What’s Your Preference?

sk66 · #1 (**permalink**) 02-27-2009, 05:45 AM

It seems to be coming up *again*.....maybe partly my fault..
My 2c...

There are definite advantages to going with the big names...supply and demand. There are more options at every price point with the big names....

That said, either is good, and I say this as a Nikon guy sometimes lusting for Canon.

The big difference, and the one you have to decide for YOURSELF is which works better for you...

I'm not happy with Nikon right now, but I probably won't be switching (although I "want to")....I prefer their ergonomics and the "logic" of the interface (maybe because it's what I'm used to). But that's just me....

RexK_Cozumel · #2 (**permalink**) 02-27-2009, 06:12 AM

out of curiousity why are you not happy with nikon right now?

fletch · #3 (**permalink**) 02-27-2009, 09:19 AM

Olympus? .

daft_biker · #4 (**permalink**) 02-27-2009, 09:35 AM

I'm well chuffed with my Canon gear

Nobody else makes a macro lens like the MP-E 65mm and it's pretty much all I use.

Olympus?....aren't they for girls?

kencaleno · #5 (**permalink**) 02-27-2009, 10:44 AM

In my 48 year span of wedding/portrait photography(retired since 2004)I have used both Nikon and Canon 35mm cameras with comparable results. I chose Nikon D50 for digital over Canon 350D,for these reasons:

1. Spot metering
2. Older lenses from 1959 still fit
3. The ability to synchronise any flashgun off-camera at up to 1/4000 second
4. Fastest on camera flash sync at 1/500 second
5. The ability to "Trap focus":

This is a neat way to use auto focus especially for fast sports/wildlife action, I don’t know other maker’s settings but these are the settings for Nikon users:
Custom (pencil) menu:

Autofocus set to AF-S
AF area mode set to single
AE-L/AF-L set to AF ON

Compose your shot and set the focus by aiming the centre focus icon at a definite target at the precise distance you want, (Say a tree branch where a bird is about to land, or on second base where the baseball player's foot will land) and pressing the "AE-L/AF-L" button near the viewfinder. This will focus the lens, let go of AE-L/AF-L button. Turn away,
press and hold the shutter button all the way down. Point camera at pre-focused point when subject approaches, and your camera will take the shot
Much faster than Human reflexes.

These were more important to me than the 350D's mirror lock up, 8 megapixels,and depth of field preview.

Regards, KEN

mfreg · #6 (**permalink**) 02-27-2009, 12:10 PM

Quote:

and I say this as a Nikon guy sometimes lusting for Canon.

Funny, I'm a Canon guy lusting after a Nikon

Is it "the grass is always greener syndrome" ?....personally, my problems with the digital Canon ( at least the XSi that I have ) is image "softness"....it seems the Nikons take such tack sharp images..if I boost the sharpness settings in my camera or in PP I tend to add alot of noise and halo effects.
For me, I owned a Canon film camera so when it came time to buy a digital I already had a couple of Canon lenses and flash, not being a rich man, it seemed logical to buy Canon since I already had this "stuff", I didn't even look at anything else

....now I find myself constantly questioning that decision...even as I continue to add more "stuff", which now will make it impossible for me to change brands....... unless I hit the lotto

my 2c

fletch · #7 (**permalink**) 02-27-2009, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daft_biker

Olympus?....aren't they for girls?

No, that is Casio!

Is yours pink like my wife's?

daft_biker · #8 (**permalink**) 02-27-2009, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kencaleno

This is a neat way to use auto focus especially for fast sports/wildlife action, I don’t know other maker’s settings but these are the settings for Nikon users:
Custom (pencil) menu:

Autofocus set to AF-S
AF area mode set to single
AE-L/AF-L set to AF ON

Compose your shot and set the focus by aiming the centre focus icon at a definite target at the precise distance you want, (Say a tree branch where a bird is about to land, or on second base where the baseball player's foot will land) and pressing the "AE-L/AF-L" button near the viewfinder. This will focus the lens, let go of AE-L/AF-L button. Turn away,
press and hold the shutter button all the way down. Point camera at pre-focused point when subject approaches, and your camera will take the shot
Much faster than Human reflexes.

There are various methods of pre-focussing you can use on most cameras....it's a fairly common technique amongst action photographers. On Canon I think you need to get a 30D or better to get the dedicated AF button on the back of the camera but on the xxxD bodies I think you have to reassign the AE lock button or something....don't know about the 350D but I think that's how it works on the 450D. On my 300D the AF was so useless I'd manually pre-focus but on my 40D I'd either hold focus by half pressing the shutter button with single shot AF or for holding focus for longer periods of time switch to manual focus. The end result is the same - the focus is where you left it when the action gets to where you want it. Pre-focussing is the only way I can get decent action pics out of my compact as it improves the shutter lag considerably. I'd certainly agree that it's a valuable technique in some situations.

I don't think the AF button on the back is a lot of use for continuous AF though....no point having to press a seperate AF button on the back when you're going to be pressing the shutter button anyway. Usually I prefer tracking auto focus so I can time my shots to try and catch the right moment without needing the subject in a certain spot (it's mostly mountain bikes I shot so I can't always predict exactly what the rider will do and even if we set up a shot it doesn't always go as planned!).