What do you like about your DSLR?

[Ron Klutts]

Due to theft of my Canon 20D I'm looking at what Nikon has to offer too. So what do you like or dislike about your DSLR and what model do you have? Same applies for lenses too. I don't want to start a war, just looking for some info and opinions.

Thanks
Ron

[jaberg]

My Nikon v. Canon thoughts--including my reasoning in choosing the Nikon system (as opposed to choosing any individual model) are laid out in response to Shawn's Nikon vs. Canon Debate blog post.

To answer your question, my DSLR is Fuji Finepix S2 Pro (which based on a Nikon body). It was purchased because A) it would use my Nikon lenses (the system choice was made before Digital SLRs were a reality--at least for mere mortals) and B) a friend handed it to me at the Greenwich Village Halloween parade one day--he'd just come from Photo Plus Expo where he'd purchased a Kodak DSLR (full frame sensor)--and made me an offer I couldn't refuse.

The camera works fine and the controls are well laid out. My primary complaint is that sometimes the Fuji just "goes dead" and has to be reset by pulling the batteries. I assume that newer models don't this--or at least don't do it very often. Beyond that, it works. I'd like to add a Nikon D5 to the arsenal, but I can't say that Fuji is holding me back in any way.

Pick a system--using your criteria--and the camera model question will become a lot easier to answer.

[Rik Jones]

I personally don't know anything other than Nikon. It is all I have ever owned in the Digital space aside from the old Sony F505 and the Ricoh 1mb beast back int he mid '90's.

[Shawn King]

Wish I could help. I don't have enough experience with mine to know what to like/dislike about it.

[Ron Klutts]

Well maybe someday you will Shawn. Either way they are both good camera's, it's interesting to examine the subtleties.

[Shawn King]

Definitely - but when it comes to comparing a D30 vs a D50, there aren't many subtle things about it. :)

I hope to have a full report posted later today.

[OzarksPhotos]

I have used Nikon gear for over 30 years. The lenses I bought way back then still work on the new bodies. Latest bodies I have are the D3 and D300. Excellent complementary cameras. D300 for birds and the D3 for low light and normal photos.

[Shawn King]

"D3 for low light and normal photos." Wow! That's a lot of camera for "normal" shots. Define "normal". :)

[OzarksPhotos]

hahaha, caught me there. Poor choice of word it seems. :-)

Should have said full frame shots I guess? Wide is wide on a full frame camera, great for scenic landscape photos, shots where one can get close, or long lens photos where one wants to include more of the surroundings.

[Christopher T. Murphy]

To me, this is a matter of loyalty. Ask yourself which company abandoned you by changing the lens mount a couple of times over the years, necessitating another large outlay of cash to continue to use their products? Which company allows you to use lenses made in 1960 on a camera today, and still meter? You can pick up used Nikon glass very reasonably and it will still mount, meter and shoot on anything Nikon makes from the D200 up. Other DSLR Nikons will let you mount, but not meter. In any event you haven't lost your original investment.

Not trying to start a war here, but it does seem like photographers designed the placement of controls on the Nikon bodies and on the Canons they are placed in what seems like counterintuitive positions. Some of them then take two hands to use as well. I know it is a matter of getting used to for most, I don't want to get used to buying lenses over and over. My 50mm/1.4 works great on my D200. Bought the D200 two years ago, bought the 50mm in the late 1970's.

The other aspect to consider is the flash system. Nikon has no rival for the CLS Creative Lighting System when is comes to commander mode off camera flash. Vist www.strobist.blogspot.com to see what you can do with off camera flash.

Nikon usually releases a camera when it is ready to use successfully. Canon's latest and greatest has had some tremendous focusing problems. Seems like it was a .5 release rather than a 1.0 release. That isn't going to be the standard of course. Over the years both major makers have had turkeys. I am trying to be very fair with everyone out there. If you shoot Canon, I don't hate you. If you shoot, welcome to the profession, no matter what you are shooting.

To close, I head a story once about a famous photographer in line at a bookstore author signing. When he got up to have his book signed by the famous author, the author looked up from the table and said, "I know you! You must have a GREAT camera!" To which the famous photographer replied, "I know you! YOU must have a GREAT TYPEWRITER!" The moral of the story is there is a brain that makes a camera work and it is located just behind, not within, the camera itself. Happy shooting everyone!

[Shawn King]

I'm going to steal that typewriter story... :)

[OzarksPhotos]

There is another similar story about an exchange between a cook and a photographer. Check out www.timernst.com for it, may be on his workshops page.

[Lesa Snider King]

Gosh, the whole Canon vs. Nikon thing is an epic battle which rivals that of Mac vs. PC. Since I'm still learning about the pros/cons of each company, I have only to offer that in my dealings with both companies for New York Times reviews, I can honestly say that Nikon treats Pogue horribly. We get repeated notices from Nikon when we have equipment that has gone over the loan agreement period, and they often refuse to send out more equipment until the other items have been returned. Whereas Canon is the easiest, most wonderful company to work with. Further to that, our good friends at a camera store in Cape Cod can't get a Nikon rep to even visit them, as such they are forced to carry only Canon cameras. Quality of equipment aside, Canon seems like an infinitely friendlier company, whereas Nikon reminds me of Quark!