A couple of people have asked this question. First off, this is a camera
history that spans about 35 years. Second, I have been happy with the Nikon
system. I only moved from the 8008 to the N70 because the 8008 was stolen. I
moved from the N70 to the N80 because--supposedly--the AF was faster and the
controls were more logical and made more sense, i.e., it was easier to
operate.
Just before I upgraded to the N80, I researched the Internet to determine if
I wanted to upgrade my Nikkor zoom as well. I read the 35mm equipment
newsgroup, examined the websites www.photodo.com and www.photozone.de and
other resources. I was looking for Nikkor info and info about third party
Nikon-mount lenses (Tokina, Tamrom, Sigma) but occasionally my eyes would
land on Canon-related lens info. Or someone would compare Canon with Nikon.
After a while, I began to get the sense that, in general, most people
thought Canon lenses were better than Nikkors. But for my purposes, Nikon
was just fine. So I continued to do my research and decided on the respected
Nikkor 28-105 zoom. I bought both, but out of the habit of having begun to
read the newsgroup, continued to read messages and came upon messages
related to IS and USM about which I knew nothing. I also read lots of Canon
vs. Nikon messages. Although both had their points, I was stuck by the fact
that if a switch was made it was Nikon to Canon, not the other way around.
Here's where I was at: I had sold my N70, old zoom and SB25 flash on eBay. I
had bought a new SB28 flash on eBay. I had ordered the N80 and the 28-105,
but they hadn't arrived. Meanwhile, I had just discovered IS and USM. When
my new equipment arrived, I was happy with it...really. But I still read the
newsgroups. Finally, I bit the bullet and did an exhaustive comparison of
Canon and Nikkor lenses on Photodo and Photozone. In general, the Canons
beat the Nikkors. So then I began to research what I would get if I replaced
the N80 and decided the equivalent was the Canon 7e. I knew I had a limited
return period and if I was going to make a switch I needed to make a
decision quickly. Now this was all from the Internet. I hadn't held a Canon
anything in my hand since my old A1.
That night I went Ritz camera to try a 7e. The salesperson put identical
third-party lenses on a 7e and a N80. One of the things that annoyed me
about the N70 and the N80 was that the AF tends to hunt in certain
situations, but I just thought that was characteristic of all AF systems.
The Canon focusing locked in without hunting and did it faster than the N80.
That's what kicked me over the edge. I came back and looked for a 7e and a
28-105 USM (or maybe a 28-135 IS) on eBay. The next day I made arrangements
to return my new Nikon equipment.
While I was looking for a 7e on eBay, I came across a EOS 3 with three Sigma
lenses: 28-105mm f2/8-4.0 Aspherical, 70-300mm f4-5.6 APO Macro Super and
400mm f5.6. I won the bid for $1225. Interestingly, although it was Canon
quality lenses that started all this, I've wound up with Sigma. But I'm
happy with the variety I have and, for my work, I'm more likely to need long
lenses than wide angles. It was a perfect deal. I'll replace the Sigmas,
each in turn, as my money will allow.
My next purchase will be a flash--a 550EX. And I still have to sell the
brand-new Nikon SB28 and a 50mm 1.8 Nikkor.
Summary: Nikon and Canon bodies are roughly equivalent. Canon lenses are a
little better. Canon has a whole range of USM and IS lenses. Nikon's SW is
good but expensive. Nikon's VR isn't very good and is expensive. Pros are
switching from Nikon to Canon. And.....one night in Ritz Camera the AF on a
7e didn't hunt while on a N80 it did.
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of Thomas Bantel
> Sent: Tuesday, June 05, 2001 2:07 AM
> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Subject: Re: EOS 7 and EOS 5/A2
>
>
> Alan Bell wrote:
> >
> > By the way, all. I'm a long time Nikon user who just switched to Canon.
> > Here's my odyssey:
> >
> > 1. Pentax K1000
> > 2. Canon A1
> > 3. Nikon 4004
> > 4. Nikon 8008
> > 5. Nikon N70
> > 6. Nikon N80
> > 7. Canon EOS 3
> >
>
> Hi Alan,
>
> that's an interesting camera history ;-) What made you switch, was it
> the IS lenses? This would be the only possible reason for me to switch
> systems (if I had Nikon). Otherwise, the N80 and N100 look like nice
> cameras.
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