canon or nikon - help making decision

[citizen]

Hello Everybody!

I am a newbie to photography. I love it so much and I would like continue it as a life long hobby.

My Big question is CANON or NIKON?

This is a critical decision for me 'cos I am planning to start building my camera & accessories collection. I would like to pick the best and stick with it for the rest of my photography life ;-)

I would like to get your expert opinions on why CANON is better! You can comment on any of the following topics or more:
- features
- quality
- reliability
- availablility of accessories
- price comparision
- support, etc.

Looking forward for your help in making a decision.

-R

[UK_Terry]

An impossible question to answer. On this forum you will get a massive + for Canon (me included), on a Nikon based Forum it will be biased towards Nikon.

personal preference and feel of the camera is the only way to decide.

try and find a camera club (or maybe shop) that will let you have a days worth of practice with each.

Then all you need to do is decide which "Feels" better, then which model depends on how deep your pocket is or how large your credit card is.

Then of course is the question digital or film?
which lens??????
As i said an impossible question, but have fun finding out.

[Roger_Cavanagh]

This week's Amateur Photographer (26 Oct) in the UK has a supplement "Three Kings" - a three way "head-to-head supertest" between the D60, S2 Pro and the D100. I'll quote the final paragraph:

On the whole, I prefer the Canon EOS D60, despite the fact that ISO settings have to be made via the menu system, not the top plate. The body, although not unbreakable, is solid and well designed. The images it produces are sharp, clear and easy to adjust. The AF system is generally better than that of the other models, though again not ideal, and the options available are clear and simple to find. There is no cable release socket in the shutter-release button and the magnify mode in review is less powerful, but of the three this is the model that I think will satisfy most people.

There is a lot of info and example images in the article. It doesn't give a head-to-head final ratings. In the different areas AP examine, the cameras vary as to which does best. Having just browsed through the article, my impression is that the reviewer liked the D100 the least.

Regards,

[eland]

As Terry says, both brands will do the job for you.
I was a Nikon user for many years, but no more.
Nikon made their name in the 1960's when their Nikon F was one of the toughest and best cameras around.
Look at the work of Eugene Smith and David W Duncan.

My personal feeling is that they have been living off that reputation
and no longer deserve it.

Like so many newspapers, mine switched to Canon and though their products are not perfect, I don't hear of many photographers or newspapers going back.

But both brands will do the job for you and do it well.
It really comes down to personal choice.

One can never look at a picture and say "This was taken with a Nikon. That was taken with a Canon."

Remember, the most important part of the camera is always the monkey behind it.

eland

[UK_Terry]

eland wrote:




Remember, the most important part of the camera is always the monkey behind it.




And this one is still learning about my D30 12 months after getting it, but it feels right.
previously had EOS 5 and EOS1000FN.

I still use the Kodak DC210+ for snapshots and have never regretted turning Digital

[Leighow]

eland wrote:


Remember, the most important part of the camera is always the monkey behind it.

eland




Well .. It has been some years since I have been called a monkey !

HOWIE

[henkbos]

Had the same difficulty choosing between BMW and Merc. Already using Canon for the last 25 years so the choice was easy. If you're new to photography and have no legacy or old equipment that you wnat to use again, the choice is easy. Take the one that has the nicest feel and fits best in your hand. There are no bad cameras, only forums that will tell you what is bad/good.

Good luck!