Hey its me again.  Okay.. I'm trying to do a total studio upgrade.  I'm the one who has the Evolt E-300 and I want to upgrade cameras.  I'm now looking at the Canon 40D or the Nikon D80.  Anyone have any suggestions.  I do alot of weddings now but I still do ALOT of family photos and Boudior photos in studio.

okay.  Wait. one more question.  My olympus is an 8.0 mega pixel camera I was also looking at the Nikon 40D for a backup camera.  It is only a 6.1 MP Camera.  I normally only offer photos up to a 30x40 Would the 6.1 MP camera still make good quality photos up to that size?

There are a good number of wedding photographers that like the Fujifilm S5 which uses Nikon glass.

30x40??  Don't go with Nikon.

I would suggest the Nikon D200. I know the D300 is out and is an awesome camera but you can pick up some great deals and its a great camera too. Plus and this is a big PLUS I love Nikon's flash system. I 3 sb800's and use them in place of my studio lights. There portable, lightweight, and plenty poweful for what I use them for. But if budget is an issue them I would reccomend the Nikon D80 basically a lite version of the D200

Canon and Nikon both offer phenomenal systems.  My best advice is to pick them up and see what they feel like in your hands. 

How invested are you in Zuiko glass?  With the release of the E-3 you may not have to walk away from a lot of expensive (although unbeatable) glass.  We shoot Nikon and Oly.   As for resolution, I have gorgeous 20x30 prints from my E-1's.  Don't sweat the resolution...  look at image quality, feature set, and what works for you. 

Oh, and the Fuji S5 that was recommended - sweet camera. 

:o)
 

 

 

You could go with Nikon D80 or even D200 now that prices are falling.  Only about $300/400 dollars difference now.  D40x might be a good backup camera.  It is 10 MP but cannot use all nikon lenses unless you want to manual focus.  Should be no problem with large prints.  I shoot with a D50 (6MP) and have made some prints as large as 20x30 and a large number at 16x20 with no problem as long as the exposure is right on.

Dwight

 

 I use a Fuji S5 and a D300.  Both are very good, I like the D300 more everyday.

I had a D200 and it was also a great camera.  The D300 has better high ISO performance.

I have the Nik D40x.  It is a nice camera, but settings are hard to change on the fly.  If that is important (and no focus motor) don,t go with it.  Otherwise, it is a nice, extremly small and light weight camera.

GO WITH CANON....!!

 

dgrits:

GO WITH CANON....!!

 

 

I know, I don't know how those Nikon people ever print anything without one of those cool "Print" buttons on the camera.  Canon is just sooo cool.   

 CANON CANON CANON CANON

Just wondering if you decided on which camera you were going to get? 

I have two Olympus DSLRs and just recently bought the Nikon D300 and I must say I'm very happy with it. 

I went and checked out the Canon 5D and Nikon D300, but as soon as I held the Nikon D300, I knew it was the camera for me.  :)

 

I have a 40D and I love it!

But - I also prefer Chevrolets over Fords.. if you drive a Ford, maybe you'd prefer a Nikon?

Just teasing... but really - a camera is just a tool - it's the photographer who takes a picture. Buy whichever one you want and learn everything you can about it and how to use it and you'll be fine.

I use Mac.

Oh wait.....wrong one.  Canon here....love em.  Nikon's got cool *** too.

I have Nikon D50, D80, and D300. Love the new D300!

I have had the Nikon D70, D80, D200, the Fuji S2 and S3 and now have the Canon 40D and 5D so I think I have a little bit of an idea of what I am talking about here. Other than the D70 and the Fuji S3 pro my Fav cameras are my current Canons. The color is great easy to use, L glass is amazing and Ettl II is fantastic. My D80 and D200's left much to be desired. I used gold ring ED glass and I just didnt get the results that I expected I would be from such expensive gear. The S3 had amazing color, sharp, great for portraits and weddings and only if using manual flash control (the TTL integration was horrible, but I hear the S5 is much better). I personally dont think the Nikons will produce good 30x40" images. My Canon does AMAZING 16x24's and I can only imagine how bigger ones will look.

I have a Canon 40 D & love it.  Never shot Nikon.  I chose canon because I knew more people shooting canon & seemed to me easier to find lens. etc.

ArtisticImages:

But - I also prefer Chevrolets over Fords.. if you drive a Ford, maybe you'd prefer a Nikon?

Hee hee!  Same here, Canon shooter, Chevy driver.  Well, I drive a Mitsubishi, but we have a Chevy.  I'll never own a Ford.  :)

I agree with whoever said to go and try them both out.  I've shot with both, and much prefer how Canon has their controls set up.  There are just too many buttons and doors on Nikons.  :)  I have a 5D and it is an amazing body.  I love my L glass, too!

both canon and Nikon make great cameras, both capable of making large print sizes.  I am a Canon guy and always will be because I have alll Canon Glass.

If you already own several Nikon Lenses and flashes I would stick with Nikon.  WHy replace all the glass and acessories you already have ...

Gary Fox:

both canon and Nikon make great cameras, both capable of making large print sizes.  I am a Canon guy and always will be because I have alll Canon Glass.

If you already own several Nikon Lenses and flashes I would stick with Nikon.  WHy replace all the glass and acessories you already have ...

 

Go with what you know and have the lenses for.  

I own and DAILY USE a Nikon D200, which I ABSOLUTELY LOVE!   However, must make some serious comments for fellow-users to consider:  Adobe Photoshop does a VERY POOR job of converting Nikon's RAW NEF files.  Nikon's PictureProject which comes with the camera, does a MUCH, MUCH BETTER job of reducing noise (graininess).  When I first got my D200, I was DISAPPOINTED  with the amount of NOISE!  But yes, I was shooting everything in RAW and using Adobe Photoshop to convert my images.  It wasn't till nearly a year later that I tried Nikon's PictureProject that I discovered just how little digital noise that this camera has.   I am now able to shoot at ISO 1600, and have very pleasing results even with LARGE prints.   However, the key here is ADEQUATELY & PROPERLY EXPOSED images!   Yes, I still use Adobe Photoshop, but first convert all my RAW NEF files to TIFF using Nikon's PictureProject.   IF the image was taken in dimly-lit lighting at HIGH ISO 800 or 1600, after I've done all my editing, I (sometimes) use NeatImage to clean up any remaining noise.   www.neatimage.com

 Talking about noise, I must comment about sensor-size, and the affects that the size of the sensor makes on noise.  The smaller the sensor, the smaller each pixel becomes, which means the less light that reaches each pixel.  As less light reaches each pixel, the analog amplifier circuitry in the camera has to increase its gain in order to maintain a usable level for the A/D converter (what converts the image to digital).  Meaning that just as your TV gets NOISY (GRAINY) when it doesn't get a STRONG SIGNAL, or your car's radio gets HISSY when you're FAR from the radio station, a smaller sensor means that your camera has to turn up the gain (amount of amplification) as a smaller sensor, smaller pixel, has less output than a larger pixel.  (a larger pixel gathers in more light, therefore, has more output).  Olympus BRAGS about their 4/3rds sensors, which are MUCH SMALLER than what Canon and Nikon use.   Olympus has one goal:  a smaller sensor allows them to use smaller lenses, thereby reducing the size of their camera.   Well, if small is what you're after, they've achieved that.  But at the expense of additional noise.   (a GRAINIER picture)

IF you've already got Nikon lenses, then by all means, stay with Nikon!   But even in that, you get what you PAY for.  Think of it this way:  your camera can only process what it sees!  If the lens isn't very sharp and clear, well then neither will your pictures be.

As far as cameras, I would not recommend the D40, D40x, or D60 as they do not have Nikon's lens-drive motor in the body of the camera, which Nikon's older lenses require for focusing.    The D60 and D300 are nice cameras, of which I especially like for their built-in D-Lighting (Dynamic Lighting) functions, which basically creates a WIDER DYNAMIC RANGE from absolute darkness to complete white-out (the camera's range and ability that it can process varying amounts of light).  But sadly, the D60 cannot use Nikon's older lenses.  The D80, D200, and D300 can use Nikon's ENTIRE line of lenses.

The D80 and D200 are able to use Nikon's D-Lighting in RAW using Nikon's PictureProject, so that is another reason why I LIKE using Nikon's RAW-editing software!   (You end up with a much more DYNAMIC exposure than what would be otherwise possible).  Now that's where the D60 and D300 are NICE as Nikon's D-Lighting is built into the camera.   But whether you gain Nikon's greater dynamic exposure range in their RAW-editing software, or done in-camera like the D60 and D300, the end result is the same.  A GREATER DYNAMIC RANGE!   Clouds stand out from the pale sky and are more VIVID!  Shaded areas of an image now how definition.  Everything just has a more natural appearance.   Portraits have details in the short shadow-side of the face.  

Hey, I'm a Nikon FAN!   I LIKE their amazing build-quality, amazing ergonomic feel in your hands, weight, heft, feel, and flawless performance.  

What can I say?  I LIKE NIKON!

 

 Canon was the leader for many years and offered the full frame 5D with low noise.  Many Nikon users switched to Canon because of this camera.

Now with Nikons D3 full frame and being able to use ISO 6400 shots, many Canon pros are switching to Nikon.

The cost to switch is huge because of the lenses.  Both companies are very good, choose the one you like and stick with it.

I was a long time Canon user and switched to Nikon. That being said, it is more about the photographer than the camera. I say go with either Nikon D200 if you can't afford D300 or Canon 40D. If you have Nikon lenses, go with Nikon.

Ugggggh! I'm a new poster... just posted over in Sharing yesterday but I have to jump in and say that I am a Canon shooter and I drive a HUGE Ford! They are both my babies! Give me a call when your Chevy gets stuck and I'll bring my Canon to take a picture before I pull you out. Hehe!

I probably won't make many friends this way, will I?

Stephanie