Nikon vs. Canon

[Delphinus]

Originally Posted by GreenSpottedPuffer

Someone mentioned the D700, just a heads up, the new (D800?) will be coming out in spring 2012 and probably be in the same price range, maybe a few hundred more. I wouldn't buy a D700 right now unless its used. I think there is a big shortage anyways because of the Tsunami in Japan. I know the Tsunami delayed the D800 (if that is the new model number as expected).

For what I like to call an almost professional Nikon body, the D7000 is amazing. I don't think you can beat it with a Canon for performance AND price ($1099 body only). I haven't seen a Canon in that price range that can compete. I hate the comparisons it always gets to the D700 because its like comparing apples and oranges. The D700 is FX and D7000 is DX BUT I have seen them compared side by side and was very impressed. The D7000 starts to loose out in lower light though.

One advantage of the D7000 is the glass cost. DX lenses are much cheaper.

My wife uses the D7000 as a back up body (professionally) and I use it for fun...I accidentally had it the other day shooting my aquarium when she was suppose to have it on set for a shoot lol. Luckily she didn't need it. I'm not allowed to touch her expensive body.

LOL I just realized how that sounds...

That was probably me who brought up the D700. I'd like one because of the sensor and the minimal (har har har) price tag (comparitively) but at still more than twice the price of the D7000 it is basically never going to happen for me.

I agree the D7000 is pretty nice.

But you mentioned getting the D700 used ... and well, trust me, I've looked into this and it's a non-starter. Maybe on account of the shortage or whatever, the price of a used D700 is ridiculous. I am seeing $2400 for the D700 body retail (new, for the stores that have one kicking around) and around $2100 for used with several tens of thousands of shutter actuations. Umm no thanks. Given that the D700 is also behind the curve on a few bells and whistles (2008 vintage) compared to 2011 models, you're paying for the sensor, and, it would seem, paying through the nose. Crazy.

[jostafew]

Not exactly answering the original question but I'd like to pose an alternative; Pentax. Stabilization is in the body so you don't re-buy it with every lense, any Pentax lense going back to the dawn of time will work with a modern body, and for the price the feature set is very good. I looked at the T3i, D5100, and K-R and ultimatly chose the Pentax. The K-5 is an excellent camera as well but I was on a pretty tight budget.

Getting back to the original topic, it's been mentioned above but I'd have to agree that the modern cameras are pretty decent and that the photographer will play a much bigger role in the resulting photos then the hardware itself. Feature sets will differ a little so your choice will probably come down to which features you find most valuable (video features, burst speeds, etc.) and trivial as it may sound, how the camera feels in hand. I had to drop the T3i from my list for that reason! Go to the camera shop to touch and feel the candidates, and have a good think about what kind of shooting you want to do. That should help you decide.

[MarkoD]

Originally Posted by jostafew

Not exactly answering the original question but I'd like to pose an alternative; Pentax. Stabilization is in the body so you don't re-buy it with every lense, any Pentax lense going back to the dawn of time will work with a modern body, and for the price the feature set is very good. I looked at the T3i, D5100, and K-R and ultimatly chose the Pentax. The K-5 is an excellent camera as well but I was on a pretty tight budget.

Getting back to the original topic, it's been mentioned above but I'd have to agree that the modern cameras are pretty decent and that the photographer will play a much bigger role in the resulting photos then the hardware itself. Feature sets will differ a little so your choice will probably come down to which features you find most valuable (video features, burst speeds, etc.) and trivial as it may sound, how the camera feels in hand. I had to drop the T3i from my list for that reason! Go to the camera shop to touch and feel the candidates, and have a good think about what kind of shooting you want to do. That should help you decide.

in camera stabilization is useless. image stabilization is mostly helpful for longer focal lengths. and the in camera sensor stabilizer just cant move enough to compensate the the shake at telephoto focal lengths.

anything below 100mm on a full frame body shouldn't need IS

and if you ever being a serious photographer, you dont want to be stuck with pentax gear.

[scubadawg]

It doesn't matter what you buy, whatever feels comfortable in your hands, you can't go wrong with any digital SLRs these days

When I was scuba diving in Honduras, I met a National Geographic photographer, he uses Nikon, went on a photoshoot with his friend (uses Canon) in the Desert, Canon was grinding after the assignment, super fine sand/dust was getting into the body and lenses. He told me that Nikon has a far superior sealing system in their cameras and lenses.

Here's a good read

http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/nikon-vs-canon.htm

First DSLR for me was a Nikon D70, sold the D70 to a friend, then purchased 2 D200's

Personally I use Nikon, have 15 lenses, primes and the preminum zooms.
Have 2 Nikon D200's, cannot switch because I have 2 underwater camera housings for the D200's
All lenses have a Heliopan SH-PMC UV filters on them.

Purchased a D300, then sold it to a friend when the D700 came out, just picked up my D800 last week, just found out Sea&Sea is making a housing for a D800, so I'm tempted to buy it.
http://www.bluewaterphotostore.com/sea-and-sea-mdx-d800

It would save me a lot of weight travelling, won't have to bring my Sony HDV camcorder and housing.

Wrong timing, they won't before I go scuba diving and the end of July to Galapagos Islands (it's whale shark season), then to Machu Pichau

Probably buy the D800 housing for my next trip, muck diving in Indonesia in Aug 2013

I'm a old school photographer, still own a Leica M4P and a couple of Hasselblads, and 2 Nikon F100's and F70. Haven't shoot film in years.