Switching from Canon to Nikon

<p>If I buy the same golf clubs that Tiger Woods uses (or used) I should be able to join the PGA tour..... maybe NOT! It may require PRACTICE, PRACTICE, and PRACTICE. Enroll in some classes / workshops.</p>

Hello Ray and Margie: I would suggest that yo collect about 100 of your photographs and see what is lacking. You will not

be able to make progress unless you know what needs to be corrected. Here are things to look for: 1; Is exposure proper?

2. Is focus right on? 3. Is the image sharp? 4. Is the color correct? These four things you control by settings you use on

your camera and I can assure that canon 40D can give give you excellent quality of all four if camera settings are correct.

Now things that shows skill of the photographer: 5. Is the composition pleasing? 6. Does photo conveys message. 7. Is

there a subject that attracts attention? For that as suggested earlier, you will need to read some books, analyze other

people's photos and will take some time. Radiantvista.com has daily critique of pictures submitted, you may visit that site

and watch videos on the critique of the pictures. It is quite informative. And for sure take more pictures. Have a happy

new year. Sandy

<p>I bought my first camera in 1968. Do you know what a big discussion was then? Canon versus Nikon! No kidding!<br>

You mention "kit lenses", in the plural. You might post what they are.<br>

Your current problem is not, as you noted, your equipment. As Bob Capa noted, if your pictures are no good, you are not close enough. That is a starting point.<br>

I currently have entry level Nikon DSLR, and am wondering if maybe I should switch to Canon. I think that there will always be a "grass is greener" part of my psychology.<br>

As others have noted, try out both, and go with what feels best.</p>

 

<p >Hi Ray,</p>

<p > </p>

<p >I'm 53 and also retired military.</p>

<p >I've been studying photography for a couple of years now.</p>

<p >I also have a Canon 40D that I really enjoy shooting.</p>

<p >Unlike you, I would love to be a rich and famous photographer, or at least rich. Fame is overrated.</p>

<p >Like you, I initially had serious doubts about Canon and considered switching to Nikon.</p>

<p > </p>

<p >I didn't switch for all the good reasons the other folks have mentioned here and also because I purchased a Nikon D90 for my girlfriend, who was a professional photographer back in the film days. The D90 proved it's not the camera, but the photographer, because my images with two years of practice were much better than hers out-of-the-box. It takes time, practice and study. And, for what it's worth, I think the ergonomics on the Canon are much better than on the Nikon, but that's a personal opinion and others will vehemently disagree.</p>

<p > </p>

<p >I also wondered if I had wasted my money on a nice DSLR because my initial images weren't any better than those from my little digital point-and-shoot camera. That also changed big time with practice and study.</p>

<p > </p>

<p >Bryan Peterson's book "Understanding Exposure" has been recommended, and I agree. Great book that really opened my eyes.</p>

<p > </p>

<p >Right here on Photo.net is also highly recommended. Lots of great people who really know this stuff and are willing to help, as I'm sure you've noticed.</p>

<p > </p>

<p >Stay the course, my friend. Assuming it's working as it should and you have a quality lens hanging on the front, your Canon is just fine.</p>

<p > </p>

<p >Cheers,<br />Dave</p>

<p>^ I have an opposite response to that After a few years of shooting With a minolta x-700 I decided to try digital, what resulted was a 4 year hunt in which I hated every Canon I used for many reasons including ergonomics speed, durability, and comfort... I hated them all(the ones I've used) including the Eos Mark III, 7D, any Rebel, the 30D, and the 50D... Well This summer I tried and bought my first nikon... The D90 and I LOVE IT. It made me get back to shooting and doing what I love. Nikon may not be good for many, but for others like me it exceeds canon in every way. As for Ray Learn by not relying on the camera. Switch all your settings to manual Aperture, shutter speed, and focus as well as B&W and first learn how to get your blacks black and your whites white. All of the above suggestions are great to try</p>

<p>To echo some of comments above, my guess would be there are three areas you need to work on, and you will see immediate and gratifying improvements.</p>

 

<ol>

<li>Shoot in RAW if you don't already (and I suspect you don't)</li>

<li>Get Lightroom or some other RAW processor - you will be amazed at what 30 seconds in post-processing can produce in terms of increasing the impact of the photos. </li>

<li>Learn more about lighting, especially off-camera flash, bouncing, reflectors, etc. It sounds daunting but its easy enough to start off with one flash and a reflector/diffuser, or for that matter, a nearby wall.</li>

</ol>

<p>The great thing is that with digital, you obviously get immediate feedback, so that learning loop is a lot shorter, and you can make remarkable improvement in a brief time, with more than a few "eureka" moments. And you'll like it.</p>

<p>Ray,</p>

<p>I have not yet jumped to a DSLR, but I shoot film, when I can. From my reading, here, I believe that there is always some inherent need to tweak digital pictures, to get the best out of them. Some sharpening. Some contrast adjustment. Probably other stuff I don't know about. I would bet, if you posted a shot, some of the post processing gurus would take you shot and in 3 minutes post a shot that would open your eyes.</p>

<p>I think there will be a whole LOT of " I didn't know you could do that ! " statements leaving my mouth, when I finally do make the hop to a DSLR. If I can't make them look like my slides, I will still keep my film bodies. </p>

<p> </p>

<p>Spend you money on better lenses and a quality tripod. Join a local photography club, take a class at the local community college, or do both. No camera ever made a person a photographer just like no pot ever made someone a chef.</p>

<p>Digital SLRs offer a lot of options, too many actually. It's like handing a kid in driver's ed the keys to a Maserati. There will be wrecks.<br>

A lot of folks take bad pix because they don't understand what settings, by design or accident, their camera have at the moment. This whole maze of new digital settings is Revenge of the Nerds, Part Deaux. It's hard to move from being an expert on film to geek 101. Keep pugging away. It should be worth it.</p>

 

<p>Even though all of us Nikonians would gladly <em><strong>welcome you into the light</strong></em>, I think it is your inexperience, not your gear, that is producing disappointing images. The gear is simply a tool to <em>record the image</em>. It is the skill and knowledge of the photographer that <em>makes the image</em></p>

<p>So many people think they can get a do everything digital camera and think that they will be immediately successful photographers, because all those engineers have made it so easy to be a good photographer. Nothing could be farther from the truth. I am entirely self taught, and burned up a lot of film, paper and chemicals on the road to competency. Rather than spend money on equipment, invest in some books, take an online class or one at a local junior college. But most of all..........GET OUT AND SHOOT THINGS. No amount of reading or teaching is a real substitute for actually going out and taking photos. Sometimes the best lessons you learn are from your own mistakes. And now since digital is essentially free equipment aside, you can shoot as much as you want, and see right away if you are on track or off the rails.</p>

<p>Hello Ray,</p>

<p>I find the strong title of your thread interesting ! Are you still sure that's what you are going to do ??!!</p>

<p>Ray, as Scott says, a Camera is a *tool*. They all pretty much do the same thing. The Aperture in the lens opens larger and closes smaller and the shutter can be varied to increase or decrease the time it stays open.</p>

<p>Not too long ago, these parts on a cameras operated near identically, i.e. an Olympus camera's shutter speed could be varied in 1, 2, 4, 8, 15, 30, 60, 125, steps etc etc and so could a Canon's and so could a Nikon's etc etc. Same for lenses (f2, f2.8, f4 etc). All pretty much the same.</p>

<p>So can you see that if they all do things pretty much the same, taking great pictures must boil down to something other than the camera.</p>

<p>That something else, as most people have already said, is KNOWLEDGE.</p>

<p>I kinda disagree with Scott (no offense Scott !) in that I wouldn't necessarily advise to 'get out and shoot things' because until you know HOW to use a camera, UNDERSTAND light and lighting, I believe 'getting out and shooting' may frustrate you further (it may, it may not). </p>

<p>So the BEST advice I can give you, is to join a Photography Class.</p>

<p>I promise you won't regret it.</p>

<p>I agree with what the majority of people are saying here, buy some decent books covering the editing of your images and get to know the camera you have, which I believe is a good performer. Take a look at some of Floriana barbu portfolio, most of her images have been taken with a 20D and 17-40mm lens with outstanding results.</p>

<p>You could join a camera club and reach out for help. Check the website <a href="http://www.Meetup.com">www.Meetup.com</a> to see if there is a Meetup group in you area. I belong to one in New York City and I pass along my knowledge of photography to "new" photographers during a outdoor Meetup shoot.</p>

<p>As someone said before, Bryan Peterson books are excellent. He is the photographer that got me thinking that my camera is a tool, like a screwdriver and the important tool is in my head and in my heart for the joy of photography. The Understanding Exposure and Thinking Creatively are both excellent books to get you head thinking corretly about shooting a photograph before you press the shutter button.</p>

<p>My opinion is almost anyone can learn to shoot. Pressing the shutter button is easy, but setting up the photograph before you press the shutter button is the hard part.</p>

<p>And frankly you should not be hard on yourself it is understandable that you think it is the camera that is the problem when it the photographer. Also it good that your not please with you photos as that shows desire to learn and improve you skills and your photographs will improve in the end.<br>

Bill</p>

<p>I'm a Nikon enthusiast. I like the feel, and the user interface seems to be better organized and user friendly on Nikons. I have a D90 and love it! But I agree with everyone else, Nikon and Canon are equally good brands. It just depends which you like using more =]<br /><br /><a href="http://www.gavinsexton.smugmug.com/">http://www.gavinsexton.smugmug.com/<br /></a><br />Thanks guys, <br />Gavin Sexton </p>

<p>Your statement <strong><em>"I do NOT get the results I feel I should when I take pictures."</em> </strong> is not specific enough.</p>

<p>I don't understand why you feel that changing camera brands will improve your photos. I don't think it will.</p>

<p>I suggest joining photo.net as a paying member and start posting your work.</p>

<p>Why don't you post some photos and ask for tips to improve them?</p>

<p>Besides what are you trying to photograph? A good place to start is to try to take a studio photo of a watch, once you figure out how to get all the settings right - ideal - then you can move on to people, sports and nature.</p>