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#11
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Choosing a system, the practical and the philosophical
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#12
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Choosing a system, the practical and the philosophical
On 1/26/2013 7:33 PM, David Hare-Scott wrote:
I come from a background of an old Pentax K mount SLR film camera and a long period away from photography. A couple of years ago I bought a cheap super-zoom digital fixed lens just to find out what the digital revolution was about. I am now frustrated with its limitations and looking to go DSLR. I don't have a lot of money but enough to get started. I like to photograph the natural world: eagles, landscapes, insects and flowers. I can see the budget will have to cover several lenses eventually (sigh). Given the price of lenses once you start with a system (eg Nikon or Canon) you tend to stay with it, I don't see that many are going to jump from one to the other although I suppose its possible. This explains why people stick to a system but not why they selected it in the first place. I know there are other systems but for the point of discussion let's stick to those two. Why choose one over the other? A couple of possibilities come to mind, no doubt there are plenty that I haven't thought of. One is that the buyer was attracted to a particular body at a point in time and bought lenses to go with it. This suggests that at some other point in time they could have gone with the opposition if they had a body in their line-up that attracted the buyer more. This implies that there is no intrinsic difference between the competitors but that over time their systems leapfrog each other in appeal according to the models in the catalog. Another is that there is some intrinsic difference between the systems. As neither seem to be fading into oblivion if such a difference exists it seems to be one of style or approach not of basic suitability for purpose. Is there such a difference? If so what is? What kind of photographer is attracted to one or the other? I suppose a third is that they were given a Nikon or that Daddy always used Canon and that is what they learned on, that is the photographer didn't really choose but fell into it. I have no such initial conditions. There could be other reasons for choosing one system over another. What? Is this issue covered on the WWW or in any literature? Where? I am after such general advice that comes from experience and not from sales brochures. If you recommend one or the other I am more interested in the reason why than the recommendation itself, as I might have different needs and abilities to yours. I am not trying to start a flame war, I have no axe to grind nor (I hope) any preconceived ideas. What Bob Coe said makes a lot of sense. I started out with Nikon, and stuck with it because my lenses worked with my DSLR. That the Nikon repair center is located a few minutes from where I live, was also a factor in my decision. Don't be mislead by those who will start a Nikon v Canon, war. Just tune them out. Either Nikon or Canon will make a good choice. If you really will use you Pentax lenses, go for compatibility. You decision really depends on your planned use, and the depth of your wallet. -- PeterN |
#13
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Choosing a system, the practical and the philosophical
Floyd L. Davidson wrote:
Other folks that chose their camera based on which one does the best job for their style of photography will have conversations about their photographs rather than about their camera. OK, then in what way do the major manufacturers suit different styles, or are you saying it is always down to the individual model? D |
#14
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Choosing a system, the practical and the philosophical
What Bob Coe said makes a lot of sense. I started out with Nikon, and stuck with it because my lenses worked with my DSLR. That the Nikon repair center is located a few minutes from where I live, was also a factor in my decision. Don't be mislead by those who will start a Nikon v Canon, war. Just tune them out. Either Nikon or Canon will make a good choice. If you really will use you Pentax lenses, go for compatibility. You decision really depends on your planned use, and the depth of your wallet. I have to start from zero, my old Pentax lens are either gone or damaged. D |
#15
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Choosing a system, the practical and the philosophical
On 1/27/2013 4:40 PM, David Hare-Scott wrote:
What Bob Coe said makes a lot of sense. I started out with Nikon, and stuck with it because my lenses worked with my DSLR. That the Nikon repair center is located a few minutes from where I live, was also a factor in my decision. Don't be mislead by those who will start a Nikon v Canon, war. Just tune them out. Either Nikon or Canon will make a good choice. If you really will use you Pentax lenses, go for compatibility. You decision really depends on your planned use, and the depth of your wallet. I have to start from zero, my old Pentax lens are either gone or damaged. D Choosing a camera line is a highly personal thing. Most cameras will take decent pictures, so it comes down to the bells and whistles. And which system has the features that you will actually use. e.g. Nikon will allow multiple exposures on one image. I use that feature, others may not. I don't think Canon has that feature. Most Canon cameras will allow 2 stop bracketing, in the Nikon line, I think only the D4 has that feature. Most Nikons have only 1 stop bracketing. The D800 is a ufll frame with 36 Megapixels, allowing very high resolution. Just an hour ago I was talking with someone who thinks that is too much information, and he disposed of his D800. I mentioned only a few features that one has and the other does not. Only you can sit down and compare which line has those features you will use. Whichever decision you make will be the right one. -- PeterN |
#16
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Choosing a system, the practical and the philosophical
PeterN wrote:
Most Canon cameras will allow 2 stop bracketing, in the Nikon line, I think only the D4 has that feature. Most Nikons have only 1 stop bracketing. Nikon cameras have various different bracketing options. The entry level 3000 series does not have bracketing of any kind. The 5000 series has 3 steps of up to 1/2 EV per step. The D7000 also has 3 steps, but they can be up to 2 EV per step too. The high end models, from the D300 to the D800 and the D4 all have 9 steps at up to 1 EV per step. That means the camera can be set to high speed continuous with a maximum of 9 frames, and with Auto Bracketing set to 9 steps 1 EV apart each press of the shutter will bracket from -4 EV to +4 EV. I would assume that various Canon models are just as functional, but I don't know. -- Floyd L. Davidson http://www.apaflo.com/floyd_davidson Ukpeagvik (Barrow, Alaska) |
#17
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Choosing a system, the practical and the philosophical
David Hare-Scott wrote:
I am after such general advice that comes from experience and not from sales brochures. If you recommend one or the other I am more interested in the reason why than the recommendation itself, as I might have different needs and abilities to yours. I am not trying to start a flame war, I have no axe to grind nor (I hope) any preconceived ideas. What really matters is where the systems are going in the next few years/decades. Today, you'll be fine with either Nikon or Canon. It wasn't always so. Around 2005-2007, it seemed to me that Nikon had lost the fight: Canon had the 1Ds Mark II and the 5D, both high-performing full-frame (35mm) digital cameras, and Nikon had nothing comparable. I was seriously worried that Nikon had given up trying, and I'd have to abandon a bagful of Nikkors. Some professionals were reported to have done exactly that. Thankfully, it wasn't to last, and Nikon woke up. I now use a Nikon D800. Andrew. |
#18
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Choosing a system, the practical and the philosophical
On 1/28/2013 4:21 AM, Andrew Haley wrote:
What really matters is where the systems are going in the next few years/decades. Today, you'll be fine with either Nikon or Canon. It wasn't always so. Around 2005-2007, it seemed to me that Nikon had lost the fight: Canon had the 1Ds Mark II and the 5D, both high-performing full-frame (35mm) digital cameras, and Nikon had nothing comparable. I was seriously worried that Nikon had given up trying, and I'd have to abandon a bagful of Nikkors. Some professionals were reported to have done exactly that. Thankfully, it wasn't to last, and Nikon woke up. I now use a Nikon D800. so Nikon is ahead in that area at the moment. But ... it won't last. Canon will come out with a competitive offering soon, and will beat Nikon in some other area. The obvious need now is a mirrorless and (mechanically) shutterless camera with a really really good autofocus system that takes images continuously, say at 16 or 24 or 60 Hz, and stores the exact one that happened when you pressed the button, plus a few on each side. Zero shutter lag. Doug McDonald |
#19
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Choosing a system, the practical and the philosophical
On 1/27/2013 8:05 PM, Floyd L. Davidson wrote:
PeterN wrote: Most Canon cameras will allow 2 stop bracketing, in the Nikon line, I think only the D4 has that feature. Most Nikons have only 1 stop bracketing. Nikon cameras have various different bracketing options. The entry level 3000 series does not have bracketing of any kind. The 5000 series has 3 steps of up to 1/2 EV per step. The D7000 also has 3 steps, but they can be up to 2 EV per step too. The high end models, from the D300 to the D800 and the D4 all have 9 steps at up to 1 EV per step. That means the camera can be set to high speed continuous with a maximum of 9 frames, and with Auto Bracketing set to 9 steps 1 EV apart each press of the shutter will bracket from -4 EV to +4 EV. I would assume that various Canon models are just as functional, but I don't know. I am well aware of bracketing stops. The only Nikon that has 2EV per stop, is the D4. -- PeterN |
#20
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Choosing a system, the practical and the philosophical
PeterN wrote:
On 1/27/2013 8:05 PM, Floyd L. Davidson wrote: PeterN wrote: Most Canon cameras will allow 2 stop bracketing, in the Nikon line, I think only the D4 has that feature. Most Nikons have only 1 stop bracketing. Nikon cameras have various different bracketing options. The entry level 3000 series does not have bracketing of any kind. The 5000 series has 3 steps of up to 1/2 EV per step. The D7000 also has 3 steps, but they can be up to 2 EV per step too. The high end models, from the D300 to the D800 and the D4 all have 9 steps at up to 1 EV per step. That means the camera can be set to high speed continuous with a maximum of 9 frames, and with Auto Bracketing set to 9 steps 1 EV apart each press of the shutter will bracket from -4 EV to +4 EV. I would assume that various Canon models are just as functional, but I don't know. I am well aware of bracketing stops. The only Nikon that has 2EV per stop, is the D4. You don't seem to be too aware... The D4 does not have 2 EV bracket steps. Read what I wrote, it's accurate. -- Floyd L. Davidson http://www.apaflo.com/floyd_davidson Ukpeagvik (Barrow, Alaska) |
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