BebuLamar

I don't own current Canon lenses so I don't know. Over the years I think Canon has made much better lenses. I do own and used old Canon FD lenses and cameras. I think in that period Nikon lenses were better.

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

Just curious. Are all Nikon fanboys totally devoid of a sense of humor or is it just you along with those who actually put the word "nikon" in their user names?

Blair Shaw Jr Loc: Dunnellon,Florida

HERE WE GO ......YET....AGAIN........SO MUCH FUN at The Hog pen !!!!!!

khorinek

LOL!

BillyP Loc: Cedar Point, NC

BLASPHEMY!

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

As a Pentax user, 'Canon vs Nikon' sends me to the popper.

RodeoMan Loc: St Joseph, Missouri

Once again, a simple question about whether Canon lenses and Nikon lenses could be interchanged with each other devolved into a back and forth about which model of lense was superior. I suggest the following exercise. Lets take a range of both company's cameras operated by competent photographers capturing images under similar conditions and properly printed. A certain number of images from cameras of similar specifications could be enlarged. Then these printed images could be marked on the back with an identifying number that will show whether the image was from a Canon or from a Nikon. The numbers would be mixed; for example #17 might be from a Nikon while numbers 18, 19, and 20 might be from Canon. Then those who on this site, and elsewhere, trumpet the superiority of either Canon and its lenses or of Nikon and its lenses, would be invited to examine these images and with no clues whatsoever other than the photograph itself, and to select which images were from a Canon and which were from a Nikon.
It is my guess that the results would be inconclusive. If one brand or the other should prove to be superior, then that would be good for us to know.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

Nikon F-mount uses one of the longest lens registers of anyone.... 46.5mm, if I recall correctly.

This means that while Nikon lenses can be adapted for use on many other lens mounts, nobody else's lenses can be used on Nikon DSLRs/SLRs. This might have been deliberate on Nikon's part... using a design that would encourage you to buy their lenses and not other people's.

Canon are pretty much the opposite. EOS/EF mount has one of the shortest lens registers of any. It's also an extra large diameter. So there's plenty of room to adapt many different lens mounts (incl. Nikon F-mount) for use on Canon EOS DSLRs and SLRs. This was definitely done by design. Somewhat ironically, one vintage mount that cannot be adapted for use on modern EOS/EF cameras is Canon's own earlier FL/FD mount lenses! (Those can be adapted for use on various mirrorless cameras, though.)

That said, it's primarily vintage, manual focus Nikkors with a mechanical aperture control that are worthwhile to adapt for use on EOS cameras. Any electronically controlled Nikkors or "G" type lens will have no means of controlling the lens aperture, adapted for use on a Canon camera. If I remember correctly, there were some older "E-series" Nikkors that have no mechanical means of aperture control, either.

A Sony mirrorless camera might be a better choice. You can adapt both Nikon and Canon lenses to use on a Sony... And you can even use autofocus and electronic aperture control, in many cases.

Bullfrog Bill Loc: CT

Get over it; Nikon has plenty of great lenses designed for Nikon Cameras.

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

I have used Sony, Canon, and Nikon almost interchangeably. They each have their own advantages.
For me, creativity is more important than the equipment I use.

Harry13

When I first got into photography, I had a Nikon camera with an 85mm lens. Then I went to
law school and gave up photoraphy. Years later I decided to take it back up but I went with Canon,
for what reason I can't remember. I now shoot a 5Dc and have maybe a dozen lens, most of which live in a
drawer. Then I shot dance and theatre (I was a faculty member at Ohio State); now, anything that interests me. I have two 5Dcs fited with long zooms a Tokina 28-300 and a Canon 28-105 and a 40D with a 55-250 on it. I of course have a 50 1.8 but only one L, a 70-200 f4. As I said, I probably have a dozen lens but I only really use a couple or three: the Tokina is my EDC, and I use my nifty fifty and the 70-200 when I think I need better IQ. Harry

sbuelin

Yes, feel your pain. Problem is the lens flange to sensor plane distance. Call it D. The Nikon body's distance is smaller than Canon's so by adding a spacer (adapter) the correct distance can be achieved. In reverse, the distance becomes negative so the Canon lens would need to actually be inside the Nikon body.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

It’s engineering and physics, as noted above.

I have owned both brands. I would never share lenses back and forth between them.

Buy lenses and same-mount bodies that were made to fit each other, and you will be much happier.

Bill P

Almost all cameras are proprietary. But with the Canon lens on Nikon question, it's the film to flange distance that's the rub. I don't remember which one has the greater distance.

sbuelin

Correction to what I said above - The Canon camera body has the narrower flange to sensor space so by adding an adapter a Nikon lens can be mounted. The Nikon's flange is farther away from the sensor so the Canon lens can't mount. Leica made great lenses for their R SLR line and those lenses could be mounted on either body and are available for much less than you'd think. Autofocus? not so much. Full aperture metering? Nope but still fun to use and sharp.