Time to switch to Canon ?

<p>Historically photographers have been extremely brand loyal. Myself included. Part of this was brand loyalty itself (WE bought it so it must be the best) but the largest chunk was investment in glass. With fairly continuous improvement in lenses we don't hang on to them nearly as long as we use to so they are not the investment that they once were. In my case, looking at upgrading one body and several lenses this year the option of switching brands is very doable.</p>

<p>Off the top of my head the biggest reason to switch is Nikon's continuous lack of settings memory. I want 2 or 3 or more memory banks that DON'T CHANGE. That when I switch to one I know exactly what I'm getting and can modify from there, NOT get wherever I left off last time which might have been weeks or months ago since I last used it.</p>

<p>Others thoughts? Am I nuts? I've thought that Nikon would eventually catch up to Canon on this and other things (and bring some of their pricing more in line with Canon?) but they don't seem to be doing it. Historically it's seemed either Nikon dominated or when playing leapfrog caught up quickly. The just released D5 still has the same mostly useless memory banks. Is Canon now the reigning king for a long time to come?</p>

<p>Store camera settings, as many the camera model has, to the memory card. One operation. When you need to get back to your original settings, load all settings back from the memory. Another operation. It works!</p>

<p>Of course, it is possible to mess original settings in the memory card by writing something unwanted over.</p>

<p>Now, when the problem is solved halfway, you may only need to replace half of your Nikon gear. ;-)</p>

<p>Canon have also included GPS and RF remote/flash for some time. Not a huge issue but nice to have.</p>

<p>Switching brands to have more memory slots for settings? I can agree the memory banks in Nikkors do not work perfect (I use them little, that helps!).... but selling everything (at inevitable loss), and then buying replacement... that's a costly joke. There is <a href="/canon-eos-digital-camera-forum/00dtX2?unified_p=1">a nice thread</a> at the other side of the fence. I guess the grass is always greener on the other side of the hill.<br>

<em>"Is Canon now the reigning king for a long time to come?" - </em>There is more to a camera than its memory banks, or gadgets as GPS, touchscreens and so on. Canon excels in some areas, Nikon in some others and Sony is doing some pretty terrific stuff. Pentax still knows how to build a very fine tool too. Etc.<br>

The whole idea of crowning a king is counter-productive, simplified and unrealistic, and an open invite to silly Brand-vs-Brand threads.</p>

<blockquote>

<p>With fairly continuous improvement in lenses we don't hang on to them nearly as long as we use to so they are not the investment that they once were.</p>

</blockquote>

<p>Some of us do. Old lenses are great and new lenses are great, it just depends on what you like and what you need and how much you have to spend. I enjoy using a mix of MF Nikkors, AF Nikkors, and AF-S Nikkors. This is one of my favorite aspects to the Nikon system. They have done a great job in maintaining compatibility. Only you can decide if switching is right, and I appreciate those who switch and put their old Nikon gear for sale on the used market :)</p>

<p>I'm with Wouter on this....I see this greener-grass phenomenon on DPR. You do what works for you, tho ultimately it's about the photographer....and the gear follows (a tool).</p>

<p>Les</p>

<blockquote>

<p> the biggest reason to switch is Nikon's continuous lack of settings memory.</p>

</blockquote>

<p>if its that big a deal to you, then go ahead.</p>

<p>What camera do you have Walker? Because my "cheap" D7200 has two User settings (U1 & U2) that'll store almost every parameter you're likely to want to change, and my semi-pro D800 has 4 Custom setting banks (A, B, C & D) that have a similar function. The D7200 User modes are available straight from the top-plate, but the D800 requires a couple of menu presses to achieve the same thing. In fact the D7200 effectively stores 3 groups of settings since the camera reverts to its previous state when you switch out of the User modes. Oh yes, I nearly forgot. There's also "My Menu" in both cameras where you can add any functions that you need frequent access to. However I've yet to find a need to use it.</p>

<p>Last Canon I used was a 5D that required many menu pokes to change and store its limited setting options, with no quick recall facility at all. I also had to return one Canon series L lens due to bad decentring. Whereas my experience with Nikon glass has been 100% perfect so far. I know it's probably just the luck of the draw, but a bad experience does tend to taint one's views of the whole marque.</p>

<p>Walker, have you been influenced by Ken Rockwell's site? Rockwell, who loves to stir things up to draw visitors to his site, has been railing against the way that custom setting banks are set up on the D800 and other higher level Nikons, and the superiority of how Canon does this. I hope that you don't get convinced by that guy to take the expensive step of changing systems. My apologies if you are offended by my asking.</p>

<p>I switched from Olympus to Nikon 19 years ago, when Olympus stopped developing their OM line. I hated the cost of new equipment and the pitiful amount I received for my old stuff, but wanted to be able to use autofocus and other major features that were important to me. To me, the way that memory banks are set up doesn't seem like a huge deal, but that's up to you. I do wonder, if you make the switch, whether you might find some problem with Canon that makes you want to switch back.</p>

<p>Rodeo Joe, I think Walker is probably satisfied with the memory banks of the D7xxx series.</p>

 

<p>Thanks all. If the D800/810 and D4/D5/D? had U1 & U2 I'd be much happier (and more so with U3 & U4). Alas, these features are only for the consumer line. The custom settings banks are dynamic and not static. They may work for some but I've completely failed at using them successfully. May yet be user error.</p>

<p>A very typical scenario is I want one that is AF-C, aperture priority, ISO400, Center-weighted metering, etc. I can setup a bank for this but if I switch to that bank and then change from AF-C to AF-S then the next time I switch to that bank it will be AF-S and not the AF-C that I want.</p>

<p>Funny that you mentioned Rockwell. Yesterday was the first time in a year or two that I've visited his site and it was my Nikon vs Canon google that sent me there. FWIW, I don't hold Rockwell in as low esteem as many. You sometimes have to take some of what he says with a grain of salt and I question some of his knowledge but he also provides some useful info and his site is well laid out. Not offended at all (and besides, I'm a former OM shooter myself (Nikon > Olympus > Nikon)).</p>

<p>I only have one older lens that I use much and that's a 50/f1.2 that is a gem though lack of AF with no split focus screen on new bodies does make for a challenge. My 135/f2.0 DC is kind of old I suppose. If I switched I would keep one Nikon body (likely D800) just for this lens as it is a great lens not matched by anything available for Canon.</p>

<p>This year I will likely upgrade my D200 to a D810 or D5 as well as upgrade 70-200 & 80-400 (though perhaps to 200-400 or 200-500). I'll also purchase a 300/f2.8 (assuming Nikon come out with the FL version that Canon already have) and one or two of the new TCIII's. So from a switch standpoint none of these will cost anything as I'm buying them anyway. I'd then have to trade 3 lenses that I use fairly often: 24-70, 85, and 105 macro. I'd also need to swap out one speedlight, PCB Commander, and Phottix Odin though I'd been thinking about upgrading to the new Odin anyway. </p>

<p>This would leave me with a single Canon body though so I'd likely get a fairly inexpensive used body that I'd upgrade in a few years.</p>

<p>I love my Nikon's warts and all. I would love to play with Canon's but if I went down the Canon rabbit hole, what would I do with my Nikkor 105/2.5 AiS that works so so beautifully on all my Nikon's digital and film?</p>

<p>Walker, I am a little confused. Your initial post above seems to indicate you are leaning towards switching to Canon due to a feature you value. Nothing wrong with that at all if it is an important feature you would use on a regular basis. Then later you say you will likely upgrade your D200 this year and then list over $20,000 worth of Nikon gear you might purchase. Personally I would first decide if I wanted to make the move to Canon and if so use that money for Canon gear. Cost aside, I also would not want to try to work with two different platforms with vastly different menus and button layouts. But then again I am old and easily confused. :)<br>

As far as KR, maybe you don't hold him in as low esteem as many since as you pointed out you have not visited his site in a year or two. When almost every "review" states that the particular piece of gear is "the best" camera, lens, flash, laptop etc. ever made it is hard for me to take it seriously. Great for a laugh, yes. But so is Beetle Bailey. As pointed out it is how he makes his money. He also has a heavy bias towards Canon and Apple products.</p>

<p>NTIM, really, but</p>

<blockquote>

<p>but if I went down the Canon rabbit hole, what would I do with my Nikkor 105/2.5 AiS that works so so beautifully on all my Nikon's digital and film?</p>

</blockquote>

<p>You buy a ca. $15 Nikon>EOS adapter, and use either the AiS or non-AI lens manually on the Canon body, as I do. I bought a substantial number of Nikon non-AI lenses after I went to Canon digital. Lenses like my PC-Nikkor and Reflex-Nikkor are manual anyhow.... (A few Nikkor short lenses do project too far back for the "full-frame" Canons, but most work just fine).<br /> Still, to switch systems after years of use is a big PITA, I know -- my hands still want to 'index' lenses when I mount them on my Canon. You really, really have to NEED some otherwise unavailable feature or lens to justify a switch. Otherwise, forget about it. The functionality and quality of the two systems are for all practical purposes indistinguishable.</p>

<p>If you always need the latest thing for some reason, and have unlimited financial resources, then switching can be fun, but is unlikely to have any major utilitarian consequences.</p>

<p>Option memory is not a good reason to switch platforms, and all the time and expense that involves. It makes more sense to change cars when you get tired of the old color.</p>

<p>The hard part of using a menu is figuring out which options to use. That can take weeks or months and is probably never complete. Once you know what you want, it takes only a few minutes to reprogram the camera, usually if the program is lost (repairs or firmware upgrade), or if you get a new body with similar features. I have had configuration memory options on most of my Nikon DSLRs, but have never really used them. (I tend to keep overwriting memory one each time I change my mind about functionality.)</p>

<p>Seems that if you are going from DX to FX, and don't have so many FX lenses, it is a convenient time to consider a brand switch. <br>

If you are upgrading the body anyway, either staying in the same format, or already have enough lenses (from film days) it is less obvious. <br>

But at noted above, lens technology changes, such that you might want to upgrade, anyway.</p>

<p>For paid (professional) use, you figure out the costs and benefits. If you take thousands of shots a week, or maybe only a few hundred, maybe.</p>

<p>For hobbyists and ordinary home (vacations, kids) use, it is much less obvious. I do still like to put AI lenses on my D200 sometimes, just for fun. I don't have the high-end lenses that would be expensive to replace. I have enough lenses that I could buy an FX body without immediate need for new lenses. But older used lenses of either Canon or Nikon are reasonably priced, so it isn't hard to make the switch. If you want to.</p>

Walter if you save user setting you should not be having this problem if you switch to af-s in middle of a shoot when you have set camera up as af-c...it will

always revert back to af-c if camera turned off and back on again.

<p>I thought I'd made clear in my OP that the point of considering this now is that I'm turning over more than half of my kit this year anyway so whether going to Canon or Nikon makes little financial difference. Perhaps I should have been more clear. Further, after going through my entire kit it is actually a bit less expensive for me to switch everything over the Canon than to do the Nikon upgrades I've been planning compliments of lower prices on a few Canon equivelents.</p>

<p>@Mary, I think you're confusing the U1/U2 in consumer cameras with Banks in the rest of the Nikon line. I wish the better camera's had U1/U2.</p>

<p>I was at this crossroads some 25 years ago, but I was jumping the other way -- from Canon FD to Nikon F (manual focus). But then a strange thing happened. First I bought into EOS and then over the years I began re-acquiring Canon FD gear -- mostly just because I missed it.</p>

<p>But none of that really applies in this case. You know, it's often a very personal decision -- switching systems. I currently have both Canon and Nikon AF gear, albeit only Canon digital. And this is what I have to say about Nikon:</p>

<p>Nikon's biggest strength is its continued adherence to the classic F mount. Nikon's biggest weakness is its continued adherence to the classic F mount.</p>

<p>Canon's biggest strength is its EOS mount. Even though Canon pissed off a lot of its users when it switched from FD to EOS -- many of which are still upset about it -- it was a stroke of genius. The EOS mount is vastly superior to the old FD mount and even the Nikon F mount. So this is one of the biggest reasons, IMO, for switching to Canon.</p>

<p>If I were in your shoes, I would rent a Canon body and a few lenses and just go out and shoot the snot out of the outfit. Nothing like hands-on work to help you make a decision like this.</p>

 

<p>Thanks Michael. That's a great point. I'm not a very good gear junkie so this is a rarity for me to get down to this level. One of the things that some B&H folks pointed out is that Canon can make some of their lenses less expensively than Nikon because of the larger aperture at the opening.</p>

<p>A couple of days this upcoming week are set aside for shooting Canon. I'm curious to see what I like and don't like.</p>

<p>My 2 cents.<br /> I've tried taking the "Menu Bank" route but that approach failed me very quickly. The thing is that I kept changing my camera's settings all the time. And in most cases I wanted those changes to be "global", meaning that I had to go to each one of the memory banks and apply the same changes. I just couldn't keep up with it. It was a nightmare, a real cluster****. I do realize that in some scenarios having several sets of constant settings is beneficial but I just couldn't conform to the way it had to be operated.<br /> Luckily, the custom menu on my D800 turned out to be a godsend! First of all, getting to it is a breeze and you don't even have to dedicate a button to it. I have the DOF preview button assigned to "Access top item in MY MENU" but that 'top item' happens to be the Virtual Horizon which I had to assign one of the buttons to anyway. So, I have the Virtual Horizon on demand, one press of a button away. In order to get to My Menu from there, I just have to press the multi-selector: center, left, right, either one works.<br /> The custom menu itself I've organized in a form of a checklist. Before every shoot I pull it up in the manner described above. Then I quickly go over the items. The items are laid out in the order that I want them to be, in the way that makes sense to me. Most of the time I don't have to change anything but when I do it's not more than 2 or 3 different settings. I guess that is why this method works for me. Having to change this way 8 or 9 settings every time would be a real pain in the rear. Luckily, in my scenario that is never the case and the beauty of it is that most of the actual settings are displayed right next to the items, so there's no need to invoke any of them unless I want something changed.<br /> I've divided my custom items into 2 separate categories. One fits on the first page and it contains items that I need to access most frequently. The rest is on the second page.<br /> 14 items total are enough for me but it's quite possible to have more than that (I don't know the actual limit).<br /> There's lots that I'm not happy with about my D800 camera, however, this thing worked out great for me. Wouldn't have it any other way (but that's just me).</p>

<p>Anyway, there are lots of photographers (pros and hobbyist) who have in their arsenal both Nikon and Canon equipment. Nobody has to "switch". And getting stuff from Canon is not like having to buy everything again. Plenty of it is "cross-platform". Things like bags, tripods, pro studio lighting and props, filters, memory cards/readers, computers, software, printers, darkroom equipment, film and flatbed scanners, etc..<br /> What I'm saying is that switching over to a different camera system is not like starting from zero. But if it was me, I'd just buy one Canon body, a Nikkor to Canon lens adapter and a couple of Canon lenses that I knew I otherwise couldn't live without. Luckily, Canon has plenty of camera bodies to choose from and the used ones are more common than Nikon's.<br /> At any rate, it wouldn't be like "selling everything" and then having to buy it all from scratch.<br /> Whatever you do, you can't go wrong with your decision, as long as you're switching for the right reasons (if that is, indeed, your choice).</p>

<p>Thanks David. I might have to play around with something like that a bit more. Still seems way more complicated than normal simple user configurable memories but we'll see.</p>

<p>It still kind of amazes me how antiquated cameras seem. We should be able to configure everything from a PC with a user interface that makes it easy to set up. EG, a table with all of the settings A1, A2, B3, etc. down the side with 4 or 8 memories across the top. Go through and set each memory location exactly how you want it. Copy one memory location to another and modify from there, easily change one setting across all memories, etc. Then a dial or button on the camera that allows you to easily choose one.</p>

<p>The photo industry needs someone to come in and move things along like Musk is doing to the car and space industries. As the head of Audi said, they're taking plans from 15 years out and doing them now to keep from getting their lunch eaten by Tesla.</p>

<p>I'm completely with you there. The current camera bodies (Nikon, Canon and others) have the capacity of being so much more advanced than they are, the way they sit. It's all in the software. I wish that the manufacturers would stop the crypto B.S. and let serious developers write proper software, for whom it would be a full-time job and not just one more thing they had to do in order to be able to sell their cameras.<br>

I would pay real money for a good "operating system" for my Nikon D800.</p>

<p>Hi Walker, I quite agree the menu banks are annoying but personally I value the better dynamic range and shadow noise I get with my Nikons over the possible advantage of different banks with a Canon.<br>

Not sure who told you that the larger Canon mount enables them to make lenses cheaper. That's total rubbish, what it does do however is enable them to make faster lenses as the rear element can be physically larger so letting in more light.<br>

So as others have said Canon is not 'king' just different.<br>

I wouldn't by a camera like a 5d Mk111 now though as a replacement must be along soon and that will in all probability be significantly better. On the other hand the replacement for the D810 may also be along soon and that may do exactly what you want.<br>

If you really want to by a new camera I would wait until Nikon and Canon bring out these two replacements and then see what camera has the best balance of features for you. If you want to do it in a scientific way make a table of all the features of each camera and then allocate them a score from 0-10. this will give you an idea of which one may be the best.</p>

<p> </p>