new camera

[dkandcar]

I've been using a Canon XTi rebel for several years and am thinking of getting a Nikon. A D5100 or D90, but I heard of some compatibility lens problems between the two. Any thoughts? I probably should look up the reviews.

[yoshi]

Re: new camera

Hi, dkandcar,
Why don't you simply get a newer version of rebels. It has almost always been listed at the top of the best selling models for years with big due reasons.

a rule of thumb is that it's usually better to spend more for lenses rather than to change brands of the body, when you already have cameras.

The latest Rebel is no more an entry class model as far as specification is concerned, I would add. D90 is a long-lived middle class model but it is already old. (introduced in Sept., 2008---quite a good model with high reputations which is one reason why it's a very long-lived model. but ... digital technologies are continuously changing quickly since then.)

An exception to this would be, for example, when you want to change from dSLR to mirror-less models.

yoshi

[devilgas]

Re: new camera

I've been using a Canon XTi rebel for several years and am thinking of getting a Nikon. A D5100 or D90, but I heard of some compatibility lens problems between the two. Any thoughts? I probably should look up the reviews.

when you say compatibility problems do you mean you want to use your existing canon lenses on a nikon? if so, the 2 mounts are different and totally incompatible.

afaik, nikon have maintained the same slr lens mount for the last 50 odd years, so there should be no / little compatibility problems between the 5100 and the 90

[Ian]

Re: new camera

Some of the newer Nikons don't support old-style in-body AF motor linkage to lenses without an integrated AF motor (AF and AF-D designation lenses). The lenses can be mounted but you won't necessarily have autofocus. The D90 does support these lenses (it has the motor in its body) but the D5100 (and D5000, D3100, D3000, D60, D40 and D40x) don't. The higher-spec Nikons (D3, D700, etc. do support these older lenses).

Ian

[dkandcar]

Re: new camera

Thank you for the info. A couple of friends have Nikons and I think their images are sharper/better than mine. I also have an Olympus U750 that takes sharper pictures. Maybe it's camera shake. Anyway the local Costco has a really good price on the Nikon D5100.
Dick

[dkandcar]

Re: new camera

Thank you for the info. A couple of friends have Nikons and I think their images are sharper/better than mine. I also have an Olympus U750 that takes sharper pictures. Maybe it's camera shake. Anyway the local Costco has a really good price on the Nikon D5100.
Dick
P.S on compatibility I was referring to between Nikons

[dkandcar]

Re: new camera

Thanks Ian. I don't frequent DPnow often but I know I can count on prompt replies. I appreciate the knowledgeable advice.
Dick

[Garry]

Re: new camera

Thank you for the info. A couple of friends have Nikons and I think their images are sharper/better than mine. I also have an Olympus U750 that takes sharper pictures. Maybe it's camera shake. Anyway the local Costco has a really good price on the Nikon D5100.
Dick

Sharpness?

How are you comparing? What lenses are you friends using on their Nikons ?

What lenses are you using on your Canon ?

Are you using the same settings as your friends?

The lens is the most important bit of the camera.

Everyone has their favourite manufacturers. On the whole. Canon users love Canon. Nikon users love Nikon, and so on.

My opinion for what it's worth is. I do not believe there is much in it, between Canon, and Nikon, like for like!

[Ian]

Re: new camera

Thanks Ian. I don't frequent DPnow often but I know I can count on prompt replies. I appreciate the knowledgeable advice.
Dick

I hope we will see you here more often

Ian

[Ian]

Re: new camera

Dick, out of interest, do you mainly use in-camera JPEGs rather than RAW files? I wonder if you should experiment with reducing the noise reduction level in your camera settings. You might also consider increasing the sharpening setting. This will be pretty much irrelevant if you are using RAW, though.

Ian

[dkandcar]

Re: new camera

Yes, I use in camera Jpeg, not raw. I'm just an amatuer but like to have decent pictures when I take and do some nature photography. I'm not familiar with the adjustments you're describing, but I'm curious to try.
Thanks, Dick

[dkandcar]

Re: new camera

Thank you for responding. I have the EF S18-55mm,3.5-5.6, and the EF 75-3004-5.6 telephoto. I have not compared details with other people on their cameras, just a general opinion of what I see.
Dick

[Patrick]

Re: new camera

Thank you for responding. I have the EF S18-55mm,3.5-5.6, and the EF 75-3004-5.6 telephoto. I have not compared details with other people on their cameras, just a general opinion of what I see.
Dick

Any of the top brands produce cameras with good lenses capable of acceptably sharp results. If you are experiencing soft results or think you friends are getting sharper results look at you technique before spending your cash.

Camera shake is the most common cause of soft images. Particularly when shooting with telephoto lenses. the shutter speed ratio of focal length to the lens being used is all important. If you are using your 75-300 at to 300 end a shutter speed of at least 1/300 should be used, personally I would use 1/500 or use a tripod. Image stabilization plays its part if you have it on your lenses, I suspect the Olympus has in camera stabilization.

Are your friends more experienced photographers than yourself, are they using stabilized lenses, are they using RAW which gives the photographer more control.
Talk to them and get advice, perhaps one will lend you his/her camera for a short time just to see if you suffer the same problems with a Nikon.
We hear so often at the photo club, "but your camera is better than mine, or "I will take better pictures if I change my camera" its the person behind the camera that counts not the camera that's merely a tool.
There are so many factors that could be the cause of your problem, its less than likely to be the camera whatever the brand.


Patrick

[Ian]

Re: new camera

Patrick makes some excellent points (as usual! )

Do either of your lenses have Image Stabilisation (IS)? The 18-55 standard kit lens is not one of Canon's most illustrious performers, although the most recent versions have been improved. I believe the 75-300 is a reasonable performer. At 300mm with your camera the lens has an effective focal length of 480mm, so I would say 1/500th shutter speed is an absolute minimum, even with IS. I'd be much more comfortable with 1/1000th and higher.

Also, don't force a smaller aperture than around f/8-f/11 as you will start to get softening from small aperture diffraction.

I'd be more than happy to look at one of your images if you are up for it.

Ian

[Patrick]

Re: new camera

Patrick makes some excellent points (as usual! )

Do either of your lenses have Image Stabilisation (IS)? The 18-55 standard kit lens is not one of Canon's most illustrious performers, although the most recent versions have been improved. I believe the 75-300 is a reasonable performer. At 300mm with your camera the lens has an effective focal length of 480mm, so I would say 1/500th shutter speed is an absolute minimum, even with IS. I'd be much more comfortable with 1/1000th and higher.

Also, don't force a smaller aperture than around f/8-f/11 as you will start to get softening from small aperture diffraction.

I'd be more than happy to look at one of your images if you are up for it.

Ian

Sound Advice from Ian. In fact I would go a little further and say if you are using a long focal length use between f5.6 and f8. This has the added advantage of allowing a faster shutter speed.
My Sigma 120-300 f2.8 gives its peak performance at f4 to f5.6 and is razor sharp at these apertures.

Patrick