Nikon Raises the Stakes
Posted on August 24, 2007 by Mark
There has been some interesting news this week. Canon have announced their EOS 40D (no surprise there), the EOS-1Ds Mark III, and what looks like a pretty good little compact, namely the PowerShot G9 (with RAW again!).
On paper the 40D looks pretty nice. Canon seem to have finally taken on board the suggestions of Phil Askey and countless others to add a warning beep when you open the CF door while data is still being written (and not to shut down, loosing all the images still in the buffer).
The Canon EOS 1Ds Mk III is as desirable as ever. It’s a 21.1 megapixel full frame sensor, wrapped up in a weather proof and robust body. It’s capable of shooting 5 frames per second.
Not to be outdone, Nikon yesterday announced two new digital SLRs: the D3, and the D300. The D3 is the most significant release from Nikon in a very long time as they have finally built a full frame sensor into one of their cameras. Again on paper, the D3 looks very nice indeed (and I’m a Canonophile). It’s a 12.1 Megapixel full frame camera (just like my Canon EOS 5D then…), it shoots upto eleven frames a second (which is impressive), it has dual CF card slots, HDMI out (about time someone did this), and has something called a virtual horizon display in the viewfinder, which sounds pretty nifty.
So what will be next? This Nikon D3 will have a big impact on the pro users from the Nikon camp who always had to move to Canon if they wanted full frame. In my opinion Canon don’t need to worry so much about that (if anything the increased interest in full frame may be good for them), but what Canon do need to do is look at their entry level digital SLRs. I think Nikon generally have a better offering at this end of the market, and if Canon wants to compete here they need to build cameras the feel better in the hand and that cost less.
The EOS 350D and 400D are both very fine cameras, but when a novice walks into a shop and holds a Nikon D40 it’s no surprise they like the D40. It feels better in the hand (feels better quality in my opinion), and is usually cheaper. No competition! But it’s these people that are going to move on to bigger and better cameras, so if they’ve already got the kit then they’re unlikely to swap brands at that point.
I wonder if Canon are really going to loose out here? I guess a lot of people moving to digital SLRs in the last few years have come from film, and had lenses etc. They stuck to the brand they were used to because that’s just what you do.
Now, with interest in photography seemingly at an all time high, loads of people are buying DSLRs who have never had an SLR in the past. If they all start buying Nikons then Canon is going to feel this impact for a long time to come.
Come on Canon - pull your socks up!
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good news about the full frame sensor, maybe more people will realise the importance of this to image quality - maybe full frame compacts might become more than just a one-off.
I think I am one of the few who want to switch from Canon to Nikon after D3 release. I believe Canon will come up with something similar.
Personally I think the D300 looks very, very *very* nice. 100% VF, (supposedly) pro-level AF with 15 cross points, super-high res VGA LCD etc… I’d gladly pay an extra few hundred pounds for an equivalent Canon model. Or more again for a full-frame version.
Thing is, the D300 still seems to lag significantly behind the 40D in terms of high-ISO noise, which is a massive drawback for my style of available-light candid shooting (ie. no flash, no tripod). So I’ll stick with canon for now, but I’m sorely tempted by nikon’s ergonomics and all the extra controls & tweaking options they build into their bodies.. great for the “power user”.
Oh and have you seen the high-iso samples from the D3? Simply amazing. Finally canon have some real competition (though not in a compact, affordable body) and hopefully this will spur them on a bit, as they’ve been resting on their laurels for way too long, holding back features for the hell of it to milk more upgrade cash out of us.
Bastards….