flogging an old Horse with a new sadle...Canon vs Nikon

I've had focusing issues in dark areas with my Nikons

I second that - Nikons do not like focusing in low-light situations. in fact, the SB-units have a specialised infrared focusing system to assist with exactly that so you can focus in pitch-black situations, but then you need to have an SB unit AND know how to drive it, and those things can at times be more complex than a 7th-grade algebra handbook!

I do have a couple of SBs Gerry and it's exactly with that infrared focusing system that I get the problem. The infra red focus beam only gets activated it your AF node is in center position. Also if you do use pop up flash, you have this magic little search light mounted on the front of the body that comes on but only if your AF focusing node is in the center. Which makes the other 50 odd focusing points redundant in those conditions.

The major plus for me on Nikon is the low noise levels on high ISO's. I do quite a bit of corporate functions and concert work and being able too push my camera to 1600/ 2000 ISO and knowing the little noise there is I can push back in Lightroom is a huge bonus. That too me is the big selling point at the moment for Nikon.

Yes, noise is nice artistically, but the corporate client 9/10 just wants a clear image.

The major plus for me on Nikon is the low noise levels on high ISO's


what Nikon against what Canon?

The 5D Mark III's raw noise levels are, compared to its predecessor 5D Mark II, and its most direct rival, the Nikon D800, lower across the ISO range.

[quote=]Also if you do use pop up flash[/quote]

^ what's pop up flash?

The Nikon D700 must be the ISO king! I regularly shot at 6400 with the D700. Check out this pic as an example...


Just got the D800 so I need to shoot low light stuff like this to make a direct comparison, but at 36MP I doubt it's technically possible to match it. I wouldn't consider the 5D Mark 111 a direct rival to the D800 with its substantially lower resolution...

@ Derek, from what I have read and seen the D800 has impressive high ISO performance as good as the older D700 and at 36MP that is impressive.

Getting back to this thread and OP's question, people should not make sweeping general statements, tell us what you are comparing to.

I have had both the D800 and the 5DIII on my desk and all I can say they are both amazing cameras that are good enough for any fashion photographer.

If the big move is all about Auto focus then these articles might help you chose a camera and lenses:
http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/camera-autofocus.htm
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Photography-Tips/Canon-EOS-DSLR-Autofocus-Explaine d.aspx
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autofocus

Basically you want to get a camera with as many cross-type points as possible, and combine it with a nice fast lens (wide aperture - f2, f2.8, f4), to get the best performance.

Because AF is performed with the lens wide open, you want to use the fastest aperture lens you can afford, but at least an f4 lens.
A fast lens (eg 24-70mm f2.8) will probably make a bigger difference than a new camera, on IQ and AF.

The advertised number of focus points can be a bit deceptive, because you really want to use the cross-type points (or double cross-type if you can).
Here is a short list of cameras and their number of focus points:
350D: 7 (No cross-type points)
400D: 9 (No cross-type points)
450D: 9 (Only 1 cross-type)
500D: 9 (Only 1 cross-type)
550D: 9 (Only 1 cross-type) - Predictive AF
600D: 9 (Only 1 cross-type) - Predictive AF
D90: 11 (Only 1 cross-type)
5D mk2: 9 (Only 1 cross-type) - WTF 1 cross-type point, this is not much better than a 450D [the 6 extra "Invisible Assist AF points" are available in AI Servo mode only]
50D: 9 (All 9 are cross-type)
60D: 9 (All 9 are cross-type)
650D: 9 (All 9 are cross-type) - Uses the 60D AF sensor and adds Hybrid Auto focus (useful in video and LiveView)
D7000: 39 (9 cross-type)
1Ds mk2: 45 (7 cross-type)
D300: 51 (15 cross-type)
D300s: 51 (15 cross-type)
D700: 51 (15 cross-type)
D800: 51 (15 cross-type)
D800: 51 (15 cross-type)
D3: 51 (15 cross-type)
D3x: 51 (15 cross-type)
7D: 19 (All 19 are cross-type)
1Ds mk3: 45 (19 cross-type)
1D mk4: 45 (39 cross-type)
5D3: 61 (41 cross-type, 5 are double cross-type) - Also allows you to hide the non cross-type points.
1Dx: 61 (41 cross-type, 5 are double cross-type) - but with some extras that make it better than the 5D3.


I'm not sure about Nikon, but for the Canon's (with cross-type points) the center point is even more sensitive with F2.8 (or faster) lenses.

For low-light conditions you might also want to look into the AF working range.

I have the 7D and the D7000, and the 7D with fewer AF points in total (but all cross-type) easily outperforms the D7000, so I think the cross-type points really make a difference in real life.
Ring type USM (Canon) and SWM (Nikon) lenses also make a BIG difference, to me anyway - This focus tech is found on all the high quality lenses I can think of.

Niles Nikon vs Chuck Canon

lost a mouth full of coffee there!

:)

Karl - you forgot Harry Hasselblad and Mary-Lou Mamiya-Leaf.

not to mention Louis Leica.

etcetera ... etcetera ...

and this thread has so much potential.

The only time you should swap systems is when you go from Pro-DSLR to Medium Format Hasselblads and the like.

Because heres the truth,
Canon's rival is Nikon.
Nikon's rival is Canon.
So they're trying so hard to be better than each other, but they are just doing the same thing over and over.

More megapixels, less noise, yadda yadda.

No point really.

Canon's true main rival is Sony.

Canon's true main rival is Sony

Sony is not doing too badly, hey... They may just muscle in on the big-two in the next few years. Gerrit may say they already do,

Nikon, Canon, Sony .... all from our little buddies in the East..... all have there pros and cons, think it is all about personal taste at the end of the day, unless you have the $$$$ to buy one of each and test them...