amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

I've used Nikon film SLRs in the past... as well as many other brands.

Personally I think the Canon system is one of the easiest to learn and become accustomed to using. Their menus are largely intuitive, though there are a few methodologies that can be confusing at first. But once those are learned, they are very consistent about them. I find some Nikon DLSR unnecessarily complex in certain ways. A couple examples...

Both Canon and Nikon provide an "anti-flicker" feature on various recent models. This is used under fluorescent lighting and similar... lighting that cycles on and off rapidly and can cause all sorts of exposure problems. Anti-flicker is a very helpful feature and on my Canon cameras with it I have simple choice of enabling it or not (i.e., off or on). It automatically detects the cycle of the lighting and adjusts shutter release to time exposures to peak light output (which occurs many times per second, so there's very little noticeable shutter lag). Where Nikon offers the same feature, they have the user choose between 50hz (European) or 60hz (US) or auto detection of the cycle. Why not just let it auto detect the light cycle the way Canon does, since the system is capable of doing so? What purpose do the other two settings serve?

Another thing with Nikon is that they offer choice of 12 bit or 14 bit? Why? Canon are simply all 14 bit (to be accurate, all of them since around 2006). The user doesn't have to make any choices here, either.

The basics are all the same, with slightly different labels such as:

Nikon labels shutter priority auto exposure "S", while Canon labels it "Tv" ("time value", I guess). Nikon labels aperture priority "A", while Canon labels it "Av" ("aperture value").

Nikon lenses turn onto the bayonet mount the opposite direction of Canon (and pretty much every other manufacturer).

Functional differences are relatively minor....

Nikon lenses' focus and zoom rings turn the opposite direction of Canon (and pretty much every other manufacturer except Tokina who design their lenses the same way Nikon does Nikkors).

Some years ago I bought a Tokina zoom for use on Canon cameras and was a little concerned about the manual controls being opposite until I got it and started to use it. Out in the real world, I never really noticed!

Canon ain't perfect either, by any means. They've done some great, innovative stuff over the years... but they've also had some missteps and been slow to get with the program at times. For example, they treated their mirrorless M-series cameras like ugly stepchildren and seemed to only grudgingly produce lenses and products for use with it. It was as if they didn't want to do too good a job with mirrorless out of concern that they'd undermine their own DSLR sales. The M-series (all APS-C cameras) have been around for 8 or 9 years, and there are only eight Canon lenses being made for them. Sigma and Viltrox each make three autofocus lenses for use on the M-series... but most 3rd party have stayed away from the system, probably taking their cues from Canon's lack of attention to it. There are a lot of manual focus lenses/manual aperture lenses, but this is true of all mirrorless systems because fully manual lenses are pretty quickly adapted and easily made since there are no electronics involved.

But you're looking at the Canon EOS R-series... the R5 in particular. The R-series is a whole different story. Only three years old now, Canon has gone all in with R&D and product intros for the system. There are already around 22 Canon RF lenses, as well as a roadmap suggesting we'll see another 10 or so within the next year. Samyang/Rokinon and Yongnuo also are each already producing a couple AF lenses for it, too... and I expect many others will be available in time. But you can already put together a pretty comprehensive kit for almost any purposes, with what's currently available.

Nikon has some great cameras and superb lenses. Although Canon are what I use, and that's the systems I know best, I try not to push people toward one particular brand or another. I do think that right now and in many of the ways that count the most Canon is ahead in the mirrorless game with their R-series (not their M-series). In their latest two models... the R5 and R6... Canon has produced an exceptional autofocus system. They at least match Sony now, in this respect. Some think the Canon AF system is even better than Sony's... but I think that's really splitting hairs. Nikon is behind a bit, but I'm sure they will catch up in the not too distant future. There's a lot of speculation about the upcoming Z9, but I'll wait and see once it's a reality. In many respects it will be a competitor with the R5, but the Z9 will need to be higher specification if it's price is as much higher as some rumors I've heard. It sounds as if it will be a pro level camera that costs around $6000... where the R5 is around $3900 (add a grip for another $350 and it's more similar to what the Z9 is supposed to look like). There is also the upcoming Canon R3, which will be sort of a mirrorless version of their 1DX Mark III top-of-the-line pro/sports camera. We now know a lot about it, though it won't be officially announced until next month. It will be another $6000 camera, in all likelihood. And it will use Canon's first back side illuminated sensor, which makes for ultra fast readout of image data and solves some problems with more typical, single layer CMOS sensors. (Such as "rolling shutter effect"). It's the next best thing to a global shutter (which will eventually find their way into stills cameras, but are still quite pricey).

In my opinion, so far where Canon has done their best work for the R-system is with their lenses. They have been more innovative with their RF glass than any of the other manufacturers, taking more full advantage of new potential designs possible with mirrorless. Many of the new Canon system lenses are among the lightest and most compact anyone has made, without compromising image quality or pro-level build quality. For example, Canon's two RF 70-200s are the smallest and lightest of this popular type of zoom that anyone has ever produced. In fact, they're even significantly smaller and lighter than the comparable zooms among Canon's own DSLR EF lenses! Canon's RF 100-500mm is both 100mm longer and half a pound lighter than their own EF 100-400mm Mark II lens!

Right now, including a few 3rd party lenses, B&H Photo shows 27 autofocus lenses for the Canon RF-mount ranging from 14mm to 800mm (all full frame lenses). In comparison, also including a few 3rd party, B&H shows 25 lenses for Niikon Z-mount, where the full frame lens focal lengths range from 14mm to just 200mm (there also is a 50-250mm zoom, but it's a DX lens). While you can easily adapt a Nikon F-mount lens for use on their Z-series cameras, they don't yet have much in the way of telephotos in the Z-mount. Meanwhile Canon has a 24-240mm, 100-500mm, 400mm f/2.8, two 600mm and an 800mm.

Nikon has both full frame and APS-C cameras in their Z-series. So far they only have two crop-specific lenses, but the "DX" cameras can utilize FX lenses too. So far Canon only has full frame cameras in their R-series. There are rumors about future APS-C models, but who knows if and when those might come available. (When they do get around to producing a crop sensor R-series, that will almost certainly mark the end of Canon's separate M-series.)

Because they've been working very seriously with mirrorless cameras for a lot longer than Canon or Nikon, Sony has the largest and most comprehensive system... both cameras and lenses. Sony offers both full frame and crop sensor e-mount cameras. For comparison, B&H currently shows 143 autofocus lenses for the Sony e-mount, nearly two thirds of which are from 3rd party manufacturers. It will be some years before Canon and Nikon build up their now 3-year-old systems to this extent and see such extensive 3rd party support. Sony lenses range from 10mm to 600mm focal length, though some are crop sensor specific, since they offer both types of cameras.

Sony has done the best job sorting out their cameras' power efficiency. They get more shots per battery charge than Canon or Nikon do. With those, you might want an extra battery or two, depending upon how much you shoot in a day. (All mirrorless are less power efficient than DSLRs... this is because mirrorless use an electronic viewfinder that has to be powered up at all times during use. Even the models without a viewfinder rely upon their rear LCD being powered up continuously during use. In contrast, with DSLRs you can see through their optical viewfinders even when the power is off and while there is some battery usage when the camera is on, it's nowhere near a heavy drain on the battery as a mirrorless' EVF screen or continuous use of it's rear LCD screen.)

Depending upon what you shoot, you might be very happy sticking with Nikon and buying one of the Z-series cameras. But if you are shooting sports or other highly active subject matter, right now the Canon R-series or Sony mirrorless system would probably be a better choice.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Let's see.
At best Nikon is a distant third.
More like going from a Yugo to a Ferrari.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

There are three responses to a great image: yes, no and Canon sure does make nice pictures.

Paul Diamond Loc: Atlanta, GA, USA

As a matter of fact, there have been real "turkey" Canon cameras, too. (At least always be a 'truth teller,' please. - Then we will be more likely to believe anything in the future that comes out of your mouth or finger tips on the keyboard in the future. - Did you ever use a D600???? A D610????)

I switched from digital Canon to Nikon. I did it for better quality, higher resolution. (I was not disappointed. Did Canon "finally get their 'act together'?" Yeah, so??? I had already transitioned.) Canon is not inherently bad. Nikon is not inherently bad. - Your images should speak for you, not cute prose or derogatory slurs. - Unless you really have nothing constructive to say in the first place - aka, be a "man". Accept the challenge internally before you reply.)

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

If you want to make enemies, say something true about Nikon.

Paul Diamond Loc: Atlanta, GA, USA

,

I'm not about making friends or enemies. Your images should speak the volumes about your "proof and evidence," Not prose or verbal garbage. The old 'put up or shut up'. Can you do it? Or are you all words, no prose, no poetry??? No 'truth'??? (And the truth shall set you free!)

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

The truth doesn’t set you free. Canon mirrorless cameras do that.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Especially here in UHH where the average Nikon owner age appears to be 82 years old.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

And the rest have the emotional age of 12 ...

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

As some who has owned and used, Canon, Olympus, Panasonic, Nikon and Sony...yes there is a learning curve but its not insurmountable. Look at it as a challenge.

topcat Loc: Alameda, CA

If you are changing platforms, why not go with the best? Sony

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

???
49% of camera users would disagree.
Sony is a distant second place, about 1/2 of Canon and Nikon is not really on the chart anymore.