Why did you choose Canon?

[uokhoj]

In the early '90s when I first touched a camera it was a Nikon FE, absolutely great click sound. In the years ahead I was able to use many other brands and many models of each. The one that stick to my hand better, was EOS 600. I just loved that little camera. Time went buy, I turned to middle frame (mamiya), then in the early 2000 I stoped using any camera at all. It was the time when digital wasn't good enough for me but nobody (almost) wanted to pay for analog. So I quited pro photography and carried on with other stuff (I wasn't very good at it anyway). Fast forward to late 2008 I was in the dilima between D700 and 5DMKII since I had no lens collection. I opted for D700 but the store didn't have that available. But it had the 5DMKII, and 24-70 and the 580EX2 and there was no way I could wait any longer for my first DSLR. Now 10 L lenses later, there is no turning back. My 5DMKII still amazes me and I intend to make the best out of it before I buy a new full frame. (I also own a 7D).
D800E is the one camera I envy for the absence of antialising filter, but I 'm sure that some day in the (hopefully -for my bank account- not very ) near future Canon will have an answer.

 

[pwp]

My primary reason? Three letters. CPS. Canon Professional Services.

It's been 15 years since I gave Nikon the sack, and bought into the EOS-1 system with a pair of EOS 1n film bodies and four or five L lenses. The Nikon F5 bodies http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikon_F5 I was using were solid & reliable, the glass was pretty good but professional support was abysmal. The EOS system was a revelation and CPS support continues to astound me with their support for photographers above and beyond what one might reasonably expect. And they keep improving.

The switch to Canon was further validated in the early digital days when Canon indisputably led the field with EOS 1D, 1Ds, 1Ds mk2 etc plus very competent consumer DSLR bodies.

In 2013 the argument at the level of pro gear and prosumer DSLR has blurred considerably. Nikon professional support has lifted and the bodies probably outperform Canon in some respects. Let's face it, they're both great systems now.

The reality for professionals is a choice between Canon and Nikon, but for non-pros the choices are astounding. You could find something useful and satisfying from just about any of the major manufacturers.

-PW

 

[sky87]

I had a play with my friends 350D and knew that I wanted a Canon, it felt great in my hands and it was easier to use and understand.

 

[Narcolepsy]

Quality and Range of Lenses.

 

[jp121]

My first dslr was a Canon 550d (T2i). I chose Canon because at the time it was the best entry point camera around.

 

[V8Beast]

Because it was the early '00s when I switched to digital, and the Nikon system sucked very badly at the time. These days, you can't go wrong either way.

 

[APBPhoto]

I went with Canon over the other camera makers because Canon camera fits best in my hand.
The buttons are not too small and their placement works really well.

 

[sandymandy]

The nifty fifty got me

 

[Chris Geiger]

For more than 10 years I shot event, product and wedding photography with Nikon equipment. I now specialize in wedding photography and like doing off camera flash when I can. When I saw that Canon announced the 600EX-RT flash with built in radios, I was very interested. After seeing some online previews, I ordered a pair of 600EX-RT and 5DIII. After a week of testing I loved how the flash system worked. The camera body seemed overall very similar to the D3s Nikon I was using as my primary camera in terms of image quality. I decided to shoot my next wedding with all Canon equipment. I took this image in the rain at my first (with Canon) wedding in early 2012. I sold all Nikon equipment when I got home.

 

[sdsr]

After progressing from cheap film cameras to digital point-and-shoots and not much liking them, something induced me a few years ago to try a real digital camera, and I dipped my toe in the water via a Nikon D3100. I went from being bowled over by its superiority over what I had used before to being conscious of how it could be better in terms of image quality, and after its autofocus mechanism broke a mere four months after I bought it I started investigating other cameras. Much research let me to a Pentax K-5, in part because it seemed to do best in low light/high ISO among crop sensor DSLRS (as you may know, it has much the same sensor as a Nikon D7000). It seemed a definite step up (in price, too!).

But as with the Nikon D3100 I started to think, well, good though this is, it could be even better and decided to see for myself what all the fuss was about with FF and rented one. Not sure why I chose a 5DII to rent rather than a Nikon, but when it showed up I was impressed by the improvement (especially low light/high ISO) in picture quality and amazed by the superiority of the L lens I rented simply as a piece of machinery. So, I sold all my Pentax and Nikon gear and switched to Canon, buying a 5DII with a Rebel for back-up (the 5DIII was not yet available). When the Nikon D600 was so cheap before Christmas I checked back in with Nikon by renting one along with a 6D and 5DIII, but the superiority of D600's sensor was lost on me; good though it is, I never preferred the images I took with it (plus, as with the D3100, I hate the convoluted controls). Canon has more lenses that appeal to me too. So for now I'm sticking with Canon (am impatiently awaiting the arrival of a 6D on Monday).

 

[FunPhotons]

My wife got us an AE-1 when we got married, to replace one she had in college (and had sold for a Nikon F). My first camera, I learned on it and since she was an artist she taught me the basics. Ever since I've been a Canon man, I couldn't go to Nikon, unless I really wanted to.

However I don't like Nikon. I don't like the fit and finish, looks, or ergonomics. Its kind of like Microsoft versus Apple. Nikon maybe has more features, but Canon is more of a finished package.

 

[mjbehnke]

I had a Pentax K1000 for a long time, as my father was big into photography and I was not allowed to use his Leica. Than my father-in-law passed away and he had a Canon AE1 programmable. Wow was that a nice camera. He had an 18-135 and a 50 1.4. When I went to the local store to check out new lens, they had just got in a new Rebel XT. I thought.... taking photos and not running out of film.... what a great concept. I tested the Nikon d70 that was there and it just didn't feel good in the hands. So, I stayed with Canon and bought the XT. I than joined the local Camera club and got to borrow L lens and that was what keeps me with Canon... quality lens. And I think that's why Canon is upgrading it's lens, getting ready for another awesome camera that requires the quality glass!

 

[bycostello]

happenstance then you get locked in with the lenses.....

 

[V8Beast]

For more than 10 years I shot event, product and wedding photography with Nikon equipment. I now specialize in wedding photography and like doing off camera flash when I can. When I saw that Canon announced the 600EX-RT flash with built in radios, I was very interested. After seeing some online previews, I ordered a pair of 600EX-RT and 5DIII. After a week of testing I loved how the flash system worked. The camera body seemed overall very similar to the D3s Nikon I was using as my primary camera in terms of image quality. I decided to shoot my next wedding with all Canon equipment. I took this image in the rain at my first (with Canon) wedding in early 2012. I sold all Nikon equipment when I got home.

Great shot, Chris. Love the backlit water droplets!

Your story just goes to show that there's a lot of factors that go into choosing a system, and dynamic range is not always the end all, be all factor in that process.

 

[RustyTheGeek]

Completely out of character for me, I never gave it any thought whatsoever. (Although I do remember giving it a ton of thought back in the '80's when AF was still emerging and we were debating whether it was better to get Nikon with in the Camera AF and backward compatible lenses or Canon with in the lens AF and the new EF EOS system. Oddly that was the last time I ever seriously analyzed it and I analyze everything! Every SLR and DSLR I ever used was a Canon. All the way back to the AE-1 and AE-1 Program I started out with. When I got back into it several years ago, I borrowed then purchased a good friend's 30D and within a year I had lenses, a 40D, then a 5D, tons of other stuff, etc. Most of the folks around me have Canon and those that don't... well they miss out! (Because I have way more of this crap than any amateur has any business having.)

Eventually I am going to have to start going to some kind of AA for Photographers. This hobby is really getting out of hand!! Of I'll have to quit volunteering with Boy Scouts, School, Church and other misc things so I won't have anything left to shoot!

Besides, I look at some of my pictures and think I might be an OK photographer, then I look at the shots I made last night and wonder why the hell I even bother!!

 

[RLPhoto]

1. Lens selection, particularly primes.

2. Ergonomics. Nikons hurt my hands.

3. Flash. That's right, the 7D flash system was just a good as the d700 I used and the 5D3 is even better. Now with the 600RTs, even more to love canon flash. It's a shame no 1/250th sync for 5D cameras.

4. AF. 61 point is brilliant.

5. Rental avaliability. A lot of local shops carry only canon equipment and very few nikon stuff.

 

[rpt]

1982 Al Jubail, Saudi Arabia. I decide I have saved enough money to buy a 35 mm camera. I put my trust in the salesman. He shows me an AE-1 and a Minolta. I think XD-7. He suggests the AE-1 over the Minolta despite the fact that it had Tv and Av! His logic is lenses. And, he says if you want a specific f numbat, keep changing the shutter speed! Well, I was sold! My first digital was an Olympus P&S. Then in 2004 when we delivered the photo organiser to HP (ImageZone Express if anybody recalls...), I was presented a Rebel (300D). Well, here I am now with a 5D3 and other stuff...

 

[FatDaddyJones]

I don't like the red arrow and the yellow straps on the Nikons.

Yes, really.

I totally agree. Canon's red and black straps with bold white lettering are what sold it for me. The "cool" factor was just overwhelming. Nikon doesn't have that. Everyone here knows that how a camera looks on the outside will reflect the image quality on the inside. Better looking strap = better camera and better photographs.

 

[FatDaddyJones]

...and before I get a hundred angry posts, please read the words, "kidding," and "sarcasm," as they apply to the post above. (Although Canon really DOES have a cooler looking strap.)

 

[East Wind Photography]

Had a friend have three Nikon body failures during one shoot. I don't really care if they have some better quality or not. I need reliability so chose canon. I've never had an issue with canon equipment...regardless of the recalls and other issues, canon has continued to serve me well.