Moving to Nikon from Canon

StewartR said:
Ed, have you ever used a Nikon 80-400 VR? Compared to the Canon 100-400 it's a positive embarrassment. Nikon make many fine lenses, but I cannot for the life of me work out what they think they're doing with that one.
Click to expand...

interesting quote considering you hire them out :lol: :shrug:
 
I swopped after the 1DMKIII debacle ..... final straw was the ineffective and poor service from Elstree ..

BUT - I had used Nikon for 20 years - so probably liked the ergonomics better anyway...

Wish I had moved back sooner
 
StewartR said:
Ed, have you ever used a Nikon 80-400 VR? Compared to the Canon 100-400 it's a positive embarrassment. Nikon make many fine lenses, but I cannot for the life of me work out what they think they're doing with that one.
Click to expand...

It's a strange thing... I've had two of these and the first was a peach! I've achieved remarkable results with it. I had to sell it as money was needed.

It got replaced and it wasn't a peach..... I lost all confidence with it... it just wouldn't work to the standard as the previous one on a DX camera (mainly a D300). Soft images, terrible CA. Question then remained - should I sell it? Well, I was too lazy to bother - either to use it or sell it.

Then, along comes a D700..... the lens got a final chance to redeem itself. I tried it at the weekend on a luck-lustre dull day. Most impressed.... seemed as it was just the same quality as the previous example. Can't explain.

When I get a bit more time I can post some better/bigger examples. This was 400mm - processed in DxO with no sharpening.

5058381982_f951842a1a.jpg
 
StewartR said:
Ed, have you ever used a Nikon 80-400 VR? Compared to the Canon 100-400 it's a positive embarrassment. Nikon make many fine lenses, but I cannot for the life of me work out what they think they're doing with that one.
Click to expand...

dinorock said:
interesting quote considering you hire them out :lol: :shrug:
Click to expand...

What can I say? There's demand out there to hire them; we try to satisfy that demand. But we don't try to make out that the lens is something it isn't. That doesn't help anyone.

In fact I reckon the 80-40 VR is pretty decent optically. It's just the ergonomics that are all wrong - and esprcially so compared to the 100-400L. The twist zoom is really heavy. Focussing is slow and noisy. The extending barrel looks and feels quite vulnerable. And the implementation of VR is postively bizarre. Why on earth is there a mode 'for users who prefer uncompensated viewfinder images' - where VR only kicks in when the shutter is fully pressed???

So if a user of a D90 or D300 (say) wants a recommendation for a good safari lens, we'll happily - and honestly, I believe - recommend the 80-400 VR as the best telephoto zoom option for them. (D60 users would be recommended the 70-300 VR.) The comparison with the 100-400L is completely irrelevant and I won't mention it. But we won't recommend the 80-400 VR for sports.

Do you think we should do otherwise?
 
StewartR said:
In fact I reckon the 80-40 VR is pretty decent optically. It's just the ergonomics that are all wrong - and esprcially so compared to the 100-400L. The twist zoom is really heavy. Focussing is slow and noisy. The extending barrel looks and feels quite vulnerable. And the implementation of VR is postively bizarre. Why on earth is there a mode 'for users who prefer uncompensated viewfinder images' - where VR only kicks in when the shutter is fully pressed???

Do you think we should do otherwise?
Click to expand...

From memory this was their first lens with VR, when you look at the lenses they have "upgraded" it is amazing that they have done nothing with this one, as you say Stewart, optically it is fine.

As I said above the 300f4 AF-S + 1.4 (or 1.7) TC is the best option at the range and price point.
 
I sold my Canon 10D; Canon 24-70; 70-200 and Canon EX flash 2 years ago bought a Nikon D700; Nikon 24-70 and have never regretted it.
Dave
 
There are plenty on here that have made the switch. Me included. But think carefully, for most of us it was a very expensive exercise.

No regrets here though ! For me, the lure was too strong (D700)
 
Luke_Herts said:
Looking if i sold my current canon kit i'd get near on £3000 that could be my budget at least for now

My canon kit

7D £1000
40D £400
50mm £55
tamron 90mm macro £200
sigma 10-20 £280
100-400 £900
remote release £10
Click to expand...

Have you got enough kit to qualify for CPS Status? You get a better turnaround on repairs or loan kit whilst it's being fixed.

Can you speak to who has your stuff and say enough is enough and you want a replacement.
 
Last edited:
I have just moved as I had an 'opportunity' to sell my canon gear (no job!) but had just enough for a D5000 and kit lens at the time and i must say so far I'm glad i switched. The build quality in my opinion is better, the camera is quieter and the mirror system moves the camera much less when taking a pic than the canon. My only gripe is that the menu system is far more complicated to get round than canon but I'm just about there so very very happy!
 
AndyWest said:
I have just moved as I had an 'opportunity' to sell my canon gear (no job!) but had just enough for a D5000 and kit lens at the time and i must say so far I'm glad i switched. The build quality in my opinion is better, the camera is quieter and the mirror system moves the camera much less when taking a pic than the canon. My only gripe is that the menu system is far more complicated to get round than canon but I'm just about there so very very happy!
Click to expand...

That's what you're saying this week anyway. :p
 
Luke_Herts said:
Just had another conversation with canon. After saying 2 weeks ago that they would honour guarantee and lens would be fixed free of charge they're now trying to charge me.
Fuming is an understatement, Nikon is becoming more and more attractive
Click to expand...

Get it all in writing.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Luke_Herts said:
Looking if i sold my current canon kit i'd get near on £3000 that could be my budget at least for now

My canon kit

7D £1000
40D £400
50mm £55
tamron 90mm macro £200
sigma 10-20 £280
100-400 £900
remote release £10
Click to expand...

Despite the problems you may regret moving from a 7D to a D300S - such as the resolution loss and to be quiet frank the mediocre nosie control on the D300S.

However Canon are bang out of order for the shoddy service level that you had the misfortune to experience.
 
Am I the only person to go the other way? My first DSLR was a D40. After 6 months the body stopped talking to the lenses properly causing constantly underexposed images by varying amounts. I returned it to the shop and Nikon fixed it only for the same thing to happen again. Took it back a second time and had a full refund which I put towards a 400D. I must admit I was a little disapointed with the kit lenses compared to Nikons but soon moved on to the 40D and have been more than happy ever since. I have no intention of going back :)
 
I went the other way, sold my Nikon D200, D70 and many lenses some of which I had had for years to move to FF with a Canon 5D. No problems with the kit though.

I still prefer the ergonomics of Nikon cameras, but since using a 1D series camera I am a lot happier.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top