Has anyone ever been over to the darkside?

[LONETRAVELER]

http://www.canonrumors.com/2011/04/c...r-marketshare/
This Canon rumor article has sparked some thought. I know that this is a Canon forum and I'm a diehard Canon guy, but I know there are Nikon Loyalists that stand by their gear as well.

My question is: Has anyone here ever tried Nikon products?

and when you see images like this how could you?

[NinetyEight]

I used to own Nikon film cameras years ago (FM2, F3, F100) and they were great pieces of kit.
I only swapped over to Canon back in 2005 because at the time they were leading the way with digital over Nikon and for me the 20D was my 'gateway' to Canon.

Just because you can show a load of white lenses at a sports event, this doesn't mean they are any better than anything else. There are at least two factors involved here.
1/ Canon does dominate sports events in general.
2/ Some of these lenses are loaned out by Canon at these events.

If you'd shown a fashion shoot/event or a load of photojournalists there would be a load of black lenses and bodies with the word Nikon on them.

[atlrus]

Canon were very smart to make their teles white...

Never ventured there, but when I was choosing which system to go with, it seemed that Nikon folks were generally more smug, kinda like Apple fanboys, so I decided to go with Canon Plus, who has never seen a picture of a bunch of white lenses on a sideline?

[Oggy1]

I use a Pentax K20 as well as my 7D. Both have advantages and disadvantages.

[yogestee]

Bought my first Nikon, a 1969 vintage Nikon F second hand in 1975.. I still have this camera along with three other Nikon film bodies, plus a bag full of lenses..

In total I've owned eight Nikon film bodies.. The best camera (35mm or DSLR) I've ever owned was a Nikon F2AS Photomic/MD-2 motordrive..

The reason I shoot with Canon now? It was chosen for me (long story).

The Darkside?? Never!!

[LONETRAVELER]

Originally Posted by NinetyEight

If you'd shown a fashion shoot/event or a load of photojournalists there would be a load of black lenses and bodies with the word Nikon on them.

Do you know what makes Nikon more appealing to the fashion/photojournalist crowd?

[nightcat]

Originally Posted by atlrus

Canon were very smart to make their teles white...

Never ventured there, but when I was choosing which system to go with, it seemed that Nikon folks were generally more smug, kinda like Apple fanboys, so I decided to go with Canon Plus, who has never seen a picture of a bunch of white lenses on a sideline?

Why do you say this?

[TeamSpeed]

Originally Posted by nightcat

Why do you say this?

Because it keeps the lenses cool while in the sun all day, and Canon can see their marketshare at events at a simple glance.

[atlrus]

Originally Posted by nightcat

Why do you say this?

Because there are just as many Nikkors on the second picture as there are Canons, but can you tell?

Well, maybe not as many, but you get my drift.

[Katalyst]

I've used a Nikon D300 once, with a 70-200 2.8. Thought it was pretty awesome, the viewfinder looks extremely good with a sort of warm colour to it... Quite nice! Buttons are really confusing but luckily I found the settings I wanted before he ever could (he wasn't a regular shooter, he said) so I had a little chuckle as well!

[1Tanker]

Originally Posted by TeamSpeed

Because it keeps the lenses cool while in the sun all day, and Canon can see their marketshare at events at a simple glance.

Yep.. all (i'll use this word loosely)the other black lenses in those 2 shots, could be Nikon, Tamron, Sigma, Tokina, Pentax, Sony, Olympus..and maybe a few other brands. Some could be Canon's as well...EF200 f/2.8L for instance. Anybody who sees all the white ones, is going to ask.. "who makes all those white lenses". When they hear Canon, they're gonna think... "damm.. they must be the lenses to own", and they'd be right, for the most part.

[cputeq007]

I've owned D300, own a D90 now and have owned the D700 three times.

There are pros and cons to every system, and I don't understand the loyalists who stand behind their product so strongly - if someone doesn't like the gear I'm using, big freaking deal.

The whole "sea of white lenses" thing is a flawed argument on so many levels.

First of all, who gives a crap what other people are using? They have big whites, big deal.
Second, the images could be old and not represent the current market.
Third, the white lens thing is probably one of the most ridiculous marketing gimmicks still ongoing

Both are good systems - I switched to Canon because I like their greens, skin tones, they have a few lenses I like and I needed (unfortunately) video and I didn't want to go Nikon crop for 1080P.

Edit - If I'm sounding pissy, not meaning to be, just putting forth my thoughts I've used Pentax, Sony, and Olympus systems also - each very good in their own way and each flawed in a way.

To prove I'm not being a grumpy miser, here is an almost 100% crop from the 5D2 and ZE 35 at MFD hehe:

Butterfly, big crop. by J L Smith, on Flickr

[KJacques]

Originally Posted by atlrus

Canon were very smart to make their teles white...

Never ventured there, but when I was choosing which system to go with, it seemed that Nikon folks were generally more smug, kinda like Apple fanboys, so I decided to go with Canon Plus, who has never seen a picture of a bunch of white lenses on a sideline?

That's funny. After reading the internet, I always thought the Canon users were more the "fanboy" types. Shows things can look either way from different perspectives. But then I'm more oriented to what I produce with a camera than worshipping the brand or joining a club so I guess I'm coming from a different perspective on what motivates my decisions. I do wish Canon had as strong an ergonomic design as Nikon. Not to mention the solid, durable feel. Or some of Nikon's incredible optics. But at least I can use an adapter for some of my favorite lenses.

Neither camera maker is better than the other. They just go about it in different ways.

[nightcat]

Originally Posted by atlrus

Because there are just as many Nikkors on the second picture as there are Canons, but can you tell?

Well, maybe not as many, but you get my drift.

I understand. You're referring to the easy recognition aspect. As a Canon person who owns several white lenses, I would really have preferred these lenses to be black. There are certain situations where I would prefer to be inconspicuous, and in those cases the white lenses don't help.

I guess it could be worse, at least theyre not pink or yellow!

[rxjohn]

I've never used a Nikon body. But I'm a happy user of Nikon lenses on my Canon today.