Nikon FX Vs Canon 1.3+FF

Help me think things over and answer a few questions will ya? Let's keep it clean and can we please discuss rationally?
I'm thinking the grass is as green on the other side As green, not greener.
I figure if I sell everything MarkIII,5D2,35L,85 1.8,70-200 2.8,CPe4,Skyports, two 580EXII's, 540EZ
and buy
D700 X 2, SB800 X 2, MBD10 x 1, 85 1.4, 35f2, 28-70, 80-200AFS
Then I'll be about 400 bucks short or almost even depending on how I buy it and 4mm short on the wide end. Not too bad, leaves a good spot for the 14-24 later.

Plus I'm hearing different stories Canon to Nikon = good, Nikon to Canon = good...D700 outer points are good, D700 outer points are bad...Menu stinks, menu doesn't stink, gripped d700 good, gripped d700 not so good. The one constant is that Nikon's CLS is the real deal.

The 1.3 crop is a good compromise of everything too though, assuming working order. The MarkIV looks incredible - but way out of my price range unless I can get great used prices on the 5DII and Mark III. Again, back to one camera. Just not smart.

What is your current gear not doing that you want it to do?

If I were going to jump to Nikon I think I'd spring for the 24-70 and the new 70-200 f/2.8. From what I've heard the 80-200 is a little lacking in the AF consistency department (but that may just be the non AF-S version).

bacchanal wrote in post #9506379
What is your current gear not doing that you want it to do?

Focusing

No idea Mike. I have shot with a D700 for around 5 minutes. Nowhere near enough experience for me to tell you anything other than the controls drove me bonkers.

Canon have been making a determined attempt to catch Nikon up in the AF stakes. My understanding is that with the 1D4 they have at last achieved it. Given that, now might not be a good time to jump ship.

Having switched from Nikon to Canon some years ago, I intend to stay and grab a 1Ds4 provided it has a simple mirror lock up procedure that does not require me to read manuals each time and has no ISO 100 issues. Nikon are currently way behind in the Mega Pixel wars and they soften the images too much in camera (even RAWs) for my taste.

However, unlike TaDa, I prefer to have one button one job. I dislike Canons habit of hiding things in great long Menu or Custom Function lists intensely. So I'm not blindly loyal to Canon. Canon please note.

Lowner wrote in post #9506475
Canon have been making a determined attempt to catch Nikon up in the AF stakes. My understanding is that with the 1D4 they have at last achieved it. Given that, now might not be a good time to jump ship.

Having switched from Nikon to Canon some years ago, I intend to stay and grab a 1Ds4 provided it has a simple mirror lock up procedure that does not require me to read manuals each time and has no ISO 100 issues. Nikon are currently way behind in the Mega Pixel wars and they soften the images too much in camera (even RAWs) for my taste.

However, unlike TaDa, I prefer to have one button one job. I dislike Canons habit of hiding things in great long Menu or Custom Function lists intensely. So I'm not blindly loyal to Canon. Canon please note.

What current Canon are you using? The 5DII and presumably all newer Canon's have really nice menu systems with a customizable menu that gives you quick access to your most used functions.

bacchanal wrote in post #9506578
What current Canon are you using? The 5DII and presumably all newer Canon's have really nice menu systems with a customizable menu that gives you quick access to your most used functions.

MLU button has been something missing forever it feels. At least, that's the #1 thing I always read that people are missing. I personally don't care about that, but I think a few custom buttons would be nice to have. Completely programmable to each individuals needs.

bacchanal wrote in post #9506379
What is your current gear not doing that you want it to do?

If I were going to jump to Nikon I think I'd spring for the 24-70 and the new 70-200 f/2.8. From what I've heard the 80-200 is a little lacking in the AF consistency department (but that may just be the non AF-S version).

Well - I dislike the AF differences and AF array between the 5DII and the Mark III. The Mark III and the 35L aren't getting along right now, hopefully Canon can remedy that piece.
I'm not using video like I thought I would, it's fun, but definitely not necessary. The 21mp is overkill in my opinion... But, I love the menu, rear screen, and MA features of the 5D2.
What I should have done a while back is to stick with the 5DC and got a 85LvI instead...

TaDa wrote in post #9506407
Focusing
No idea Mike. I have shot with a D700 for around 5 minutes. Nowhere near enough experience for me to tell you anything other than the controls drove me bonkers.

That's my Nikon experience too. WTF is with the layout But I'm sure as with anything it can be learned and it sucks now because we don't use it.

Lowner wrote in post #9506475
Canon have been making a determined attempt to catch Nikon up in the AF stakes. My understanding is that with the 1D4 they have at last achieved it. Given that, now might not be a good time to jump ship.
Having switched from Nikon to Canon some years ago, I intend to stay and grab a 1Ds4 provided it has a simple mirror lock up procedure that does not require me to read manuals each time and has no ISO 100 issues. Nikon are currently way behind in the Mega Pixel wars and they soften the images too much in camera (even RAWs) for my taste.

However, unlike TaDa, I prefer to have one button one job. I dislike Canons habit of hiding things in great long Menu or Custom Function lists intensely. So I'm not blindly loyal to Canon. Canon please note.

Good point about jumping ship...Plus, it would be extremely costly as to do so and not grab the new 24-70 and 70-200 would seem senseless...

What about the out af points on the D700? Good? Bad? I've heard both...

D700 is great. But definitely not absolutely mind blowing and worth a full jump in my opinion. Really, it isn't. I contemplated it too. And honestly, you'll probably be pretty bummed with the Nikkor 35 f/2 over the 35L. I've had the 35L and currently own the Nikkor, and the Nikkor doesn't even come close. The Nikkor 28-70 is a nice lens, (I have one) but it's certainly at least couple steps behind the 24-70 version in optical quality, and it huge too, like the brick. Maybe even a bit bigger.

As for the menus, I honestly find the Canon menu a LOT easier to use. And the ability to select from 9 focus points makes choosing your focus point a one push affair. On the D700, often I have to push two buttons. It doesn't sound like much but it does cause me to lose shots and moments.

And whoever says Nikon ergo/interface is slam dunk better is crazy. It might feel better in the hand, but try changing ISO with your eye at the viewfinder... and reviewing and zooming in on a photo requires less thumb contortionism on the canon. Also, the rear dial is really slow for making large deltas... like changing shutter/aperture by 3 stops or so. The most I can get in one swipe is three clicks. The rear wheel on the canon you can rotate non-stop as fast as you can. I can go from F22 to F/1.4 faster on a canon than I can go from F/8 to F/2.8 on the D700. The front wheel is also in kind of a strange place. If you rest your middle finger right up high on the grip, there is almost no room for your index finger to swipe the wheel. I have to readjust my grip in order to spin that wheel, and then readjust my grip back when I'm done.

And one thing that REALLY bothers me (and would probably bug you too as you seem to be a prime shooter) is the lack of a real ISO100, and no ISO50 at all. Good luck shooting thin DOF on a sunny day.

Overall it's a great, great camera, but just don't be fooled by fanboy reports; they're not the world savior of cameras. It's just a great tool that STILL has it's issues and drawbacks.

1D4 AF vs D3s AF. canon wins!!
http://www.youtube.com​/watch?v=vkg7pAxi4gE

And oh yeah... Nikon's live view is a JOKE!

It's not live at all. It should be called, "Previously Live 0.5 seconds ago View"
And the frame rate is super choppy. And even though it has a high res screen, the mark III live view zoom is MUCH sharper and clearer.

if nikon had equivalent 35L and 85L i would use my d3 all the time over my canon bodies.

If you have the budget go with the 1d4. from what ive seen, it looks a lot better than nikon's equivalent.

Mastamarek wrote in post #9506945
1D4 AF vs D3s AF. canon wins!!
http://www.youtube.com​/watch?v=vkg7pAxi4gE

Yeh, but the D700 AF blows the doors off the 5DII AF.

Hogloff wrote in post #9507683
Yeh, but the D700 AF blows the doors off the 5DII AF.

if i were going 12 mp it would have to be crop.

ed rader

A forum member jacobsen1 made the switch. You might get his opinion. Toward the end of this long thread he talks about it some.
https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=743745