Canon or Nikon DSLR - what do you professionals use?

[ticklish]

Ok, I want to upgrade my current Canon DSLR - it is a entry level model, a few years old and am lusting after something a little faster, IS lenses (preferably faster than my current lenses) and something with a self cleaning sensor.

Should I stick with Canon or save more $$ and go for a Nikon?

Professionals - what equipment do you use and what would you recommend?

TIA
TICKLISH

(Note to self: All depends on whether DH gets a bonus this year - otherwise keep lusting)

[{sarah}]

Canon for me, just because I've always used Canon

[ticklish]

Snap - Sarah, me too. That's why I thought maybe it is time for a Nikon. Always found Canon to be better value but have always thought Nikon had better lenses and colour contrast.

Saw reviews on the Nikon D300 and D700 a bit pricey but WOW what results. (D700 out of the question - now the D300 - a maybe?)

TICKLISH

[Astrolady]

Canon for us as well. We have the 400D

[~Raven~]

Nikon for me

My film camera is a Nikon so that had a lot to do with it. At one stage I considered changing to Canon DSLR but it didn't feel right.

I think you'll find most camera users are like car enthusiasts. Nikon Vs Canon is like Ford Vx Holden lol.

[BellyBelly]

Lion's den asking this question! Like Sam said, ask anyone in the photography world and its like Holden vs Ford... just a preference thing.

I have the Canon 400D also.

[little_Miss_Chez]

i swapped from canon to nikon and wont go back have had brilliant results .

[suse]

Canon for me. Sam, in the cameras = cars equation - which one's which? Is Canon Holden or vice versa?

To be honest, I think at the pro level, it comes down to personal preference (ie: what interface you prefer). The specs are more or less on par.

I've noticed that amongst the two, the Canon professional range seems to be favoured by commercial photographers, whereas Nikon is used more in photo-journalism. Which would perhaps imply that Nikon has an edge in flexibility across all conditions. Without having used Nikon, it's hard to judge, but I've noticed that the Canon digital capture has some artifacts in low lighting and high contrast conditions, which would support this.

[Muppity]

I have a friend who is a professional photographer and has previously owned a camera store. He says that for functionality value and quality the best package is the Nikon D70 - I don't know if they still make them or not but they are a really really great camera - although not really entry level pricing from what I remember.

[AnyDream]

DH prefers Canon by far, more user-friendly, better autofocus on the lenses, easier & quicker to get things fixed (ie aftersales service), bayonet for attaching the lens is much easier to use, lenses are better quality, better compensation by the camera for things like shadows and skin tones for ppl. Canon is better quality for money at the cheaper end of the market. Bearing in mind that DH has used them out in real-time situations like PR photography and out in the field in extreme climatic conditions. You might be looking for something different if you're always shooting in controlled conditions like a studio.

Hope that helps.

[~Aveta~]

i use a Nikon D40 and a D300. absolutely love them. here's links to a couple of my facebook photo albums, and if you'd like to take more of a look at what i can do with the Nikons, PM me and i'll give you our photography website addy, i'm not allowed to post it here because it's a commercial site

Karan Michelle Evans's Photos - stormlight over Coffs Harbour | Facebook (the D300)

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?ai...&id=1369481946 (the D40)

[~Raven~]

Yay some more Nikon allies

Muppity the D70 has been superseded. I have the D70s which was the replacement and is now 3 years old almost, and now there is a D80.

Aveta I'm considering getting the D300. By the time I dither about it and decide the next model will be out

If you google ken rockwell he has a site where he gives detailed reviews and some comparisons. I would have posted it before if I remembered what his name was lol.

[Deejoy17]

I`ve got the Nikon D300

I love, love, love my camera, although I have no idea how to use it to it`s capabilities, some of the photos I have taken has amazed me, so I know if I knew how to use it properly the photos would be awesome.

DH brought it for my birthday in July last year, he did a lot of research before deciding on this camera, DH also owns a Nikon SLR film camera which is about 16 years old and still produces the amazing photos so I think that`s what swayed him towardss the Nikon D300.

I was so scared to use it in the beginning, it looked so big and exy, I told him I do not want to know the price and I still don`t want to.

I`m wanting to do a photography course for my own benefit soon, just have to find one first.

[ticklish]

Thanks for all your comments. Lots to think about and the good news is DH came home last night to say that he is getting a substantial bonus - so I can go camera shopping if I want.

Never thought of Canon and Nikons as Holdens or Fords - more BMWs or Mercedes for me. I always thought of my Pentax SLR as more of a Holden (apologies if I have offended anyone! My Canon was a step up for me!)

Found a great site where you can compare all specks of current and superseded models (check out - dpreview) and looking at that - Nikons seems to have the edge in pixel density - Canon have the edge in value and are much more popular. Was looking at the Canon D40, D50 or Nikon D300.

Will do some more research!

TA,
TICKLISH

[ticklish]

Also some great reviews on YouTube - check out WhatDigitalCamera - Canon has redesigned it's CMOS sensor with the 40D and then the 50D so the picture quality is not reduced by having a higher density of pixels on the sensor - oh, the choices!

[Snacks]

DH uses Canon. I think primarily because he always has and therefore can continue to make use of all his lenses!

[~Aveta~]

Yay some more Nikon allies
Aveta I'm considering getting the D300. By the time I dither about it and decide the next model will be out

i actually use the D40 more, withthe wide-angle lens for car shows and landscapes. the D300 is better for portraits, closeups, and night shots - tho having said that, the best pics i took at the Coffs Coast Rally were with the D40 and the wide-angle - even the ones with the cars in motion.

betweenthe two cameras and the latest version of Lightroom,it's easy to get great shots.


i miss using my Pentax SLR film camera, but it's just too expensive to use film at the rate i do, and have no control over printing quality of the images.

[ticklish]

BTW I did get a new camera .