Thinking of going Nikon and Ditching the 5DII

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jpwild

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I want to say I have had a 450D and currently use a Canon 5dII. I have loved them both.

I also have:
580EX II
17-40L
70-200 F4 IS
24-70 L 2.8
Other accessories: remote control, batteries etc.
Yongnuo 560
RF603C receiver/triggers
CF cards.

I shoot landscapes and starting to shoot more people and things with flash.

I am thinking of moving to Nikon: Either the D700 or the D800 (I know it will be costly and find out more about the D800 this coming week). Can someone talk me out of this madness? lol.

My reasons for wanting to switch: weather sealed camera is very important to me as I hate shooting with optech rain cover and worrying about weather, the extra bracketing stops option and general reputation of Nikon D700 is interesting. Also commander mode is interesting and beneficial the Nikon as I could reduce the RF603s that I have, or consider it.

Obviously the Canon gear would be sold to help fund the move to Nikon.

I know it has around 12MP and I don't really shoot video, and apparently mega pixels don't really matter these days.

Nikon lenses do seem very expensive compared to Canon's lineup.

If I did move would get:
SB900
Nikor 24-70 I know this is just over a grand.
I would like a lens up to 200 or 400MM, but sharpness is important and so is cost i.e nothing over £1100 for that sort of lens.

What's the Nikon equilevant of the Canon 17-40 L?

Of course there is talk of a 5D III, but I've read no rumors about the weather sealing or lack of on that camera and that is a concern.
 
Why not sell the 5D and buy a 1Ds III?
 
jpwild said:
I know it has around 12MP and I don't really shoot video, and apparently mega pixels don't really matter these days.
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Only you can answer that really cant you.
 
5D2 > D700 is a good move if you want a camera that's more suitable for AF-intensive tasks but you're probably looking at the wrong move, as most have said, if cost is a factor. A move to Nikon would be costly when you already have some superb kit, especially when you could (as said) get a 1Ds3 that will more than do what you want.

As for weathersealing, it is nice to know that you have a camera that has been designed by the manufacturer to withstand the elements - one reason why i moved to a D2x - but you'd be maze at how hardy 'regular' cameras are. We have some ageing 20D/30D/40D bodies that have all done thousand of clicks, have plenty of battle scars and have all been subjected to many-a-soaking while out on jobs. They've all survived in one way or another. We've only had two casualties over the years, a 30D that just went into meltdown (our studio camera) and a 40D that decided it wanted to be a doorstop instead of a fully-working camera. Neither had any prolonged exposure to rain or moisture.

As for flash, yes, Nikon's system is far superior to Canon's but Canon's is more than useable and does have the advantage of there being more 3rd-party TTL triggers available. CLS is an excellent invention and one that I use regularly, but it has severe limitations outdoors that mean it works best when equipment is in close proximity to the master. I'd never ditch my triggers for one minute, as they are invaluable for longer-range shooting where IR signals just wouldn't cut it. Indoors CLS is amazing but I'm sure you could do the same with an ST-E2 unit....
 
Up until today I would said that a move from a 5DII to a D700 wasn't actually a bad idea.

As a Canon user I love the concept of the D700, and now the soon to be released D800.

However, having seen the anticipated specs for the 5DIII (due to be announced 28th Feb) I think that Canon have finally got their act around to sorting out a suitable rival.

It's the first time that I've looked at a model upgrade's specs and immediately started working out what has to go in order to afford it.
 
Where's the upgrade specs you have seen for the MKIII.
 
jpwild said:
Where's the upgrade specs you have seen for the MKIII.
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Canon rumours and a few other sites have 'specs' but none seem to be official.

Seems it's looking to be 20mp+ but with massively improved AF (61-point?) and an increase in fps, up to around 7fps. Whether it'll end up like that is another matter but sounds fairly reasonable.....
 
specialman said:
Seems it's looking to be 20mp+ but with massively improved AF (61-point?) and an increase in fps, up to around 7fps. Whether it'll end up like that is another matter but sounds fairly reasonable.....
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Tbh, with the specs of the 1Dx Canon, had to pull something out of the bag for the editorial market and to rival Nikon in the mid range FF bracket.

If the specs prove to be right (and rumours this close to launch date tend to be reasonably accurate), then I is havin' one! :D
 
I have never used any Canon Gear (other than my G7), but love my Nikon set up, D700 with Nikon 70-200VR lens, great for fast sporting events, in rain. Plus I find 12MP is enough as I only even print 12in x 18in prints, even after a bit of cropping. And as you said the bracketing is so easy to use, as I have my spare function button set up for this.

But after saying this, it will be a big commitment for you to move over from the dark side. Have you considered hiring a Nikon Set up for a week and see how you get on.
 
Not considered hiring, but funds is not an issue. Obviously I'd want to get as much as I can get for existing Canon gear, but Nikon still intrigues me.

However, I may wait till end of month and continue research and see what the D800/5DIII will be like if they've both announced.

I've used a friend's SB900 briefly and I've played with a D300 and both lovely.
 
I like the Nikon CLS a lot, with both my SB600 and SB800 flashguns, although it does have limitations when used out doors, but for indoor work, it works a treat.
 
i would hold out until both the revisions have been released properly.

it seems nikon has put the d800 out to compeat with the 5d's market much to everyones displeasure and gone for MP over high iso.
But on the other hand canon(if the specs are true and iso is improved), has gone the other way with a d700 competitor.
i will wait for the d800/5d reviews but dout the d800 os going to be what im after. so my d700 will be staying with me for alot longer unless the 5d shows something very special.
 
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jpwild said:
I would like a lens up to 200 or 400MM, but sharpness is important and so is cost i.e nothing over £1100 for that sort of lens.

What's the Nikon equilevant of the Canon 17-40 L?
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There isn't really a direct equivalent. The 16-35mm f/4 VR is probably the closest, but it's considerably more expensive (£850 vs £600).

Note also that Nikon don't make an equivalent of your 70-200mm f/4. They only make an f/2.8 with VR (£1600 vs the £500 your lens costs).

And if you want a lens longer than 200mm, you have many more and better options with Canon.

admirable said:
Why not sell the 5D and buy a 1Ds III?
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Indeed. Why not?
 
DemiLion said:
Up until today I would said that a move from a 5DII to a D700 wasn't actually a bad idea.

As a Canon user I love the concept of the D700, and now the soon to be released D800.

However, having seen the anticipated specs for the 5DIII (due to be announced 28th Feb) I think that Canon have finally got their act around to sorting out a suitable rival.

It's the first time that I've looked at a model upgrade's specs and immediately started working out what has to go in order to afford it.
Click to expand...

I think with the potential spec increase for both the 5diii and the d800 both are going to be in different price brackets to their predecessors, especially as that 5diii spec will really start treading on the 1dx toes if it is too cheaply priced.
 
I would stick to what you have got, I cannot see any logic in changing over.

Ignoring all the internet fables that one has more choice / is cheaper / is better, you have good money tied up in the bits and pieces, which would need replacing all for the sake of a rain cover, which having shelled out £1500 on a D700 you are still going to be using.

How much water do you think a D700 will take, I have one and I am not going to be the one that finds out :D ... the phrase they use is weather sealed, not waterproof.
 
I went from 5d2 to d700 but I had much less gear than you do...
you would loose loads of money on this...
5d2 is brilliant camera and I do miss its MPix prom time to time.

as for weather sealing...is d700 not simillar to 5d2 with weather sealing ?
if you dont plan to drop it in a bucket with water, it should be fine...
D700 is not full weather sealed anyway.

My d700 managed to survive huge amount of water in Iceland....was standing on coast taking long exposure photos in stormy weather(splashing waves and rain..) ...camera got soaked (and myself) and nothing happened to it at all...just few days later had to clean it from se salt that left its residue on the camera.

no damage what so ever.
 
Note also that Nikon don't make an equivalent of your 70-200mm f/4. They only make an f/2.8 with VR (£1600 vs the £500 your lens costs).
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He has the IS version Stewart so the price difference is a fair bit less, still a good few bob though I will admit
 
StewartR said:
Note also that Nikon don't make an equivalent of your 70-200mm f/4.
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You missed off the word 'yet'.

They patented a design for a 70-200 constant f4 lens back in October, so there is one almost certainly coming at some point this year.
 
NikkiA said:
You missed off the word 'yet'.

They patented a design for a 70-200 constant f4 lens back in October, so there is one almost certainly coming at some point this year.
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Companies patent lens designs all the time, many of which are never produced (look back over how many rumours based on patents there have been over the years and you'll see few of them are put into production).

Can't rule it out, but patenting a design is a long way off "almost certainly coming this year".
 
NikkiA said:
You missed off the word 'yet'.

They patented a design for a 70-200 constant f4 lens back in October, so there is one almost certainly coming at some point this year.
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No, I didn't miss off the word 'yet'.

Have you ever counted how many patents actually get turned into products? I have. Not many, is the short answer.

But if you disagree, I'd be willing to take bets as to when we're likely to see the following:
  • 200-500mm f/4-5.6 lens - patent published in January 2011
  • 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR lens - patent published in December 2010
  • 24mm f/2.8 lens - patent published in November 2010
  • 24mm f/3.5 lens - patent published in November 2010
  • 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6 lens - many patents published, most recently in November 2010
  • 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 VR DX lens - patent published in February 2010
  • 50mm f/1.2 lens - patent published in January 2010
  • 85mm f/1.4 VR lens - patent published in October 2009

Sure, they might build a 70-200mm f/4. But then the photographic community has been saying that they should build a 70-200mm f/4 for years now. I'm not going to hold my breath. And I certainly would not make any important decisions which depended on it.
 
The big advantage of Nikon over my 5DII for me was always (a) better metering and flash (both accuracy and consistency), and (b) better low light AF. But I'd wait and see what's realised soon (by both companies) because I think Canon is now capable of doing these just as well (perhaps even better?), they just need to bung everything into a new non 1 series FF camera.
 
I'm a Nikon user by preference but, given the investment in Canon lenses and gear you have, I don't see the point in making the switch. Let's face it, the two "big boys" will keep battling it out - D800 may give Canon a good whack, but then Canon will come back with a 5d MkIII jab. And so it goes on... :bat:
 
I've got more or less the same setup as the OP, and came to the 5D II from the 450d as well. I've thought about swapping across to Nikon too but having looked at it from all angles the price and faff-factor just doesn't make it worth it for me.

With regards to the (imminent?) 5D III: I do hope it pitches up with more than just an fps boost and improved af - this stuff should have been included in the 5D II ffs! If they're just not going to be playing catchup then Canon need to improve the dr, the metering, the af, the fps, the ergonomics, the bracketing, the bells and whistles and a whole lot more as far as I'm concerned. I love the 5D II but it could have been so much better.
 
Trixster said:
With regards to the (imminent?) 5D III: I do hope it pitches up with more than just an fps boost and improved af - this stuff should have been included in the 5D II ffs! If they're just not going to be playing catchup then Canon need to improve the dr, the metering, the af, the fps, the ergonomics, the bracketing, the bells and whistles and a whole lot more as far as I'm concerned. I love the 5D II but it could have been so much better.
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I kind of agree, but at the time it was all about the FF sensor. Compared to a 1Ds it was a bargain. But times have moved on, and consumers demand more now, plus the likes of Sony compete in the FF segment, so hopefully Canon will feel the pressure to add all the bells n whistles this time, which is why the OP should wait a while.
 
i guess it just takes a while to work out what you shoot, the kind of gear you really need and the things that will be most important to you over the short and long term. the 5d1 was fabulous but something as basic as AF on the 5d2 really should have been sewn up at launch. rumours are at end of the day just rumours but hanging out until the end of the month just to see if the new mechanical prodigy arrives is i think definitely worth the wait. unless that is you've been coveting nikon for a while...
 
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