Why I Switched From Nikon to Canon
I’ll start of by being completely and utterly hypocritical. Camera gear doesn’t really make much of a difference on how good a photographer you are, in same way that a fancy oven doesn’t make you a world class chef. But the right equipment, the right tool for the job, makes doing it day in day out more fun, more comfortable and more consistent.
Completely ignoring my own advice, I recently made the decision to sell off my small collection of Nikon equipment, and switch to the “other” camera manufacturer, Canon. Here’s why….
Before I purchased the Nikon, I did so much research into the entire Nikon system, from flashes to lenses and accessories. This is so important because once you are in a system; you are tied into everything, whether it be good or bad.
The problem was that I was new to photography. I didn’t know what I would be doing, or in which direction I would go. I thought that I would be buying a couple of f2.8 zooms, and doing lots of off-camera strobist work. In both these areas, Nikon excels, so were deciding factors in my decision to buy into Nikon rather than Canon. Canon offered high megapixels and video recording. I didn’t think I would be interested in either.
Fast forward nearly 2 years, and things have really changed. It’s been months since I used a flashgun off camera, I much prefer shooting in natural light or with fill light these days. And I find myself struggling with the limited resolution of the D700 when trying to make 12” high quality wedding albums. Together with the fact that I’m doing more wedding work, a camera with two cards slots and great low light performance is becoming a necessity.
As for lenses, I only have two primes, a 35mm and 85mm, and I have been struggling to find the right combination of Nikon prime lenses to give me the flexibility I need for Weddings in particular.
If like me, you don’t want the bulk and weight of a 70-200mm f2.8, then the choice of available telephoto lenses reduces dramatically. Here’s a comparison of Nikon and Canon Primes. (I have only included the lenses from each manufacturer that contain silent and fast autofocus motors, as these are a necessity for wedding photography)
Nikon
24mm f1.4 G | 35mm f1.4 G | 50mm f1.8 G | 50mm f1.4 G | 85mm f1.4 G | 85mm f1.8 G | 105mm f2.8 G VR Macro
Canon
14mm f2.8 | 20mm f2.8 | 24mm f1.4 | 24mm f2.8 IS | 28mm f1.8 | 28mm f1.8 IS | 35mm f1.4 | 40mm f2.8 Pancake | 50mm f1.2 | 50mm f1.4 | 85mm f1.2 | 85mm f1.8 | 100mm f2 | 135mm f2 | 200mm f2.8
Nikon are very, very limited when it comes to prime lenses between 85mm and 200mm. Canon are also renowned for their specialist prime lenses, such as the 50mm and 85mm f1.2 which offer something very special over the Nikon counterparts. This list also doesn’t include Canon’s legendary TSE tilt shift lenses, something that I would like to experiment with one day.
As for the latest generation of cameras, the Nikon D800 and Canon 5D MKIII are both fantastic and equally well matched. I just think the 5D MK III is better designed to shoot weddings and portraits. It hits the sweet spot of great high iso capabilities, reliable autofocus, fps, image resolution and durability. The D800 may be the better specced camera on paper, but after using it for few hours, I just didn’t like it. And there were far too many compromises to make if you didn’t want to shoot it like it was a medium format camera.
On the other hand, the 5D MKIII felt great in the hand, and does everything I need it too, without the extra stuff I don’t need.
In terms of the details, I don’t sweat it. Canon and Nikon both have very different approaches in terms of control and layout, but one is not better than the other. They both work great, just differently. It’s entirely personal, but even after 2 years of using a Nikon D700, only after just a few days, the Canon feels far more refined and logical to me. Even the ISO button is on the right side of the camera. Hallelujah!
Granted, there are things I hate about Canon, like the ridiculously awful lens caps and the tacky white telephoto lenses. But these are small things when compared to the system as a whole.
And thats the important thing. The big picture. Don’t worry about the details, like this camera does feature X or Y slightly better than the other one. Or this comparable lens is a little bit less sharp than the competitors. Big deal.
What matter’s is the whole package, and what suits you and your subjects and your style, your eye, your creativity and your way of working. No one looking at your pictures will be able to tell what camera and lens you took it with. Choosing a camera system is an entirely personal choice, and one that only you will ever see the benefit of, so make that decision for the right reasons.
Oh, and don’t lose sleep over it either. 
Hey Chris I just finished reading 3 of your articles and I’m currently curious since you made the switch from Nikon to Canon, well I was about to switch as well until I was a bit disappointed with the D800, well I’d just like a quick question, do you still use the 35 and 85 combo on Canon 5D Mk III?
Hey Mike,
Thanks for your comment. Yes i was disappointed by the D800 as well. At the moment I am using the Canon 50mm f1.2, 85mm f1.2 and 135mm f2.0. I am waiting on buying a 35mm f1.4 (and finish my set) until Canon have released their long awaited 35mm MK II, but i am also very interested in the new Sigma 34mm f1.4, that sounds like a killer lens for not much money.
We did a comparison once in the studio using the same settings with a Nikon and a Canon, the cannon took better pictures, the colors are more vibrant. That was the time when I was convinced that Canon is better. Canon 5D MK III is great. Good choice there Chris!
That’s funny, Nikon does perform well in terms of flash, and a studio set up… may I ask what Nikon DSLR you used during the side by side comparison?
I moved from a Nikon D700 to the Canon 5D MKIII. Very happy with the switch.
Thanks
it’s good to know you’re using the trinity plus one or Canon’s big four, I personally have a 5D Mark 2 as well and the Mark 3 is exceptional, the only thing I noticed though is Canon’s entry level aren’t that great compared to Nikon’s (IMO), I also use a 600D just for daily use and leave the Mark 2 for paid gigs.
Re: I think the 35L is way much better than the Siggy, well it’s just me, unless you get to have a good copy and have a good calibration as well..
Well for me i am good enough for my Canon 5D MARK III
I switched too, haven’t looked back. Love Canon!
Bit late on reading this :-s
I’m in the same boat and currently using a D700
Hey Guys, I am a wedding photographer and am super fussy about getting tack sharp images! I have used a few Canons and have not been very impressed, when they are sharp they are sharp but the ratio is not high enough for me, and so I have seriously considered hoping to Nikon. I have used a 50D 7D and 5DII the 7D was the sharpest of the lot but still did not blow me away,…
Nikon on the other had is tack sharp 90% of the time, and i know 2 pro wedding photographers that have made the jump to it fot that very reason.
Have any of you had any AF problems at all?
Chris,
Give it a try on both Canon 35mm F/1.4 and Sigma 35mm F/1.4.I had tried both and I choose Canon.
Sigma has autofocus inconsistency and I dislike the dull and desaturated colour.Though,it is abit sharper as compare to canon.However,the colour is pretty turn me off.I fall in love with Canon 35mm F/1.4 just right after I make the 1st shot.The colour,the vibrancy,the contract and the bokeh is just amazing.