Reasons for switching systems - DPChallenge Forums

11/13/2006 09:24:45 PM · #1

Here's my question to those of you that have switched from Nikon to Canon or Canon to Nikon. What made you switch?

When I first got my D70s it was more because in the range of what I could afford I really didn't like Canon but now I'm likely able to get into the body I do like for Canon. Just hemming and hawing and generally driving myself nuts.

So what I'd like to really know is what was your motivation for switching? Was it technical, pressure, price? What made you switch?

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

11/14/2006 12:26:55 AM · #2

bump. i know someone has!

Photologist

Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

11/14/2006 12:30:56 AM · #3

.

I switched from a Canon to the Pentax K100D. I wanted a real DSLR and the Pentax was the affordable one.

Message edited by author 2006-11-14 00:32:04.

11/14/2006 01:02:56 AM · #4

I have been looking the way of Pentax with those pancake primes, the thought of those three small, light primes makes my head spin. :) No, I don't think I'm switching, though.

For a Nikon user, I'd see a reason to switch if you were a bird shooter, or a professional sports photographer, Canon has more to offer in the long tele department. In the wide, normal and moderate tele (up to 300mm) Nikon has very fine lenses, both primes and zooms. Nikon's flash system is better than Canon's.

As far as the bodies go, Nikon's D80 and D200 are in a class of their own, unmatched by Canon. On the other hand, Canon has the full frame sensor, and some people crave it; shooting landscape and architecture can definitely make use of the full-frame sensor.

fotomann_forever

11/14/2006 01:21:08 AM · #5

My 35mm gear is Minolta. However, when I started playing with digital I din't see KM as a contender. I went with Nikon Coolpix P&S (first the 950 and later the 8700).

When I finally decided to go with a dSLR, price was the big draw for me to switch to Canon. Not only did I get the 300D body cheaply from a friend, but also, I noticed that used glass and accessories for the Canon line were more readily available.

If I had a Nikon dSLR would I switch to Canon? I doubt it. The two run so neck and neck that I really don't see a reason to switch. If one has a feature now, the other will have it soon.

Nikon has stated that it will not go to a full frame sensor. I don't see that as a major disadvantage to them though. The sensors in the Nikons perform well.

Modern dSLRs are starting to get pretty close to the maximum resolving potential of 35mm lens systems anyway. ~20MP will be the cutoff for cameras based on 35mm systems. I don't doubt Nikon can squeeze 20MP onto a cropped sensor and have acceptible signal to noise ratio. They are getting close now.

That said, I doubt seriously that switching to Canon just for a full-frame sensor is worth it. I'd stay with the Nikon if I were you. The D80, D200 and D2X (drools!) are all great upgrades for you.

11/14/2006 02:29:42 AM · #6

Thanks for the input everyone. I'm sure I'm not the only one to go through this and this prolly won't be the last time I'm sure. I think I've gone through this everytime I've picked up a new piece of gear. In this case Sigma's 17-70 2.8-4 macro. The argument of should I have grabbed the 18-50 2.8 instead...

11/14/2006 11:05:43 AM · #7

Originally posted by fotomann_forever:

Nikon has stated that it will not go to a full frame sensor.

Nikon has never stated that it will not go to a full frame sensor.

In fact, according to Thom Hogan (a respected Nikon reviewer), there are several copies of a prototype full-frame Nikon DSLR being tested in the field.

Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro for Nikon

11/14/2006 11:10:09 AM · #8

Originally posted by sea2c:

In this case Sigma's 17-70 2.8-4 macro. The argument of should I have grabbed the 18-50 2.8 instead...

I read a side-by-side comparison of the Sigma 18-50 to the Sigma 17-70, and the 17-70 came out to be sharper and less prone to CA than the 18-50.

If you really want a fantastic zoom for a bargain price, buy the Nikon 35-70 f/2.8. This lens is very sharp wide open. Its only downsides are the somewhat limited zoom range and the rotating front element.

Message edited by author 2006-11-14 11:19:49.

cryan

Nikon D700

11/14/2006 11:12:19 AM · #9

When I was in the Navy I was shooting a Canon F-1n, I love that camera. But when I got out I liked the feel of the Nikons and at the time Nikon glass was far better. I still like the feel of Nikons over Canon, however with that being said I really like the low noise that canon has achieved, Nikon is getting better, I'm amazed at the low noise in the D200. With the amount I have invested in Nikon there is no way I would switch now.

Spork99

OM System OM-1

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

11/14/2006 11:24:39 AM · #10

When I was shooting film, back in the '80s. It was Nikon all the way.

When I was looking into digital, I had a lot of nice Nikkor AI glass, but no way to use it. At the time, the two DSLR options in my price range were the Canon 10D and the Nikon D100. I had originally looked into the Nikon, but its performance was exceeded on almost every level by the 10D and even though my AI glass would go on the D100, it would be basically unusable. So I sold all of my Nikkor glass and Nikon film cameras and went w the 10D.

thegrandwazoo

Nikon D750

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

11/14/2006 11:26:12 AM · #11

Originally posted by agenkin:

Originally posted by fotomann_forever:
Nikon has stated that it will not go to a full frame sensor.

Nikon has never stated that it will not go to a full frame sensor.

In fact, according to Thom Hogan (a respected Nikon reviewer), there are several copies of a prototype full-frame Nikon DSLR being tested in the field.

Could you post a link to that? I have been looking and I can't find it on his site. Thanks.

11/14/2006 12:05:25 PM · #12

Originally posted by thegrandwazoo:

Could you post a link to that? I have been looking and I can't find it on his site. Thanks.

I don't think Thom Hogan posts in the DPC forums; he does, however, post in the DPReview forums. I think that this is where I read him saying that Nikon has been testing full frame DSLR prototypes. I don't remember which thread this was (it was around a month ago). The closest I could find with the sucky search function of the DPReview are the following two posts: this one, near the middle of the post, and this one.

Edit: found Thom's post, here it is.

Message edited by author 2006-11-14 12:28:38.

Azrifel

Fujifilm X100VI

11/14/2006 01:35:00 PM · #13

Originally posted by agenkin:

If you really want a fantastic zoom for a bargain price, buy the Nikon 35-70 f/2.8. This lens is very sharp wide open. Its only downsides are the somewhat limited zoom range and the rotating front element.

I have this lens and yes it is a great lens, but being spoiled by two great primes, one of them being kickass sharp at f/1.4, I do not find this lens to be sharp wide-open (f/2.8-f/3.5). Also my 70-200 performs a lot better in that range. The contrast wide-open is not great, just like the 50 f/1.4 isn't.
But stopped down one stop it becomes very sharp (70-200 close), has great (really great) contrast and wonderful color reproduction.

Azrifel

Fujifilm X100VI

11/14/2006 01:47:22 PM · #14

Originally posted by agenkin:

Edit: found Thom's post, here it is.

Yeah, I read this before, not only from Thom. But I am not going to search for it, I am no search engine. :)

The following is pure personal speculation, but I would not be surprised if it is true and I talked about it with some others (nobody special, just other pg's) at Photokina:

The fullframe Nikon will likely have a Fuji 35mm sensor.
Why? Well, Fuji had trouble getting a good body for the S3 succesor and Nikon was not really willing to give them anything better than the N80. But suddenly Fuji gets the latest spec D200 body with AF and all the other gizmo's, they just have to fling in their own sensor and voila. (well, they have to pay for it, but you get the point I hope). This D200 body and electronics with Fuji sensor requires both to cooperate to make it work and is a good testbed for future stuff.
Fuji is in a niche in the dSLR market, just like Kodak was. It is not easy for them to compete and they are probably loosing money on it.
Nikon is not to thrilled with Sony competition, the same Sony they rely on for their sensors.
Fuji produces kickass sensors and are very advandced with their dynamic range and are working on bayerless fullcolor sensors (like Foveon). Fuji has experience with medium format sensors, one of which is exactly twice the size of a 35mm frame.
Fuji and Nikon share the same office building, they have a history together in the dSLR market.
I think therefore that Fuji gets the D200 body and Nikon access to Fuji sensors. 1+1 = Nikon/Fuji fullframe.

Now back to reality. :)

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

11/14/2006 01:55:47 PM · #15

Originally posted by Azrifel:

I think therefore that Fuji gets the D200 body and Nikon access to Fuji sensors. 1+1 = Nikon/Fuji fullframe.

This would be very nice, but who would buy the Fuji DSLR cameras if there were a Nikon DSLR with the same sensor?

It would be interesting to see if Nikon puts out another version of their own LBCAST sensors. However, according to Thom, none of the Nikon's FF prototypes that he knows of have Nikon's sensors.

What other options are there? I would say Kodak (who have recently produced a sensor for the Leica M8), or Sony.

thegrandwazoo

Nikon D750

11/14/2006 02:06:51 PM · #16

Originally posted by agenkin:

Originally posted by thegrandwazoo:
Could you post a link to that? I have been looking and I can't find it on his site. Thanks.

I don't think Thom Hogan posts in the DPC forums; he does, however, post in the DPReview forums. I think that this is where I read him saying that Nikon has been testing full frame DSLR prototypes. I don't remember which thread this was (it was around a month ago). The closest I could find with the sucky search function of the DPReview are the following two posts: this one, near the middle of the post, and this one.

Edit: found Thom's post, here it is.

Cool thanks for the link and just to clear things up I said his site not DPC. Thanks again.