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DPChallenge Forums >> Photography Discussion >> Canon vs. Nikon - Who has the brighter future?
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11/22/2004 12:42:14 PM · #1
Hey,

I've been thinking about purchasing a Nikon D70. I want to go pro with photography someday, but as of right now I'm still learning, so I don't don't specifically need a PRO dSLR. The D70 is a consumer dSLR, but where does Nikon stand with it's pro dSLRs? I haven't really seen any reviews for any upper models floating around like there has been for the D70. I don't want to go out and spend thousands on Nikon lenses if I'm not going to be able to upgrade to a nice PRO dslr in the future. Canon already has a full lineup of dSLRs includng consumer, semipro, and pro cameras. There's unlimited options. Now I'm having second thoughts. I'm now deciding between the D70 and the Canon 20D.

In all honesty, who do you think has the better future? Canon or Nikon?

title edit: "*WHO* has the brighter future" sorry

Message edited by author 2004-11-22 12:46:09.
11/22/2004 01:33:55 PM · #2
Nikon has a full line up of pro level DSLRs but you don't hear about them as much as Canon on this site. Nikon was the first to have an integrated wireless transmitter for use by reporters and sports photogs who are up against a deadline. For the last couple of years since I have been into digital I've been trying to take note of what the pros are using at events I go to. For me that means the lower levels of sports photography like high school football and minor league baseball. My very unofficial tally is "too close to call" but seems to be trending in the Canon direction. Might be entirely different if I went to more weddings, or flower shows, etc.
I think both are going to be around for the foreseeable future. You can't go wrong with either. Research them with an eye to seeing if either is more suited to the kind of photography you like to shoot.

Disclaimer: I have owned Canon but not Nikon.

Disregarding price, and if you have no previous investment in lenses, the 20D is far superior to the D70, mostly because it is newer technology, benefitting from some features brought down from the relatively new, very advanced and very expensive 1D Mk II.
11/22/2004 02:07:31 PM · #3
I think they are both good cameras. What you need to do is visit their corporate sites or steve's digicams to learn more about their future products. See which are of interest to you.

Personally, I went Canon because I have used Canon as a 35mm and LOVED every minute of it. My lenses fit my dSLR and that makes me happy (saves money). I really like how compatible they are (with their upgrades).

I think Canon is surely going strong, but I don't know enough about Nikon to compare.

Around here, we all parade our own choices, but what you need to do is find someone who's owned or used both (extensively) or you should consider renting the cameras to see which you like best.

As for their future, visit their sites and ask questions about compatibility. Look up Canon and Nikon on google in conjuction with finance and stock. Good luck
11/22/2004 02:10:11 PM · #4
Just my personal opinion:
In the past.... it seemed that Nikon and Canon swapped roles of being the industry leader and this would transpire every year or two. Lately Canon seems to have taken the lead and kept it and has left Nikon playing the catch up game.

On a personal note, I have heard of a number of pro shooters that have switched from Nikon to Canon in the last year and I know of more shooters that researching the switch.

As far as long term, I don't think that you can go wrong with either company but Canon does appear to have the market currently.

11/22/2004 02:16:01 PM · #5
Both Canon and Nikon have bright futures. There's a HUGE base of users for both of their products. IMHO, I'd suggest you make your decision based on your pocketbook and your photography requirements. Canon and Nikon will be around fighting for your business for many years to come.

11/22/2004 02:16:15 PM · #6
Lest we forget, Nikon have had an unbelievable year from a profitability stand point... //www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000101&sid=aMT8qLVIQcBY&refer=japan

I would say that either of these companies is a great choice and it boils down to which camera feels right for you.
11/22/2004 02:37:43 PM · #7
Scroll down past the first 3 pictures to see what the media used at the Olympics this year

and

Pics of press pavillion at the Democratic National Convention

All those white lenses indicate Canon is dominating the pro media outlets...

Canon is the number one digital camera manufacturer.

Don't forget that Nikon doesn't have any immediate plans to move away from the APS-sized sensors in their pro bodies; Canon already has 1.3X and full-frame sensors. And Canon's 16.7MP full-frame 1Ds Mark II is already available and being used around the world. Nikon's latest won't be available until next year.

Reference: this interview with Nikon R&D Director Tomino Naoki at Photokina 2004 (which took place from 27/Sep - 3/Oct). Quoting a particularly relevant question here:

R: You said during Photokina 2004 press release that a full frame product can be developed if there is customer requirement. Specifically, is there a related research going on?

TN: Regarding 35mm full frame we are going through a study of possibility. However, full frame is definitely not cheap. How many customers are going to purchase such over 1 million Yen camera? This is a business issue. Thus we want to wait for a while. Last year we release DX lenses, now we announce the intention of "at least three year development with DX standard", that's what we are going to...


So don't expect any FF bodies from Nikon any time soon, they are still "studying the possibility" (note the use of the word "possibility", meaning that maybe there are some issues), they "want to wait for a while" and think it will cost a lot of money to engineer ("definitely not cheap" and "is a business issue"). Instead, look for more and more DX glass and 1.5X crop-factor bodies for at least the next 3 years at a minimum...

Message edited by author 2004-11-22 14:45:07.
11/22/2004 02:41:02 PM · #8
you cant go wrong with any major brand, Nikon, Canon, Pentax, Minolta, even Sigma. They are all have fine cameras and fine glass.

Nikon and Canon are the biggest two though, and I don't think anyone would be disappointed in either system. The Nikon F-series has been a pro staple since it hit the market.
11/22/2004 02:42:13 PM · #9
Originally posted by bledford:

Lest we forget, Nikon have had an unbelievable year from a profitability stand point... //www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000101&sid=aMT8qLVIQcBY&refer=japan

I would say that either of these companies is a great choice and it boils down to which camera feels right for you.

Canon is no slouch in terms of earnings either...

"Canon reported third quarter net income of 101.8 billion yen (US$ 917 million), a significant increase of 39.4 % over the same period last year and an earning per share of 114.79 yen (US$ 1.03)."

Ref)
11/22/2004 03:09:35 PM · #10
I have also been debating this choice and plan to buy by early 2005. My only worry about Cannon so far has been repair record. All my info is anecdotal. My local photo lab (we have no camera shop in town) says they see quite a few Cannon DSLR’s come in for repair (they send them out). They have not seen one D70. Maybe a market share issue. On this site I have seen various issues with camera freezing up, etc.

Anyone have a link to more definitive info on repair?
11/22/2004 04:12:00 PM · #11
Speaking as a (maybe the only) guy with a Nikon D70, I’m quite happy with it. I’ve used Nikons and Cannons over the last 20 years, and I usually come back to Nikon. I currently own the D70 and have looked at the Cannon line. Cannon puts out a nice piece of eqt, but it doesn’t feel as good to me as the Nikon and Fuji lines. I rec’d mine about 5 months ago and have put in excess of 7500 shots into it to date. Not a problem in the lot…. Well… at least that I can blame on the equipment (LOL).

That said, I’d suggest that you ask yourself:

1. What is my experience (if any) with FILM bodies?
2. What feels better when I handle it? Remember to try each body with
several Nikon/Cannon lenses (preferably those you’d see yourself
use).
3. If you have a friend who owns one of your preferred models, beg,
borrow, and plead to use it over a weekend.
4. Finally, when you get down to the purchase, there are several stores
that will allow you to return and/or exchange your purchase at no
charge over the 1st 30 days. That way, if you’re best guess does
not meet your expectations, you have an out. If you want to know
the chain I have in mind, shoot me a message/email and I’ll give you
the skinny on it.

As many have said, the camera is simply a tool that should provide you the freedom to do the things that you do best…. Make lasting and impressive images. Good luck and write if you have any questions!

jvdk
11/22/2004 05:11:04 PM · #12
Originally posted by EddyG:


So don't expect any FF bodies from Nikon any time soon, they are still "studying the possibility" (note the use of the word "possibility", meaning that maybe there are some issues), they "want to wait for a while" and think it will cost a lot of money to engineer ("definitely not cheap" and "is a business issue"). Instead, look for more and more DX glass and 1.5X crop-factor bodies for at least the next 3 years at a minimum...


The Kodak SLR/n (edit!) is a fullframe 14mp with a Nikon F mount. It aint perfect, but it isn't as expensive as the Canon.
I believe (personal opinion, no evidence) that the only reason why Fuji has not released a fullframe F-mount camera yet is because Nikon does not want to sell the F100 body to them (also why the CAM900 AF module is in the S3 instead of the one used in the D2 serie).

On the other hand: Why would DX be a bad future? We have already seen from Canon's engineering that the 1.6x Canon 20D can almost match the 1.3x Canon 1D Mk2. So when in a few years time you get a 16mp DX sensor capable of producing good results (good ISO range with good resolution and good noise performance) why would it be bad to stick with that?
What is the real gain of fullframe when you can get good performance out of the DX sensors and DX wide-angles?

Message edited by author 2004-11-22 17:24:13.
11/22/2004 06:22:15 PM · #13
Just read on DPReview.com that Kodak is discounting the Canon mount version of DCS Pro SLR (14 megapixels) by $1000, but not the Nikon mount version of the same camera.
11/24/2004 03:36:53 PM · #14
i think nikon isnt as quick to jump to FF is because they have the lenses that are more friendly to the wide angle for dSLR, at least they had them out before canon. From what I've heard, lots of sports photographers, and photographers preffering wide angle have been going to nikon if they weren't before. I know the fact that canon doesn't have a digital fisheye lens, and hasn't released plans to, was a big part of my decision. edit - also in terms of professional, youve got fujifilms, kodak, and the new 12mp (or 6 in 2x crop, 8fps) mode -nikon d2x which looks very promising.

Message edited by author 2004-11-24 16:04:34.
11/24/2004 04:05:09 PM · #15
My decision after considering that either Canon or Nikon would be fine and the fact that I had no lense that would fit either, was then based on their base model dslr.

When I compared the Canon 300D to the Nikon D70 the D70 won out, I got a great deal and a great camera that I can build on.

I'm extremely happy with it.
11/24/2004 04:39:28 PM · #16
Originally posted by coolhar:

Just read on DPReview.com that Kodak is discounting the Canon mount version of DCS Pro SLR (14 megapixels) by $1000, but not the Nikon mount version of the same camera.


Is that because they don't need to force sales of it? Or because it wasn;t worth it?

Seriously, you can have no issues with either, really. Neither company is going to disappear anytime soon.

Ed
11/24/2004 04:46:10 PM · #17
Probably the SLR/c didn't sell well because of the existence of the 1D Mk2 with the better body and very acceptable photo quality and secondhand 1Ds's (now with the new 1Ds Mk2 even more an issue).
The SLR/n uses a Nikon F80/F100 body (mostly F80) while the SLR/c is based on a Sigma body. Perhaps that difference also makes room for such a discount.

Just my guess.

Message edited by author 2004-11-24 17:32:17.
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