Moving from Canon to Nikon?

Totality

Totality

Totality

Soldato
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Has anyone done this?

I used a Nikon for the first time the other day. Currently have the Canon 20D. The Nikon felt solid and the cover over the LCD and grid lines in the viewfinder just made it feel more "complete" than the canon bodies. That said it was a lot more confusing with loads of buttons all over the place but I'm sure you'd get used to it.

So basically - has anyone moved from canon to nikon? Obviously you'd lose the L glass but I can hardly afford anything more than the 200mm L at the moment anyway!

Do Nikon lenses compare to the Canon L ones? Prices, build, etc.

Has anyone moved from Canon to Nikon?
 
Nikon's top end lenses perform just as well as Canon L really, they just don't have a 'brand' like L for them.

It'll be a massive cost to swap over, is it really worth it, for what is ultimately not a huge reason?

What body did you use and what would you be aiming to buy?
 
Nikon bodies are superior imo in the build department but everyone has their personal preference. Nikon superior glass tends to be more expensive on the whole than Canon's. I have two decent lenses for mine in the 70-200 VR and 80-400 VR and they cost close to £1000 each here, think you get comparable canon lenses cheaper. I have a D200 which has buttons all over the place but they are all easily accessible and it stops you having to trundle through menus all the time.

The grids on the viewfinder should surely be an option on the canon too? You even get that on Fuji bridge cameras.

Personally I wouldn't switch unless you felt it was worth it long term.
 
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Which Nikon body did you try?
Why don't you try handling a 40D?
It has different user changeable viewfinder screens available too as accessories (about £20 each).
Probably cheaper (esp with Cashback promotion) than changing over to Nikon if you like it.

Tbh all the other major SLR/DSLR - Pentax, Olympus, Sony etc. - manufacturers have excellent glass available too if you can pay, just that Canon & Nikon have a wider system albeit some of it is pretty esoteric (apparently Canon have only sold 24 1200mm lenses - but then they are $75,000).
 
To repeat what BUFF has said, try going to the newer Canon cameras before you go nuts and switch. Both makes of camera are very good now, and there's next to nothing between them, but if you already own Canon mount lenses, etc then you'd be a fool not to look at the 30/40D or the 400D. Hell, you could even splash out on a 5D or 1Ds MKIII :D
 
if you think grid lines are special just look through a full frame view finder and tell me you dont want a 5D just for the view finder!
 
divine` said:
Nikon's top end lenses perform just as well as Canon L really, they just don't have a 'brand' like L for them.

What body did you use and what would you be aiming to buy?
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Nikon pro lenses (equivalent or perhaps better than canon L) have a gold ring at the front of the lens body. You can see it on the 17-55 f2.8 or the 70-200 f2.8 VR (which are good examples of the pro lenses).

I have a D200 and I like the fact it has direct access to almost all the functions I want by the buttons all over the place rather than trawling through menus. A friend has a 10D (Older camera I know) and I really couldn't live with the interface, it's nasty. I also find the twin control dials suit manual mode shooting really well...
 
Are you happy with your Canon? If so I'd stick with them.

They were only bridge cameras, but I changed from Canon to Fuji and regretted it. Luckily I was able to get a refund on the Fuji and return to Canon. SLRs are a different kettle of fish of course, but if you like a brand I think it's best to stick with it.
 
Why do you want to move over? Because of viewfinder etc?

I had moved over to Nikon more than a couple of years ago simply because I like Nikon colour and first class ergonomics of Nikon DSLRs. Oh yes, superior flash system as well! For me, it was more than a good reason to switch over.
 
I used a D70. Just felt more "solid" and better built than my 20D.

When people say Nikon have a superior flash what do you mean by that? I have the 430EX for the Canon.

Also people are saying try out the 40D. Does that have gridlines and an LCD cover like the Nikon's do?

One thing I like about the 20D however is the wheel for scrolling through photos, etc. Maybe I'll look to borrow a mates Nikon for a weekend and see how it goes!
 
Theres always been a difference in the feel of photos taken by Nikon, my friend is a pro who has always shot nikon film and DSLRs, he has some big expensive glass, nikkor 300mm, 600mm and a sigma 800mm prime.. I;'d say that overal Nikon pro gear always seems to produce images which look a lot sharper than canon, canon photos tend to look "glossier" with more enhanced colours.. Some people prefer one some people prefer the other.. Im a canon person at the moment, but im not really stuck with any make, when I refresh all my gear in the next few years or whatever i'll give Nikon a go again..
 
The flash thing is because Nikon's can flash sync faster, something like 1/500 vs Canon's 1/200 or something like that, I forget because I rarely use it that fast.

Also on some models, wireless is built into the body so you can have remote flashes without wires or seperate commander units.
 
I went down the Nikon route but that was due to having a good feel for the D70 before buying. One of my best mates had a D70 and I came in contact with the D70 at uni while my tutor was giving us a few workshops. For me it was a matter of learning a new system or going with what I already knew and felt comfortable with.

What I would say is that you can get amazing results with either system. There are minor differences between the two but nothing that should really hold you back as a photographer. If it does then I would look at the equipment behind the camera before blaming the hardware. ;)

If I were you I would total up the amount you would expect to get for your current Canon equipment, then total up what you would expect to spend on the Nikon stuff you have your eye on. Work out the difference and then see if that money wouldn't be better off going towards an upgrade on your Canon Body.

Remember that you may have to get new memory cards and other accessories such as spare batteries, filters for your new lenses and other small items as these can really add up and ruin your budget.

Panzer
 
Im might be doing this but from the other direction.

I have been with Nikon for quite a few years and have been very impressed with my D70. I think there are differences with colour rendition and I beleive someone on here said that forensic investigators use Nikon as the colouring is more realistic. The creative flash system is also brilliant but for me personally it was just something I played with once I got my SB-800.

Having said that, I do find it hard to acheive nice shots at higher iso's and for the type of pictures I take, Nikon doesnt have the glass for me. Comparing glass costs you will see that Nikon is a bit more expensive. For example you can buy a 300mm F4 from both Canon & Nikon at similar prices except for the fact that the Canon has IS which can be very useful.

Not sure how this will help you, but think very carefully about the lenses you want and make sure Nikon can cater for your needs at your budget!
 
Totality said:
Also people are saying try out the 40D. Does that have gridlines and an LCD cover like the Nikon's do?
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As I said for £20 (£15 after cashback) you can get a Canon viewfinder screen with gridlines.
Don't know about the LCD cover but I would be surprised if something isn't available from somewhere.

& with the 40D Canon images have lost the somewhat unreal, plasticky look that you could sometimes accuse them of. Obviously changed the processing quite a bit.

It's got to be worth an hour or 2 to visit a camera shop & try 1 against the current Nikon offering in it's class (although both D200 & D80 are due for replacement - D300 will be £1300 though).
 
I went to Nikon D80 from an EOS350D because of the VR 18-200 zoom, and the need to travel light. Say what you will about image quality, there's a recognised hole in the Canon lens lineup, one that hasn't been adequately filled by the Sigma OS18-200. Had there been, I'd have stayed Canon - I don't think there's much in the pro-amateur ranges to count between them. I prefer the D80's feel, but liked the EOS's menus better.
 
danbroad said:
Say what you will about image quality, there's a recognised hole in the Canon lens lineup,
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No matter what system you have the grass is always greener on another for a few things - it just depends whether the perceived gap is important enough to you to make you change systems as in your case.
 
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