You've got no gear at all - Would you get a 5DMKIV or D850

You've got no gear at all, it all just magically disappeared and what was left was a check.
Your chance to start over.

- Would you get a 5DMKIV or D850 and Canon or Nikon glass to suit for your style of shooting?

Probably ... for the lenses, which are most of what really matters ... I'd go for Canon. A good deal of what I currently use, Nikon just doesn't offer.

That doesn't mean I think the 5Div ... here and now ... is the better of the two cameras.

I like my current setup. I'd probably end up re-buying the majority of it. All Canon.

Tough to say.

On the one hand I'm worried about Nikon's long term viability, on the other hand... that D850

But ... in the end ... camera bodies these days are very much 'come and go' items. They should not be your first consideration in building a system.

With all the electronics built into them, lenses are much less the 'durable' system component than once was the case. But they are still far more significant than camera bodies ... which are increasingly transient and ephemeral stuff. Bodies ... you buy, use and dispose. Lenses ... you do your best to treasure.

DaviSto wrote in post #18471446
But ... in the end ... camera bodies these days are very much 'come and go' items. They should not be your first consideration in building a system.

With all the electronics built into them, lenses are much less the 'durable' system component than once was the case. But they are still far more significant than camera bodies ... which are increasingly transient and ephemeral stuff. Bodies ... you buy, use and dispose. Lenses ... you do your best to treasure.

Exactly... and if I've got no gear at all? It's not like the body is the only thing you'd be picking up in that case.

I had an issue with a new Canon camera body. Man, the people at CPS were amazing. Canon service would be a factor in my choice.

On the other hand, that Nikon 200-500 lens is supposed to be pretty nice.

Wildlife and birding photographers have different needs, though both of the aforementioned cameras are in the mix. I see quite a few top of the line Canon and Nikon cameras in use out in the field. I can't afford them so it's moot for me.... even if I had that check. That said, I get hmmmmm tough to make a reliable guess at the percentage. I'd say, my 1D IV, in good light, gets me to within 85-90% of the 1D X2, perhaps. I am able to pick and choose the afternoons so I don't really get into difficult lighting conditions all that much. I don't shoot professionally. I think that makes a difference as well.

So.... 5D IV or D850? I've really been content with Canon but I don't push my gear like wedding or landscape photographers.

New kitchen cabinets.

If I were starting all over again, I go with Canon for the same reason I went with Canon the first time. Better glass for less money. It WAS true then. I have no idea if it still is or not. But, Nikon cameras are just butt-ugly. (Besides, my brother shoots Nikon. He never borrows gear now. I'd like to keep it that way.)

D850 all the way

Canon.

Canon for the lenses

I'd go with Canon, full compatibility with all EOS EF lenses.

I felt rather odd buying the 5dmk4 as the D850 hit the market.

Nikon just seems to push more tech in their camera's while Canon seems snail paced.

I'll say the 5dmk4 is a universal camera that I'm really loving.

I really think you cannot really go wrong with either camera.

If I was suggesting a camera to a friend I'd simply say hold the camera body and see if the ergonomics feels good.

For me personally I'd still stick with Canon due to familiarity and the high iso performance of the 5dmk4 is meeting my needs. Even though I think Nikon performance and feature is better I just have a comfort zone with a familiar system.

Nikon "crop" mode is such a great idea compared to Canon's "typical" full frame setup. Nikon has more res for a full frame body.

If your a live view auto focus user it seems the Canon is still a better choice over Nikon.

Can't go wrong .......buy both :P

Still learning so would someone explain to me, why Canon lenses are better?