Camera Geeks: Nikon vs Canon

[jambo]

Sorry, I've just read my reply above and it seems terribly balanced, if Anna and Filipe read it they'll use it against me.

Nikon have an overly complex lens system based on never properly overhauling their standards meaning you need to have an interest in tables and train spotting to understand what features will work on what lens wth what body. Oh and everyone who shoots with Nikon smells of wee.

Even people like Joe McNally and David Hobby who are two of my favourite photogs. Thankfully I follow them online and in books so I can't smell the wee.



Jambo

Originally Posted by jambo

Sorry, I've just read my reply above and it seems terribly balanced, if Anna and Filipe read it they'll use it against me.

Thanks for the ammo, Jambo!

Originally Posted by The Canon Guy

Nikon have an overly complex lens system based on never properly overhauling their standards meaning you need to have an interest in tables and train spotting to understand what features will work on what lens wth what body.

It's actually simpler than that. While not being Leica M-like in which every lens works with every body, you basically get AI and AF lenses. If you look at the thing from the body you own perspective, then it gets brilliantly simple. Let's take the D90 (I have one):

AI - no auto-focus, no metering (don't even try pre-AI lenses, they'll break your camera).
AF breaks down into:
AF-D: they need internal camera motor for auto-focus (the D90 has one, D5000 and below don't), and they'll meter on the D90 and above.
AF-S: auto-focus in every digital body, as well as 3D Matrix Metering.

... okay Jambo, I'll give you that one, but it all breaks down to this: Take the D90 and every lens manufactured after 1977 will work on it. Can you say the same about Canon?

Originally Posted by The Canon Guy

Oh and everyone who shoots with Nikon smells of wee.

Even people like Joe McNally and David Hobby who are two of my favourite photogs. Thankfully I follow them online and in books so I can't smell the wee.



Jambo

Can't really comment on that one, because I'm used to the smell by now, but Canon shooters usually have rashes on the index finger due to some idiot placing the (single?) control dial vertically behind the shutter button, instead of horizontally behind and in front of the camera, where you can actually use them!

Oh, and if in doubt, take a walk into Grays of Westminster... (I know Jambo, that one was below the belt! )

Originally Posted by Alpinestarhero

Carefull with MP count...it might have more pixels, but if its on the same size sensor as the nikon then noise *could* be an issue, particularly at higher ISO

There are at least two reasons why Nikon are still holding back on the megapixel race, one of them being exactly this. The D90 is known for having one of the cleanest APS (cropped) sensors, if not the best.

The other one is the fact that the higher the sensor's resolution, the more the lens defects / imperfect photo technique will show up.

[Littlepeahead]

How about a look at this:

http://www.whatdigitalcamera.com/equ...sony-a900.html

I'm a Canon user myself. Gone from an old A1 to an EOS 350 to an EOS 350D and now on an EOS 30D with L series lenses. I work with a lot of pro sports photographers and they are pretty evenly split between Canon and Nikon.

Originally Posted by Littlepeahead

...now on a very expensive lens cap with L series lenses...

mmmmmmmmm L glass.......... *drools*

My mate has the d90 and i think it superb, havent tried the canon so cant really compare.
Im actually saving for the d90 myself at present, cos i want one.

[Bluepete]

Why not try one of the slightly older cameras? I have a Nikon D60 which is quite superb! Maybe you could save a few quid by not having the latest gizmo that'll be out of date in the new year?

Pete

I think both are very good makes and the reason I chose the Nikon was because my Dad had a Nikon and I can steal his lenses. Also my co-workers have various makes of Nikons and quite a selection of lenses.

Either way you won't be disappointed, you've had a go with mine so have a rough idea of that.

I went with the Nikon D90 as i have not had good experiences with some Canon dslrs i bought several years ago and among other things i also wanted the brilliant CLS flash lighting system Nikon do which Canon just can not match. Look at the feature set of both and decide what you will use/benefit from and also what feels good in your hands.

[keith_d]

I've been a Nikon user for longer than I care to admit in public.

However, these days a mid-range dSLR from either of the big manufacturers will do everything you're likely to want. The cameras will have very similar functionality and both manufacturers offer a comprehensive selection of lenses. There really is nothing to choose between them.

So, my recommendation would be to try borrow a camera or two and see what feels right for you. Obviously, if one of your mates has a huge selection of lenses and will lend them to you that might also influence your choice.

Just my thoughts,

Keith.