Decisions, Decisions
August 8, 2008
Almost three years ago, Canon released the first full-frame digital SLR in a standard-sized body. The EOS 5D took the world by storm and soon became one of, if not the, most popular cameras among professionals and serious amateurs alike.
Last month, Nikon released the new D700, which, on paper, just looks incredible.
From the perspective of some, Canon has been the world leader for many years, and has been guilty of late of sitting on their laurels and waiting for the rest of the world to play catch-up. Nikon, and others, have been working hard, and the gap has been closed.
There is a possibility that I will be involved in a pretty major photo project over the next year, and with the project comes some additional equipment, and I’m torn between upgrading what I currently have. Staying with the Canon system means I can use my current lenses (which are top notch), and using what’s out there.
Or, I could jump ship, switch over to the Dark Side, and try to pick up a couple of these D700 bodies and some new lenses. The low-light capabilities alone make it very tempting.
Canon has been churning out new mid-level stuff all the while. I’m curious if they’re making a financial decision to focus on the consumer market, while letting Nikon eat into their majority share of the Pro market. Are they content to sell 50,000 consumer level DSLRs (the Rebel line), to the neglect of the serious amateur/professional? Would they rather dominate the entry level? That could certainly be argued by the lack of “Wow” factor in their current pro-sumer releases, and the problems they had with the release of their 1D MkIII “flagship.”
Just thinking out loud here…I don’t know which way I’ll end up going, but Nikon has certainly made it interesting!
Posted in Gear, Life, Photojournalism, Random
August 8th, 2008 at 1:06 pm
Some great questions you are asking here, as I know you are a big fan of Canon and have made your point several times with their equipment. I have been a big fan of the ‘Dark Side’ for almost ten years and am looking to get back into more serious equipment myself. I have been unsettled with some of the rumors coming out concerning Nikon’s lower-end camera (P&S, as well as possible DSLR upgrades), but the D700, D300, and of course the D3 have really kept my hope alive in the Pro Nikon realm. Regardless of your decision, I am sure that your gift behind the lens will overcome the shortcomings of the name brand used to capture it.
Major photo project?
August 8th, 2008 at 1:16 pm
Ssssshhhhhhhh! It’s a secret at the moment. It all hinges on the funding, and we’re close, but no final decisions have been made yet.
August 8th, 2008 at 2:09 pm
It’s in the vault…
August 8th, 2008 at 4:00 pm
I want to buy a Canon EOS 450D. I love Canon, all of my cameras so far have been Canon. I don’t understand some of the terminology you’ve used in the post but I think you should be loyal to your brand, afterall it is one of the best anyway, you’ve got all the lenses etc as well, I would not change to something else.
August 8th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
Don’t get me wrong, I love my Canon’s, but when it comes to cameras, you buy into a complete system- bodies, lenses, flashes, accessories, etc. My only fear is that Canon has become lackadaisical lately, and isn’t willing to keep pressing and pushing to produce better and better gear. Nikon’s current D3 and D700 are amazing technical innovations, and it signals a company that is serious about development of the technologies.
August 8th, 2008 at 6:11 pm
I have been with the Dark Side my entire career so I am jaded. I think Nikon wins hands down in the flash realm. But on the other hand you do have some fine glass so why would you sacrifice that? I tell people when I teach classes that they have to become friends with their cameras and I understand that your skills are way beyond that but my point is I just think Nikon. The buttons are in the right places the menu items look the same the terminology is the same. I have a Canon P&S that I love (S5). I guess I have no answers but I do truly want a D700 and a couple of SB 900 and a 14-24 F2.8 lens.
August 9th, 2008 at 7:58 pm
If you’re going over to Nikon you’ve gotta look at the D3. You’ve got how much invested in Canon??? If you’re jumping ship, make it worth while and go for the D3! But, that said, why not go for the Mark III - or stick it out a few months and see what the 5d’s replacement is going to look like. (BTW, Canon considers the 5d to be part of its consumer line - which is completely nuts.)
August 9th, 2008 at 9:21 pm
At the moment, I have about $7,000 in Canon gear. Well, that’s what I spent on it, total, although the bodies have depreciated quite a bit since then.
I would love a D3, but the extra cost, for some features I just don’t need, represents a 12-25 or a 17-35 lens for my bag! I have no idea what I’m going to do, but it sure is fun to look at what’s out there.
August 11th, 2008 at 10:26 am
Any chance someone invents a piece that allows a user to use a Nikon lens on Canon body or vice-versa, or would that be impossible/illegal?
Same could work for flashes and accessories, I would imagine. Then you could pick from the best of both worlds…
Probably more illegal than impossible.
August 11th, 2008 at 10:54 am
There are adapters out there to let older lenses work on newer bodies (for all sorts of manufacturers), but you lose a lot in terms of functionality because the electronics are wired so differently. You can physically attach a lens to a body, but sometimes the Autofocus, or auto-aperture functions won’t work. You really do buy into a whole system when you get to the pro level, so it’s just not feasible to mix and match the newer lenses and bodies.
The only thing that would make swapping systems is the fact that lenses, especially the high-end ones, hold their value really, really well. In fact, I sold off one of my pro lenses a few months ago, and actually made money on the deal.