Keep it, sell it, or switch it?

[PhotoWrangler]

Yesterday I had decided that I was selling everything and switching to Canon, after months of thinking about it. I've long believed that Canon was a better portrait system, and with no significant events coming up in the next 6 months, and my camera bag as slim as its ever been, I thought now is a good time to jump if I'm feeling froggy.

I currently own a Nikon D7000 w/grip, Nikon 80-200 AFS, Sigma 24-70, (2) Nikon SB700's, (2) Pocket Wizard Flex TT5's, a Pocket Wizard Flex TT1, and a Pocket Wizard AC3. I'll also be selling a Nikon F100 w/grip as well since I'll no longer have lenses to go with it.

Scenario 1:
Sell everything and buy a Canon 6D, 24-105L, a 600EX-RT and rebuild my system from there. I can sell the 24-105L after Christmas and tax returns, add a little cash and go back to my normal 2.8 glass then. This was my first instinct.

However after sleeping on it, I'm trying to take an objective and level headed approach. So This morning I've thrown a wrench in my plans with these...

Scenario 2:
Sell the D7000, Sigma 24-70, add a little cash and buy a D600. I'll shoot with the 80-200 and add a Nikon 24-70 after Christmas.

or

Scenario 3:
Sell the Sigma 24-70, add a little cash and buy a 17-55 and remain with a DX sensor.


Of all of these #3 is my least favorite option, as I truly do and have wanted to go FX for some time.
#2 will allow me to go FX, but will still cost me about $650 extra in the short run.
Option #1 will allow me to go FX, switch systems, and use a little extra funds to pay off some lingering household bills.




I hate these kinds of threads because no one can ever answer these things because they are not always in the same situation, however with the information provided, have you ever been in this type of situation? What do you think? What did you do?

I'm not shooting commercially anymore so I don't have a need for so much equipment that is just sitting there depreciating in value, but I still have an interest in photography as a hobby.

 

[tirediron]

Knowing nothing about Canon, I can't really comment, but out of curiosity, what is it about Canon/Nikon that has made you want to switch?

 

[astroNikon]

If your objective at some point is to go with a FF, then make that a primary objective and maybe sell stuff to get the FF and pay off debts.
For instance, why not sell your F100 to help pay for a D600 ?

Basically, try to determine how much of a "hobby" photography is. Do you need 2 flashes, and radio triggers, etc.
I myself have to keep pulling myself back into reality. It drives me nuts as everything costs money :/

 

[jaomul]

In your shoes I would.... No one will give you the right answer. I am changing my canon gear over but its not holding my photographs back or anything. Most image quality reviews at the moment say nikon is slightly better. Its probably close either way. Do you use video much? If not have you considered trading or selling your camera for a d700. Its more cost effective for what still is a fab camera. You have nice lenses and accessories. Just a thought

 

[PhotoWrangler]

Knowing nothing about Canon, I can't really comment, but out of curiosity, what is it about Canon/Nikon that has made you want to switch?

I've always believed that Canon produces a better portrait system. Through personal comparisons I think their combinations produce better colors and overall quality. Back in March I shot a 5DIII with a 24-105 in a low light situation and was completely impressed. I don't need a 5DIII because as I said I'm not shooting commercially, but a 6D has what I need and could be a perfect fit for me.

 

[astroNikon]

Knowing nothing about Canon, I can't really comment, but out of curiosity, what is it about Canon/Nikon that has made you want to switch?

I've always believed that Canon produces a better portrait system. Through personal comparisons I think their combinations produce better colors and overall quality. Back in March I shot a 5DIII with a 24-105 in a low light situation and was completely impressed. I don't need a 5DIII because as I said I'm not shooting commercially, but a 6D has what I need and could be a perfect fit for me.

Of course a D600 in low light would be better than our D7000s.
Maybe do a low light comparison of the 6D versus D600 before the 6D markII and D610 come out to rearrange things again.

I think they will always bunny hop each other there and there. And if one goes for the "better one" today, then the other will be better tomorrow. Though I think Canon has the lead in video.

per jaomul - FYI, I love the D700 too, but I use the video on my D7000 from time to time for kids stuff. and I'd rather go up to 24mp and the expeed3

 

[sm4him]

Well, you're absolutely right about at least one thing--nobody can answer this, because EVEN if we were in the exact same position, with the same equipment, our goals, our budgets, our emotions about the decision could all drive us to different results.

PERSONALLY, I'd stay with Nikon simply because *I* just don't think there's all that big of a difference either way. One system may be better than another in one area, but worse in others. It's a tradeoff and it's all about what works for you...as well as what you "perceive" as working for you. I just believe that Nikon is the better system, in the same way you believe that about Canon.

IF I were going to switch, though, I would not do it as described in your #1. I simply would NOT go from having 2.8 glass to shoot with to NOT having it, even in the short-term. Instead, I'd sell the F100 now, and maybe one of the two lenses if there's one you feel you can do without for the next six months. OR, maybe I'd sell one of the SB700s. I'd pocket all that money as "designated" for the switch, but I'd wait to actually MAKE the switch until after next tax season when I could take whatever I'd saved in the next six months plus tax refund money and buy the complete Canon system I actually WANT, not some stopgap setup.

 

[JacaRanda]

If money is an issue, there are significantly better options financially than purchasing 600EX-RT. Yongnuo flashes may be considered.

 

[pixmedic]

It always seems a little odd to me when people who are already fairly well invested in one camera system decide to switch to another.
you will almost never break even on an endeavor like that, and not only will you need to replace your camera and lenses, but also all of your accessories that are tied to a particular brand (flashes, some triggers, TTL cords, etc etc)

personally, i have never seen/read/heard anything that was particularly compelling enough for me to believe that canon or nikon surpass each other in any significant way.
(maybe..MAYBE on some test where a computer can measure the absolute smallest amount of changes, but not noticeable by the human eye)

and portraits? portraits are probably one of the most forgiving bits of photography you will ever do.
generally, they are staged. little to no moving objects. additional lighting available. (if not, its because you dont have the proper equipment...which is not a brand flaw) easy to take multiple shots and change lighting or camera settings.
honestly, i don't think you could tell the difference between portraits taken with ANY DSLR if you have proper lighting for each of them. you could just as well go with Sony or Pentax, get good glass and some flashes and have no trouble taking great portraits. seems a little silly to me to go through all the hassle of switching brands (and losing money in the process) over which camera takes better portraits...

in my opinion, if you REALLY want to go full frame, put some money aside and get a used D600 or D700. you already have good Nikon glass.
why switch to canon and have to use slower glass when you already have Nikon pro glass, and multiple flashes?
really though, there's absolute NO reason at all why you cant produce excellent portraits with the gear you already have.

I also HIGHLY recommend the Yongnuo 568EX flashes as an alternative to Nikons SB700's. they do TTL and HSS at a fraction of Nikons OEM flashes. i have been extremely happy with mine, as well as with yongnuos new TTL radio triggers. (which work TTL with my sb600 and sb700)

 

[SCraig]

As the old saying goes, "The grass always looks greener on the other side." Something worth considering.

 

[astroNikon]

As the old saying goes, "The grass always looks greener on the other side." Something worth considering.

But it takes alot of GR$$N to get to the other side

 

[Derrel]

Here's an on-line video that has a short Nikon vs Canon JPEG portrait comparison with four main bullet points shown at 24:46. You can view the side-by-side shots from the two cameras, the D7100, and the new 70D, beginning at the 23:05 mark.



I think the Canon vs Nikon imaging characteristics are pretty clearly shown in this video.

 

[PhotoWrangler]

It always seems a little odd to me when people who are already fairly well invested in one camera system decide to switch to another.
you will almost never break even on an endeavor like that, and not only will you need to replace your camera and lenses, but also all of your accessories that are tied to a particular brand (flashes, some triggers, TTL cords, etc etc)

personally, i have never seen/read/heard anything that was particularly compelling enough for me to believe that canon or nikon surpass each other in any significant way.
(maybe..MAYBE on some test where a computer can measure the absolute smallest amount of changes, but not noticeable by the human eye)

I agree with you 100%. But because I am at the point that I am at now, and my camera bag is the lightest its ever been, if I were to jump from one brand to another, now would be the time to do so - when I can minimize my financial losses. If this were last year, or I was still shooting commercially, then there would be no way that I would ever consider it.

And its not about one brand outdoing another, or one image quality being better than the other. For me, I have always believed that Canon's lenses produced better portraits than Nikons. Nikon is GREAT when it comes to the utmost sharpness and contrast, which is great for landscapes, wildlife, and portraits - buts its hateful on a facial wrinkle. And yeah, I can shop them out, but I don't believe in the removal of lines and the overall plastic look. Canon has always had a 'butteriness' that I've always, ALWAYS enjoyed. I don't know what it is about Canon's glass, but there is just a smoothness that they produce, that is unmatched by anything else. It's not a sharpness issue, its just 'buttery' as I like to call it.

I've shot a D700 extensively when I had the studio with my sister in law. I loved that camera, but again, it still uses Nikon lenses. I've also shot a 5DMKIII as I've stated, and just the brief time that I was able to use it, I was sold.

I know that I can produce excellent images with the gear that I have - I also know that I can produce excellent images with the fully manual 1977 Nikon FM film camera too. Its not about producing technically good images, its about selecting the right tool to accomplish the job you want to do.

As I said, I'm in the middle of a gear shortage and can minimize my financial losses, so if I'm feeling froggy and this is something that I've wanted to do for 5-6-7 years now, I thought now would be the perfect time. My first nephew is due in February and I know I'll be portrait heavy most all of next year with monthly baby photos, which is another reason I'm thinking about it now.

 

[pixmedic]

It always seems a little odd to me when people who are already fairly well invested in one camera system decide to switch to another.
you will almost never break even on an endeavor like that, and not only will you need to replace your camera and lenses, but also all of your accessories that are tied to a particular brand (flashes, some triggers, TTL cords, etc etc)

personally, i have never seen/read/heard anything that was particularly compelling enough for me to believe that canon or nikon surpass each other in any significant way.
(maybe..MAYBE on some test where a computer can measure the absolute smallest amount of changes, but not noticeable by the human eye)

I agree with you 100%. But because I am at the point that I am at now, and my camera bag is the lightest its ever been, if I were to jump from one brand to another, now would be the time to do so - when I can minimize my financial losses. If this were last year, or I was still shooting commercially, then there would be no way that I would ever consider it.

And its not about one brand outdoing another, or one image quality being better than the other. For me, I have always believed that Canon's lenses produced better portraits than Nikons. Nikon is GREAT when it comes to the utmost sharpness and contrast, which is great for landscapes, wildlife, and portraits - buts its hateful on a facial wrinkle. And yeah, I can shop them out, but I don't believe in the removal of lines and the overall plastic look. Canon has always had a 'butteriness' that I've always, ALWAYS enjoyed. I don't know what it is about Canon's glass, but there is just a smoothness that they produce, that is unmatched by anything else. It's not a sharpness issue, its just 'buttery' as I like to call it.

I've shot a D700 extensively when I had the studio with my sister in law. I loved that camera, but again, it still uses Nikon lenses. I've also shot a 5DMKIII as I've stated, and just the brief time that I was able to use it, I was sold.

I know that I can produce excellent images with the gear that I have - I also know that I can produce excellent images with the fully manual 1977 Nikon FM film camera too. Its not about producing technically good images, its about selecting the right tool to accomplish the job you want to do.

As I said, I'm in the middle of a gear shortage and can minimize my financial losses, so if I'm feeling froggy and this is something that I've wanted to do for 5-6-7 years now, I thought now would be the perfect time. My first nephew is due in February and I know I'll be portrait heavy most all of next year with monthly baby photos, which is another reason I'm thinking about it now.

well, your thread title was "keep it, sell it, or switch it?" so I just tossed my opinion in with the rest. at the end of the day, its EASY to spend someone elses money.
quite a different story when its your own wallet taking the hit. if you can afford to make the switch, and you WANT to make the switch, then stop asking people about it and make the switch...unless you WANT someone to talk you out of it, which I would gladly do. :mrgreen:

if your set on switching, i would go with a 6D and whatever lens you can afford with it. you already know what to look for in a lens for what you want to do. as for flashes though, i would skip the OEM flash and get Yongnuo 568EX's. lotta bang for the buck there at $180 a piece.a LOT cheaper than the canon flashes, and the yongnuos do TTL and HSS.

 

[astroNikon]

Quick question.
Have you ever thought of using a Diffusion filter to soften the image on the sharp nikon glass

diffusion can soften wrinkles to remove years from a face.

CAMERA FILTERS