Getting frustrated with Nikon ... so, what about Canon, then?

[Clawed]

I own both a 450D & 40D, and although I have not used any of Nikon's DSLRs (only a Nikon P&S - Coolpix 5700, which I LOVE), I can say that I am really happy with going Canon. I think the XSi is a great little camera and I sometimes wonder why I even purchased the 40D I figure the D40 is not totally dissimilar to the 450D, and I have not had the issues you describe having with your D40.

BUT, I have had some pretty serious body issues with my XSi already. It's about a year old and I get the ERROR 99 message every so often. Also, it has a mind of it's own and just snaps pictures at random. Plus, when I go to review my pics with the playback button it either 1) takes a picture or 2) goes into review, then immediately jumps back out. So, I like Canon now, but ask me again in a month and I may feel differently if this keeps up.

Good luck in your decision. I say go with whatever you really feel more comfortable with. If youve used both, then you should have a pretty good idea of the pros and cons, and just go with whatever system lets you down the least.

 

[epp_b]

This chap is doing ok with a D40
hydroplane boats detroit michigan (7/10/09)

Are you sure it is not user error

Focusing at near-infinity is easy for any body or lens.

 

[PhotoXopher]

To the OP... decide for yourself. I really didn't see you asking much to begin with, more like you were making a statement that you were going to.

Good luck and enjoy... whatever makes you get out and shoot, I really don't care if you switch to a disposable as long as it works for you. Now there's some fast focus!

 

[gsgary]

This chap is doing ok with a D40
hydroplane boats detroit michigan (7/10/09)

Are you sure it is not user error

Focusing at infinity is easy for any body or lens.

Those are not focused on infinity, you don't know what you are talking about so i don't think changing to Canon will make any difference

 

[epp_b]

Sheesh, make a thread asking a simple question and get insulted. There are some real jerks on this board. They're certainly focused near infinity.

 

[bhop]

They're certainly focused near infinity.

Do you really believe that or are you just messing around?

 

[PhotoXopher]

Sheesh, make a thread asking a simple question and get insulted. There are some real jerks on this board.

Kind of like a certain post I had in my tripod for sale thread. Some guy posted just to say how ugly it was unpainted.

Oh wait, that was you.

 

[NateS]

They're certainly focused near infinity.

Do you really believe that or are you just messing around?

I think he truly believes that. If they were focused at or near infinity then there wouldn't be any out of focus area behind the boat. However in pretty much every shot where you can actually see very far behind the boat you can see that there is out of focus area in either the water or whatever other background is behind the boat. (Sad that I have to point this out).

OP - You are clearly negating anything positive to do with Nikon here. Just go buy a Canon already and get it over with.

 

[Dao]

Please don't get me wrong. I am not try to insult anyone here. However, I think those hydro boat photos are really not focus on infinity.

 

[Dao]

As for the go to Canon system. All I can say is, if you feel that Canon is better for you, I will say go for it. I am currently using Canon 40D and XTi. And for a fast lenses, the AF is faster on the 40D than the XTi. (9 cross type AF points)

 

[RJohnston]

You get, what you pay for, Ive always bought Nikon top line cameras and lenses, the best short of the DX models. Ive been using Nikons heavily, for over 60 years and never had to have one repaired. Am still using an F2 with Nikkor lenses and it stll works as well as the day I bought it.

My wife has a Nikormat almost as old, and it still works like new.

Now have had a D200 for over two years, without a problem. Yes, Ive heard of some who have had problems, but also know some abuse them. Even dropped mine from five feet above the pavement, except for a small dent and scrape no problems.

Certainly expect a D40 would shatter, its not as strong as a D200 or a D300 but that is why I bought a D200 and paid the price.

Because I know it will take heavier use and keep on working....
Am using VR lenses and there is certainly nothing slow about the focus. I doubt very much the D300 is slower. BUT, there are various settings for metering, and focusing if you use some of them it slows them down, so I dont use the slower ones, unless the situation calls for it.

If you don't aim any camera exactly at what you want to focus on, and it begins to focus on something else, then aim at what you want to focus on, it takes much longer. That is not the fault of the camera, if it happens it is my responsibility. Sooo I just do not press the shutter to focus, unless its on target.

 

[kundalini]

Each camp will have their Heros and Horror stories. If you've been around long enough (and I think you have), then you will understand each person's passion for their gear. What else did you expect?

There's a saying around my neck of the woods that seems appropriate here........

Either $hi+ or get off the pot.

Feeding the frenzy here is not going to give you an answer that you have not already settled on.





Oh yeah...... another vote that those hydroplane boats were NOT focus on or near infinity.

 

[JerryPH]

Just a small thing... talk to near any 5DmkII owner that is demanding of their camera's AF performance about their AF... you will find many unsatisfied photographers, yet they are all happy with their purchase. There is good and bad in both camps.

PS... I like that saying Jeremy, it really fits in this case... LOL!

 

[Tasmaster]

I have now had two lenses fail me a total of four times in less than a year. Seriously. Is this normal? For any brand?

No, that's not normal at all. You are either extremely unlucky (like meteor strike unlucky) or you are doing something very wrong, no offense.

 

[inTempus]

Just a small thing... talk to near any 5DmkII owner that is demanding of their camera's AF performance about their AF... you will find many unsatisfied photographers, yet they are all happy with their purchase. There is good and bad in both camps.

PS... I like that saying Jeremy, it really fits in this case... LOL!

I would agree with that, most 5DMk2 owners (myself included) wish they would upgrade the 5D's AF system to at least one as responsive and accurate as the 50D's. Pie in the sky dreaming, I would ask for a watered down version of the system in my 1D (which is heavenly). The outer AF points are the biggest problem for most 5D owners, although it's really not a major issue for most users.

Canon, unlike Nikon, is hyper sensitive to destroying their pro body product line sales by putting too many "pro" features in consumer bodies. Nikon on the other hand has absolutely no aversion to killing D3 sales by putting nearly all of the features of that camera in the D700 (AF system, weather sealing, etc.). For the consumer of Nikon gear, that's a win - I wish Canon did it too. At the business level you have to wonder what the heck Nikon is thinking.

I have two cameras (obviously). I have a 5DMk2 for just about everything and a 1D that literally does everything. I am far more comfortable with my 5D shooting models and weddings than I am with the 1D. I LOVE the simplicity of the AF system, it really helps when you're in a hurry trying to pick a single focus point at a wedding to only have to select one of 9, really I only use 3 of the 9. With my 1D I have to select the row then the AF point within the row. It's super handy at a baseball game or airshow to have such a highly sensitive and customizable AF system in the 1D. For the studio or wedding it's way over kill.

If Canon were to incorporate a 1D type system in the 5D, I would ask for no more than 11 AF points (vs the 45 in the 1D) with simple selection like we currently have. I just want the hyper yet fully customizable sensitivity of the 1D system with fewer points.

The 5D is the ultimate studio camera, period. The IQ is stunning, the noise at high ISO is every bit as good as it is on the D700 with twice the resolution (pretty impressive really) and the AF systems simplicity beats that of the 1D or even the D700/D3 IMHO. I never have an out of focus shot on my 5D due to AF problems, only when I get my shutter too slow do I flub images. That's what's important and that's why 5D owners are in love with their cameras.