canon versus nikon: I am looking to get into photography with long term goal of being a serious amateur, taking photographs that would be suitable for local camera club competitions...

clark48

I am looking to get into photography with long term goal of being a serious amateur, taking photographs that would be suitable for local camera club competitions

which is best system to start off with, Nikon or Canon?

RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA

clark48 wrote:

I am looking to get into photography with long term goal of being a serious amateur, taking photographs that would be suitable for local camera club competitions

which is best system to start off with, Nikon or Canon?

Both.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

clark48 wrote:

I am looking to get into photography with long term goal of being a serious amateur, taking photographs that would be suitable for local camera club competitions
which is best system to start off with, Nikon or Canon?

Clark, Welcome to the Hog.
The best system to start with, is the one you will ultimately wind up with.
If you have the goal of being an advanced amature or semi-pro, my recommendation is that you start with a Canon system, and possibly a used Canon 7d or 50d. Of course new is always preferable, depending on your budget. I feel you are better off with a better used body, than a lessor new body.
Clark, the cameras are pretty much all the same as far a DSLR's go.
The advantage to Canon are that Canon makes faster lenses than anyone else, and the big tele foto lenses are up to 20% lighter than the other brands. Those two differences can be significant to an advanced shooter.
There is also much more Canon gear available both new and used, since many more people own Canon equipment.
Clark, if the differences I have mentioned are not important to you, then pretty muck any brand camera will do, as the cameras themselves are pretty much the same at the similar price points.
Clark, again, welcome to the Hog and good luck! ;-)
SS

onyxtiger Loc: Northern California

SharpShooter wrote:

Clark, Welcome to the Hog. br The best system to... (show quote)

Well, I would respectfully disagree with SharpShooter. I feel Nikon is the best system out there. But then, I'm a little biased. I've been shooting Nikons since the late 60's. I have shot Mamiya, Minolta, Canon, Besler Topcon, and Pentax before finally settling into the Nikon family.

Now, granted, a lot has changed in the last forty or so years, so my thinking may be off.

In reality, you won't go wrong with either system.

Clark, good luck.

amehta Loc: Boston

clark48 wrote:

I am looking to get into photography with long term goal of being a serious amateur, taking photographs that would be suitable for local camera club competitions

which is best system to start off with, Nikon or Canon?

Both are excellent systems which would serve you well for years. The good news is that you can't go wrong with either. Some aspects of the system from one or the other are better, but that changes over time.

The more important question for you right now is what level camera do you want to get?

wilsondl Loc: Lincoln, NE

SharpShooter wrote:

Clark, Welcome to the Hog. br The best system to... (show quote)

Try and put a Canon lens from the 1980's on a new Canon. You can with Nikon. Super buys on older Nikon leses. Many pros use Nikon. When I went for a DSLR I went to the camera store and picked the one that felt best. I would suggest you do the same thing. - Dave

mdorn Loc: Portland, OR

clark48 wrote:

I am looking to get into photography with long term goal of being a serious amateur, taking photographs that would be suitable for local camera club competitions

which is best system to start off with, Nikon or Canon?

Join a local camera club, look around, ask questions, possibly hold each in your hand, then decide. Good luck.

Georgia Peddler Loc: Brunswick, GA

clark48 wrote:

I am looking to get into photography with long term goal of being a serious amateur, taking photographs that would be suitable for local camera club competitions

which is best system to start off with, Nikon or Canon?

Flip a coin - you will never tell the difference. When you buy quality - you get quality, eh?? In fact, you could flip several coins and still get a great photographic machine. I have shot Nikon for 30 plus years so that is my camera of choice. I still have an old Hassey, RB67, 4X5, and bunches of stuff, but I shoot a Nikon digital and love it. You can't go wrong either way.

amehta Loc: Boston

wilsondl wrote:

Try and put a Canon lens from the 1980's on a new Canon. You can with Nikon. Super buys on older Nikon leses. Many pros use Nikon. When I went for a DSLR I went to the camera store and picked the one that felt best. I would suggest you do the same thing. - Dave

Dave, you're pretty new here, but you're already seeing that SS is the biggest Canon fan on the site. Logic and reason are irrelevant.
:-D

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

amehta wrote:

Dave, you're pretty new here, but you're already seeing that SS is the biggest Canon fan on the site. Logic and reason are irrelevant.
:-D

Logic and reason? What interesting concepts! I'm sure they could be very useful. Someplace. Picking out furniture, perhaps. This is photography! It's all about passion and uncontrolled lust! On our better days some of us even approach sanity! Didn't you get the memo? :D

BTW Dave, welcome to the Hog! Whatever you pick will be a good camera. Just be sure to let us know what it is so that at least some of us can rag on you for your poor choice!

clark48

Thank you very much for your response! :wink:

amehta Loc: Boston

LFingar wrote:

Logic and reason? What interesting concepts! I'm sure they could be very useful. Someplace. Picking out furniture, perhaps. This is photography! It's all about passion and uncontrolled lust! On our better days some of us even approach sanity! Didn't you get the memo? :D

BTW Dave, welcome to the Hog! Whatever you pick will be a good camera. Just be sure to let us know what it is so that at least some of us can rag on you for your poor choice!

It's clark48 who is looking for a new camera.

Dave responded to SS, I was simply pointing out the futility in that. :lol:

Both are new, so welcome to both!

clark48

thank you!

boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander

clark48 wrote:

I am looking to get into photography with long term goal of being a serious amateur, taking photographs that would be suitable for local camera club competitions

which is best system to start off with, Nikon or Canon?

This is probably the most contentious topic on the forum. There is no right or wrong answer. Just to add a little more to the mix don't over look Sony, Pentax, or Panasonic, or if you have money to burn Leica. I think that most will agree that glass is more important than what it says on the body. First decide what your budget is. Then what kind of camera you want to start out with. I think a Bridge Camera would be a good place to start. (a bridge camera is inbetween a point and shoot and interchangeable lens camera) A decent bridge camera goes for about $400. Thats my 2 cents. I am sure many will disagree.

jim quist Loc: Missouri

I own a portrait studio and use Canon equipment and like it a lot. If I were starting over I would go with Nikon.

you should hold a Canon and a Nikon in your hands. get a feel for where the buttons are, how to navigate the menus, and how user friendly it is for you.

With a Nikon you can take the flash and set it on a stand or table and fire it remotely from the camera. With a canon you need some kind of remote trigger to do the same thing. I use Pocket Wizards so it cost me $400.00 to do it.

With Nikon if you do any tethered shooting you cannot record the image on the film card. with canon you can tether the image into your computer and it will still record the image on your card.

Either system is good, its the little things that separate them. and you will find on here that people pretty much push what they own,and criticize the rest.