Nikon vs Canon?

[Tanya Kurnik]

So for a few months I have been debating on Getting a Nikon D700, D7000 or a Canon 7D. I have always done photography as a hobby. My first Dslr camera was a Nikon D60. I loved it! My second is a Nikon D3100. A few years ago due to social media, people loved my photos and would ask me to take pictures of their family or baby photos. It was a domino effect. Now I get requests all the time. I have done a number of family and baby photos and I had 3 weddings this year. One was my brothers in Modello Sicily. I got booked for 3 more weddings next year. The D3100 is a nice camera to work with but now im looking for a professional camera. Last night I tried the 7D, D7000, and the Nikon 300s. I really liked the 300s with the sb 900 flash and the 10-24mm lens. Any thoughts?

[OsmosisStudios]

Whats your budget for lenses and other accessories? Thats gonna mean the difference between full-frame and APS-C.

[Tanya Kurnik]

$2600. Im thinking if I have a decent wide angle lens I wont need a full frame.

[Tanya Kurnik]

Im leaning on the 300s body with the sb-900 flash along with the Tamron SP AF 10-24mm F/3.5-4.5 DI II LD Aspherical (IF). This is my max budget. I shopped around online and a couple camera stores. I almost decided to go with Canon but I dont think I want to learn a new brand right now. I already Have a few Nikon lenses. Full frame is FX. That would mean I would have to go out and buy lenses to fit the D700. Im just anxious and I never had a professional camera. I dont want to regret my purchase. Like I said, I do mostly portrait photography and ill be doing more weddings.

[ShelleyLaSalle]

I'm going through the same thing. I've done a couple friends' weddings for free, just cause I love to take pictures, I've done a bunch of Christmas pictures and pictures of friends' kids... I'm now debating whether to take a step up from my D5000 to a D7000 - I'm also just starting to invest in studio lighting. It's tough, but I think I'll stay with my Nikon because I have a friend with a Canon and hers weighs twice as much as mine.

[Shokinen]

I would switch to Canon only if you really really really like the feeling in your hand better, or you are looking for something specific. Otherwise they both have strengh and weaknesses.

You need ~6000$ for the 24-70/70-200 combo + entry level full frame camera. You may start slowly with just the body and a 50mm f/1.8 but I don't think you will enjoy doing a wedding the only this lens. Plus, everything is "further" because you don't have the crop sensor anymore so that 50mm is not "75"mm anymore.

Nikon is supose to make a big annoncement in Janurary so it could be interesting to wait and what new DSLR they will annouce. Many rumours are saying a new full frame but the D300s is due for a replacement too so we never know. I'm also affraid the D7000 is the "new D400" and they will stop the Dxxx serie, but only time will tell.

If you absolutly need to buy something tomorrow, I would suggest the D7000. I'm currently using a D90 and the ergonomic is fantastic for someone who always shoot in manual. The only thing I could envy right now is a magnesium body (the D7000 has it), more cross-type sensor for the focus system (the D7000 as 9 over 1 with the D90), that's it. But this is not worth 1000$ for me (switching to a D7000). The D300s is 500$ more than the D7000 and the biggest differences are older sensor, a weather sealed body, a 51 focus point system and a slightly faster FPS/bigger buffer for sports. There is also some differences with the memory card to but I'm not doing Raw + JPEG. Again, not worth it for me.

Anyway, just some thoughts about your options. The important question you need to answer that will help your choice is what are you missing from your current body ?

[veritasimagery]

Since you have all the Nikon lenses, it would make more sense to stay with that system rather then dump it all and switch over to Canon.

As far as lenses go, this is one reason that any lens I buy from this point forward will be able to fit the Canon full-frame bodies (thankfully they work on the APS-C bodies as well), since my plan is to go full-frame down the road.

[Tanya Kurnik]

$6000 is to much right now. Im going to be dipping into my taxes and im not spending anymore than $2600. I was told the D7000 is not considered a "professional camera". He said anything in the 1000's isnt professional but it doesnt mean their not good. Hes a Nikon dealer and from what I told him im looking for in my price range was the 300s, tamron 10-24mm F/3.5-4.5 along with the sb-900 flash. I was looking at the sb-700 to go with the 300s and I would like some input on that. Whats the difference? I cant wait to hear what Nikon is coming out with next. Do you know when in January? Hopefully before I make my big purchase. Oh and im thinking I wont need a full frame because im getting a wide angle lens. Any thoughts on that?

[Tanya Kurnik]

Im staying with Nikon. I really dont want to switch to FX. That would mean I would have to pretty much start over with lens purchases. I have the D3100 right now. I was thinking of just keeping my 50mm on that camera for the close ups and use the 300s for everything else. By summer I would like to sell my D3100 for a D90 as a back up camera.

[Shokinen]

I always thought funny how people are using the word professionnal. Your rep is right, the D7000 fall into the serious amateur category. But a pro is someone who is living from his profession, regardless his profession. Couple years ago "pros" would have killed to get the D7000 specs. The 6MP, ISO1600, CCD Sensor D1 was a pro camera. Try to sell one today hahaha ! Having that said, getting back to my question, what are you looking in a new body ? This will help deciding between the D300 and the D7000.

As for the flash, the SB-900 is more powerfull and has more control if you are using it as a commander. Their is an update version that you may want to look into it (SB-910). I'm using an SB-600 (replaced by the SB-700) is it's ok for now for a single external flash. But I will be looking into a 900 with another 600 for a portable studio setup.

As for my wide angle / Full Frame thoughs, the only reasons I would get a Full Frame is
1: Win the lottery lol
2: Specifically need high ISO and wide angle (every mm count in wide photography and the 10-24 is actually a ``15``mm due to crop sensor, while you can get the 14mm using the 14-24 f/2.8 on an FF body).
But since this is just a hobby for me, I rather spend my money on a nice trip where I can bring back awsome pictures/memories instead of staying home watching my new ``pro`` gear...

It all depend what your goal is.