Dipping a toe back in the Nikon Pond?

9designs2

9designs2

9designs2

Soldato
Joined
5 Jan 2003
Posts
3,523
Location
Somewhere in the middle
Have a bit of an itch to scratch, thinking of moving back to Nikon and away from Canon....
I came from a Nikon back ground, F80 film, D70 DSLR then to a Canon 5D Mk1 to get FF.
I've since passed the D70 to my daughter, and then she has upgraded to a D90. Plus I've sorted my mum out with a D80.... So I've had chance to play with a few Nikons over the years, all be it older models.

So I'm tempted to pick up a D300 for a play myself. A crop sensor could be handy as well, saves buying ever bigger lenses for a bit of wild life, air shows or motor sport etc.
If that went well and liked the Nikon feel I know I'd end up with a D800E or a DF... but that's a long term maybe......

Reading through past posts seems the general advise is get a D7000, which would cost quite a bit more for a taster and play to see what I'll do..... Heck I could just say blow it and get a Mk3 !!... So I'm sort shying away from that much investment for now.... though open to being persuaded ;)


It's also little more complicated as my first choice isn't either brand... as going out and about in the UK shooting my normal landscape and general shots I pick up my old Contax ND and bag of very heavy CZ lenses... (which is FF and 6mp and crap over 200 ISO !!!) Which I love using and the challenge of it.

So the idea of a Nikon crop sensor would be to do what the Contax can't... travel abroad, action, longer lens stuff.

So a D300 sensible tryout? push for a D300s? ....

Canon gear currently held is 5Dc, 17-40L, 24-105L, 50 F1.4, 70-300IS.
 
Thanks for the excellent over view, gives me a lot to ponder. It was buying a D90 for my daughters 21st that I guess gave me this idea, just thought it was such nice well sorted camera.

So what lens? Was thinking the popular 18-105VR or even a the 18-200? As a get started try out lens.
 
Today's activity on auction .... D300 body only sold for £250 and a D7000+18-105 sold for £420.

As D.P noted I'm looking to have a play and tryout of a Nikon again..... the outcome would drive me to either keep Canon and get a 6D or Mk3 or sell the Canon kit and swap to Nikon... Ultimately getting a FF Nikon body.
It's just when i've picked up Nikon recently it made me tempted to return.

I bought the 5D new with the 24-105 as a kit not long after launch. I added the 17-40 new as I did the 70-300 and 50mm.
If I kept Canon I would look to replace the 70-300, and add something longer or a TC, and replace the 5Dc
So before making that sort of commitment it seemed worth checking out the competition :)
 
Ok, an update and you guys can tell me if I've done wrong!

Was out yesterday with the 5D, stopped off at bird hide on our walk around the local reservoir, there's a bird feeder really close and a squirrel was having a nut feast. The 5D with the 70-300 just isn't enough pulling power. The lens (ok wide open) didn't make for the sharpest combination and lacks contrast.... (Should have taken my old Contax ND ;)
This brings to my issue, the idea of buying a big expensive lens for FF use doesn't appeal... and I've never liked the 100-400L lens much when I've had a play with one.... (I've had a Canon 400D crop in the past, old D70 was better).

So, I just agreed a deal on a D7000, as I like wide as well I dropped onto one being sold with the 16-85mmVR lens. Hopefully the extra couple of mm over the 18-105 etc will be noticeable. It also comes with the Nikon grip. All boxed and complete etc... 700 notes. Not a bargain but seems fair price if I look at the parts being sold separately.

Will give it a try then decide on what long lens to match to it.... Suggestions?

Then sell off the 5D, 50mm F1.4 and the 70-300 IS... Might hang on to the 17-40 and the 24-105L for a while to be sure :)
Any idea what the 5D etc is worth on the used market?
 
Thanks D.P for the feedback and confirming the 16-85 is a decent lens....

James J,
Because I will buy a longer lens that does 300mm.. which gives me more reach on the crop sensor. Didn't want a crop Canon.... Didn't want to buy a 400 Canon lens, would never have carried it around or travelled with it.
If say I kept Canon and bought a 5D Mk3 (or 6D) I would then still need a longer lens... If I had a Mk3 next I would have looked at the 24-70 F2.8!!!!.... and replacing the 17-40L to make most use of the Mk3 sensor.
So now was the time to swap if I wanted to as the future purchase are the same or similar value.

Note, I still have FF setup in my Contax N system, ok old, limited and only 6mp, but I still use that for landscape around the UK, with the bag full of CZ lenses it produces wonderfully rendered shots. Is my first choose to use.... but then I'm an old Contax Fanboy ;) I have 17 to 300mm on that set up as well.

So the Nikon Nikkor 70-300mm F4.5/5.6 AF-S G IF ED VR for around £440 new is good choose... and can add a 1.4 or 1.7 TC
How would that lens compare to the Canon 70-300 I have now?
Ideal is to end up with a 2 lens set up that travels easy on low cost flights to Europe.

If in the future my Contax packs up then I'll add a D800E or DF :eek:

For now I think this give me two different set-ups with complimentary abilities.

edit
Oh Flickr very kindly shares some of my Contax ND images without asking!!

https://www.flickr.com/photos/9designs/8154825671/in/photostream/
 
Last edited:
Little update:-

D7000 and 16-85 shipped today, 70-300 ships tomorrow.....

Sold the Canon kit already, 5D+50+70-300.... Will keep my L glass for a bit ;)

To swap over it's cost me just under 200 quid :D ....... So I just hit the buy now button on a Yongnuo YN568EX flash......

Hopefully all will arrive in time for a play over the long weekend.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom