Currently Canon 5D Mark II thinking about moving to Nikon

Post #1 here.  I was talking to a friend today about making the switch in the next few months from Canon to Nikon.  He told me to sign onto here and ask the board what the pro's and con's were.  The obvious negative is that I need to buy all new gear.  I got to use a friends D700 just before Christmas and really liked how the camera felt and controls.  I don't think I would go with D700, perhaps D800 or the D800e.  Any thoughts on making such a move? 

ShutterPal wrote: Post #1 here.  I was talking to a friend today about making the switch in the next few months from Canon to Nikon.  He told me to sign onto here and ask the board what the pro's and con's were.  The obvious negative is that I need to buy all new gear.  I got to use a friends D700 just before Christmas and really liked how the camera felt and controls.  I don't think I would go with D700, perhaps D800 or the D800e.  Any thoughts on making such a move? 

What do you shoot?  What do you not like about the 5d mark II?

I'm at that stage where I haven't really focused on much other than  landscapes and wildlife.  Although I don't have any really big glass to say.  The Canon does a good job, I just liked the Nikon and how the controls were positioned and over all feel of the camera.  Tough to describe.  This Canon I bought used and it has some battle scars from before I owned it, I think the person who owned it before me had bought it from a camera rental place.  Last time I did I shutter check there is something like 167,000 photos on it.  So it's getting up there on use.  The back LCD screen blinks every once and awhile.  I'm not sure how long these cameras are truly good for, but I might be getting up there on this one.  Can't hurt to plan. 

ShutterPal wrote: I'm at that stage where I haven't really focused on much other than  landscapes and wildlife.  Although I don't have any really big glass to say.  The Canon does a good job, I just liked the Nikon and how the controls were positioned and over all feel of the camera.  Tough to describe.  This Canon I bought used and it has some battle scars from before I owned it, I think the person who owned it before me had bought it from a camera rental place.  Last time I did I shutter check there is something like 167,000 photos on it.  So it's getting up there on use.  The back LCD screen blinks every once and awhile.  I'm not sure how long these cameras are truly good for, but I might be getting up there on this one.  Can't hurt to plan. 

5d mark III is amazing and so is the d800e/d800 variants.  You'll want to look into glass and the system as a whole.  Flash systems will be key as well.

For landscape d800/e wins. Portrait...I believe canon renders skin better (you can edit to your liking)

What do you have now?

I moved from Canon to Nikon and back to Canon again. Maybe I can help?

Cameras I've owned in the whole process:
Canon: 40D, 5D, 5Dii, 1Div, 1Dx
Nikon: D3s, D7000, D800, D800E.

Overall I'd say the D800e gives the best photos, I'd say a 5Diii might be a better all round camera, but the D800e is very capable. I switched back to Canon for their superior video.

Scotty wrote:

ShutterPal wrote: I'm at that stage where I haven't really focused on much other than  landscapes and wildlife.  Although I don't have any really big glass to say.  The Canon does a good job, I just liked the Nikon and how the controls were positioned and over all feel of the camera.  Tough to describe.  This Canon I bought used and it has some battle scars from before I owned it, I think the person who owned it before me had bought it from a camera rental place.  Last time I did I shutter check there is something like 167,000 photos on it.  So it's getting up there on use.  The back LCD screen blinks every once and awhile.  I'm not sure how long these cameras are truly good for, but I might be getting up there on this one.  Can't hurt to plan. 

5d mark III is amazing and so is the d800e/d800 variants.  You'll want to look into glass and the system as a whole.  Flash systems will be key as well.

For landscape d800/e wins. Portrait...I believe canon renders skin better (you can edit to your liking)

Yeh I'd agree with Scotty too.  Put image quality D800e wins.  The files can be a little large though.

One thing to think about perhaps is that Canon tend to better at the bright end of the histogram (more leeway) and Nikon tend to be able to push darks with less banding (though they cut off faster at the brighter end).  So with Canon it's usually a good practice to slightly over expose and bring it back.  WIth Nikon you're better off properly exposing or underexposing slightly in order to preserve highlights.  

Scotty wrote:

ShutterPal wrote: I'm at that stage where I haven't really focused on much other than  landscapes and wildlife.  Although I don't have any really big glass to say.  The Canon does a good job, I just liked the Nikon and how the controls were positioned and over all feel of the camera.  Tough to describe.  This Canon I bought used and it has some battle scars from before I owned it, I think the person who owned it before me had bought it from a camera rental place.  Last time I did I shutter check there is something like 167,000 photos on it.  So it's getting up there on use.  The back LCD screen blinks every once and awhile.  I'm not sure how long these cameras are truly good for, but I might be getting up there on this one.  Can't hurt to plan. 

5d mark III is amazing and so is the d800e/d800 variants.  You'll want to look into glass and the system as a whole.  Flash systems will be key as well.

For landscape d800/e wins. Portrait...I believe canon renders skin better (you can edit to your liking)

I have heard this from a couple friends about the skin tones with the Canon vs Nikon.  I was told both the 800 and 800e are both the landscape photographers camera of choice.  At one point I was thinking about getting a used D3s for the same price as a new D800.  I'm all over the place right now, but if I were to stick with the Canon the 5d mark III is the best bet, if I go with Nikon, there are a few options I might go: D800, D800e or used D3s. 

Stealthy Ninja wrote: What do you have now?

I moved from Canon to Nikon and back to Canon again. Maybe I can help?

Cameras I've owned in the whole process:
Canon: 40D, 5D, 5Dii, 1Div, 1Dx
Nikon: D3s, D7000, D800, D800E.

Overall I'd say the D800e gives the best photos, I'd say a 5Diii might be a better all round camera, but the D800e is very capable. I switched back to Canon for their superior video.

Canon 5d mark II

Man you have owned some cameras, what made you go from one brand to another? 

ShutterPal wrote:

Scotty wrote:

ShutterPal wrote: I'm at that stage where I haven't really focused on much other than  landscapes and wildlife.  Although I don't have any really big glass to say.  The Canon does a good job, I just liked the Nikon and how the controls were positioned and over all feel of the camera.  Tough to describe.  This Canon I bought used and it has some battle scars from before I owned it, I think the person who owned it before me had bought it from a camera rental place.  Last time I did I shutter check there is something like 167,000 photos on it.  So it's getting up there on use.  The back LCD screen blinks every once and awhile.  I'm not sure how long these cameras are truly good for, but I might be getting up there on this one.  Can't hurt to plan. 

5d mark III is amazing and so is the d800e/d800 variants.  You'll want to look into glass and the system as a whole.  Flash systems will be key as well.

For landscape d800/e wins. Portrait...I believe canon renders skin better (you can edit to your liking)

I have heard this from a couple friends about the skin tones with the Canon vs Nikon.  I was told both the 800 and 800e are both the landscape photographers camera of choice.  At one point I was thinking about getting a used D3s for the same price as a new D800.  I'm all over the place right now, but if I were to stick with the Canon the 5d mark III is the best bet, if I go with Nikon, there are a few options I might go: D800, D800e or used D3s. 

If 12 mp is fine for what you shoot, d3s is a hell of a machine. I shoot d3s and d800.

ShutterPal wrote:

Stealthy Ninja wrote: What do you have now?

I moved from Canon to Nikon and back to Canon again. Maybe I can help?

Cameras I've owned in the whole process:
Canon: 40D, 5D, 5Dii, 1Div, 1Dx
Nikon: D3s, D7000, D800, D800E.

Overall I'd say the D800e gives the best photos, I'd say a 5Diii might be a better all round camera, but the D800e is very capable. I switched back to Canon for their superior video.

Canon 5d mark II

Man you have owned some cameras, what made you go from one brand to another? 

I was with Canon originally because all my friends (in HK) use Canon.  Then SCOTTY switched to Nikon (he used to shoot Canon) and he was telling me how awesome his D3s was (still is I suppose).  I'd JUST got the Canon 1Div so I realised (compared to the 1D series) how crappy Canon's AF was back then (the 5Diii changed that).

So I switched to Nikon for the D3s and it was great.  Later got the D7000 (let down, sold that) and later sold the D3s to get a D800e to go with my D800 I had at that point.  

The D800e is the best camera I've owned when it comes to pure IQ.  That camera truely is nice.

At one point I got back into doing video and my business partner got a Canon C100 (video camera).  Considering Canon had improved their AF system (with the 5Diii) and had a great FF pro camera that wasn't too price *cough* in the 1Dx, I weighed the pros and cons of the 5Diii vs 1Dx and decided to go for the 1Dx. 

Great camera for me, no need for another DSLR at this point (though a 7Dii might tempt me in the future).

I also own a Sony A7 which is my current everyday/backup cam, which replaced my Fuji Xpro1.

D800e would be my pick!

As touchy feelie seems to be important to the OP, there are also significant differences in the lenses.  But you have to judge that on a lens by lens basis, not a broad "BrandX is always better" brush.

Kelly Cook

After researching candidates, go to a camera store and hold them in your hands. You've already discovered that there's a difference in the way they feel and handle. That's important to a lot of folks.

All good advise here, thank you all.  Red ninja, on a 1 to 10 scale where would you rate that a7?  I've been reading some good reviews on that camera.  Would you consider that as a stand alone camera?  

KCook wrote: As touchy feelie seems to be important to the OP, there are also significant differences in the lenses.  But you have to judge that on a lens by lens basis, not a broad "BrandX is always better" brush.

Kelly Cook

Isn't that that the truth!