canon in my opinion. A few of my friends shoot with a MKIII or MKIIn and they like the ergonomics of my D3 better. Will they switch? Nope. For me, it's all about the shot. No matter what you use, make the best of it and try to use it to its full potential.

This topic is just like the PC vs. Mac war. Oh wait, we have a thread for that too.

 

[Misled]

Yup!!! Wait till Z.X. sees this and throws Pentax in the mix!!!!

 

[iceemn360]

Yup!!! Wait till Z.X. sees this and throws Pentax in the mix!!!!

didnt i already throw this in the mix? lol.

but anyways in all seriousness you might consider the k7 or kx

the kx was just review by dpreview to be one of the best cameras for low light high iso of aps-c sensors so this might be good for taking tank photos with anything less than halide lights.

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/pentaxkx/page29.asp

As for price, people have been buying the red, black, blue, and white kits (18-55mm) in the us approaching $475- $500 (though the price has been sporadic lately due to online sales/ cashbacks ect. ).

heres a photo of the red one

I was at a frys and tried out the iso on this little guy and was pretty impressed. these images were without any PP noise reduction

ISO

12,800

ISO

6,400

though the kx isnt weathersealed like the k7

 

[RichK]

That is pretty good high ISO performance from a camera at that price point. Granted, the camera is definitely applying NR, but it is still impressive. I think in a few years, high ISO noise will be a thing of the past.

 

[mpoletti]

That is pretty good high ISO performance from a camera at that price point. Granted, the camera is definitely applying NR, but it is still impressive. I think in a few years, high ISO noise will be a thing of the past.

Don't tease me like that Rich. I sure hope so

 

[jreeceaspen]

Thanks again to all. Well, I went with a Canon Rebel XT / 2 lens / 2 back-up batteries / camera case / and some other goodies for $400. That was my price range and go everything I needed to at least start in the right direction. I wish I had the extra funds for a Nikon, but unfortunately with the Holidays this was about it. I feel like I got a really good deal. PM me if you would like to check out the whole deal, but after some research I feel like I got a pretty good deal. Both lens are Canon original. THANKS! Now, I just have to learn how to use it LOL.

 

[jreeceaspen]

Oh, and 5 memory cards from 2g's to 1g's.

 

[jong11]

Hey all,

I'm very new to DSLR, had a old Nikon F body with a few lens but that was back in highschool. I think I was more worried about the babes in the class than photography itself. I know about Nikon's and don't know squat about Canon, never owned one. I have some Canon digital color equipment where I work and it rocks, but camera's are a whole different thing. So, here is the question. I'm looking a buying a Canon Rebel XT and want to do mostly underwater close up shots, but also use it for the family too. I'm wondering first of all if a 75-300 telephoto lens is going to go macro enough for underwater reef tank photos. 2nd question, would you spend the extra coin and buy a Nikon (I have read a lot of posts lately and I think I'm going to get the "I like Nikon" and "I like Canon" but they should be about the same quality right / I'm not looking for perfection)? I just see Canon being a good product and Nikon seems to be much more pricey. Don't pound on me, I'm just looking for a helping hand for a newbie to photography.

Thx

a telephoto lens is not made for macro photos. The difference being that macro lens have a shorter focusing distance. I have a canon macro 100mm with built in image stabilizer and a 75-300mm telephoto with built in image stabilizer, plus the stock lens 28-90mm. So before you buy a macro or a telephoto think about what your subject is going to be.

 

[jreeceaspen]

Ya, got the camera and it seems to be working just fine. Wow, what a difference between P&S and DSLR? I'm shocked at the quality of photos the Canon 350D takes.
Thanks for all the help, now I have to figure out how to use it LOL.

 

[Mako Shark II]

Thread pirate:

My question to the forum is: "What camera do folks like & Why?"

I'm looking at either a (comparable) Canon Eos (Variant) or the Nikon D5000. (I'd love the D80 or D90, but that's not going to happen, given the "glass" I want to get, plus I don't need video, I don't think.)

I've already scrubbed the D3000, because my budget can allow something closer to $1,000 now for the body. (The D90 kit was closer to $1,500 and that might be out of reach for Thee $pousal Unit, given other recent developements.)

What do you like??? ......and Why??

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1767694

 

[ducklabdad]

I was in much the same boat as you a while back. I chose to go with Canon because I felt I was getting more bang for my buck, and they felt better in my hands(to me).

I also went to low end on lenses to start, with a 70- 300 and the kit lenses. I do not regret that as it let me get well into the learning curve, and has allowed me to see more of exactly what I do want and need as far as lenses, but I got a really good deal on it as well.

I am now "trading up" and I know what I want, thanks to the way that I started. Now if money was no object it would be different, but "trading up" in lenses is pretty cost effecient in the long run with what you can sell your used equipment for, and the prices of good lenses continually going up!!

Congrats on your new purchase I know you will have fun with it!!!!

 

[Mako Shark II]

Okay.
Debate.
Nikon D90 vs. Canon 50D

Tawlk amoungst yourselves........