Canon Switcher's view on the Nikon D3

Hi everyone,

Some of you may have read my thread about me switching over to Nikon D3. Well, I have been very busy at work so I have had very little time to get to know the new Camera. I don't want to comment on low ISO image quality before I have had proper chance to test it. However, below are my initial comments on the handling of D3 as compared to 1D III/1Ds III. Please bear in mind the following before reading on:

1- I have being a Canon user since 1999 starting with a EOS 5 (A2) following by, EOS 3, 1V, 1Ds, 1D II, 1D III and 1Ds III.

2- The views below are VERY SUBJECTIVE and personal. You may totally, and rightly so, disagree with some or all.

3- This comparison is, well, just that, a simple comparison between the current 1D series body and the D3. It is NOT meant to be Nikon is better than Canon or vice versa.

With the above 3 points in mind, here are mine findings:

D3 Advantages:

1- Moving from 1D to D3's user interface is (for me) like moving from Windows to Mac OS X. The menus are more comprehensive, the fact that settings like ML or LV can be done without going to the menus is very useful. Also, being able set the metering pattern or focus type via a switch is very useful too.

2- The LCD is a killer feature, in the sense that unlike my 1D, when I was never sure how in fcous my images were , I can make accurate focus accuracy judgements.

3- The build quality seems slightly better (again, this is my subjective view and I could be wrong in absolute terms).

4- The AWB is far more accurate than the 1D.

5- Although I initially though that Canon's focus point selection was more accurate, I have changed my mind on it. Using the joystick is far simpler and is nearly as accurate.

6- Auto ISO is such a brilliant feature. I can think of many senarios where this can be so useful.

7- The image INFO pages are very comprehensive.

8- The large top LCD screen is very useful, in that it shows alot of useful information.

9- The built in intervalometer is very useful for long exposures.

10- The artificial horizon is very accurate and easy to use, and very useful for landscape shots.

11- Being able to select from 51 focusing points is very useful selective focusing without the need for reframing.

12- The My menu option can have more items that 1D.

13- Being able to format the card without going to the menu is also very useful.

1D Advantages:

1- The grip is more comfortable.

2- The on/off switch is easier to operate.

3- The cross hair AF sensore are better spread across the frame

4- D3's sub command dial (the one in the front) is far less tactile that the 1D.

My nect set of comparisons are going to be on focus accuracy and tracking accuray and low ISO image quality. I will report back on these test as soon as I can.

Kind regards

Reza

The D3 is the camera I wish Nikon had released four years ago when I switched to Canon. It's a great camera with everything I wanted back then.

But I don't regret my decision. The offerings Nikon had at the time were abysmal in terms of image quality and resolution. In the past four years I've shot around 100,000 images on Canon gear. The files are big, clean and low noise. I cringe when I stumble across old D2H images in my archive. For me, having 100,000 tight images in an archive spanning four years is worth far more than what I paid to switch.

Will I switch to the D3? Probably not. I have the MkIII right now, and it's a great camera for what I do. I haven't battled the AF issues some have reported - although I will send mine in for fixes just to keep resale value as high as possible. The images have an amazing texture to them.

For me, as great as the D3 is, the improvements over what I have are not as night and day as they were when I switched to Canon. There are little niceties, but since I'm not seeing problems with AF it's not worth thousands to switch systems (again). If I was having AF problems I would probably have a different opinion.

Dave Harpe said:

For me, as great as the D3 is, the improvements over what I have are
not as night and day as they were when I switched to Canon. There
are little niceties, but since I'm not seeing problems with AF it's
not worth thousands to switch systems (again). If I was having AF
problems I would probably have a different opinion.

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I totally agree with the above. The reason for my swtich was that D3 was a perfect balance between 1D and 1Ds MKIII for me.

Reza Maziat said:

I totally agree with the above. The reason for my swtich was that D3
was a perfect balance between 1D and 1Ds MKIII for me.

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Could you please point me to your gallery of current D3 work and what you’ve done since 99 with Canon ? You sound like a seasoned pro and I bet your work is wonderful, thanks in advance Reza

Reza Maziat said:

3- The cross hair AF sensore are better spread across the frame

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Reza Maziat said:

Kind regards

Reza

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now I thought this simply was not true..I dont think all of them on on from what I heard. I could be wrong.

--
Johnny

Very nicely put together comparison so far Reza.

I look forward to your views on low ISO noise and AF performance. I currently use the Canon 1DMkIIn and 1Ds and am trying to decide whether to go with the MkIII versions or move to the Nikon system.

You don't seem to have been back to your farewell post so I'll be rude and ask the question here too. Were you connected with Victoria Wine Co. in the early 90's? I worked with you briefly in Woking whilst on a holiday to the UK if it is you. It is good to see you doing well still.

Rob
--
Hanging around here too long

D3 Advantages:

2- The LCD is a killer feature, in the sense that unlike my 1D, when I was never sure how in fcous my images were , I can make accurate focus accuracy judgements.

4- The AWB is far more accurate than the 1D.

My nect set of comparisons are going to be on focus accuracy and tracking accuray and low ISO image quality. I will report back on these test as soon as I can.
Kind regards

-------------------------------------------------

Thanks for the report. As for D3 advantges, I only care about #2 and #4, especially #4. The others are very minor to me.

What I am really interested is the comparisons you are going to do next. In the end, photo quality is what I care. Canon is not that hard to use anyway. All other bells and whistles on D3 do not mean a whole lot to me.

Regards,

Kai

Hi Reza

A brilliant post and a very serious comparison between two head to head cameras. So nice to read what an experienced canon users experiences when doing the switch, since it is not something you do lightly.

--Klaus

Shaun_Nyc said:

Reza Maziat said:

I totally agree with the above. The reason for my swtich was that D3
was a perfect balance between 1D and 1Ds MKIII for me.

Click to expand...

Could you please point me to your gallery of current D3 work and what
you’ve done since 99 with Canon ? You sound like a seasoned pro and I
bet your work is wonderful, thanks in advance Reza

Click to expand...

Well, I am far from being a pro or indeed a good photographer (infact I am aweful at taking pictures). I am a real gearhead who also likes to take photos. Here is my Pbase gallaries for the Canon stuff:

http://www.pbase.com/maziatr

Rob Ashton said:

Very nicely put together comparison so far Reza.

I look forward to your views on low ISO noise and AF performance. I
currently use the Canon 1DMkIIn and 1Ds and am trying to decide
whether to go with the MkIII versions or move to the Nikon system.

You don't seem to have been back to your farewell post so I'll be
rude and ask the question here too. Were you connected with Victoria
Wine Co. in the early 90's? I worked with you briefly in Woking
whilst on a holiday to the UK if it is you. It is good to see you
doing well still.

Rob

Click to expand...

Thanks but you've got the wrong person.

Rob Ashton said:

--
Hanging around here too long

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When the D3 was first announced, I have to admit I was tempted. But, having come from the 5D and 1D3 (which I currently own) I couldn't find a good enough reason to switch. More importantly, Nikon still did not have the fast high quality primes that I'm used to with the Canon (24L,35L,50L). I had also owned the Fuji S3 and S5, and to be quite honest I prefer the Canon ergonomics. As an owner of the 5D, the 12mp of the D3 isn't all that exciting. The 1d3 is a dream camera; awesome metering, awesome white balance excluding incandescent, awesome ergos, and the files are amazingly rich and beautiful. Its the first camera were I print straight from the jpegs without worry or fuss, and its somewhat liberating.

Certainly the D3 is a tempting and impressive camera, but I have no doubt that Canon's next semi-pro or pro model will be a D3 killer, I wouldn't be surprised if it even uses a whole new sensor technology that would put it right back in the IQ driver's seat. For those who are heavily invested in Canon gear, I really can't see a compelling enough reason to switch. I've probably done the 'grass is greener on the other side' thing often enough to know that the grass is plenty green on my side.

Evan.

I also forgot to mention that if I was starting today from scratch with little or no equipment investment in either system, I would go with Nikon hands down.

I love these posts about how they are just trying to give an honest impression of switching. I call bull* .. You want to justify your purchase, nothing else. You can't possibly make a fair comparison after how short of period you have had the Nikon. And, to further prove my point, you made absolutely no mention of what should be the first and most important feature of your camera:

Image Quality

Why do all the people who switch from Nikon not feel the need to post in the Nikon forum about how happy they are with their new cameras?

$8000 for a 1Ds3 and $5000 for a d3 (from your profile) That's $13,000 or the price of a car. Hope they don't get stolen. A user on here, PhotoManager I think, had his 1Ds3 and d3 stolen in the past month and now cannot afford to replace either camera.

no text

I find your post very important and interesting. I have been a Canon user since 1990 and I have to admit that I am very apprehensive about a switch.

In contrast to some of the Canon enthusiasts here (in this thread as well), I would love nothing more than to leave Canon behind but I simply have very little time for a new system. I also do not have financial means at the moment to do it well.
--
Michael

'People are crazy and times are strange, I'm locked in tight, I'm out of range, I used to care, but things have changed' - Bob Dylan

I think he was insured, just cant find the thread.

5D Monster said:

I think he was insured, just cant find the thread.

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I clearly remember him stating he was not able to replace either camera.

I dont blame him if he did keep the money. Why spend when interest rates are rising, and there is nothing new coming out except a 450D???

Oh yes you are a gearhead. Almost everything you list is secondary. These are not essentials for photography. When spending that much money I want innovation from engineering that improves on IQ not marketing rings and bells.

You are strengthening my opinion. D3 : Distracting features

Reza Maziat said:

"the joystick is far simpler and is nearly as accurate."
"The My menu option can have more items that 1D."
"intervalometer is very useful for long exposures."

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who cares....

Reza Maziat said:

"artificial horizon."

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next step Nikon will put flight simulator in the camera so you can practice leveling.

Reza Maziat said:

"Being able to format the card without going to the menu is also
very useful."

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and you do that how often you need to get a bigger mermory card

Reza Maziat said:

"Being able to select from 51 focusing points is very useful
selective focusing without the need for reframing."

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ok yes is that it ?

Reza Maziat said:

"LCD, large top LCD screen is very useful, in that it shows alot of
useful information."

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that is not a big deal. Sounds like you like to surround yourself with flashy electronics. If that makes you happy but I am not like you I need a camera to take photos.

BTW built quality is equivalent for the two cameras.

Reza Maziat said:

"The AWB is far more accurate than the 1D."

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the 1dsM3AWB is better than the D3.

Reza Maziat said:

Auto ISO.

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You can't stop these marketing guys.. I would never use this.

Again nothing real in your list. Bear in mind that canon's engineers have found the root cause for the pb they had for the ai servo focus. I would buy a 1dm3 anytime over the D3.