Switching from Nikon

[radiohead]

Hello all - my first post here I think.

A little about me and why I'm posting. I've been shooting Nikons for a couple of years, and currently have a D2x and D200. I shoot weddings and some events on a part-time basis, averaging about 6-8 weddings a year. Much as I love Nikon I've become increasingly frustrated by the noise issues and the fact that neither of their great high-ISO bodies (the D50 and D2Hs) are really aimed at what I shoot. I've had to keep at 400 or below to make sure I keep low noise and decent saturation but I finally decided to take a look over the fence, namely at the 5D.

IN a word - wow. I can shoot at ISO1600 with impunity. Once I got my head around the change in focal length over a crop and the difference in the camera layout I can't see a huge amount of difference between AF and the like.

So, I'm making the jump over to Canon. I'll be buying the 5D with the 24-105mm f4 L, and likely lens purchases on top of that are the 50mm f1.4 and the 70-200 f4 (non-IS) as well as a 580EX.

Big decison!

[George Chew]

Greetings,
Good decision to buy Canon base on noise issue. I'm using the 5D and have tested it on ISO1600, it is incredible. Enjoy...

[stupot]

Welcome to the dark side:) Stick around these forums and you'll learn your new camera in no time, there's a wealth of information here.

[radiohead]

Thanks chaps

[peterdoomen]

Even with a non-pro Canon camera like the 20D, you can have impressive results at high ISO. Congrats on the decision and welcome to the POTN forum, the most information-rich and friendliest photography forum on the net.

P.

[equetefue]

I jumped ship myself 4 months ago. I miss the ergonomics, but ILove the 30D and won't look back. I have a 70-200 f4L and you will love it.

[ssim]

Welcome to the forum. I think that you will enjoy your time here.

While this is a Canon forum, first and foremost it is about photography. It is one of the more friendly forums on the net and you can ask questions here without being ridiculed like on so many other forums. The old saying, there is no such thing as a stupid question, really does hold true here.

Nikon makes some fine cameras but the resounding complaint it their noise. It is peculiar that they never tried to tackle this issue.

Photography should be about fun and I think that you will find plenty of that here.

[radiohead]

That's good to know Sheldon - I hope to enjoy it here.

[adas]

The 5D is a wise choice.
The high noise and the absence of FF camera in Nikon's range is unexplainable to me.

[brasher]

I've almost done the same.

I have come from a Pentax DSLR background.

As much as I loved that camera, getting more serious with my photography meant I needed to step up a level, Pentax did not have a camera that met my needs, thus I came to the land of Canon :)

[convergent]

I made the switch from Nikon to Canon about 18 months ago and never looked back. Most of my experience in the move is more around the 1 Series bodies, and the 5D has the controls more like the consumer bodies. A couple of things you have to look out for, and watch out for...

I shoot a lot of ISO1600 and used to have to run all of it through Noise Ninja... every image. I've probably used Noise Ninja on 3 or 4 images in the last 12 months.... and are talking about many thousands of ISO1600 images. The 5D is better than the 1DMk2N that I use, so you should love that.

AF hunting in very, very low light (lets just call it "in the dark") is worse with Canon. Canon's dynamic tracking doesn't work worth a flip from what I've been able to tell, and I used it all the time on my D2H. And, in rapid fire mode, if you set the body to focus priority (not sure if the 5D even has this, so it may be a 1 series concern), it doesn't shoot the first image in the series at focus priority... Nikon does. This is rather annoying.

The 580EX is a lot more expensive than the SB800 and comes with less and does less (I think it puts out more light, though I'm not positve... need to check the specs). More importantly, it only has 2 modes... full manual and ETTL. It doesn't let you choose when to be fill like the SB800... it is based on the mode the camera is set in. If the camera is in P, it is key. If the cameras is in another mode, it is fill. And there is definitely no mode similar to the SB800 AA mode.

As far as shooting goes, the ergonomics are different, but certainly just a learning curve thing. For all the hoopla about Nikon ergonomics, its a matter of learning the body and then you are off to the races. I like the 1 Series controls a lot better than the 5D, but you get used to what you have.

If you do weddings, then the full frame wide angle, and the huge viewfinder are going to be well welcome. As you said though, your lens kit is going to be shifted quite a bit. I use a lot of primes and when I dropped using a 20D for sports and just use the 1.3 crops now, I had to bump up to some longer lenses in the kit...namely the 200 f/1.8 where I used the 135 f/2 before.

[radiohead]

Thanks Mike - all very useful as I feel like I'm starting again here!

[FIREWALLROB]

Good to see you :cool:

Unfortunately i'm having to sell all my gear:cry: , but it was great being able to shoot at high ISO with the Canon sensor.

It's great having sunny days, but us Brits don't have that too often :D , so the 400 plus ISO is often used. That is what brought me to Canon.

And when I start afresh, having moved to the seaside, I will be buying Canon once again - unless, of course things change in the Nikon camp !!

[fivefish]

Everybody rejoice. He was once lost, but now he's found. :)

I'll be buying the 5D with the 24-105mm f4 L, and likely lens purchases on top of that are the 50mm f1.4 and the 70-200 f4 (non-IS) as well as a 580EX.

Great stuff!

[Keiffer]

Welcome Radio, You will love and be constantly surprised at the wonderful high ISO shots people get, I was looking at a couple of 3200 iso shots yesterday on this forum and it still amazes me, and reminds me that I can truly go that high and still get great shots. Enjoy your time here and we look forward to you posting some shots with your new gear.

[bufferbure1]

I think these are all taken with 3200 & 1600 ISO hand-held. I am happy with my 30D noise level.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mlmho/sets/72157594196923874/

[radiohead]

Thanks for the warm welcome all.

As I type Mrs Radiohead is heading home with the 5D, 24-105/4 and 70-200/4 in tow. I have the 50/1.4 arriving on Saturday and will also probably go for the 100/2 over the 85/1.8. I also plan to get the 580EX and grip for the 5D.

[calgaryphotographer]

Thanks for the warm welcome all.

As I type Mrs Radiohead is heading home with the 5D, 24-105/4 and 70-200/4 in tow. I have the 50/1.4 arriving on Saturday and will also probably go for the 100/2 over the 85/1.8. I also plan to get the 580EX and grip for the 5D.


Congrats...Your gonna love it. Now go get the flash (or two :D) and the grip and it'll feel like your D2x.

[gryphonslair99]

Nice to see you here. I just switched to digital and purchased the 30D. Have really enjoyed it. and am truely impressed with the quality of the photographs I have been able to take.

I started in film 30 years ago with an F2 and a fleet of nikor lenses. Nikon has some of the best glass around. But in switching to digital, I don't believe you can find a company or a line of cameras and equipment beter than Canon. They are the undisputed king of Digital photography.

[Bonjour43ma]

Hey Radiohead, were you on Nikon Cafe as well? LOL

I recently switched to Canon as well and so far I'm really impressed by the noise performence, which is one of the main reasons I made the switch.

Ergonomics, however, is a completely different story. To be honest with you I still think Nikon cameras are better designed and more comfortable to use... But you gotta give away something to take something, right?

Enjoy!

[sam0329]

I own a D2H and Canon 1 series, also a 30D, I like the feel and handling of Nikon Pro camera, however, noise is really a issue with Nikon 's high ISO performance. I can shoot 1600 on my 30D without too much clean up, but you know what, sometimes I like to shoot 1600 ISO on my D2H to make it noisy, it really create the "mood" that I cant do that with my canon body, of course you can always do PS, but Nikons ISO noise does look like film grain to me.

[Curtis N]

Radiohead,

Possibly the biggest difference between the two brands from a user control standpoint is the flash metering system. There is a fairly lengthy article on photonotes.org which we lovingly refer to as "The EOS Flash Bible".

Click the link in my signature, download it, print it out (all three parts), and put it near the toilet or wherever you do your reading. It will be worth your time!

Welcome to POTN!

[radiohead]

Hey Radiohead, were you on Nikon Cafe as well? LOL

I recently switched to Canon as well and so far I'm really impressed by the noise performence, which is one of the main reasons I made the switch.

Ergonomics, however, is a completely different story. To be honest with you I still think Nikon cameras are better designed and more comfortable to use... But you gotta give away something to take something, right?

Enjoy!

That is indeed me - did a lot of thinking but was very disappointed with what the D2x gave me in the real-world. Early days though!

[radiohead]

Radiohead,

Possibly the biggest difference between the two brands from a user control standpoint is the flash metering system. There is a fairly lengthy article on photonotes.org which we lovingly refer to as "The EOS Flash Bible".

Click the link in my signature, download it, print it out (all three parts), and put it near the toilet or wherever you do your reading. It will be worth your time!

Welcome to POTN!

Thanks Curtis - I'll make sure I read all of that!

[ACDCROCKS]

welcome Fellow Nikonian. I made the leap my delp, nothing but impressed :)

[SuzyView]

Although I think most pros around here in VA use Nikon or even Fuji, I have always thought that Nikon and Canon were top manufacturers and just stick with one or the other. But my brother switched from Canon as an amateur, Nikon as a pro and then recently switched to Leica as a retired photographer. If Canon now works for you and gives you the results you've been wanting, go for it! I am aiming for a 5D eventually, but for right now, I'm really happy with the equipment I have. Post a few shots for us.

[radiohead]

Went out last night so have barely had a chance to touch it, but here's the lovely Mrs Radiohead snapped before I went out:

http://www.guycollier.net/images/nic_5d.jpg

The 24-105mm looks to be a very decent lens indeed.