On 28/8/05, Larry Kopitnik, discombobulated, unleashed: >I'm a lifelong Nikon user (well, since 1978). I've had autofocus >cameras through the F100, but for the last several years have settled >on a late-1970s vintage F2AS and an FM3a. For my photography , I've >found autofocus more a hindrance than a help (being able to focus >anywhere on a screen optimized for manual focus -- that excludes most >AF screens -- is easier, quicker and more accurate for me than >selecting an autofocus spot, focusing, then recomposing). I sold the >F100 because, at the end, the only capability I was using on it that >the FM3a didn't offer was spot metering. > >I've been following this list for several years now. While the Nikons >will remain my film cameras, I've been completely open to the >possibility of moving to Canon for digital. > >I've continued shooting film because there has been no digital camera >that made me think "That's the one! That's the digital camera I've >got to have!" The 1D EOS or D2 Nikons are bigger than I care to >carry. The tiny, dark Nikon D70 and D100 viewfinders are completely >unacceptable to me. The EOS 20D looks good and if I had to buy a >digital camera today that would be my choice. But rumors are rampant >that Nikon is about to introduce a 12 to 13 mp D200 to compete with >it. > >And one thing I've never been comfortable with is the multiplication >factor on lenses due to reduced size sensors. I'd greatly prefer that >focal lengths continue working for me the way they have during nearly >30 years of photography. > >Given all of the above, the EOS 5D has really caught my eye. The full >frame sensor is what I want in a digital camera. Not only are lens >focal lengths the angle of view I expect, but the viewfinder on any >full frame camera is superior to those on any reduced sized chip >bodies, Nikon or Canon. The camera is not too large. It's price is >acceptable. It appears to include all of the features, such as spot >metering, that I look for in a modern camera. Canon even offers an >optional focus screen optimized for manual focusing. If somebody came >to me and asked, "Just what is it you want in a digital body?" the 5D >appears extremely close to just what I'd request. It's the first >digital body to make me think, "That's the one!" > >Whether Canon or Nikon, I'll need to adjust camera handling habits >when moving from my mechanical film bodies to a digital body (even my >F100 was set to use the lens ring rather than an on-body dial to >adjust apertures). I shoot a good amount of wide angle, so I'll need >new lenses whether I buy into Canon's or Nikon's digital system. By >my reckoning, the only adjustment or expense I wouldn't have by >sticking with Nikon is a new flash, and that's a relatively small >part of the overall picture. > >I'm going to have some questions about some of the Canon lenses on >digital bodies in upcoming days. But I thought first I might post an >explanation of why I'm asking and where I'm coming from. Thanks for >indulging me!
Hi Larry, I went from Pentax manual focus (LX + MX) to Canon digital just over 3 years ago, and it was a steep learning curve, but an enjoyable one, and absolutely no regrets. I started with a D60 and after 2 years was fortunate enough to be in a position to acquire a 1D mark II which, for me, is pretty much a plateau in picture-taking equipment. The professional spec won me over and I made the right choice. I sold some old gear to help pay for it, but along with my first MX and A*85mm f/1.4, they can bury me with the 1DmII as well. I'm a big bloke with big hands so no issue for me the size and weight. The nice thing is, I still shoot with some manual focus lenses and the finder - even though not as big as a 1Ds (or a 5D for that matter) - is no problem for these tired eyes. Make sure you save some pennies for a couple of 'L' lenses - they are not over-hyped, just over-engineered. I have the 24-70L 2.8 and the 70-200L IS 2.8 and both are brilliant performers. The new 24-105L IS 4 looks like a killer as well, but we're moving house soon, and we all know what *that* means... Good luck and I hope the transition goes well. Be prepared for a stupid grin that takes about 2 weeks to wear off after your first EOS D arrives. Can't explain it any better than that.... Cheers, Cotty ___/\__ || (O) | People, Places, Pastiche ||=====| http://www.cottysnaps.com _____________________________ * **** ******* *********************************************************** * For list instructions, including unsubscribe, see: * http://www.a1.nl/phomepag/markerink/eos_list.htm ***********************************************************
