Considering selling everything..

[SwissJon]

After 6 months living hapily with my Sony A55V, I'm thinking of selling up and changing allegience, for the following reasons:

I don't like the electronic view finder. Having spent several months enjoying the 100% field of view, and the fact that when I press the DoF preview button I see a DoF preview at the exposure the picture will be taken at, and the focus zoom button zooms to 14x, allowing me to easily focus the lens at a particular point in the frame, and has a in screen artificial horizon, which I find is incredibly useful. I find that I'm fed up of looking at pixels, I want to see the real thing through the lens, not a digital interpretation of it.

I can find no way of getting the off camera wireless flash to work with TTL metering. This is particularly annoying in a dark environment where I have to switch to manual exposure, compose the picture, focus, then change the exposure to the point where I am at a correct exposure at which point the view through the view finder and in live view is black. I want to be able to see the thing I'm photographing at the exposure I'm shooting at.

I considered changing the body to the Sony equivalent with a real SLR, but I've come to the conclusion that I'm sick of struggling to find camera gear because everyone stocks loads of the big two, but nothing else, and since Sony, for some reason, doesn't do TTL flash metering, I'd only solve half my problems and lose out on some of the benifits.

So, I've decided to sell out and get rid of all my kit (About 5 lenses, 2 of them almost brand new) and move over to one of the big two. The question is, which?

Having looked at the Nikon range, I realise that the only camera I'm likely to be able to afford is a D7000. I'd love to get a full frame camera such as a D700, but I'm not sure that the 12MPix sensor isn't a step back, and is the doubled price.

Looking at the Cannon range, the EOS 5D is out of my range at the moment, so I realise that my choice is either save up for a few months, living with my current camera, and splash out on an EOS 7D or switch to an EOS 60D now, and then look to upgrade in a year or two. I'm quite taken by the swinging screen on the 60D, but the electronic level on the Live view apparently only works horizontally.

I know the camera is only half the story, and to be honest, the reason I'm looking to change is the lack of a decent market for second hand glass as well.

Soooooo... There's my story, I'd like some feedback from those of you using these cameras to see if I can make my mind up about what to do.

[Thunder_o_b]

Give a serious look at the Canon 50D. It is a good price if you can find one, they were discontinued about two weeks ago. All the shots that I have posted here were shot with this camera.

[OsmosisStudios]

D7000 or 60D, frankly.

[Jim Bryant]

Go to the store and ask to hold them both. Sometimes one camera fits better in your hands than the other.

[sk66]

Definitely try them both out. See which one "makes sense" to you. They have very different methods of organizing/accessing/controlling the various settings.... They also feel somewhat different to handle.
While I use and like Nikon, FF high MP bodies and upper end lenses seem to be just a bit more attainable with Canon.

If you are interested in off camera flash photography Nikon's CLS is very nice.

[jdepould]

Originally Posted by Jim Bryant

Go to the store and ask to hold them both. Sometimes one camera fits better in your hands than the other.

This ^

Also, Nikon's wireless TTL system is unmatched. Now also works with Pocket Wizards. Check out Joe McNally. He knows Nikon CLS magic.

[autofocus]

but I'm not sure that the 12MPix sensor isn't a step back

Don't let this be a barrier. We shoot with a D300, also a 12 meg camera, and have gotten 20x30 images out of it. Maybe a D300s could fit the bill for you..and a well sealed magnesium body a plus, too

[jml79]

The D7000 out does the 60D in almost every way but I prefer the handling and feel of the 60D.

In many ways I feel you pain. I love some of the Sony features and innovation but some of the down sides are annoying. I am waiting for the new A77/A800 (they haven't picked a name) before deciding whether to jump ship or not. I love the Pentax K-5's handling but it also suffers from a basic AF system (compared to Nikon) and lack of availability. They also have a strange lens line up. If Nikon would license Sony's sensor shift technology I would buy one tomorrow.

[autofocus]

The D7000 out does the 60D in almost every way but I prefer the handling and feel of the 60D

Funny, but I read a recent test review comparing both the 60D and the D7000 (don't remember where though) and the 60D outdid the D7000 in that report

[dlambert]

Be sure to spend a little time w/ the menus & buttons & such, as well. You might find that you really like the way one of them handles a common shooting situation (for you), or that one of them is a real pain for one of these scenarios.

I'd also take a look at the lenses in each line that correspond to the ones you're used to. You might find that there's a difference in cost or quality for the lenses you want -- even if you're not going to get them all at once. For example, both Canon and Nikon have a "nifty fifty", but Nikon's also got a very reasonably-priced 35mm f/1.8 -- there isn't an equivalent Canon lens at that price point. If you're considering a full-frame camera at some point, you'll also want to consider this in looking at Canon lenses -- you'll need EF lenses for a full-frame camera (EF-S lenses won't work).

Finally, I don't know too much about Sony's product line, but I know that the pellicle-mirror design in the A55V is pretty new. I'd give some thought to whether Sony might bring out a new body that addresses some of the issues you're having. They seem to be committing pretty strongly to this direction, so I'd expect them to keep working on the rough bits. This obviously doesn't address the "not one of the big two" problem, but if Sony gains some market share, maybe this problem will lessen over time.