MattMPhoto Loc: Outside of Pittsburgh, PA USA

Hi All,
Well I thought this day would never come, but it's finally happening for me on two different fronts. First, I'm going to be leaving my job with the school bus company I've been working for and moving into freelance photography full-time. Second, one of my drivers that I oversaw recently passed away and he named me the beneficiary of his estate and investments etc after his wife divorced him 3 years ago and they had no children. Before he was a school bus driver he was a Colonel in the US Army and always did what he could for the "little man" as he called them and he always inspired me to take my photography to the next level. If he knew that I did a sports charter or did some other photoshoot of some sort he was the first person to critique my photos second only to my mother. So I'm taking a lot of the money and donating it to various organizations that work with youth and help them to become everything they can be. Next since he was always one to help me with my photography I'm going to do everything I can to upgrade my gear. Now this is where I need some advice. I'm doing a lot of sports photography(high school football, college basketball, baseball, and softball mostly) so I'm doing a lot of low-light high ISO photography, and I'm also doing a lot of wildlife photography. I've narrowed it down to Canon or Nikon's mirrorless systems(Canon R3 or Nikon Z9) but I keep going back and forth between them both. I want to shoot with as much mirrorless glass as I can(Z mount or RF mount) and not have to adapt as much. Price isn't so much a factor as I'm going to have the money to buy whatever it takes. What are the pros and cons to these systems? I've been watching everything I can on them on Youtube and other media outlets but I still would like the opinions of those people out there using them in real world cases on an everyday basis. Ideally I'd love to stick with Nikon, but my lenses are 15-20 years old and they weigh a ton and then some, and everywhere I look their RF super telephoto top of the line glass is out of stock with no sign of being in stock again any time soon. That's not the case with the Canon glass it's all in stock. I just don't know which way to go. Please help?

moonhawk Loc: Land of Enchantment

since you're starting from scratch, try them out at a store or rent them to see how they feel in your hand,formerNikonguy myself, but if they're notin stock, they won't doyou much good.

Have you considered micro 4/3, since weight and availability are an issue?

Hip Coyote

Photography is the least of your issues. Get an estate attorney on board with this matter asap to avoid a whole lot of headache. Ex wife? Potential assets? Get an attorney.

JFCoupe Loc: Kent, Washington

Since you are considering a completely new system, also take a look at the Sony A1 and related lenses. I was on trip to Haines, Alaska two years ago and our pro leader had the A1 and 600 mm lens. His eagle images all shot in low early morning light were outstanding.

MattMPhoto Loc: Outside of Pittsburgh, PA USA

That has been done and handled already

MattMPhoto Loc: Outside of Pittsburgh, PA USA

I don't like Sony never have and never will. I have my reasons and if you would have read what I wrote I said that I already narrowed it down to 2 between the Nikon and Canon.

Bill_de Loc: US

It doesn't matter how old your lenses are since you said you want to avoid adapters. So, you will be starting from scratch. Between Nikon and Canon, flip a coin. This thread will probably go on for pages with folks happy with either.

Since they are both good systems each tries to outdo the other. So if you can get to a camera shop and handle both brands, that is the way to go. Don't choose based on what somebody else likes or by what is in stock first. You don't have to decide today or tomorrow, you can wait until Thursday!

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Shellback Loc: North of Cheyenne Bottoms Wetlands - Kansas

Agree with previous suggestions - the rental option will give you real world experience for your method of shooting and should provide you with a lot of answers…

I applaud your plans to help aspiring photographers - I had an experienced photographer show me the ropes and it was invaluable…

pmorin Loc: Huntington Beach, Palm Springs

First thing… please use the quote reply button below the responses so that we know to whom you are responding.
Thanks.
Next…. As far as quality goes, it doesn’t really matter which system you’re using. Some will say one has better something or other that the other doesn’t have. But Nikon and Canon systems will always work well and give you fabulous results. My advice would be to buy into the system that has a good supply of equipment and is readily available. I would hate to have a project to complete and not be able to get the equipment I need to do my best work.

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

When I was a small child, we did a lot of long-distance driving vacations. My parents would never stop to eat anywhere that there were a lot of cars parked outside. This meant that we ate a bunch of really bad food while on vacation. It's still vividly in my mind 60 years later.

You are in an enviable position of being able to choose tools without any constraints other than what works best and what you like best. I encourage you to have a measure of patience in this endeavor. Don't be afraid to have to work a little bit or wait a little bit to get what works best for you.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

Disclaimer - I shoot Canon and Sony......because I am cheap. Today, if price is no object - It is ALL about lenses ! IMO, Nikon has the advantage - the right lenses at the right f-stop and price - and THAT is why they are out of stock ! Nikon has all the right lenses and they are SHARPEST I see in tests .....Canon not so much - but of course what Canon does have are quite sharp also. Example, Canon has no zoom lens ending @ 600mm - AND, no plans to make one and, The Canon 200-400 is as large as 600 f4 8-( .....I do not see Canon changing their tune either ....

Spirit Vision Photography Loc: Behind a Camera.

Sage advice!

Pokey Loc: Virginia

I wish you the best on your new career.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

The R3 AF is better than the Z9/Z8 by nearly all independent reports.
You also will be having the R1 coming out in a few months as well with even better AF than the R3 by all reports.
Either is good system but in the long haul you will find that for over 35 years now Canon has led the way with solid developments. Everyone laughed at the EOS when it came out but shortly it utterly dominated over the closest rival Nikon.
Now it is likely the same will be with the R series.

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

I'll share what often brings me to conclusions on purchases like this is to scour through images that others have taken, and I look into the gear that was used so that I could someday emulate them. Of course, the person behind the lens is the most important part as well as their ability to post-process their work. I will never achieve the level of many of these pros, however, I know that my failings won't be due to a lack of gear performance.

Also, you may want to "go big, go large" and consider a medium format system if you intend to sell your work.