Please help me decide... Canon 5D3 or Nikon D800

[tnowell]

I understand this is a Canon Forum but please try to be unbiased.

I am just starting off and looking to take still photography only, video is not part of the equation.  At this point I'm interested in taking street level and portrait photography sometime in low-light without a flash. 

I have spent 50+ hours reviewing the Canon 5D3 and Nikon D800 but just cant seem to make up my mind.  If you were able to start over and were comparing the two cameras what system would you prefer and why?    My budget is around 5k including lenses.

Here are the two options I've been considering...

1) Canon 5D3 and Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM
2) Nikon D800 and Nikon Nikon 24-70mm 2.8G ED AF-S

Thanks in advance,
Young Grasshopper

[Danielle]

How much experience do you have? Why I ask (you don't have to physically answer) is that if you know you are going to print big, I'd suggest the D800. By the way I mean big.

If you want maybe slightly cleaner high iso the canon and forget the 24-70 (my opinion) and buy a fast prime for your low light. For instance the 35L. Unless of course your dead set on the zoom. The canon will get you a pretty state of the art autofocus system too.

If your experienced I don't think you'll go wrong with either actually.

[Zv]

I doubt anyone on this forum could truly be unbiased! Pretty much everyone will recommend the 5D mk III especially when paired to the 24-70L II.

Though whatever body you choose most will agree the lens will be the most important factor. Canon has an impressive lens line-up and their new version II lenses are simply outstanding! As a lens lover I would say go with Canon.

Best advice is choose a system and stick to it. Either one is more that capable for any photographer.

[neuroanatomist]

I have spent over 50+ hours reviewing the Canon 5D3 and Nikon D800

Has your 50+ hours included some time in a shop handling both cameras?  Ergonomics are quite different. 

Either system will deliver great images.  Personally, I'd pick the D800 if my main use was landscapes/architecture.  For portrait/street, I'd pick Canon for the AF and better high ISO for low light.

[kidcharles]

Either system will deliver great images.  Personally, I'd pick the D800 if my main use was landscapes/architecture.  For portrait/street, I'd pick Canon for the AF and better high ISO for low light.

I second this. Nikon is king for landscape right now because of the superior dynamic range and resolution. For street work and portraiture Canon is the winner due to high ISO performance, outstanding autofocus, and more natural color rendition.

[robbymack]

+3 landscaping etc go Nikon just about anything else canon

[Dylan777]

Both cameras have their Pros and Cons. I have a friend, he has D800. I did get a chance to shoot d800 + 14-24. It's an AWESOME combo for landscape. D800 is also great in studio - higher MP.

I love my 5D III + 24-70 f2.8 II - low light shooting, AF speed, and sharpness are the main keys I stay with Canon. Plus great collection of "L" lenses.

How about you rent both systems and give it a shot before pull the trigger

[elflord]

I understand this is a Canon Forum but please try to be unbiased.

I am just starting off and looking to take still photography only, video is not part of the equation.  At this point I'm interested in taking street level and portrait photography sometime in low-light without a flash. 

I have spent 50+ hours reviewing the Canon 5D3 and Nikon D800 but just cant seem to make up my mind.  If you were able to start over and were comparing the two cameras what system would you prefer and why?    My budget is around 5k including lenses.

Here are the two options I've been considering...

1) Canon 5D3 and Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM
2) Nikon D800 and Nikon Nikon 24-70mm 2.8G ED AF-S

Thanks in advance,
Young Grasshopper

If you have 5K to spend, you shouldn't blow it all on a one lens set up. Perhaps start with one lens, and keep some cash on the sideline to pick up another lens based on how things go to begin with. If you're taking portraits, you will probably want to get a decent flash unit sooner or later (probably sooner).

I don't think you can go wrong with either brand, but as far as lenses are concerned, I'd check out a number of options before putting a lot of money into it. One that you can't go wrong with is the 50mm f/1.4 (or f/1.8 if you're really cheap). Others to consider are the 35L, the 135L, the Sigma 85mm, the 24-70MkI. The 70-200mm lenses are all highly regarded but very conspicuous, so the 135L (for example) might be more suitable for what you're doing.

I wouldn't recommend the 24-70mm mkII AND the 5DIII on your budget because it won't leave enough room in your budget to get anything else.

[expatinasia]

Just to throw a spanner (or three) in the works, but have you considered one of the new Sony's?

Also, could you buy a P+S and wait a while for the DSLR? People here are looking forward to a possible 7D II, High MP, and a new M sometime in 2013 which is not that far away.

Also, if you did go with Nikon, do you really need the D800? If I was buying Nikon today, I would be very, very tempted to go for the D600 over the D800 if I were in your shoes, and use the money saved on glass and a Wi-Fi unit.

I am very impressed with the specs of the D600 and would definitely go for that over the D800.

[Mt Spokane Photography]

When you are purchasing a camera, you are not just buying a body, but are buying into a system.  The body is important, but the lenses are much more important and more expensive.  Then, there are accessories like flash, and be sure to look into manufacturer support and service turnaround times.
I bought a D800 along with a few high end lenses.  At ISO 100 the camera is truly impressive, as ISO increases, there is less DR and at about ISO 800, I started to be disappointed, but it is fine with a lot of NR.
Thats where the problems begin.  NR processing of large files means wait, wait, and wait.  I took 500+ images at a low light event, and DR was poor, and processing took several days.
I also found that Nikon has yet to have but a few lenses that can match the sensor. 
If you are taking landscape images at ISO 100 and have the top lenses then I highly recommend the D800.  For all around use, it is a struggle, particularly if you use raw and process a lot of images.
So, it is great for some and frustrating for others. I won't recommend either, but be sure you price a entire system and make sure you have the fastest computer available with a ton of memory.

[Jesse]

5D3 w/ 24-70 + 100 f/2 for portraits.

[tron]

I understand this is a Canon Forum but please try to be unbiased.

biased Canon unbiased Canon 

I am just starting off and looking to take still photography only, video is not part of the equation.  At this point I'm interested in taking street level and portrait photography sometime in low-light without a flash. 

Canon 5DMarkIII ofcourse  (that's unbiased... I think)

I have spent 50+ hours reviewing the Canon 5D3 and Nikon D800 but just cant seem to make up my mind.  If you were able to start over and were comparing the two cameras what system would you prefer and why?   

50+ hours for reviews?  This is too much! But I am used to Canon so sorry biased again: I like their L lenses and handling of the camera. But the advise to rent to see for yourself is the best. These are top cameras and most probably they will satisfy you both...

[Radiating]

I understand this is a Canon Forum but please try to be unbiased.

I am just starting off and looking to take still photography only, video is not part of the equation.  At this point I'm interested in taking street level and portrait photography sometime in low-light without a flash. 

I have spent 50+ hours reviewing the Canon 5D3 and Nikon D800 but just cant seem to make up my mind.  If you were able to start over and were comparing the two cameras what system would you prefer and why?    My budget is around 5k including lenses.

Here are the two options I've been considering...

1) Canon 5D3 and Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM
2) Nikon D800 and Nikon Nikon 24-70mm 2.8G ED AF-S

Thanks in advance,
Young Grasshopper

I have spent 200+ hours studying both cameras and speaking to canon and nikon reps directly as well as consulting FOR a few few review websites on the two cameras. If you want low light.The 5D Mark III has 1/2 of a stop better ISO than the D800. 1/4 comes from having more uniform gausian noise that's easier for noise reduction filters to remove, and 1/4  comes from the fact that the 5D3's ISO settings are actually shooting at a higher effective ISO with a lower stated number than the D800 due to a different calibration. (reviews rate the files at a particular iso as having the same amount of noise).

Canon also has much better low light lenes with f/1.2 lenses which Nikon does not have and image stabilized fast primes, which means you can shoot with a 35mm f/2.0 IS lens at 0.5 seconds exposure time and get tack sharp images 100% of the time.

With that said for a portrait camera I'm not sure the 24-70mm is the best setup. You want a longer lens for that like the 70-200mm f/2.8 IS II  but I'm not sure exactly what situations you're trying to describe as your primary subjects.

Either way the Canon 5D3 with the 24-70mm f/2.8 II will be much better than the D800 with the AF-S 24-70mm. If that's the focal length you want that is hands down the way to go.

[rpt]

I understand this is a Canon Forum but please try to be unbiased.

I am just starting off and looking to take still photography only, video is not part of the equation.  At this point I'm interested in taking street level and portrait photography sometime in low-light without a flash. 

The answer is simple. 5D3! You would have to get other lenses...

Oh! And I was being unbiased. I really enjoy shooting with my 5D3.

[tron]

I really enjoy shooting with my 5D3.

I enjoy very much too. In fact I try not to think of it as ... "my precious"