10.2 MP D80 Debuts Aug. 9th-10th – UPDATED: $900
- This topic has 21 replies, 8 voices, and was last updated Aug 3, 2006 at 9:29 pm by
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I’ve done a little more digging and I think there’s a consensus view on this camera that it is not going to “replace” the D70 in the sense of pushing the D70 out of the lineup, but it is going to “replace” it in the sense of being the camera everyone’s uncle will be showing off around the Christmas tree.
With all do respect, and it isn’t my intention to start a camera company debate, but in Canon’s defense they already have three double digit MP bodies in their lineup and nearly 30% of their lenses boast image stabilization. They offer a 16.7, 12.5, and 11.1MP full frame sensor bodies capable of shooting up to 40 frame bursts at 4fps, shutter speed settings of 30 secs. to 1/8000th of a second, 55 millisecond lag times, ISO settings adjustable from 100-1600 (50–3200 manipulated via custom settings), and a laundry list of other features.
Nikon may be gearing up to take the lead in the moderately priced advanced amerature/entry level professional market, but they have been playing catch up with Canon at a strictly professional price point–with the exceptions that Nikon’s top model has a faster motor, and clearly a superior dedicated flash system. Canon, too , has the advantage of designing and building their own components–isn’t Nikon still outsourcing their sensors?
Anyway, all of this is the equivalent of a Ford v Chevy debate after a Dodge
Hey Splitshot –
Canon has owned the professional sector for years; you’ll get no disagreement from me there.
Yup,
I just sold my Nikon D2X and all of my Nikon lenses and switched to Canon. The digital noise problems with the APS-sized sensors finally pushed me over the edge. I was a member of Nikon Professional Services for 8 years and a Nikon shooter for 16 years.
Back in the old days (I cant beleive I just began a sentence like that) Nikon ruled. When cameras were mechanical and even fully electronic film cameras were the norm, Nikon had the best product out there. Nikon glass is still as good as any in the world. But photography is about digital technology now and Nikon is a much smaller company than Canon. Canon has 5 times the R&D budget as Nikon and they are being left behind, unfortunately. I am sorry to say it. Nikon cant even make thier own sensor
What makes Cannon so qualified to make sensors? Most of the top of the line sensors come from companies other than Cannon. I saw prints made by Vincent Versace and Moose Peterson that were spectacular at PS World all shot on Nikon. Its not the sensor or the whatever its the shooter using whatever tools they find suitable. If I had the money I would check out the new Hasselbad digtal setup or Leaf. There is always something new to buy.
What makes Cannon so qualified to make sensors?
It’s not that they are more qualified, its just that Canon has more resources than Nikon. Its not about mechanical shutters and film anymore. Its all about R&D-driven digital technology. Canon pulled ahead of Nikon when photography made that quantum leap.
Its now a race as to who puts out the latest and best technology the fastest. The gap is going to widen – I am sure. I wanted to position myself there now to benefit from that advantage later. I feel like I am benefitting already.
The Canon 5D (half the price of the D2X with more megapixels too) has a full-frame sensor, ZERO noise – even at 400 ISO – and an amazing dynamic range. I bought two for the price of my D2X. Nikon’s response? The D2Xs, with the same sensor – just some meaningless upgrades that I wouldnt even benefit from.
Nikon will hang around with decent market share in the consumer/prosumer niche. They are losing the pros in droves.
Oh, and Sony makes the sensors for Nikon. Sony (now Sony/Minolta) will give Nikon a run for its money in the prosumer market, as well. Would you want your competitor making a component as important as the sensor for your cameras?
Bill, I agree about the Nikon lenses and landscape photography. Nikon never changed their mount, so you could use the old MF lenses on the some of the newer bodies. Advantage Nikon.
However, if you like doing landscape photography (or more creative commercial outdoor photography) and have some $$$ to blow, the Tilt/shift lenses of Canon’s are awesome. Nikon has an 85mm lens with this feature, but its not exactly the most desirable focal length for these features either.
Canon’s 24mm and 45mm ts-e lenses are perfect for landscapes, particularly the near-far landscapes where you need alot of DOF. Instead of stopping the lens down to f22 (and getting softness due to refraction) you tilt the focus plane of the lens and have everything in TRUE focus at f8 – just like a view camera. You can do the reverse and narrow the DOF for an effect you see in many commercial fly fishing images, where there is exaggerated DOF (actually a shallow focal plane). They are all MF, by the way and work with the Canon teleconverter. So, you can have a 24mm, 34mm(with the 1.4x) 45mm, 62mm(with the 1.4x) 90mm and 125mm(with the 1.4x) each lens is about $1100, though.One other thing, in addition to tilt, you have shift as well. You can do amazing panos by taking three seperate images without even moving the camera or tripod. Shift to the left, take a shot. Shift to the middle, take a shot, shift to the right, take a shot. I just finished stitching together a pano of the Davidson River that is ended up being 34.5 megapixels, 467 MB!
I have friends that have switched to Cannon and if they hadn’t told me I would have never noticed except for the white lenses. Their work looks pretty much the same as it always did. The DX sensor works fine and whatever they have next year or next decade will be better. Image content is what matters in the end no one cares about
What’s your day job PR guy for Cannon USA.
Actually, outdoor photography is my day job.
I never said that you or anyone else should do what I did.
Out of curiousity…….what are the chances of Nikon and Fuji joining forces on the sensor development side of things………………..suddenly that would put cash and R&D into the company.
That might sound far fetched……but perhaps not so far fetched either.
Richard, I am a indoor photographer weekdays. Would you happen to have a business plan on that outdoor photographer gig that I could borrow to get access to some money from the bank. What do you do?
Assignments, print and stock sales? I am seriously interested how you get started and make money as a outdoor photographer. Cash flow was a big problem when I was on my own. How did you get going?It helps to have a niche, number one. Its so competative these days. I got started in the early 90s and flyfishing imagery -emphasis on the southeastern US – was mine. No one else was doing it at the time (now everyone is, haha) so it made it easier to break in. I loved FF and photography. It was easy for me.
I went fulltime 5 years ago. I dont do as much editorial work as I used to. Writing certainly opens alot of doors, so if you can write, you can get your images published. Develop a large stock library of your subject and keep building. For instance, I have over 15,000 FF images from the SE.
I have branched out into other outdoor sports areas plus natural landscapes as well. I primarily write for some local magazines – some steady photo assignment work. I write a column for South Carolina Magazine called “South Carolina Adventure” and do alot of assignments with the state tourism dept. Assignments, books projects, photo workshops, etc. I have an art consultant who sells prints for me and a stock agency to handle a good deal of my stock images. Steady income is the name of the game.
Email me if you have any specific questions.
Ozark,
I have no idea. The Fuji digital SLR is such a disaster that anything is possible with that bunch.
I hope Nikon comes on strong, now that I am with Canon. Good competition will keep Canon from getting fat, lazy, and selling me poor equipment down the road.
Zach, sorry for hijacking your thread, man.
What good timing on this thread – I am currently nearly ready to make a digital purchase. I’m swaying between the Nikon D200 and the Canon 30D – it looks like it’s going to go the way of the Nikon. I’m not a pro, but have been heavily involved in photography for 20 years, working for newspapers, universities, etc. I’ve used Nikon in the past so I’m comfortable with the Nikon menu system. I really think the 5D is amazing but I can’t justify spending that much if it isn’t my profession. The difference between the D200 and the 30D really comes down to a Honda vs. Toyota debate, in my eyes. They both seem to be a great product with a few features that oust one another here and there. I hate to say it, but in the end, I like how the Nikon sits better in my hand than the Canon does – which is somewhat influencing my decision. Scary, but true.
Anyway, thought I’d chime in here.
Jacob
Ok, looks like we’re looking at a D80 for certain, retail $900 for the body, no word on the bundled lens, if any, yet.
switch to SD cards from CF.
Just damn.
I was seriously considering the purchase of a D80 body and use the D70s as a spare. That plan just went south. No way I’m spending another chunk of cheese for new memory cards
I was talking to a Sony rep today, and he was telling me a bit about the Sony DSLR – we got talking about sensors, etc, and he mentioned Sony making sensors for Nikon. I asked him why Nikon hasn’t come out with a full frame camera yet as an answer to the D5, and he rather grinned and said “Because we haven’t felt like making them a sensor until we get ours on the market first”
There is a rumour and that’s all it is that a Sony full frame sensor DSLR is up next. The A100 out now is an entry level DSLR 10.3 MB .
Sony’s absorbtion of Minolta was a very smart move , giving them the 5d ( basis for the A100?) and 7d ( may be the basis for the full frame?) and a lens mount to play with.
If the rumour comes to fruition I personally would be very interested, as my experience with the DSC R1 10.3 MB has been superb . It does however lack in the macro dept. so a solid 10 MB + DSLR complement
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