Giving serious thought to buying a D300s

[westernminnguy]

No, I'm not jumping ship. I'm content with Canon.

Here's the deal.

I teach photography and am an advisor to many folks who shoot both Canon and Nikon.

Truth is, I think the 7D and D300s are a horse apiece...as are most Canon/Nikon camera races.

As I've said before the glass race between Nikon and Canon...well that's another story.

However, Nikon folks that I teach don't have quite the same trust, and I don't blame them, for me when I tell them that ISO, AF, Shutter speed etc. is the same...a camera is a camera....is a camera etc.....

I don't have a lot of experience with Nikon except when I was shooting for our local newspaper and I used a D2H on a daily basis; but that's ancient history and they have now switched to Canon.

Credibility is the name of the game and I thought about something in the Nikon camp less than a D300s but that seemed a waste of time.

I just wish I didn't have to buy new lenses for this camera. Nikon lenses are great from what I've heard but pricey....$$$$.

Nikon folks(and many of you are here) please feel free to respond.

[absolutic]

Well we don't want to start a N vs C war here and talk about which body has better autofocus acqusition speed, and then which body actually can hold the accurate focus afterwards. As far as glass,
yes, you are right, on average Nikon serious glass i more expensive than Canon serious glass. On the other hand, Nikon's consumer lenses and kit lenses, such as 18-135, 18-105, etc are slightly cheaper than Canon's counterparts.

[amyandmark3]

Rog, is there a question mixed in with your post? Are you wondering which body or lenses to buy?

[bacchanal]

I don't think you necessarily need to pick up the most expensive glass to appreciate Nikon. Why not try the 35 f/1.8 or the 50 f/1.4 AF-S? You don't currently own Canon equivalents to those, and surely you could find some use for them.

Btw, I don't think the D90 is a waste of time.

[yoopergirl]

Good luck. It could be worse. Imagine being an Olympus shooter when classes are aimed at nikon and canon. I also wouldn't buy an expensive nikon.

[westernminnguy]

Originally Posted by amyandmark3

Rog, is there a question mixed in with your post? Did you already buy a D300s and are wondering which lenses to buy?

Hello Mark,

No and Yes.(p.m. me if you want more details)

I'm fairly heavily invested in Canon.

Assuming I buy(haven't yet but think I should for the benefit of my students)a D300s, which lens would tell me the most about what the D300s could do?

For Canon, I have many lenses(see my gear).

But....

I'm open here.

What lens could I get that would showcase the D300s?

Help me out here.

I'm ready to lay it on the line....buy the camera D300s with a lens.

What should I go for?

Tx.

Rog

[themadman]

If Nikkors are too expensive, and you just need a Nikon camera to your students trust you (which is kinda silly since photography has little to do with the body since both Nikons and Canons are very capable) just get a Nikon body and slap on some third party lenses. They will cost less than Nikkors and still work very well.

[gotak]

It doesn't make sense to me that you have to invest in another system just to teach people. Why is it necessary?

They are there to learn to take photos not learn how to use one brand.

Why is it that they don't trust you becuase you don't have a nikon?

[westernminnguy]

Originally Posted by gotak

Why is it that they don't trust you becuase you don't have a nikon?

This is a Canon forum.

This forum has little to do with image quality or images would take the place of words...like the old saying goes a picture is worth a 1,000 words...except on a photography forum.

Nikon has yet to prove itself...even on a Canon forum.

Truth is, a lot of folks in this area look my way to decide Canon/Nikon.

And truth is, I don't think there is a lot of difference Canon/Nikon cameras....

I think there is something out there due to $$$ comparison in lenses.

However, if folks I know would be more comfortable getting into DSLR, the future of photography, if I owned a Nikon as well as Canon; I would buy Nikon and lenses.

Well now, there ya go...the future has a price...

[amyandmark3]

Rog, I've got to admit that I'm a bit confused by your replies in this thread, especially that last one (post #9) other than the part about there being little difference between Canon and Nikon (I agree by the way). As with the others, it also seems odd to me that you need to buy a Nikon for the benefit of your students. Is it that you want to own a Nikon to get used to the different nomenclature and user interface? I guess I could understand that as you'd probably like to know a little more about the Nikon system to make it easier to communicate with the students. But, you would probably do just as well to buy something like a D90 for 1/2 the cost if that's all you need it for. Also, if YOU want a Nikon to compare to your Canon setup, I could totally understand that as well (I did the same myself last year with the D90 and 16-85vr).

[Mastamarek]

better question is what don't you like about your 5D and 7D!? Its an absolute killer combo! I'm ordering 7D soon as well.

[absolutic]

Well I have and use D300 not the D300s. But they are quite similar. I guess if you want a good lens for D300, 17-55 or 24-70 are very lens, 14-24 is an excellent UWA. How much are you willing to invest?

[westernminnguy]

Originally Posted by amyandmark3

Rog, I've got to admit that I'm a bit confused by your replies in this thread, especially that last one (post #9) other than the part about there being little difference between Canon and Nikon (I agree by the way). As with the others, it also seems odd to me that you need to buy a Nikon for the benefit of your students. Is it that you want to own a Nikon to get used to the different nomenclature and user interface? I guess I could understand that as you'd probably like to know a little more about the Nikon system to make it easier to communicate with the students. But, you would probably do just as well to buy something like a D90 for 1/2 the cost if that's all you need it for. Also, if YOU want a Nikon to compare to your Canon setup, I could totally understand that as well (I did the same myself last year with the D90 and 16-85vr).

Amy and/or Mark,

I don't blame you for being confused. That's how money, maybe not great images, are made.

I've never been a brand fan.

If Canon cameras made the grade, that's what I used.

If PC's or MAC's made the grade, that's what I used.

Re: being a brand fan.

At the very beginning it's not a big issue.

If you bought Canon, that's what you think about for lenses.

If you bought Nikon, well....same thing......re: lenses.

Problem is:

Most folks can't get beyond that to discover DSLR photorapy.

They spend all their time talking about the advantages of Nikon vs. Canon and forget to focus on the picture.

So, what the hell.

I'll buy Nikon.

Hopefully, in the process, my students will forget about brand names and actually start to focus on the quality of the picture.

[themadman]

If I taught a class and my students were more preoccupied with brands than good photos, I'd tell them to shape up or get out. Photography is not about collecting gear or having the best stuff, it is about taking photos.

[bacchanal]

Originally Posted by themadman

If I taught a class and my students were more preoccupied with brands than good photos, I'd tell them to shape up or get out. Photography is not about collecting gear or having the best stuff, it is about taking photos.

Agreed, why not just teach the students not to focus on gear, instead of focusing on gear?