Unbiased Opinion- which brand

[matilda]

i voted other.

other being Leica

[TOM]

Matilda, that's not necessary. Any vote on which is the best brand always means "after Leica", it's just not usually stipulated. It's a bit like voting on "the best boxer of all time"......................after Muhammad Ali. :

[ricktas]

I am refraining from voting cause any decision made ends up being a biaised one, we all choose a brand for one reason or another, thus biaise. In the end the brand is unimportant, it is the skill of the person using the brand that makes or breaks the end result...the photo is what is important. I see no point in discussing that Leica is better than Pentax or that Canon is better than Hasselblad.

[jjphoto]

This is a meaningless poll. Without specifying an application this is just like arguing about your favorite colour.

The single most FLEXIBLE option is probably a Canon but that isn't to say that Canon is 'better' (define 'better'), it's not. I have very few Canon lenses and a $hit load of third party lenses that I use on a Canon body because it's short register allows this more readily than some other cameras.

JJ

[cupic]

The more complex/modern body the more its user error when it doesnt perform to user standards ,so its a loaded poll


cheers

[kiwi]

For birding and long lens work of wildlife, I think Canon (lenses are cheaper)
For sport, weddings and events, I think Nikon (the ISO and AF is better)
For high fashion/studio - I think Canon, the primes are skin tone rendering is better

So, I would go Canon or Nikon. There's probably overall little in it.....the reason to go withe these two brands is range, availability (both new and 2nd hand), accessories, books, etc etc etc

[pfb]

It's not like a car where you go with what your old man had and stick with it - my dad has always been a Nikon man, but years ago I saw one of the early Canon DSLRs and I just liked the way it looked, so when it came to picking my own camera I gravitated towards Canon. I still think they look better (not that it matters), but I also think the entry level Canons are better than the Nikons - the range is a bit simpler, and the build quality seems higher (less plastic-y, or however you describe the way it feels...)

[hourican]

Cannon have wider choice for full format lenses but I still think Nikon have the better build My current set up is D700 NIKON 50 F1.4 G 14-24 F2.8 24-70 F 2.8 70-200 F2.8 105 F2.8 MICRO 135 F2 D FOCUS SB900 x2 To change to Cannon at this point would hurt to say the least But i originally started with Cannon I am hopping an upgrade to the D700 comes out next year,with higher MEGS PLEASE !!
I F ONLY LENS WERE INTERCHANGABLE WITH ALL BODIES THE DREAM HAS YET TO BE REALISED.

[Othrelos]

I use Canon,Leica,Nikon and Pentax Digital SLR and RF cameras, and none of them does everything well enough for me to consider one over another. They all have their niche in which they all perform superbly, it all depends on what Image you want to create.

There is more to a camera than just it's image quality, Canon has their superb L primes, Nikon has their excellent Zoom lenses and legacy lenses with legendary reputations (the noct nikkor 58mm f/1.2 springs to mind) Leica being the most expensive option but the best for stealth availible light photography and Pentax with their diminutive, but excellent DA and fast, high quality FA limited lenses.

Camera bodies don't amount to much these days they depreciate faster than the used to, as far as i'm concerned me the thing that really matters is the lenses.

[infl3xion]

Hmm, taking into account this is directed at a starting point - I guess we should only be looking at entry level cameras?

I'd still go for Canikon just for the sake of availability.

[Darey]

I'm too loyal. I'm loving my Nikon D7000 and will stick with Nikon for the foreseeable future.

[Ross the fiddler]

I am refraining from voting cause any decision made ends up being a biaised one, we all choose a brand for one reason or another, thus biaise. In the end the brand is unimportant, it is the skill of the person using the brand that makes or breaks the end result...the photo is what is important. I see no point in discussing that Leica is better than Pentax or that Canon is better than Hasselblad.

Yeah, I'm not biased, I just like my Olympus gear.

I bought the Olympus E410 to start with & gave it to my son when he kept using it & got the E520 with the 70-300 lens instead. I enjoyed some of the closeup photos I could get with that & finally after experimenting, got a decent macro lens & the E30 for its pro like features & RC (wireless) flash control but also the articulating screen for live view (which doesn't get used that much but still is useful) for some macro shots & above the heads of crowds type shooting (maybe I should get a P&S for those occasions). If I was looking now, there are other brands that could offer those features, but live view wasn't so common when I first looked at DSLRs & that was part of my initial priority. All brands are just getting better all the time & as others have said, buy the one that suits your style of photography & pocket ($) with the best offerings to go with it.

[snoopy]

I like Fuji. It is light weight, easy to use and for starting out it is inexpensive yet very versatile.

[snoopy]

I recently looked at up grading to a Fiji HS 10 as it is light weight, compact, easy to use and around $500 new. The biggest bonus with it is that it has everything built in, wide anle, 740 m zoom plus other great features so no need for cumbersom bags and excessories. No harm in having a look. Enjoy your holiday.

[Ross the fiddler]

I recently looked at up grading to a Fiji HS 10 as it is light weight, compact, easy to use and around $500 new. The biggest bonus with it is that it has everything built in, wide anle, 740 m zoom plus other great features so no need for cumbersom bags and excessories. No harm in having a look. Enjoy your holiday.

I've considered the HS10 as a light carry around camera but the higher ISO photos are quite disappointing. The new Fuji HS20 will be an EXR model & would be worth waiting for. Some bargains can be had with older models but new ones can be a big improvement on the previous model & I think this might be the case with this one. The EXR system extracts the best of the sensor in different ways for different applications & when set on Auto, will typically give you the best results. That's my impression of it anyhow.

PS See, I don't have an unbending bias for Olympus.

[pacogun]

It depends on your need and situation. For instance for easy travelling, I use P&S Panasonic TZ10, which got nearly everything I need. But for serious DSLR shooting, that would be different.

[AnzacPride]

Selling a range of a brands at a non specialist electronics chain it I chose Canon, a big part of this had to do with the fact that our sales rep is hot!.

I also heard once from a lady that walked a friend of mines dog that they were better for low light macro tilt shift subterainian work, which I might do one day if I take up sperlunking.

So thats why I chose Canon and why I believe anyone who chooses otherwise is morally and intellectuality lacking compared to me.

So anytime anyone mentions any of the other brands I will defend my choice by beliteling their choice of oviously inferior product so that I may feel better about my choices and what I believe that these choices say about the kind of person I am.

[mal from cessnock]

Board Members

Since buying my first Canon - a point and shoot G2 I have found myself psychologically locked into buying more Canon. I don't know if it was my "Nikon friend" who was so far up himself about his "brand" that I reacted to him and adopted Canon (Go figure).

I have now bought 4 Canon DSLRs and a bag full of goodies. Now I am financially locked into the brand.

But as I live, I learn and have discovered Nikon has a much better Speedlight technology and I rather like the greater control Nikon provide with "auto ISO".

No doubt I will continue to learn more - maybe I'll become more supportive of Canon - goodness knows I should, my database tells me I've now spent >$50g on this EOS interest

[Othrelos]

"maybe I'll become more supportive of Canon - goodness knows I should, my database tells me I've now spent >$50g on this EOS interest"

50g's is a drop in the ocean compared to the investment my equipment collection represents. And if anything it has made me less loyal to any particular make of camera. If I don't like something about a camera, I don't complain about it. I just use a camera that suits the particular task I'm doing better. Using a rangefinder for macro work is a bit daft when you have access to a myriad of DSLR cameras with Macro lenses ranging from 50mm to 200mm and with SLR cameras at least you can see the focus errors coming. Oh sure, macro photography is possible with a rangefinder and many die-hards will try to nail me to the wall for saying a rangefinder isn't as capable as an SLR - but rangefinders are just much more specialised than SLR cameras are: and if Biology has taught me anything the more specialised something is the less likely it is ever going to become dominant in it's environment.

[I @ M]

"maybe I'll become more supportive of Canon - goodness knows I should, my database tells me I've now spent >$50g on this EOS interest"

50g's is a drop in the ocean compared to the investment my equipment collection represents.

Goodness me, all that gear, you must have a veritable million terrabytes of images to share and a healthy income to go along with it or do you have other interest like a fast food outlet franchise serving poultry originally from the USA?