warrenrowephotography Loc: Kempner, TX

Take your time and do your research. Here's what I did:

I used a Fuji camera as my main camera as I began my photography business, but I knew I needed to step up in gear. A limited budget really wasn't helping me at the time, either. So I researched all camera makes and models for a year. That's right, a year. I did what others suggested: went to several stores and handled each and every camera that seemed to fit my needs. Finally after that year in research I decided on Canon but I really needed a good deal in order to make the jump. Several have said (in so many words and on other threads) that Amazon wasn't the best place to purchase camera gear. Yet, I found a deal that I couldn't pass up when I put the order all together...a Canon T6i with four lenses, 2 kit lenses and 50mm & 24mm primes (not the 2x telephoto and other junk that people count as lenses) and some needed accessories such as batteries (I bought 6 of them) and filters for a total out of pocket of around $1000. The actual total came to $1300 but a $300 Amazon gift card balance really came in handy here. I have not regretted it one bit. In fact, I felt like I hit it out of the park with my decision and purchase.

But having said that, what may work for me might not work for you. Do the research, take the time to handle each camera, read the reviews, and then do it all again several times. Once you make your decision, you should be well versed in the brand you chose and etc. I love my Canon T6i, but others may like Nikon, Pentax, Fuji and others...and that's perfectly all right. Just be happy with what you chose and get out there with your new toy and start taking photographs! In the end, that's what we do.

skywolf

See if you can rent one of each camera you might want. Get each one for a couple of days and determine which one handles the easiest for you, which one feels right, which one is easiest to learn...for you. Each Canon and Nikon have great lenses and other things you'll want or need and there is a plethora of third party lenses, lights, etc. that are usually as good as the brand names. And unless you have a pocketful of money, if you buy one and a couple of lenses, you would have to sell pretty much everything and rebuy for the new brand. I'm a Nikon guy, but I know photogs who love their Canons, Sonys, Lumixes, etc., and for good reason. They're all good or they don't stay on the market long.

jrcarpe Loc: Jacksonville,AR

I replaced my Canon 40D with the Canon 70D and I am very happy with it's performance.Does a great job especially with an 85 mm Canon lens.Best of luck with what you choose.

Retina Loc: Near Charleston,SC

Renting for a few days is a great idea. You will likely spend a good deal of time and money with your final choice, and you will be really glad you played the field.

BudsOwl Loc: Upstate NY and New England

I use Canon, having a 60D, 6D and G15, but you should try to find a store that has Canon, Nikon and Sony as well as some others. Handle them. Try to go into their menus. Or if a camera club is near you visit and see if the members might have what you are interested in and see if they will let you handle them. Select what seems to fit you best.
You are going to get dozens of comments here with most touting their gear. So good luck in making a informed and independent decision.
Bud

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

The camera you choose is going to matter a lot less than the lenses you choose to use on it. Especially for wildlife photography.

If by "wildlife" you mean small, distant critters, birds and such... you are going to want a pretty powerful telephoto. The good news is that there a bunch of those now that are reasonably affordable:

Nikon offers their AF-S 200-500mm f/5.6G VR lens, which is a good value at around $1400.

Canon's EF 100-400mm "L" IS USM "II" is very sharp and well built, costs about $2000.

There are also Sigma and Tamron 150-600mm for both Canon and Nikon, ranging in price from about $1000 to $2000... As well as a new Sigma 100-400mm OS HSM that's fairly compact and under $1000.

In the past, lenses that reached 500mm or 600mm were all fairly huge and typically cost upwards of $10,000.... So the above are relative bargains!

For larger wildlife, a smaller 70-300mm or even 70-200mm might be adequate.

For active wildlife, you also need high performance autofocus system in both camera and lens. The above lenses meet those needs... so you need an equally good performing camera. Nikon D7200/7500 or Canon 80D would be the minimum I'd recommend... Nikon D500 or Canon 7D Mark II would be even better.

High performance autofocus isn't so necessary for macro/closeup work, such as those flowers you want to photograph. Any of the cameras mentioned will do fine. Nikon D3000-series and D5000-series cameras are a little more limited, in that they can only autofocus AF-S and AF-P lenses. "D" type lenses, such as some Nikkors and Tokina 100mm macro lens are manual-focus-only on those cameras. "D" type and some other Nikon AF lenses do not have a built in motor and rely on a motor in the camera body to drive their autofocus. The D7000-series and higher Nikon models have the in-body focusing motor. The D3000/D5000-series cameras do not.

Actually, manual focus isn't too big a deal for macro/close-up work. Many folks who do a lot of that type of photography actually prefer manual focus. But if you want to use the lens for other purposes too, you may want autofocus. There are any number of high quality macro-capable lenses available for both Canon and Nikon. Most are primes, very few are zooms. Even though many zooms have a "macro" setting, they really aren't... few are any better than about 1/4 or 1/3 life size capable. One exception I know of is Canon's EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM, which is a very high quality "walk-around" or "standard" zoom that's able to do nearly 3/4 life size close-up work and costs about $1000. I really don't know if Nikon, Sigma, Tamron or Tokina offer anything similar. Even if they don't, Macro Extension Tubes are widely available and relatively inexpensive (Kenko set: $125) for both Canon and Nikon, that can be used to make almost any lens closer focusing to give higher magnification.

There are lots of other possibilities... above are just some examples. My main point is that you should probably spend more time thinking about lenses and less worrying about the camera... lenses will make a lot more difference in your results, than the camera they are used upon. There are good lenses available in both Canon and Nikon systems.... though there are some differences between the systems. You also might want to think about other things you might need... such as as a good tripod (figure around $400 minimum... some of the lenses above are fairly large and heavy, plus macro/close-up work is often best done with a tripod)... or a flash (roughly $200 or more), etc. What about your computer and image editing software, are they up to the task? Is your computer monitor calibrated?

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

This come up over and over. Pay more and get the best? Then get the Fuji GFX 50S and blow photos up all day long.
You will get Canon and Nikon back and forth from the advocates of each as each has strengths and weaknesses that are exclusive to each.
I shoot Canon. I like it and will not change. If I were heavily invested in Nikon I would stay with it and not change either. Same goes for Sony, Fuji, Olympus and Panasonic. All very good today and differences when it comes down to it are nuances, in spite of my and others passionate defense of our favorite systems.
Choose what handles intuitively for you and feels good in your hands.

FeminiQue03

So do you think Ken Rockwell is entirely unbiased and has no financial interest tied to Canon that could lingering around out there somewhere and may possibly influencing his take on Nikon's technology? He's marketing. He's a photographer 2nd, but a businessman 1st.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

NO WAR HERE. CANON AND NIKON MAKE QUALITY PRODUCTS. FAR, FAR, FAR, BETTER THAN THIRD PARTY GLASS.

ray manclark

Hi Folks; I used Canon 35mm + Mamiya RB for many years of Weddings. Both damn good!! Now I am a Nikon man, mainly because they have the most comprehensive lens system, where I can put a 1970s lens on my D610 + D7000. Canon or Nikon are both excellent. For a bridge camera, I would go for Lumix. ta ta

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Actually he goes back and forth to the 2. He gave very high praise to the Nikon 70-200 saying it was the best in class if I remember. Oh well.

BIG ROB Loc: Princeton, NJ 08540

I would most very strongly recommend that you purchase a Refurbished, Nikon D7200, Body, for (dirt cheap, relatively speaking, of course), from either: Nikon sales directly, or much better yet, from the wonderful Photographic Store in New York City, called, B & H Photo-Video, on-line, @ www.b&hphotovideo.com, for only, $779.00!

Then shop for it's excellent and fantastic, extremely sharp "kit" zoom lens. This lens, is a Nikkor AF-S DX 18-140mm f/3.5-5.6 G VR, and it normally sells for $499.00.

However, if you "really shop around for it", you might, be able to locate it, for a lower price. It is, well worth, it's $499.00, regular price. But, I did, see one last month, somewhere, being sold for $399.00!!! (This is very rare!!!) It is possible, that I may have seen it at that price on EBay!

This lens, is extremely sharp at all of its apertures and focal lengths, according to DP Reviews tests! I have it and can attest to that!

As for the Nikon D7200 camera, there is just no better camera around. It consistently produces the very sharpest images that you could imagine! It's also a perfect camera for all general purpose photography, and it's built like a tank, and its weather proof.

I am an extremely picky man, and I spent an exorbitant amount of time, so very carefully, reading up, on all of the different comparable, mid-range DSLR cameras, that are on the market. I spent literally hundreds of hours, for months, studying every bit of information, that I could possibly obtain, from all of the organizations, that test these cameras, and rate them, as well as from consumer publications, and I also spoke with people who actually own many of these cameras, and I handled all of them myself.

I narrowed my search down to the Nikon D7200, Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II, Canon EOS 7D Mark II, Canon EOS 80D, Sony A6300, Fuji Xt2 & Fuji Pro2. Some of these, being more expensive than others, price was not a limiting factor to me, up to the point of those cameras; and the Nikon D500 hadn't been released yet.

What I wanted was the very best, all around use, camera, that would serve me, the best overall, in all ways considered overall, and its manufacturer offering the full, and complete array, of extremely fine lenses, available in
all sizes, and types, as well as other system accessories; this being of lesser importance to me, however.

****NOW, THE PERFORMANCE OF THE CAMERA"S DIGITAL IMAGE SENSOR: THIS BEING THE VERY, VERY, HEART OF THAT ENTIRE CAMERA!!! THAT SINGLE DEVICE, BEING WHAT TAKES THE OPTICAL IMAGE, WHICH COMES THROUGH THAT ALL IMPORTANT, AND SO VERY CHERISHED, AND WORSHIPPED LENS!!! AND THEN, WITH YOUR RESULTANT EXPOSURE SETTINGS, BEING APPLIED....THAT OPTICAL IMAGE IS APPLIED TO THAT .... VERY ALL...
IMPORTANT DIGITAL IMAGE SENSOR...WHICH HAS THE JOB, OF TRANSFERRING THE LIGHT'S PHOTONS, INTO AN ELECTRICAL IMAGE....AND ITS PERFORMANCE, IN CARRYING OUT THIS OPERATION....DOES DICTATE, EVERYTHING!
REGARDING, HOW LIFE-LIKE, YOUR, PHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE, WILL BE!!!

THEREFORE: THE PERFORMANCE OF THE CAMERA'S DIGITAL IMAGE SENSOR, was of course, of the very greatest importance to me!

I studied and learned, that all, of the Nikon, camera's, absolutely and completely excelled, in all, of their measured, and documented aspects, regarding their camera's, sensor performance! And, that this, translated into, superior quality images that the Nikon camera's produced. And, this, was very important to me!

This is what, it is, all about really! Everything else, is simply add-ons, and relative "fluff", to the final quality, of the images.

Also, this D7200 camera, handles very nicely, in every possible way, and it is laid out, extremely sensibly, and it's viewfinder, and focusing, are superlative, as are all other aspects of it! I have had it for a year now, and have never been so very satisfied, by any product, in all of my life!

I would very highly recommend it, to anyone! I certainly could not say that, for its competitors, for various different reasons, although, in their own rights, they are all, also, very extremely, nice, photographic tools, as well!!!... Rob.

PS - I advise you, not to go near to, the Nikon D7500, camera...it is, an ENTIRELY DIFFERENT, AND INFERIOR, Camera to the D7200. It is, a very nice camera, IN ITS OWN RIGHT!

Yet, IT DOESN'T HOLD A CANDLE TO THE D7200...There are technical reasons...beyond those that are often spouted off in this forum. It is, an inferior camera, TO THE 7200.... (It is a very fine camera in its own right, on its own merits.)

You, purchase, what you,... choose, to....it will be YOUR own camera. I would buy the D7200 if I was to select between THE TWO OF THEM! That is my own educated opinion.

Have a very great day and really enjoy your summer.

7500 IS NOT THE UPGRADE TO THE D7200 AND IT IS NOT THE "LITTLE BROTHER" TO THE D500!!! (Scoff!)
7500 = is a camera that Nikon chose to slap together for its marketing and sales purposes to make money on!



PS- D7200 has better image quality than Canon 80D and is a better Camera; also well worth getting the D7200 over the D5600.. Another world, and class of camera, that you'll really love, and be so glad to use, and enjoy! It's the real deal. Then buy "Thom Hogan's D7200 Guide", (an EBook for $29.00, 900 pgs and also, Dave Busch's "Guide To The Nikon D7200", from Amazon.com, for $29.00, 500 pgs, these are very important for you, to REALLY learn, all about the camera, very thoroughly, (at least the Busche Guide book!) ...These camera's are so advanced in many ways.
The more that you learn about it, the more confident, and the better that you'll be able to handle it w/o thinking about it. Have lots of fun...It's a wonderful journey. Rob.

PS- The lens I recommended to you, is completely vibration controlled. That's what the VR means. It allows you to shoot with reduced handheld shutter speed, so that you can hold the camera in lower light and get a shake free exposure by up to, a full 4 stops! It really works too! So, if you were shooting indoors, in low light, and you needed to shoot at 1/30th of a second for your proper exposure, than using that lens's Vibration Resistance feature, you would actually able, to use a shutter speed, up to 4 stops, lower, or, down to a 1/2 a second, and still get your shot! (IF, your subject, remained still!) That VR. operates all of the time, and it gives you, extremely crisp images! It is, a super nice, lens! Get it, and, you'll love it! I really do!

I have five Nikon lenses, and I can hardly ever bring myself, to take that one, off of my camera! Because, it's just such a perfect all around lens! ...It's compact, lightweight, relatively fast, and bright, and has such a very wide and convenient zoom range! It's 18-140mm equate to a 35mm equiliquivilance (mounted on the D7200 with its 1.5X Crop Factor, of 27mm to 210mm which is such a very useful range of focal lengths!

caljr Loc: Indiana

The older fuji's yes but the new Fuji X-T20 color is great. The images taken are all JPG's with no retouching.

Retina Loc: Near Charleston,SC

I was surprised what Ken wrote about Fujifilm's main kit zoom lens. It seemed rather unbiased to me if I am to believe the many comments here. So what if he writes with all the grace of the President's tweets. To me, he is still worth reading from time to time.

Back to the original question, and I know this was already said. In case volngltis still reading these replies, I was going to ask whether your personal hobby habits lean toward collecting and using a variety of tools, or if you prefer to use only a few choice pieces. If the former, either Nikon and Canon are both top options. If the latter, Fujifilm seems to offer incredible quality but with a limited number of available lenses. My apologies to most readers who know this. I think of Fujifilm like the Apple of cameras. You pay a bit more and you don't get many lens options, but they make really great stuff, almost as good as Olympus.

caljr Loc: Indiana

I must agree the quality is superb but the pricing is not like apple and how many lenses do you really need? I have the short (18-55) zoom the long (55-200) zoom and one prime (XF 90mm f/2). My wife can even use my X-T20, all I do is flip a switch to Auto and hand the camera to her and she will never miss a shot. I am not promoting Fuji and I still use my old Nikon D700 with about 10 lenses in my studio, but as I get older and spend more time with grandkids and traveling Fuji is my choice and the videos are awesome.