Shot with Nikon today...

I was at work, and a colleague had his Nikon D90 w/ 35mm f2 Nikkor AF-D lens (been contemplating 35L lens). Since I was interested in how 35mm would feel on a crop sensor, I took some shots using it. Sorry to say this to Nikonians, but I'm not impressed by the handling of the D90 or the feel. Image quality of Nikon vs Canon is fairly close. Differences can be negligible depending on what your needs are.

However, the feel of the camera hasn't changed. I tried a D70 a while back, and I didn't like it then. I thought Nikon would get a better handle on their fit/finish. It just feels cheap. Even a 20D feels solid, but the Nikon Dxx cameras didn't impress me at all. In fact, the feel of a Canon xxD or 5D isn't that much "cheaper" than a 1D. Those of you who complain about a Canon 10-22 lens feeling cheap need to pick up a Nikon Dxx body. Of course I didn't tell him how I felt about the camera... I just let him know I was happily shooting with my Canons.

That said, I think I'm going to save up for a 35L (or 35L MKII)

Those are all consumer level bodies. The better ones, the Dxxx and Dx series are the best. If you want to be very tempted the D3's or D700 are getting good reviews.

That's the thing, they're supposed to be compared to the Canon xxD models. But the Canons felt so much better built. I felt like the Nikon Dxx models were comparable to the Rebel's build. The images were nice off of the camera, though. Just didn't like the handling.

I am with you Dr -- they start to feel like "pro" cameras at the D3 level.

I agree, I have a friend who has had a D70 and moved to a D90, and it's no great shakes IMO. I agree with Suzie that the higher end bodies are nicer, but I really don't get why people gush over Nikon ergonomics. Really nothing to get excited about.

I shot a D80 in the store recently. Felt OK to me, but too small for my hands (I shoot gripped 40D and 5D II).
Yesterday I shot a D700 with the new AF-S 50mm f/1.4. That is one sweet little lens. Built very nicely. Think it was $429. I went to a dark corner of the store and put the ISO to 6400. The combo locked focus impressively fast, but nothing my bodies can't do with the 85 1.8 or 135L. The D700 is solid feeling, but way too many buttons right where your hands go. And there are 3 separate buttons for setting AF, 2 on the back and 1 on the front, plus several menu settings, to tell it how to use AF. I like the Canon system I have. 9 points, change on the fly without eye leaving the viewfinder.

I'm pretty darn pleased with my DXXX

drPheta wrote in post #7363419
That said, I think I'm going to save up for a 35L (or 35L MKII)

So, I take it you liked the 35mm then?

I had D70s and D2H for almost 4 years and I loved their grips.

timnosenzo wrote in post #7363476
I really don't get why people gush over Nikon ergonomics. Really nothing to get excited about.

it's the knobs and switches, some people hate them, some love them.

drPheta wrote in post #7363454
That's the thing, they're supposed to be compared to the Canon xxD models. But the Canons felt so much better built. I felt like the Nikon Dxx models were comparable to the Rebel's build.

Not the case.

Consumer: Canon Rebels, Nikon Dxx
Prosumer: Canon xxD and 5D, Nikon Dxxx
Pro: Canon 1D line, Nikon Dx

go pick up anything from the D300 and up and you will change your mind =D I personally find the D300 to have the same build quality as the 1D Mark III

sodalis wrote in post #7363614
Not the case.

Consumer: Canon Rebels, Nikon Dxx
Prosumer: Canon xxD and 5D, Nikon Dxxx
Pro: Canon 1D line, Nikon Dx

+1.

drPheta wrote in post #7363454
That's the thing, they're supposed to be compared to the Canon xxD models. But the Canons felt so much better built. I felt like the Nikon Dxx models were comparable to the Rebel's build. The images were nice off of the camera, though. Just didn't like the handling.

The D90 definitely has better build then the Rebels. I think the biggest frown from me about the D90 is low light AF speed with any of the 11 points...

Compared to the 40D/50D the D90 does look and feel cheap. As mentioned, the D300 up are nicely built.