Canon 5D Mark-II or Nikon D700? I'm leaning Nikon.

[DemoTex]

I'll probably make the purchase within a week. I need to get the new camera and learn it while I am still enrolled in an advanced digital photography class. I want to have it mastered by the time I leave for my fire lookout job in the Oregon wilds in May.

I really like the high ISO performance of the Nikon. Ditto the white balance handling and spot metering. Plus I already have a bag full of Nikon glass.

If I could, I'd get a Nikon D3. Maybe next year if I do really well this summer (photography-wise, that is!).

Thoughts on the Canon 5D versus Nikon D700 question?


Taken with my old Nikon D70

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

1. if you have nikon glass

it is a no brainer... the d700

I went from d70 to d700. I believe the d700 out does the d3 in everything but md speed, and not by much there.

I now have 2, and love them. You will too.

[Schema Thing]

2. I love the 5D, but if you already have glass...

I'm assuming the lenses you have cover full frame 35?




Here's a comparison of the D3, D700, and 5D http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d3-d700-5d.htm


Notice that the above comparison is to the 5D, not the 5D MKII

[NV Whino]

3. Nikon.

[ManiacJoe]

4. The side by side comparison

at DpReview.com of the 5D and the D700 gives the edge to the Nikon just about every time.

Since you already have a bag full of Nikon lenses, staying with Nikon would be the obvious choice assuming your lenses are FF compatible.

If nothing else, go to a camera shop and play with both bodies. I chose Nikon for the better ergonomics and button layouts.

(Edit)
You mention the 5D2 in your title. That would be comparing a 21mp camera to a 12mp camera. I would still probably go with the Nikon for the above reasons.

[apaflo]

5. Nikon wins that one hands down going away...

DemoTex wrote:

I really like the high ISO performance of the Nikon. Ditto the white balance handling and spot metering. Plus I already have a bag full of Nikon glass.

Even if you had no lenses to start with, the D700 wins that competition; but given you have Nikon glass there is no point in looking at anything else. And don't let anyone kid you about the D3 and even more so the D3S, as they are both more versatile than the D700.

The D700 is lighter in weight and impact on your wallet and hence despite being less functional than the D3 or D3S, it might be a better choice for any given individual at a specific point in time.

[DemoTex]

6. I went with the Canon 5D Mark II w/ 24-105mm IS for the video capability.

None of my Nikon glass was D700 (FF) compatible. I'm selling the old Nikon D-70 to a family member. I'll pick up a Nikon D-300 for a back-up/rough-use camera. My Nikon glass should work on the D300.

So far I am blown away by the Canon 5D Mark Twice w/ 24-105mm IS. I'm hoping to get a Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM II zoom before fire season starts (they are back-ordered now).