Changing to the dark side

Hello all. It has been an interesting year for me and I think it is time to make a move. I currently own a 1DsIII and a lot of nice primes. My problem is that it draws all the wrong attention, and in the places I work that can be real bad. Sudanese prison is not a good place to hang out, trust me. All because they saw my camera and thought I was a spy (really). So I started looking at smaller alternatives as mates of mine have had no trouble getting around with 50D's and the like.
However after looking at the 5D and giving it a go I am not that impressed, at least when compared to the D700. For what I am looking for (good all round full frame camera) the Nikon comes out on top, for me.
So I guess I am asking if anyone has made the swap and what was their impressions. Did you have any regrets??
I am currently working in Iraq and will be home in Aus come Feb so will do the big sell off then.
Any advice?? I'm not trying to start a brand war, just looking for people who have made the move and what they thought.

Grass is always greener...

If you like the Nikon stuff, go for it. Go with what you like, who cares about the brand. Whatever works best for you.

This is something I read the other day. Basically saying the image is what is important, not camera brands.

Go for it, let us know how you like it after you've had some time with Nikon.

i switched from canon to nikon and now back to canon... i loved my d700... absolutely loved it. i now have a 5d mark ii, and while im still getting used to it, i love it too but in a different way.

there are things lacking in the 5d mark ii, such as AF consistency in servo mode, and the metering is different. i cant say worse or better, just different...

so go with what you like. luckily, if you stick to used gear from the boards such as potn and fm, you don't lose a lot of $$$ by switching back and forth. you just have to be patient.

In the end, i saved some $$$ by switching back to canon and feel like i didn't lose that much quality. I got my 5d mark ii brand new with 24-105 for $2800 USD... got a 35mm 1.4L for $1100......

first off Nikon doesnt have an equivalent to the canon 24-105L (the 24-120 is terrible in comparison) and the 35mm 1.4G is a few hundred $$ more. So i'm happy with my choices and do not regret switching back and forth. grass is always greener, even now, i am contemplating my switch back to nikon or to the dreaded red dot!!

Invertalon wrote in post #13507976
Grass is always greener...

If you like the Nikon stuff, go for it. Go with what you like, who cares about the brand. Whatever works best for you.

Basically the solid truth of photography.

jmcder53 wrote in post #13508038
This is something I read the other day. Basically saying the image is what is important, not camera brands.

Also true, cheers.

rick_reno wrote in post #13508057
Go for it, let us know how you like it after you've had some time with Nikon.

Will do.

eninety wrote in post #13508059
i switched from canon to nikon and now back to canon... i loved my d700... absolutely loved it. i now have a 5d mark ii, and while im still getting used to it, i love it too but in a different way.

there are things lacking in the 5d mark ii, such as AF consistency in servo mode, and the metering is different. i cant say worse or better, just different...

so go with what you like. luckily, if you stick to used gear from the boards such as potn and fm, you don't lose a lot of $$$ by switching back and forth. you just have to be patient.

In the end, i saved some $$$ by switching back to canon and feel like i didn't lose that much quality. I got my 5d mark ii brand new with 24-105 for $2800 USD... got a 35mm 1.4L for $1100......

first off Nikon doesnt have an equivalent to the canon 24-105L (the 24-120 is terrible in comparison) and the 35mm 1.4G is a few hundred $$ more. So i'm happy with my choices and do not regret switching back and forth. grass is always greener, even now, i am contemplating my switch back to nikon or to the dreaded red dot!!

The grass is ALWAYS greener. My photography mates are laying bets on how long it takes me to switch back I think the D700 suits me better of the smaller cameras, and it feels more rugged which is a bonus for me. Lens wise I shoot prime (24, 50, 85) so am pretty well covered there with both sides now. Will be harder to sell my lenses I think than the camera. For some reason I get quite attached to them.

eninety wrote in post #13508059
first off Nikon doesnt have an equivalent to the canon 24-105L (the 24-120 is terrible in comparison) and the 35mm 1.4G is a few hundred $$ more. So i'm happy with my choices and do not regret switching back and forth. grass is always greener, even now, i am contemplating my switch back to nikon or to the dreaded red dot!!

I beg to differ. The new 24-120 F4 by Nikon is a superb lens!

There is a updated version of 24-120 f4 VR II just released last year. Eninety probably means the old version with f/3.5-5.6 VR I
Nikon have updated a lot of lens since 2010 : 24mm 1.4G, 35mm 1.4G , 85 1.4G pretty much cover the L equivalent

Sounds like I'd make the switch to living in a different location.

The glass is the bigger differentiator between the brands than the cameras.

That said, I can't imagine actually giving up a 1DsIII, but horses for courses I guess.

D700 is a great camera, I've owned it three times, own the 5Dc now, owned the 5D2 once, 1D3 but not 1Ds3. All good cameras with their quirks, etc. (also owned the Canon 40D, Pentax K200D and K20D, Nikon D300 and D90 twice and D7000 once, Sony Nex 5N and A850, Olympus E-5 and respective lenses for each)

Best all-around body of the ones I've used would have to be the D700, assuming you don't need any video. I really dislike the shutter sound and the way Nikon's skin and (less so) greens come out of their cameras, though (even with RAW and X-rite), so it's not a perfect camera, but still a really good one.

Leica M9 - guarantee no one will bother you lol...

I'd try a 5DmkII first before I started selling my glass (maybe you just need more time with it)....It's IQ with those primes of yours will be stunning. Unless you just want to try out Nikon..I can understand that too...I use my 20D when I'm going into an area that feels shifty....It works great.......Cool shots on your Flickr....Crazy job.....Good luck!

ching wrote in post #13509847
There is a updated version of 24-120 f4 VR II just released last year. Eninety probably means the old version with f/3.5-5.6 VR I
Nikon have updated a lot of lens since 2010 : 24mm 1.4G, 35mm 1.4G , 85 1.4G pretty much cover the L equivalent

I guess that statement is true if you take an "L" lens and stop it down.

If you are going to the "dark side" you had better get some fast glass...

Nikon is great, so is Sony's new a77, it's so cool we have lots to choose from. My brother-in-law shoots Nikon, all looks great to me.

N.O.R.E. wrote in post #13509970
Leica M9 - guarantee no one will bother you lol...

I guess the best gear with less attention! Hurray for M9!