Nikon user changing.. need help

[glenn sweet]

I am... or was, a Nikon die hard since 1985. I have a considerable amount of money invested in Nikon glass and bodies. Last month I was extremely excited about the pending release of the new D2X as my system was in desperate need of updating ( tired D1 and fun but inadequate D100). I was on three pre-order lists... waiting patiently when.... news came out about Nikons decision to make their NEF-Raw file systems white balance information closed to use with Adobe Photoshop. Since I went digital I have been using Photoshop, and Photoshops ACR for my workflow. With the D2X this is no longer a viable option. I have written Nikon with no response. I have called tech services... and gotten an answering machine. Time has run out on them and I am now prepared to come over to Canon. It will be a serious hit in the pocket book but hopefully the sale of my glass ( studio shooter.. so all is pristine ) and bodies will help defray costs.
My question to the group is.... are there any "problematic" issues I need to be aware of with the 1DS mII ? My choice of starting lenses would be 24-70 2.8, 50mm 1.4 prime, and 70-200 2.8L ... any input? I shoot fashion, headshot, portraiture... but love to do landscape and macro as relaxation.

[tim]

Nikon has clarified the situation: any company will be given access to that information, I think for free, on application. It was in a recent slashdot.org story. I expect that Adobe will license this from Nikon. Even if they don't, the only thing you miss is the camera's guess at what the white ballance should be, you can use the ACR "auto" setting for a very similar result.

If you do decide to change to Canon anyway, those lenses are a good selection, and if I had them i'd be very happy. I'd probably go for the 2.8L IS if you do any non-studio work, and i'd get the Canon 100mm F2.8 macro for macro work. An alternative to the 24-70 is the Tamron 28-75, which is a lot cheaper and has an excellent reputation.

[charlesu]

Come on in, the water is fine. And you've selected some nice gear to start with!!

[tim]

Here's the story: http://it.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=05/04/23/2050249&tid=93&tid=155

[CyberDyneSystems]

Glenn,..

If you do decide to take the plunge,. then http://members.bellatlantic.net/~vze2hdzu/pics/welcome.gif aboard!

You will not be the first to be abducted by Canon http://members.bellatlantic.net/~vze2hdzu/pics/abduct.gif

You gear list looks absolutely perfect!
The only thing I'd change is that since your choice of Camera is a full frame 35MM equivelent,. you will have one of the only Digitals around that can easily take full advantage of the sweet 85mm focal length for portraits without concern for "crop factors" and alterations in feild of view.

Therefore I'd give either the "pocket rocket" 85mm f/1.8 USM a hard look,. or if your game,. go straight to the 85mm f/1.2L

Either way,. you'll be very happy with these two super primes.

[mbze430]

definately work with the 85mm f/1.2L. Specially in a studio. The 70-200 is a nice lens, but for studio work, you'll be much happier with the 85mm f/1.2L.

[ron chappel]

It would be sad to see you giving up on nikon.It looks like the white ballance situation will be fixed in due course.
If you don't want to wait though,switching to canon is no great risk.

As far as i've heard the 1Ds mkII has no reliability/performance problems.
Reading the comparison tests it seems that nikon's D2x does several things abit better (edge sharpness with wide angle lenses,etc) but loses out to the 1Ds mkII overall

[Longwatcher]

Reference the nikon response,
The problem is not fixed if you have read all of the information available from both sides.

The SDK is slower then dirt according to a lot of Nikon users and therefore unacceptable for workflow.

The SDK is not necessarily the best way to process the WB data, but if you only can use the SDK, you won't know any better. (Note: The SDK could be the best way, but not necessarily and Adobe and Capture one don't think so)

Nikon is not releasing the data that Adobe, Capture One, DXO and several other companies have requested. Sony which also encrypts its data has let them knwo that they are free to reverse engineer it themselves. Canon has been kind enough to give Adobe the data so far to date (after the camera is released, which is why Adobe always takes a few months to release the new camera upgrade). Only Nikon is no longer willing to provide this data so the program can process the raw data for itself.

What the SDK apparently does is turn the RAW data into a TIF for all practical purposes and then hands it off to other programs. Adobe, Capture One and several other companies want the ability to process the RAW data themselves directly. NIkon is not allowing this.

So as photographers, do you want Nikon to own your raw NEF data or do you think you own your raw data? If Nikon wins on this other companies may get the stupid idea to follow suit. Think about it. Whose raw data is it. Yours as photographer or the camera manufacturers.

Obviously I think it should be mine. Once it leaves the camera and is recorded on my flash card it is MY data.

Do your own research and see if I know what I am talking about or not.

[Longwatcher]

Now that I finished my rant against Nikon's stupidity,

The only real issues you need to be aware of in switching to 1DsMkII are:

Don't display the image, while it is still writing to the card (the red stop light is on) if taking RAW and jpeg together (even better just wait for the light to go out no matter what). The reason is a large number (but not all) of the cameras have reported lockups, which tends to happen more often with faster CF cards and even more often with Lexar WA cards. Canon is aware of the problem and expects a firmware update, so this one should go away. The problem seems to be one of trying to do too much with the processing chip and some can handle it and others can't. It is only a minor nuisance (at least to me).

The other issue and I am only going from what I have read is that you may need to add a touch more saturation and contrast to your images from what you are used to with Nikon.

That appears to be it. On the flip side, you will get
- more pixels, thus higher resolution
- a Real Full frame 35mm format camera, thus wide angle works again
- Canon support which is better worldwide apparently then Nikon
- And the support of this forum.

[mr.photoguy]

Do they make adapters that will allow you to run Nikon lenses on a Canon body, and keep auto focus?


Coulbe be a $$$ saver.

[Longwatcher]

I was curious and I finally found a site that sells lens adapters

generic adapters
http://www.cameraquest.com/adaptnew.htm

Specific to EOS system
http://www.cameraquest.com/frames/4saleReos.htm

There are also apparently several sold on ebay on a regular basis.

From a quick read it is apparently harder to go the other way, but I know I have seen some EF to F adaptors.

I am (jokingly) Thinking of picking an F to EF adapter since I suspect a lot of Nikkor lenses are going to be in the used dept of BH shortly, if NOINK doesn't get its act together soon.

[PhotosGuy]

Do they make adapters that will allow you to run Nikon lenses on a Canon body, and keep auto focus?
I'm using one, but there's nothing auto about it. The focus point will blink when YOU achieve focus, though.
I got it from:
http://www.cameraquest.com/adaptnew.htm

[Andy_T]

The focus point will blink when YOU achieve focus, though.

Really? That is great news.
I couldn't get that feature to work on my 20D with my el-cheapo adapter and read that it was actually disabled for non-EF lenses.

Best regards,
Andy

[ron chappel]

PhotosGuy's comments on the focus confirmation light are odd-i thought EOS never showed focus confirmation with manual lenses ...?

There are quite a few EOS to nikkor lens adapters around -none allow autofocus though,it's just not worth the effort and $ for anyone to design one.

However when nikkor lenses are used on EOS the camera *will* do the metering and flash control (in a basic way).
What you do is set the aperture on the lens,put the camera in 'Av' and it will sellect a shutter speed to suit.
In situations where you are using a relatively large aperture and have no need to change it, all you have to do is focus-shoot, focus-shoot ,EASY :) :)

By the way-there is no need to spend an arm and a leg when buying an EOS/nikkor adapter ,there are very inexpensive allternatives on ebay.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=30059&item=3876748400&rd=1

[Andy_T]

By the way-there is no need to spend an arm and a leg when buying an EOS/nikkor adapter ,there are very inexpensive allternatives on ebay.


True ... but it is silver, not black like the 175$ adapter Photosguy mentioned.
I think we all know the difference :twisted:

Best regards,
Andy

[ron chappel]

:lol: :lol:

[PhotosGuy]

PhotosGuy's comments on the focus confirmation light are odd-i thought EOS never showed focus confirmation with manual lenses ...? Sorry guys, I just checked & Ron & Andy are right! I just checked & it doesn't. I had noticed that it didn't work sometimes & didn't realize that it was when I used the Nikkors. (Seems like a discrimination issue to me!) ;-)

[Andy_T]

That's because Canon wants you to use new EF lenses instead of old manual focus lenses with adapters :confused:

Well, if your adapter doesn't either, then you maybe paid too much for it :o

Best regards,
Andy

[PhotosGuy]

Well, if your adapter doesn't either, then you maybe paid too much for it I don't think so, since it's like I got "free" 50 f/1.4, 105 f/2.5, + others with it! Metal lenses, too. (None of that 'cheap' plastic, stuff!) :D:D