Popular Photography's Camera the Year-2007

UGH! I truly thought the Canon 40D was a sure-fired winner for POP's camera of the year for 2007. My breath was nearly taken away when they announced that the Nikon D300 was their choice.

I don't even own a Canon 40D but I sure want to, make no mistake about that!

I am crushed...

They have always favored Nikon cameras.

davidfig wrote in post #4494271
seems right to me, a pro af system with sealed body. I think the D300 beats the 40D.

and I'll agree with the above statement too

seems right to me, a pro af system with sealed body. I think the D300 beats the 40D.

Nikon D3/D300 seems like a much larger leap from all the previous Nikons. The Nikon people have reason to rejoice, and they've been waiting for this a long time. I saw a noise comparison someone posted in the Texas photography forums. I honestly had no idea that my entry-level Rebel XTi was comparable to the professional (former) top-of-the-line Nikon D2X, at least as far as ISO noise goes.

comparing canon to nikon is just like apples to pears.... they both sell cameras but the lineups are not overlapping. hence there will never be an unbiased reviewer out there

davidfig wrote in post #4494271
seems right to me, a pro af system with sealed body. I think the D300 beats the 40D.

Understood. But in the overall picture I still felt the 40D had a great shot. $3-$400 for the better body is a good chunk o' change. You know...weigh this vs. that, etc.

The problem with those allot of photography magazines is the potential to judge products based on advertising space sold.

Is there any Nikon camera what would bet a Canon in your mind? I don't think so.

The D300 and D3 are kicking Canon is the a$$. Yes the D300 you compare with the 40D. But the Nikon is sealed and has a pro Af system. Lets see 11 points or 51 points, which one is better. I bet most 1 series guys here would say the 1 series AF rocks. So I still think the D300 is a fantastic camera. As for the D3. What do I compare it too? The 5D....no it only has 3fps, how about the 1D, no its a 1.25 crop. So I think Nikon is smart and has landed their best two cameras in the right place.

For me the best part will be when Canon reacts to this.

My friend has the D300 and it's pretty badass. Its pricing/performance was supposed to be between the 5D and 40D and they did a good job centering it there.

I just wish my camera had a digital level too. That, and Canon needs to make our lens caps easier to remove with hoods on like the Noinks.

After using the D300 now and having a D200 I can honestly say that Nikon hit one out of the park with their new offerings. Canon has been coasting on name these days with no real new innovations while Nikon, Kodak, Panisonic, Sony... have all been inventing new technologies.

All that said, I still own a couple of Canon cameras and will not be moving to Nikon even if I now can if I so pleased. The only thing I would like from Canon is for them to be a little less petty ... all I want are hood's with my lenses

airfrogusmc wrote in post #4494345
The problem with those allot of photography magazines is the potential to judge products based on advertising space sold.

Granted, but I'm sure Canon has as much money or more than Nikon

I'm a Canon user, loyal because of my investment in lenses but after using a classmate's D300, I was significantly swayed in the Nikon direction. That camera is brilliant. The viewfinder alone with the LCD overlay grid and focal points is miles ahead of the 40D's. Of course, the D300 is more expensive but very worth it. Were I buying a new outfit right now I would definitely go with Nikon over Canon in the sub $2,000 body range. Hopefully Canon has a good response with the 5D successor.

davidfig wrote in post #4494397
For me the best part will be when Canon reacts to this.

Yep ... Let's hope Canon anticpated a good turnout for the D300 and has one heck of a 5D MkII in development right now. I've been holding out for a long time now. Competition is a GOOD thing, and we are the beneficiaries!

Competition drives feature set up, and price down. ... Always has, and always will!! Yeah for us !!

I don't think my 40D will ever limit my progress and growth as a photographer. Seldom do anyone shoot beyond the limits of technology.

irishman wrote in post #4494492
I don't think my 40D will ever limit my progress and growth as a photographer. Seldom do anyone shoot beyond the limits of technology.

Yeah! I thought that too.

I'm not a brand whore by any stretch or the imagination and have shot with Leica, Hasselblad, Nikon, Canon, Mamiya, Bronica, Deardorff, Horseman, Calumet; my point is I don't trust nor should anyone trust those magazines. Whos to say that this year Nikon didn't buy more ad space than Canon? I do think ad $$$ has an influence on them and I'll go one step farther those dollars drive these types of publications.

I wish that one of the major companies would make a manual only, 1 degree spot meter, single shot, high resolution, 6400 ISO, professional digital camera.

You'd think that with all these zoom lenses and frames per second photographs would be DRASTICALLY improving. I ain't see'n it.