U agree with him?

klsss · 10th July 2003

hi , guys come across this, wat u guys thinks ?

I have been a Nikon user for over 10 years, and I have used several cameras, lenses and other accessories so it was a tough decision to make. But there were several reasons why I decided to make the switch from Nikon to Canon.
Compatibility problems
Nikon have slowly started to leave its famous 'F' mount. Still the lenses fit mechanically, but there are many lenses and bodies that can't be used together. Nikon is for instance releasing the 'G' lenses, lenses without an aperture ring, these lenses have limited functions on older auto focus cameras and can't be used at all on the manual focus cameras. Also Nikon's latest cameras, except F100 and F5, can't meter the light with lenses without CPU; almost all Nikon manual focus lenses lack CPUs.
Canon has for a long time been using USM (auto focus motor that is built-in in the lens and very quick and quiet) in almost all lenses. Nikon's corresponding AFS have just lately been incorporated in the lenses, and they exist almost only in the pro lenses. Canon has also been a forerunner with lenses that have built-in image stabilization, IS. Almost all prime lenses from 300mm have IS, and four zoom lenses have IS. Nikon's counterpart, VR, exists only in two zoom lenses (a third zoom lens is announced to be released in the summer of 2003). Contrasting to Canon, the VR and AFS functions are only supported by Nikon's latest cameras. The IS and USM work on all Canon cameras.

The Canon system feels better put together, there exist both converters and extension tubes that work with both auto focus and light metering. Only Nikon's AFI/AFS converters in combination with the AFI/AFS lenses will work with auto focus and all light metering methods. Other Nikon converters and extension tubes work only in manual focus, and with limited light metering (if it works at all).

Lens mount
Nikon is relying on a mechanical communication between the camera and the lens. This system can easy fail - it has done so for me. The lens closes down via a lever on the camera body that activates a lever in the lens that closes the aperture on the lens, but sometimes it does not work because of dirt entering the system. When this happens, all pictures that are taken will be overexposed.
Since Canon has an electric system, it is much more reliable compared to Nikon's mechanical system.

Lenses
Canon has a superb lens variety with lenses that are unparalleled by Nikon. It is not only extreme lenses like the MP-E 65/2.8 (macro lens with 1-5x magnification), the compact 400/4L DO IS, and the huge 1200/5.6L, but budget pro lenses like the 70-200/4L, a lens with the same optical and mechanical quality as Canon 70-200/2.8L and Nikon 80-200/2.8 but with half the weight and cost. This is a lens I have been jealous of during my Nikon time. Also many of Nikon's latest lenses have a poorly constructed lens collar. For example on AFS 300/4, AFS 80-200/2.8 and VR 80-400/4-5.6, the lens collars for these lenses are textbook examples of bad design.
Features on the camera body
The number of features on the Canon camera body has always been higher then the comparing number on the Nikon camera body and that includes the following important features:
Of Nikon's present camera bodies, it is only the F5 that have mirror lockup. Canon has it in several cameras. Since the mirror lockup is electronic on Canon's system it easy to control with the remote control, on Nikon you must engage the mirror lockup via a lever on the camera.
Dept-of-field preview is a feature missing on several Nikon cameras.
The top Canon cameras have 45 AF sensors. It makes it easy and gives great freedom to exactly choose where to put sharpness. Superb then you want to take pictures of moving object (for me flying birds), and don't want to "bulls eye" the object.
Canon is the only camera manufacturer that has a system for choosing the AF sensor with eye control.
The technical demands are always high, but technology must never stand in the way of an honest and sensitive creation of 'the picture'.
Digital and the future
It is Canon that today has the cutting edge technology on both analog and digital cameras. Nikon have today (25 May, 2003) nothing that can compete with the Eos 1Ds. When Nikon released the D1, and later the D1x and D1h, Nikon was on the front edge, but today Canon has taken the lead, and since Canon is a much bigger company compared with Nikon, I think that Canon will keep the lead also in the future.
Superb trade-in price
To make a switch between different brands is a very costly business, but I was extremely lucky and received an offer from Fotoaffären i Gårda (I have asked several other shops, but there offers was quite low for my Nikon stuff compared to Fotoaffären i Gårda) to trade in my Nikon system for a new Canon system. It was an offer that I couldn't resist. I chose the following Canon system: Eos 3, 24/2.8, 50/1.4 USM, 70-200/4L USM and 300/4L USM IS.
I am not alone
Many pros are today making a switch from Nikon to Canon, with almost the same reasons as I had. For example Joe MacDonald, Omar Brännström and Fritz Pölking have all made the switch. And I think that many other persons are leaving Nikon, because the used market for Nikon equipment are quickly filling and the price is dropping.

james m · 10th July 2003

and for those wondering the source of this.....

Nicke's Nikon

Larry · 10th July 2003

Quote:

Originally posted by klsss
Dept-of-field preview is a feature missing on several Nikon cameras.

huh??? really???

erwinx · 10th July 2003

should've posted the links to Joe MacDonald's and Fritz Polking's reasons for switching instead of these.

anyway, the posting of large chunks of copyrighted material lifted from someone's website without acknowledging the actual author should be discouraged.

tomshen · 10th July 2003

No need to justify your switch, so long as u feel u have done the right thing.

Here is my very flamable prediction: Nikon will either dramatically change their marketing strategy or disappear within 15 years ... (Sorry I just watched Terminator 3 last night)...

Larry · 10th July 2003

Quote:

Originally posted by tomshen
Here is just my very flamable prediction: Nikon will either dramatically change their marketing strategy or disappear within 15 years ... (Sorry I just watched Terminator 3 last night)...

Nikon's reply: I'll be back...

hahahah just kidding.

SniperD · 10th July 2003

Quote:

Originally posted by tomshen
No need to justify your switch, so long as u feel u haven't done the right thing.

Here is just my very flamable prediction: Nikon will either dramatically change their marketing strategy or disappear within 15 years ... (Sorry I just watched Terminator 3 last night)...

Ooohhh... so how's the movie.. heh heh heh.. bet they use Panavision and Miramax film cameras instead of Nikon.. hahahahhaha

(okie, I'm crapped)

renaissance_myth · 10th July 2003

Quote:

Originally posted by SniperD
Ooohhh... so how's the movie.. heh heh heh.. bet they use Panavision and Miramax film cameras instead of Nikon.. hahahahhaha (okie, I'm crapped)

pales in comparison to T2.

regards

tomshen · 10th July 2003

T2 was a classic. T3 is a bit like a patching story, closing T1/T2 and introducing T4, I feel. Anyway, still worthwhile if you were a T-fan.

ok ok I am OT here. No more coming...

sadness · 11th July 2003

Quote:

Originally posted by klsss
hi , guys come across this, wat u guys thinks ?

i have been a Nikon user for over 10 years, and I have used several cameras, lenses and other accessories so it was a tough decision to make. But there were several reasons why I decided to make the switch from Nikon to Canon.

hey brother klsss,

i agree totally with him on the motors...the AF...esp the G lens thing.

dun get me wrong, i'm Nikon through and through. besides, the eyes behind the viewfinder is than the most important element when taking fotos.

u know what, brother?
i think this thread will be a flaming war zone very very soon.

some hardcore NIKON moderators/users/fans will state their views very clearly and very quickly..

well, to each his own.

p.s. y did it become T3 discussion ah? isn't it to be something of 'semi-seriousness'?
someone will nag one leh...

sadness · 11th July 2003

the resale value of a Nikon is still not so bad...

it is all a very simple ideology of supply and demand.
if more ppl use Nikon, then more ppl will require the lens and parts.

but............................................... .......................we'll come to that in the last part...

besides, Canon lenses are mostly more more more expensive than Nikon's... comparatively!

make the switch to Canon? thought of it but realised i dun haf enuff funds... and to get used to a new camera system... wow...too old for learning new stuff la.

i would say that for any new comers into the world of photography...SLR world la, is to get a Canon basic system(watever EOS1,2,3,4,5 or 6 la... sorry Canon mates... but i knw nuts abt Canon) first.

alot of arguments will arise from this ...
there are MORE Canon users around then there are Nikons'.

Correct me if i'm wrong.

SzennyBoy · 11th July 2003

Quote:

Originally posted by sadness
... u know what, brother?
i think this thread will be a flaming war zone very very soon.

some hardcore NIKON moderators/users/fans will state their views very clearly and very quickly..

Noooo... m..u..s..t....r..e..s..i..s..t..!!!

sadness · 11th July 2003

Quote:

Originally posted by SzennyBoy

Noooo... m..u..s..t....r..e..s..i..s..t..!!!

wa...all become terminator-like in speeches too ah...

too much T3 is bad for us all.

u'll all be BACK ah?

sadness · 11th July 2003

maybe Nikon should kidnap Canon's camera and lens engineers.

SzennyBoy · 11th July 2003

Quote:

Originally posted by sadness
alot of arguments will arise from this ...
there are MORE Canon users around then there are Nikons'.

Correct me if i'm wrong.

One of the main reasons for this was the lack of marketing vision on Nikon's part in producing for the masses. They specialised on the high-end stuff for too long while Canon saw that gap and filled it with the consumer SLRs with lessons learnt from the pro series bodies.

Nikon has finally woken up to this fact and only in the last couple of years do we see the introduction of a whole series of new consumer bodies, namely the F55, F65 & F75. Now trying to play the catch-up game but me think its a wee bit too late... damage already done!

szekiat · 11th July 2003

to each his own yar? Features or not, Nikon works for me so i see no need to change. If your requirements are not met by your system, and your ricebowl is at stake, by all means change. I think a few of the mods will agree on this

shutterbug · 11th July 2003

Quote:

Originally posted by tomshen
No need to justify your switch, so long as u feel u have done the right thing.

Here is my very flamable prediction: Nikon will either dramatically change their marketing strategy or disappear within 15 years ... (Sorry I just watched Terminator 3 last night)...

Good for you. Don't be too happy. This is my even flamable prediction. If Nikon really die. Canon users will curse and swear coz Canon has no competior and will have free reign on prices.

No competitor = sky rocket high prices on Canon products.

Have you learnt from Microsoft today?

glchua · 11th July 2003

As a long time Nikon user, I would admit that this guy is right. I had owned Nikon's autofocus system and sold them all out due to the recent changes and unforseeable developments. I am now only willing to own their manual range of equipment. Canon is much better in their autofocus systems, and is also much better in their digital developments, and if I were to buy an autofocus system, I'LL GO CANON.

BTW, Canon Singapore has a much better service center compared to Nikon. They are professional and well managed. I had only positive experiences when dealing with them. Nikon Singapore runs a bit like those camera repair shops in Penisula. Many times quite frustrated with their service and attitude considering the high charges for their service.

GitS · 11th July 2003

Dagger, u getting any of this? hehehehehehe!

fruitybix · 11th July 2003

This is a big win in the advertising and promotion wars of two titans.

My honest opinion of the guy who wrote this article? A puppet.

What one should never do, is to publicise he is doing something, and that someone else is also doing it, and he is not alone in his views.

Name-dropping is distasteful, and smacks of a serious lack of self-esteem and confidence. If one really wants to make that switch, no lengthy justification treatise need be necessary. Make the switch, write to Nikon to voice you opinions and let it be.

I am no Nikon user, last time i used a Nikon cam was a manual SLR (cant even remember what it was, as it wasnt mine), some 15 years ago.

I for one, would like to see strong Nikon products, with better after-sales service, and competitive pricing strategies. This keep Canon on its toes, make it come up with competitive products, and not just rest on the laurels of the immensely successful "L" lens.

I will rue the day, if Nikon goes under (which i am sure it would not), becuase that will mean as consumers (be it Nikon or Canon), we would have no choice left.

Whether one likes Nikon, or Canon, it is a choice one makes, lets make that decision because we like the product, not becuase Russell Wong is using it.

10th July 2003	#1
klsss Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: USA ( upper serangoon area) Posts: 204	U agree with him? hi , guys come across this, wat u guys thinks ? I have been a Nikon user for over 10 years, and I have used several cameras, lenses and other accessories so it was a tough decision to make. But there were several reasons why I decided to make the switch from Nikon to Canon. Compatibility problems Nikon have slowly started to leave its famous 'F' mount. Still the lenses fit mechanically, but there are many lenses and bodies that can't be used together. Nikon is for instance releasing the 'G' lenses, lenses without an aperture ring, these lenses have limited functions on older auto focus cameras and can't be used at all on the manual focus cameras. Also Nikon's latest cameras, except F100 and F5, can't meter the light with lenses without CPU; almost all Nikon manual focus lenses lack CPUs. Canon has for a long time been using USM (auto focus motor that is built-in in the lens and very quick and quiet) in almost all lenses. Nikon's corresponding AFS have just lately been incorporated in the lenses, and they exist almost only in the pro lenses. Canon has also been a forerunner with lenses that have built-in image stabilization, IS. Almost all prime lenses from 300mm have IS, and four zoom lenses have IS. Nikon's counterpart, VR, exists only in two zoom lenses (a third zoom lens is announced to be released in the summer of 2003). Contrasting to Canon, the VR and AFS functions are only supported by Nikon's latest cameras. The IS and USM work on all Canon cameras. The Canon system feels better put together, there exist both converters and extension tubes that work with both auto focus and light metering. Only Nikon's AFI/AFS converters in combination with the AFI/AFS lenses will work with auto focus and all light metering methods. Other Nikon converters and extension tubes work only in manual focus, and with limited light metering (if it works at all). Lens mount Nikon is relying on a mechanical communication between the camera and the lens. This system can easy fail - it has done so for me. The lens closes down via a lever on the camera body that activates a lever in the lens that closes the aperture on the lens, but sometimes it does not work because of dirt entering the system. When this happens, all pictures that are taken will be overexposed. Since Canon has an electric system, it is much more reliable compared to Nikon's mechanical system. Lenses Canon has a superb lens variety with lenses that are unparalleled by Nikon. It is not only extreme lenses like the MP-E 65/2.8 (macro lens with 1-5x magnification), the compact 400/4L DO IS, and the huge 1200/5.6L, but budget pro lenses like the 70-200/4L, a lens with the same optical and mechanical quality as Canon 70-200/2.8L and Nikon 80-200/2.8 but with half the weight and cost. This is a lens I have been jealous of during my Nikon time. Also many of Nikon's latest lenses have a poorly constructed lens collar. For example on AFS 300/4, AFS 80-200/2.8 and VR 80-400/4-5.6, the lens collars for these lenses are textbook examples of bad design. Features on the camera body The number of features on the Canon camera body has always been higher then the comparing number on the Nikon camera body and that includes the following important features: Of Nikon's present camera bodies, it is only the F5 that have mirror lockup. Canon has it in several cameras. Since the mirror lockup is electronic on Canon's system it easy to control with the remote control, on Nikon you must engage the mirror lockup via a lever on the camera. Dept-of-field preview is a feature missing on several Nikon cameras. The top Canon cameras have 45 AF sensors. It makes it easy and gives great freedom to exactly choose where to put sharpness. Superb then you want to take pictures of moving object (for me flying birds), and don't want to "bulls eye" the object. Canon is the only camera manufacturer that has a system for choosing the AF sensor with eye control. The technical demands are always high, but technology must never stand in the way of an honest and sensitive creation of 'the picture'. Digital and the future It is Canon that today has the cutting edge technology on both analog and digital cameras. Nikon have today (25 May, 2003) nothing that can compete with the Eos 1Ds. When Nikon released the D1, and later the D1x and D1h, Nikon was on the front edge, but today Canon has taken the lead, and since Canon is a much bigger company compared with Nikon, I think that Canon will keep the lead also in the future. Superb trade-in price To make a switch between different brands is a very costly business, but I was extremely lucky and received an offer from Fotoaffären i Gårda (I have asked several other shops, but there offers was quite low for my Nikon stuff compared to Fotoaffären i Gårda) to trade in my Nikon system for a new Canon system. It was an offer that I couldn't resist. I chose the following Canon system: Eos 3, 24/2.8, 50/1.4 USM, 70-200/4L USM and 300/4L USM IS. I am not alone Many pros are today making a switch from Nikon to Canon, with almost the same reasons as I had. For example Joe MacDonald, Omar Brännström and Fritz Pölking have all made the switch. And I think that many other persons are leaving Nikon, because the used market for Nikon equipment are quickly filling and the price is dropping.

10th July 2003	#5
tomshen Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 3,719	No need to justify your switch, so long as u feel u have done the right thing. Here is my very flamable prediction: Nikon will either dramatically change their marketing strategy or disappear within 15 years ... (Sorry I just watched Terminator 3 last night)... __________________ Visit http://www.tomshenstudio.com Last edited by tomshen; 10th July 2003 at 07:53 PM.

10th July 2003	#9
tomshen Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 3,719	T2 was a classic. T3 is a bit like a patching story, closing T1/T2 and introducing T4, I feel. Anyway, still worthwhile if you were a T-fan. ok ok I am OT here. No more coming... __________________ Visit http://www.tomshenstudio.com

11th July 2003	#11
sadness Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: New York, New York! Posts: 468	oh ya the resale value of a Nikon is still not so bad... it is all a very simple ideology of supply and demand. if more ppl use Nikon, then more ppl will require the lens and parts. but............................................... .......................we'll come to that in the last part... besides, Canon lenses are mostly more more more expensive than Nikon's... comparatively! make the switch to Canon? thought of it but realised i dun haf enuff funds... and to get used to a new camera system... wow...too old for learning new stuff la. i would say that for any new comers into the world of photography...SLR world la, is to get a Canon basic system(watever EOS1,2,3,4,5 or 6 la... sorry Canon mates... but i knw nuts abt Canon) first. alot of arguments will arise from this ... there are MORE Canon users around then there are Nikons'. Correct me if i'm wrong.

11th July 2003	#14
sadness Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: New York, New York! Posts: 468	kidnap maybe Nikon should kidnap Canon's camera and lens engineers.

10th July 2003	#2
james m Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 441	and for those wondering the source of this..... Nicke's Nikon

10th July 2003	#4
erwinx Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 2,492	should've posted the links to Joe MacDonald's and Fritz Polking's reasons for switching instead of these. anyway, the posting of large chunks of copyrighted material lifted from someone's website without acknowledging the actual author should be discouraged.

11th July 2003	#16
szekiat Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: London Posts: 2,378	to each his own yar? Features or not, Nikon works for me so i see no need to change. If your requirements are not met by your system, and your ricebowl is at stake, by all means change. I think a few of the mods will agree on this

11th July 2003	#18
glchua Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Singapore Posts: 528	As a long time Nikon user, I would admit that this guy is right. I had owned Nikon's autofocus system and sold them all out due to the recent changes and unforseeable developments. I am now only willing to own their manual range of equipment. Canon is much better in their autofocus systems, and is also much better in their digital developments, and if I were to buy an autofocus system, I'LL GO CANON. BTW, Canon Singapore has a much better service center compared to Nikon. They are professional and well managed. I had only positive experiences when dealing with them. Nikon Singapore runs a bit like those camera repair shops in Penisula. Many times quite frustrated with their service and attitude considering the high charges for their service.

11th July 2003	#19
GitS Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 784	Dagger, u getting any of this? hehehehehehe!

11th July 2003	#20
fruitybix Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: West Posts: 698	This is a big win in the advertising and promotion wars of two titans. My honest opinion of the guy who wrote this article? A puppet. What one should never do, is to publicise he is doing something, and that someone else is also doing it, and he is not alone in his views. Name-dropping is distasteful, and smacks of a serious lack of self-esteem and confidence. If one really wants to make that switch, no lengthy justification treatise need be necessary. Make the switch, write to Nikon to voice you opinions and let it be. I am no Nikon user, last time i used a Nikon cam was a manual SLR (cant even remember what it was, as it wasnt mine), some 15 years ago. I for one, would like to see strong Nikon products, with better after-sales service, and competitive pricing strategies. This keep Canon on its toes, make it come up with competitive products, and not just rest on the laurels of the immensely successful "L" lens. I will rue the day, if Nikon goes under (which i am sure it would not), becuase that will mean as consumers (be it Nikon or Canon), we would have no choice left. Whether one likes Nikon, or Canon, it is a choice one makes, lets make that decision because we like the product, not becuase Russell Wong is using it.