SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Jozz, actually the world is full of people with no opinions, that's one of the problems.
On pg. 2, I gave you the lighthearted version that you seemed to enjoy. Now I'm gonna give you the hard version. But do note, these are NOT my opinions, they are pure facts. These are the reasons that I settled on Canon and NOT Nikon. Too many want to tell you that they are the same, and to those they obviously are the same. They are not! If you think that dynamic range is king, then go with Nikon. Personally, you'll never see it in your shots(my opinion).
I shoot everything. For night shots I wanted to be able to use fast lenses. I found out that Nikon(or ANY other brand)does not even make an f1.2 lens. Canon makes 3 of them, all auto focus, including the 50mm f1.0. Now THAT is a lens! :lol:
When using big lenses, the Nikon counterparts are 20% heavier. That is a HUGE amount when you are trying to troop through the woods looking for great nature shots.
Someone mentioned the flash. There are pros that are switching to Canon just for the flash system. Canon's 600RT is Radio Frequency controlled. It will fire if it's on the other side of a wall. That's huge, no more wires or line of site!!.
I don't shoot macro, but the macro shooters here say that the Canon macro lens with VR is a better lens. And Canon's line of Tilt-Shift lenses is better and more complete.
And more pro sports shooters shoot Canon than any other brand. You'll have to ask them why, but it may have a little to do with the focus system and the fps rate..
you'll get used to anty camera. My opnion is that how a camera feels in your hand is WAY, WAY, WAY overrated. It's just a gimmick to sell beginners a camera.
Jozz, as for the sound, American Optics make VERY good ear-plugs!! :lol:
SS

jsmangis Loc: Peoria, IL

When I got my D80 after using Nikon film cameras for more than 20 years, I barely had to read the manual because it felt the same in my hands and all of the controls were in the same place as my N70. Some of my friends with Canons had a steep learning curve when they changed to DSLR's. I'm just saying----

wings42 Loc: San Diego, CA

I had the opposite experience with Nikon service. Sent my D7000 in to repair exposure problems in June of this year after 3 years of hard use. The quoted estimate for a fix was $350. I still sent it in because that's a lot cheaper than a new or refurbished D7000 or D7100.

It turns out that one of the camera's internal exposure meters wasn't setting exposure properly. The camera was returned from Nikon in two weeks, working perfectly. All was cleaned and adjusted, including the bad meter and the main image sensor. Charge was $215 which included postage. Very happy with Nikon service and still love my camera.

That being said, my son has a Canon t5i. It is excellent in all respects, feels good in my hands, and he loves it. If you change from Nikon there will be a learning curve and a period of doubt over your decision. My advice is don't look back. Just use and learn your new camera and in time you'll grow to love it like you now love the D7000.

Uuglypher Loc: South Dakota (East River)

Sounds like you have bought into the "Nikon or Canon or Nikon or Canon" circle...joke! Now's the time to objectively look at at least one or two other tecnically innovative brands and models. You should check out The APS-C Sony Alpha77 and the full-frame Alpha99. Superb build, great stable of glass from Sony and exceptional legacy glass from the Minolta manual and AF prime and zoom lenses, as well as some excellent and highly affordable lenses offered with the Alpha mount by Tamron, Sigma, and Rokinon. The in-body image stabilization is superb (and the reason that some exceptional lenses cost less is due to no need for I.S. motors and mechanisms in each lens). Unexcelled AF speed.

Take some some time to make some comparisons on DSO-mark.com. It'll be an eye-opener!

And as one who has been a photographer since 1947 and has used essentially all the major camera brands, I think you'll find the Sony User Interface/ surface controls,menues, and function choices to be the most consistently logical, user friendly, and consistently offered across the variety of Sony models when compared with the ...er..."novelty" of every new model of Nikanons!

Just food for thought. This is no time to limit your horizons...and I don't mean to imply that Pentax, Olympus, and other brands are somehow unworthy of your consideration. But just as important, It's no time to knuckle under to the ludicrous " Nikon or Canon or nothing" fallacy. The Nikanon fanboys are coming to learn the errors of their ways as they become more and more familiar with service/repair problems inherent with those "favored, Big Two"
brands to which their growing stable of lenses has wedded them.

You may well decide on staying with Nikon, or switching to Canon, but whatever decision you make, make it a truly informed decision based on objective comparative information, and not one one based on advertizing agency hucksterism!

Dave in SD

AntonioReyna Loc: Los Angeles, California

HEAR YE, HEAR YE. I TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU. A GREAT POINT THAT LAB MEASUREMENTS ARE OFTENTIMES NOT DISTINGUISHABLE IN THE REAL WORLD. THERE IS A REASON WHY OVER AND OVER AGAIN, IN MAJOR SPORTS COMPETITIONS, WHAT YOU SEE MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE ARE CANON BODIES AND LENSES. I DON'T SHOOT THAT BUT I SHOOT RUNWAY SHOWS QUITE OFTEN AND THERE YOU SEE MOSTLY CANONS, SOME NIKONS, AND NO MIRRORLESS CAMERAS AS I DON'T THINK THEY CAN KEEP UP WITH THE CONSTANT MOVEMENT AND EBB AND FLOW OF SUCH.

canon Lee

Hi my first camera was a Nikon. When I got my first Canon I noticed that the buttons were laid out much simpler an easily accessed. I own my own photography business and have used Canon DSLR's for over a decade with no problems. I shoot exclusively in Raw, so I don't use any presets/filters. I use the 7D, and feel for what I have to shoot (which is mostly weddings and Picture day at youth sports clubs) that this camera meets all of my expectations and needs. One feature that Nikon does not have is that with the Canon I can disconnect the exposure metering from the shutter for back-lit situations in AV mode, whereas with Nikon I have to go to Manual mode and take separate levels readings. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEnAhkL0i38 I hope this helps.

AntonioReyna Loc: Los Angeles, California

Good voice of experience. Ultimately, it is what you feel comfortable with and what works for you. Look at monthly photography contests in various magazines. Some of the pics shown are taken with point and shoots and others with older cameras, sometimes film cameras. Newer is not always better. In this vein, the new "in" thing is mirrorless. I have one, a Sony, but only as a carryaround camera as it is very light and unobtrusive. But for anything serious, I bring out the Canon and L glass.

Alois

You got that one right.

Erv Loc: Medina Ohio

NUTS! I have those.:):) Might be interest in one of the flashes when you get to that point tho.:)
Erv

Erik_H Loc: Denham Springs, Louisiana

SS, I've seen a lot of shadows in my time and I have to admit, that is one of the happier shadows that I've seen. :)

anotherview Loc: California

Others will offer their varied opinions of Nikon versus Canon. I have no desire to offer mine. I take the position I should spend my time otherwise doing photography.

Plants at Rest Stop, Off I-15, Utah

rowandjr Loc: New Jersey

Check out Scott Kelby Nikon user just switched to Canon.

romanticf16 Loc: Commerce Twp, MI

I'm a Nikon user and have been since 1965. Many of my friends use Canon. Canon feels strange in my hands. Nothing wrong with it. I resent that they've changed their lens mount several times. Nikon hasn't, so there are more opportunities to find bargain optics. No camera or flash is guaranteed against being dropped. If you shoot Weddings for $ you should have back up equipment.
The service issues in your country i sympathize with, but have no control over.
Your comment that similar settings on the Canon yielded "better results" than your Nikon tells me you don't shoot in RAW or do much post processing. If you used something like the X-Rite Passport (Macbeth Color Chart) to set your Color Space on both Cameras the images would match. All you are seeing is the individual preferences of each manufacturer while shooting in jpeg, yes?Do not let this be the factor influencing your camera choice. And in the future use a camera strap that attaches to the camera's lugs, not the tripod socket.

wings42 Loc: San Diego, CA

Makes sense. I sent my D7000 to Nikon for repair in early June with serious overexposure if there were any bright areas in the photo. They repaired it and it worked great...for about 6 weeks. The same problem came back. I'll of course call them, but your answer was a splash of cold water, calming my anger at them and at the brand. Instead of staying angry (thanks to you) I got out my wonderful old D5100 and will just use that. It worked great for years, and then on vacation in June while the D7000 was at Nikon. I'm seriously thinking of retiring the D7000 unless it's repaired and works well and getting a D5300. The D5300 has the same sensor and photo processor as the D7100 at a much cheaper price for refurbished, with IQ identical to the D7100, and it weighs only 1 lb.

It took the attached photos this morning in the backyard with my D5100 and my new Nikon 18-300 lens. Please download.

Unknown Hummingbird - Anna's?

(Download)

Passion Flower

(Download)

jozz__b Loc: Port Elizabeth

Yeah the shipping costs would probably be more than the repair cost itself.
I would then have to never have a accident or gear failure again for me to never use them again. Or move to a country with actual support...