My immediate wishlist: 1. Canon EF 28mm f1.8
Why this lens (it's the closest to a 50mm lens after 1.6x crop factor, at the widest aperture. Long way to go for the f1.4 equivalent)
My mid term wishlist: 1. Nikon D300
2. 50mm f1.4
3. AC/DC studio light (2 units)
My long term wishlist: 1. Nikon D3
2. AF-S NIKKOR 14-24mm f/2.8G ED
3. AF-D 80-200 f2.8
dude,
As a professional - aku wonder cemana ko approach 2 different brand in upgrading your kit, now canon, later nikon D3, .. why not just move forward until 1D.. just curious, if you care to reply..
Karof, thanks for the note. It's a good question you've got there. And this questions of brand loyalty has been lingering and boggling many photographers forced to pick a "side". Professionally, camera gears to me are just merely a tool to create a photograph. Given credit, all makes of cameras, lenses and accessories, have their own strengths. It's so happens that I've made this decision based on my needs. After using Canons for quite a while, I started to notice that the Canon lenses are not as sharp compared to Nikons (let's just talk about these two makes, while leaving out Zeiss and Leica lenses). This is based on my personal experience during a commercial assignment photographing fine art. Given the exact circumstance of using both 50mm f1.8, and same exposure settings on a Canon 20D and a Nikon D200, the results were crushing my Canons. Granted that the D200 has higher pixels than the 20D, but I've also tested it against D70s which has a lower pixel count than the 20D, the winner is still Nikon in terms of shapness.
When I meant sharpness, I'm looking for fine detail in bringing out small textures, bumps on surfaces. So, for my commercial assignments, I NEED A NIKON (well actually I need a Hasselblad H3D, which I can rent from a studio if the client has a budget). This is because commercial assignments require the final images ready for other reproductions in various formats and dimensions, such as archival, magazines, posters and billboards. Therefore, since the H3D is out of reach, I'll settle with a Nikon D3, or a D300 for that matter. Why not D700? Answer: Might as well a Nikon D3.
End of part 1
Why Canon?
Some images need softness, especially in weddings, and wedding portraits, where the shallowest depth of field will create the most soothing mood in the photographs. Canons sensors are also great in low light (until now the D300 and above has stepped out on the plate).
Plus I love the Canons focusing speed. I just point and it responds damn well to my commands. But, when I'm on commercial assignments, I gotta admit, I'm not satisfied.
End of part 2
Budget.
Now, since I'm photographing for money, finance factor also comes into factor. There are lots of other things to consider apart getting top gears. Therefore, my move is to keep my 20D and get a D300 (btw, the D300 to me is equivalent to a 1D mk X series, in terms of focusing points, ISO sensitivity, focusing speed, and frames per second, at HALF THE PRICE!).
End of part 3
Lenses.
Anybody can tell you that Nikon lenses from the old days till now can fit into any Nikon bodies. But not so on a Canon. The EF-S lenses cant be mounted on the 5D, 1D series, or 10D and below. And for a decent image, you'll need to invest in a pricey "L" lens. Whereas a cheap Nikon lens can achieve a similar quality in terms of colour and sharpness.
End of part 4
Conclusion.
The ideal deal would be a mesh of Canon bodies with Nikon lenses.
I'll probably follow my Darkroom teacher's (Mustaffa) advice, which will be to get a Mamiya 645AFD+3 lenses+ a digital back (22megapixels). I guess by the time, I've got some cash to get the Mamiya, the used market for this baby has gone down to an affordable price. Fingers crossed.
So, there you go. That's the reason. Hope it's clear. Cheers mate!
Sun 17-Aug-2008 17:03 Posted by:Azhar Ariff azhar@fotomomo.com - [Link]
Since my dslr fever begins back in May'08, I've read loads of review, hate-comment, bias etc, never I come about anything as fair and as clear as your input above..
thanks a mil dude..
prior to your permission - I'm blogging your comment, also linking your fp..
