[LifeAfterDeath]

I knew that nowadays most of the people will by Canon DC... since they make a wide range of DC products... Even I will buy Canon (but I'm a Nikon user... =^_^=)

When I get into D-SLR... I don't know why a that I just want to buy Nikon but not Canon... even my brother-in-law own a Canon EOS-1VHs... and I could ask him to lend me the lens to use... but I still buy the Nikon!!!

All I can say is one reason... their lens... I think the Nikon Lens could last much longer then the Canon Lens(because of the USM...) Since I'm a Semi-Pro user... I always want my lens last at least 6-8 yrs... but I alwasy heard that the Canon Lens is very good... but it could only last for maybe 3-4 yrs... USM is the major issue 2 make me step back from it...

But most of the Hong-Kong SLR camera users are own Canon but not Nikon... so I can see why people always talk about Canon camera... and more than Nikon... also with 300D out... I can see most people buy Canon becux of one reason... the prices is cheap...


Moreover... I think that the main reason that make people step back from Nikon is the prices on the lens... is alwasy cost at least 10%-15% more than same Canon Lens... Also most Nikon user will only use Nikon Lens... few people r willing to buy from Sigma, Tokine, Tamaro... other 3rd party brand... But I do see a lot of people that using 3rd party brand on Canon D-SLR... I think that is the reason make Canon is so sucess on the market... you can buy lens very cheap... a Canon 50mm F1.8(make in Japan) is only like $6XX... a Nikon 50mm F1.4(also make in Japan) is like $19XX... for most people I think they will go for the Canon... this is very common...

But I really want to know what is the Pro thinking... I know that most media's people must use Canon... due to the fast response... but beside media... beside newspaper... what will the other Pro use???

Maybe one day if I need a camera to support my life(become a Pro)... I think that I will switch back 2 Canon... but 4 the moment... I think Nikon is just better 4 me...

This is only my thought on Nikon and Canon SLR and Lens... if you have any opinion... plz feel free to post it in here....

BTW, I also like Minolta... is just a good brand... 2 bad is even not as common as Nikon in HK and never make a D-SLR(I heard that they will launch one next yr)... =^_^=

P.S. just one more thought... I think most of the Nikon user r willing to use Nikon brand stuff... but for Canon user they will only pick the best buy one... brand is not a matter 2 Canon user...

[LifeAfterDeath]

With the new Nikon D70 D-SLR... what will like in the market next yr...

Plus Konica Minolta is also going to launch a nwe D-SLR... I would like to see what happen in D-SLR market...

[WSLam]

Canon lens are not less durable because of USM! Canon's USM is equal to 'S' (AF-'S' - Silent Wave) in Nikon's.
Canon lenses are worse build than Nikon for sure. But with proper care, Canon lenses can definitely last 5 to 6 years.

ws

[ninekit]

agreed, USM should not affect durability by that mileage as mentioned above.

and USM is the way to go for sure, also just mentioned by WSLam hing.

I think Pro will choose Canon for its speed and advanced technology, partially attributed to the USM lens, the innovations of multi-AF sensors, started from EOS-10, and all other manufacturers followsuit afterwards, and till now, EOS-1v is still the leader in this aspect, the level of automation just allow even a brainless people can take a technically correct shot. Thats what Pros cannot afford to miss, regardless of quality. In additions, don't forget there exist two "Real Time" models from Canon which use no flipping mirror and resulted in no blackout, and faster than mechanical shutter lag. These are also some nitched users cannot aford to miss. I think these are why most Pros choose Canon rather than Nikon.

Talking about quality and price of the lens, I honestly don't think Canon rank lower than Nikon. I believe the 50mm F/1.4 and the famous 70-200 IS are both actually more expensive than the Nikon counterpart.

No offense, and not trying to stereotype people, but most of the Nikon fever I know are brand freak or emotionally Nikon lover. And I do know a friend who ask me if its a good idea to buy F5 and use it with some cheappy consumer zoom from Nikon. Well, undoubtedly Canon is very successful in marketing, thats why you see the market is flooded with their consumer products. But in my opinion, besides the D-TTL flash automation, more comfortable eye-piece and F5's RGB metering, I cannot think of any other good reasons to use hi-end Nikons.

So thats my reasons for why Pro choose Canon, for other advanced users, like journalist and artist, I think they are less dependent on gears, but what I've observed is a lot of them tends to use some famous old brands, like Leica, Contax for the compactness, mobilitiy, even faster response and total control on creativity.

Thats just anyway my 2 cents. And personally I am also a Nikon coolpix 5000 user (for its 28mm coverage and compactness) and am very itchy on the D2H for its amazingly fast responsive-ness on AF speed, shutter lag and mirror blackout.

[Toilet_Paper]

>I knew that nowadays most of the people will by Canon DC... since they make a wide range of DC products... Even I will buy Canon (but I'm a Nikon user... =^_^=)

I have been being a Pentax user for 14 years but I have Canon DC too. :-)

>When I get into D-SLR... I don't know why a that I just want to buy Nikon but not Canon... even my brother-in-law own a Canon EOS-1VHs... and I could ask him to lend me the lens to use... but I still buy the Nikon!!!
>All I can say is one reason... their lens... I think the Nikon Lens could last much longer then the Canon Lens(because of the USM...) Since I'm a Semi-Pro user... I always want my lens last at least 6-8 yrs... but I always heard that the Canon Lens is very good... but it could only last for maybe 3-4 yrs... USM is the major issue 2 make me step back from it...

I think there are many misconception here so I shall tickle them one by one. First of all, when comparing the reliability or durability of cameras or lenses, you must compare products from the same class. With the major Japanese brands (C/M/N/P), they all have extremely high quality lenses to low quality junks. You will find their high end lenses were designed and built with much higher standard than consumers lenses, and there are always some super low quality lenses. Saying Canon lenses do not last as long as Nikkors is misleading and does not tell the whole story.

>But most of the Hong-Kong SLR camera users are own Canon but not Nikon... so I can see why people always talk about Canon camera... and more than Nikon... also with 300D out... I can see most people buy Canon becux of one reason... the prices is cheap...

Talking about DSLRs, Canon is indeed a bit better than Nikon image quality wise. Although the Fujifilm S2Pro is a good alternative for the Nikon system. And people have been waiting so long for an affordable DSLR, 300D just filled that need. However, there are more truth to the Canon's success than just cheap lenses or cheap 300D. Their success was dated back in the late 80's when Canon was launching their EOS system which proved to be the right idea and direction. Even Nikon had to admit their defeat by introducing AF-S & VR lenses.

>Moreover... I think that the main reason that make people step back from Nikon is the prices on the lens... is always cost at least 10%-15% more than same Canon Lens... Also most Nikon user will only use Nikon Lens... few people r willing to buy from Sigma, Tokine, Tamaro... other 3rd party brand... But I do see a lot of people that using 3rd party brand on Canon D-SLR... I think that is the reason make Canon is so sucess on the market... you can buy lens very cheap... a Canon 50mm F1.8(make in Japan) is only like $6XX... a Nikon 50mm F1.4(also make in Japan) is like $19XX... for most people I think they will go for the Canon... this is very common...

First of all, it is unfair to compared a f1.8 lens to a f1.4 lens. Secondly, Nikkor AF 50/1.8 used to be well built, but not anymore. They just followed the Canon route and made it as cheap as possible to compete with the same segment.

It is also not true that most Nikon consumers bought Nikkor lenses while most Canon user bought off-brand lenses. The truth is, large amount of off-brand lenses were sold to both systems. I cannot comment on their prices because this is a regional matter. You may be amazed how much differences could be if you compared the prices of the same items in different countries. Regional distributors have their own reason to price their products based on the cost and demand. It is a little more complicated than just the manufacturing costs.

>But I really want to know what is the Pro thinking... I know that most media's people must use Canon... due to the fast response... but beside media... beside newspaper... what will the other Pro use???

Since the Af era, many wildlife photographers use Canon for quiet & fast operation. However, Nikon has been popular as well, especially they have AF-S & VR now. But for other areas like scenery or studio, 135 format is just too small to be practical. In Japan, Pentax 645 & 67 systems are the most popular among scenery photographers. Pentax 67 is also very popular in North America too. And there are always Hass. & RZ/RB67 for studios.

>Maybe one day if I need a camera to support my life(become a Pro)... I think that I will switch back 2 Canon... but 4 the moment... I think Nikon is just better 4 me...

As a hobby system, there is not much difference, they are just toys. And even if you are going to be a pro (or commercial photographer), to go Canon or not depends on what kind of photographer you are talking about. There is no point to shoot and try to sell landscape shots with 135 format which is too small.

>This is only my thought on Nikon and Canon SLR and Lens... if you have any opinion... plz feel free to post it in here....

There is historical reason why Nikon has been so famous for so long. Back in the 50 when Nikon first introduced the big 'F', Nikon was still not taken seriously by the professionals. It was when the US press photographers started using them in wars and bought back some pictures, people started to realized the far east (Japan) was capable of producing high quality cameras which could withstand harsh professional use. Since then, Nikon has been considered as a professional brand, and there were F2, F3, F4 and now F5. Ironically, even though their cameras & lenses were built like tanks, their optical performance did not stand out from the crowd (not that they were poor). To the press industry, technical image quality has never been the priority, unlike most of us imagined. They just wanted the "right" images, and wanted them fast. That's why such high end automated cameras like EOS-1 series/F5 were developed & built. It also explains why most press photographers have switched to digital as soon as they were practical because the images could be uploaded and printed in no time. It was when the AF era began, Nikon began to live in the shadow because the success of the Canon EOS system. Canon proved their USM technology was way faster and quieter than conventional screw type AF used by Minolta, Pentax and Nikon systems. And this fact has turned many Nikon press, sport & wildlife shooters into Canon EOS users. And all these have nothing to do with cost. When the right products were launched and there were people who found them useful, people would switch. This was true for the MF->AF switch, and now the film->digital switch. In fact, even though F4 was a professional AF camera, it was considered as the best "manual focus" SLR at the time. This indicated how seriously Nikon was lagging behind on the AF technology at the time. However, their effort to introduce the F100 & F5 have footed themselves in right direction again with AF-S & VR lenses. Unfortunately, Nikon now have to catch up on a whole new game again - the digital technology. And like it or not, Canon is a much bigger company. There is no way Nikon could spend the same amount of R&D resource as Canon do (Minolta & Pentax are in the same situation).

And if you looked back the history, Nikon have been the master of marketing for decades. They know how to put their products to the press photographers' hands and use that for adverting. Since most consumers are highly influenced by ads, many "believed" Nikon was all about professional and must be good. Even people who have never touched a camera thought professional meant Nikon. This indicates how successful their tactic was, but little they knew it has been about marketing all along. No doubt Nikon have had many excellent products, but their low end products are just as bad as other brands'. Canon have learnt the same tactic and made their EOS famous too. Even though high end cameras and lenses made little to no profits, by making those products famous could raise the brand image, and therefore increase sales on the low end segments which are where the "real" profit is.

>BTW, I also like Minolta... is just a good brand... 2 bad is even not as common as Nikon in HK and never make a D-SLR(I heard that they will launch one next yr)... =^_^=

Minolta & Pentax have excellent lenses too, unfortunately, they have never employed the Nikon marketing tactic so most people have never seriously looked at them. But the old type AF technology has played its part too.

>P.S. just one more thought... I think most of the Nikon user r willing to use Nikon brand stuff... but for Canon user they will only pick the best buy one... brand is not a matter 2 Canon user...

The common Canon/Nikon flame wars suggest otherwise.

[ninekit]

absolutely agreed with Toilet Paper hing's notes, what the press industry care is really do you have the pictures rather than how good the picture was taken.

forgotten to finish my friend's F5 story. finally he has taken my suggestion, bought the F5 with AFS28-70 and just recently bought AFS70-200VR.

and he still complain why there are no scene modes for such an expensive F5!

[Toilet_Paper]

At least together with 2 AFS zooms, the whole package is great for fitness purpose. :-)

[ninekit]

he.... he....

no matter what, that package also give excellent pictures.