Choosing the 5D mark iii over the D800

[benjaminblack]

You mention that Canon has an edge on the 24, 50, and 85. I think you're correct about the 50. However, the Nikon 85 1.4g is an astounding lens. Corner to corner sharpness is mind boggling. Center sharpness is astounding. The OOF areas on the Nikon are more pronounced. I'm stating this as someone who shoots almost entirely with the 85 1.2LII and the 5DII. I've spent the last week with the D800 and the 851.4g and I would take Nikon's version any day.

Concerning the 24 1.4g, if you look at image threads your eyes will melt from the awesomeness of the 24 1.4g.

Canon has a reputation for superior lenses. That reputation was acquired 3-4 years ago. Nikon's very recent announcements of the 24 1.4g, 35 1.4g, 85 1.4g, 14-24 and 70-200 VR II are all capable of rivaling Canon, if not defeating Canon.

Has anyone mentioned that Nikon gives a 4 year warranty on all their lenses? That would have been nice when the IS on my 70-200 2.8L IS II died about 14 months after I purchased it. With my CPS gold discount the cost was nearly $300.

All that said, Canon is still king in tilt shift and telephoto!

 

[JamieTux]

You mention that Canon has an edge on the 24, 50, and 85. I think you're correct about the 50. However, the Nikon 85 1.4g is an astounding lens. Corner to corner sharpness is mind boggling. Center sharpness is astounding. The OOF areas on the Nikon are more pronounced. I'm stating this as someone who shoots almost entirely with the 85 1.2LII and the 5DII. I've spent the last week with the D800 and the 851.4g and I would take Nikon's version any day.

First I've not used the Canon 85L 1.2II but on Nikon mount I chose the Sigma 85mm over the Nikon, the AF is faster (and as accurate) and that's critical if you are using it wide open in low light - it's also sharper in the center until about f2.8 which is verified by site like Photozone - I know it's not as good edge to edge, or stopped down but I've never expected my corners to be in focus when the centre is wide open on an 85mm, if I want that I would use the macro 105VR.

I also understand that other people use lenses differently to me and that this is my opinion based on my uses!

Concerning the 24 1.4g, if you look at image threads your eyes will melt from the awesomeness of the 24 1.4g.

Can't comment here - but you are probably right.

Canon has a reputation for superior lenses. That reputation was acquired 3-4 years ago. Nikon's very recent announcements of the 24 1.4g, 35 1.4g, 85 1.4g, 14-24 and 70-200 VR II are all capable of rivaling Canon, if not defeating Canon.

I think that Canon's reputation is a lot older than that, and among the people that I speak to over here at least it's a reputation for lenses that are as good or better but cost less than their Nikon equivalents, but that's changing now too!

But from your list most of those lenses are between 2 and 4 years old, I also sold my 14-24 to get the 16-35VR, it was a much more useful focal length range for me and is a really good walk around lens. The 14-24 is stunning no matter how you look at it but it is a big lump of glass and can be awkward to use (there's also no Canon equivalent).

Where Nikon has been way ahead for the last couple of years is the 24-70, but it looks like Canon might have caught up there.

Has anyone mentioned that Nikon gives a 4 year warranty on all their lenses? That would have been nice when the IS on my 70-200 2.8L IS II died about 14 months after I purchased it. With my CPS gold discount the cost was nearly $300.

All that said, Canon is still king in tilt shift and telephoto!

I wouldn't agree with that either - telephoto, maybe overall but Nikon has some stand out lenses like the 200-400F4 VR II.

Tilt and shift, Nikon has 24, 50 and 90 and they are great lenses, I know that Canon has more focal lengths covered but they don't seem to be significantly better to me. However the Schneider lenses do and once you've bought them you can replace the mount depending on what camera you are using so that's the way we are going, it means we can use it with the best body for any purpose (I haven't tried but I think that it will cover MF too.

--
James
http://photos.jamestux.com
http://photos.flickr.com/jamestux
http://blog.jamestux.com

 

[Sten E]

But why would the Canon 85 1.2L fit your needs (as opposed to the well regarded 85 1.8) while the Nikon 85 1.8G fits your needs and not the 85 1.4G? This odd selection makes it look like you are purposely biasing results, since each had a high quality counterpart in the same class but you chose 2 different classes to compare. The rest look spot-on.
Not a big deal, but I'm just curious.

Hi RicksAstro,

I am not purposely biased. I chose the lenses I thought best, based on the reviews that I found, especielly photozone.de.

--
Best regards,

Sten

 

[zorgon]

4: Lenses. Not that much in it but 24mm, 50mm and 85mm being my goto focal lengths I believe the Canon system has the edge.

I agree with your other points, but strongly disagree with this one (based on the photozone tests at least):

1) Comparing; Canon 24 1.4 II and Nikon 24 1.4G. Both good lenses considering the extreme design of wide aperture and wide angle but nikon definitely has the edge here in terms of corner and border performance on FF

2) Canon 50mm prime lenses are weak point of the entire system IMO. the 1.8 and 1.4 are 20 year old designs and this shows in the tests. Wide open performance is poor. Nikon's 50mm 1.8 and 1.4 were recently updated and are vastly superior wide open. Canon does have the 1.2L lens but the corner and border performance is dreadful and doesn't improve much with stopping down.

3) the new Nikon 85mm 1.8G is one of the sharpest lenses and easily outperforms the canon 85mm 1.8 (which is still pretty good). The canon 85mm 1.2L II maybe more desirable than the Nikon 85mm 1.4G but again the Nikon has better corner and border performance at comparable apertures.

OK, There are canon lenses which clearly outperform the Nikon equivalents but not these ones

 

[hikerdoc]

I choose the D800 because I have a bunch of nikon lenses and have been happy with D700. I would also love a D4 but could not justify cost or size right now, being professional in something other than photography.

If I had a 5DII and a bunch of canon lenses I would just as readily pick the 5DIII and be very happy with it. I would love to also have the 5DIII, kind of the mini D4 many nikon guys were hoping for but cannot defend owning two systems.

Alas, rumors of the replacement bodies will soon begin (high MP canon and nikon baby D4), but the lenses will last forever.

 

[jdavis37]

I'm not one to invest in multiple bodies at same time so looking at the current 4 FF bodies from nikon and canon is intriguing but also tough. If the D800 had 6 fps in full resolution mode I think it would make for an easy decision given the pricing for Canon's newest telephoto lenses versus Nikon's pricing (wallet does count).

But 4 fps is a real limiter and I realize it can do 5 fps in 25 MP mode which helps some. But D800 offers enough pixel density to reduce how big my big glass needs to be and even makes the 200-400F4 a lens to evaluate.

D4 and 1D-X for most part will push me into the 600F4 realm and again we are talking rather serious investment plus serious weight. Everything has trade offs though, and D800's biggest trade off is frame rate for me.

The 5D3 irks me that it doe snot link spot meter to AF point and just have a hard time accepting a $3499 USD body does not do this. I use spot meter often and with 7D this causes issues (inability to link spot to AF sensor).

Probably a rental or two later this year when new sales die off a bit! I see all these cameras as very good bodies and trick is for each of us to find the tool that best serves what they do.. and can afford

The way I look at it if both Canon and Nikon but all their dSLRs under one brand the 1DX will still be the flagship follow by the D4, the 5DIII and then the D800. The price also reflects that too. If you look at the the spec the 5DIII slot between the D4 and D800.

You can't go wrong with either body. If I was going to shoot with one body I would probably go with the 5D3 as it is more versatile. I went for the D800 because it will be a good mate for the D4.

Harry
--
http://behret.smugmug.com

'if you ain't having fun, you ain't doing it right'

--
Please forgive the typos! A great speller I am, a great typist I am not!

 

[bobn2]

snot link spot meter

For taking exposure readings up someone's nose?
--
Bob

 

[jdavis37]

Aren't my typos a wonderful thing? Is amazing how they often land on real words so spell checker doesn't"spot" them I often turn "does not" into "doe snot" and we won't discuss what happens to wouldn't it

The spot meter linking though really does bug me... on my 7D this often causes issues that would be totally alleviated with that feature. $1000 Nikon bodies have it so isn't like Canon is protecting the 1 Series against the D4, etc

snot link spot meter

For taking exposure readings up someone's nose?
--
Bob

--
Please forgive the typos! A great speller I am, a great typist I am not!

 

[bobn2]

doe snot

That's probably a vital ingredient in some herbal remedy.
--
Bob

 

[rondhamalam]

5D3 is meant for High Iso

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1032&message=41039562

and AutoFocus in low light