Canon vs. Nikon - Which should I choose??

[LindseyLaughlin]

I have been a Canon user and lover for the last 10 years and have come to the point where I need to upgrade my gear. I have several folks trying to persuade me to switch to Nikon. I'm torn! I have read several online comparisons but in the end, it looks like it comes down to preference. Am I wrong? I don't want to make a $10,000.00 mistake! Help!

[kirbinster]

Well you should obviously go with Nikon, as in the mind of a Nikon owner they are much better machines. But seriously now, I don't think you will go wrong either way - see which offers better controls based on the way you use them. If you can use some of your existing glass then it probably is a better option to stick with that non-Nikon brand - I can't even bring myself to say the name

[dlambert]

It really is personal preference. If there's a good reason for you to switch to Nikon, then you might as well make the move before you acquire even more stuff, but make sure you plan out the real cost of making the switch so you don't go in blind.

As a Canon shooter, I've been impressed with Nikon's recent offerings, but I'm also aware that these two have slugged it out over the years, taking turns as the new hotness, and I fully expect Canon to show up any day now with some jawdropping new stuff.

If I were you, I'd let those folks who are persuading you to switch try to woo you by letting you borrow some of their Nikon stuff for a while. Go out and shoot as much as you can stand, and do your own comparison. If you're not head-over-heels in love with the Nikon stuff, you've probably got your answer.

[Paul 92]

You are investing in a camera system so off the bat, its a big decision. But don't think that you'll get better or worse images based on this. This is a very personal decision based on what your needs are and where your comfort lies. I would go out and rent a small Nikon outfit, body, maybe a couple lenses and a flash, one weekend and then a Canon outfit the next. See how operating each system works for you and go from there.
Personally I've used a Nikon system my entire photo-life and love it. I know lots of people who love their canon gear as well though. So do your homework and try out as much as you can for yourself before you spend.
And just remember, you make the photographs not your camera, so don't get too carried away with equipment purchases. Canon or Nikon, the best you can get for your dollar is where you want to start, knowing that you can easily upgrade in the system you choose from there.
Paul

LifePics: Create Anything, Print Anywhere.

[Phillydog1958]

Originally Posted by LindseyLaughlin

I have been a Canon user and lover for the last 10 years and have come to the point where I need to upgrade my gear. I have several folks trying to persuade me to switch to Nikon. I'm torn! I have read several online comparisons but in the end, it looks like it comes down to preference. Am I wrong? I don't want to make a $10,000.00 mistake! Help!

If you drop $10 grand on either Nikon or Canon, you can't make a mistake. With such an investment, you will have a great photography set up. I say, do your research and go with your gut.

[inkista]

I would also say that, in part, it also comes down to what you shoot habitually and the lenses you use or would like to use. While Nikon and Canon do have quite a fair bit of overlap in terms of what the systems offer, there are the occasional only-on-one-side lenses. There's no 17mm tilt-shift on the Nikon side, and no 400mm f/5.6 supertele prime or 400/4 DO lens. The 80-400 VR and 85/1.8 are not AF-S. There's no 85mm f/1.2. But on the Canon side, there's no 10mm crop-body fisheye. There's nothing like the 14-24. And it's not like any of the Canon flashes offer an equivalent to SU-4 mode.

And, as a vintage glass geek, I also have to state that while Canon has no backwards-compatibility with the older manual focus Canon FD/FL mount, I can adapt Nikon F, Contax/Yashica (Zeiss), Leica-R, Olympus OM, Pentax K, and M42 lenses with simple rings, whereas if I were shooting Nikon, I'd have to replace a lens mount and only if Leitax makes a compatible kit.

What glass do you want to use?