Which way to go?

J

jamesmallonuk

Well-known member
It seems we are in the birth of a new era of filmaking product with DSLR's and RED coming along for the ride. But as we all wait for that holy grail of 24p full 1080p or more...etc. Which brand is the best to go with for the long haul. Sure you can buy adapters for lens etc but why when we can hopefully stick to the best brand long term. So the question is what would be the best brand to go with particularly in the area of the Lens. Obviously on this section there will be bias for Nikon but what about Canon and other brands for that matter like Olympus, Pentax or higher end brands such as Mamiya.

So who is the company that has the best track record as a camera/lens maker and is likely to be the best to stick with?

Please no answers like 'Nikon rocks!!' give reasons based on real and past knowledge if you have some of the different brand strengths.
 
You don't have to worry about people being 'fan boys' in here. I've yet to encounter one in the D90 forum. It's more just about specs from a camera to camera basis.

Right now I would say the GH1 is the best DSMC, although I hope that something better replaces it soon.

It is way too early to tell which system would be your safest bet, right now I use Nikon, and feel confident that they will pull through with something great.

If you have the money to invest, I would say RED is the safest future proof system. But the RED system is the most professional video camera, and shoots RAW, and is the most costly. Costs about 5 times as much to get the same sized sensor; although there is a lot more to weigh than just sensor size.

Canon seems to want to weaken it's own DSLRs video capabilities, while Nikon has not yet fully stepped up to the plate with a DSLR with full manual controls. But because Nikon needs the money, I would assume that they will make a great DSMC with the D400. But like I said, too early to call.
 
artforme said:
Right now I would say the GH1 is the best DSMC, although I hope that something better replaces it soon.
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Agreed, on paper it looks very good, the only current VDSLR with manual control.

As for lenses.

Nikon lenses can be mounted on Canon EOS bodies - Canon lenses cannot be mounted on Nikon bodies.
 
I don't understand the question. What would be the point with sticking to one manufacturer? An adapter is just a metal ring and all third party manufacturers like sigma make their lenses for all mounts. I like nikon stuff myself, mainly because it's been my weapon of choice since i started shooting 30 years ago, and i want my rings to be turning the right way. When it comes to motion pictures i'm an arri guy. Aatons fail and panavisions are heavy. In video i like jvc gear but the last few years they've completely lost it.
 
Arri! what are you talking about? The question is for those who actually know about DSLR brands and if they can share what is generally thought in the industry about them. ie who makes the best glass, or what is each brands strength is....I know different cameras/lenses have different abilities and strengths but to put it in more simpler terms who makes the best cars Nissan or Volkswagen and why.

I like the look of the GH1, but really would you buy this camera if say the d400 becomes reality. I dont think so.

Many people who have worked in video area don't know much in the area of DSLR photography/equipment and particuly brands like Pentax, Olympus etc so this could be a chance for those who DO know to share wisdom. And those who don't which includes me to listen.
 
VDSLR? sounds like something you get from a skanky ho, If the VD is for video wash you mouth out with soap. DSMC? I'm calling them HDSLR's.

I agree the GH1 looks good on paper and appears to be the best option at the moment but we can't be sure until we get our hands on it. I might be getting one from japan in a few weeks so I might get to be the resident crash test dummy.

You started shooting 30 years ago.... I'm gonna start calling you Gandolf.

I have to admit I've always had a thing for Nikon slrs and lenses but the beauty of the panasonic is I can use an adapter to fit my Mattias vintage nikkor glass.

Long term? hehe I've had my D90 for 3 months and it looks like it's already obsolete. My lenses however are 30 years old and will outlast me.

The way to go? Well the HDSLR is just the "brain" and a small part of the cost of a digital compact movie camera system. Most of the guys here have invested in rigs with stabilizers, sound recorders, follow focus, matt boxes, prime lenses...etc As Lee mentioned Nikon glass is the most adaptable and will work with a canon or panasonic brain. The great thing is we can toss one brain and get another from another manufacturer that has better specs.

It's not so much a question of which brand to go with but what you can get with what you can afford. If I was to buy a red brain I wouldn't have any money left for anything else. My nikon lenses cost twice as much as my D90 brain and they are all 2nd hand.

Nikon rocks! Panasonic rocks! Canon sucks arse!
 
squig said:
You started shooting 30 years ago.... I'm gonna start calling you Gandolf
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well, i started early, i'm only 36. ;-) super 8 and 35mm stills that we deloped in my dad's darkroom. then came video, my dad bought a crappy vhs camera and i got the super 8 and slr stuff, and the rest as they say is history. :-)

/matt
 
matt is it that time of the month? rofl

It's not about brands but features and image resolution. Right now the GH1 looks the best on paper but we wait to see what the picture looks like. The D400 doesn't exist at this point and nobody knows what it will be capable of.
 
Well youguys really seem to know a lot about DSLRS, so its not about the brand at all is that right? As you seem to feel you are experts in DSLR, tell me how does the Pentax glass generally compare to say Olympus.

So did I get that right there is nothing to distinguish the major brands?
 
Ive been nikon for 20 years with a massive lens investment

I think the 5d is the best movie dslr right now but they are all flawed

If you look at Canon/Nikon story over the last decade Canon often get out of the gate first then nikon slowly catch up and catch up better

Nikon late with AF, Late with 250 synch speed, losers in the MP race

Remember 2001 the nikon D1 (4mp) and canon 1d 12mp (I think it was like that)

it was really hurting to be nikon

Now for stills I thnk the D3 is possibly the best DSLR ever - not just on paper spec but in actual daily professional use - Im so happy with it having been so frustrated with all DSLRs that I bought a Hassy H1

Same pain is there right now for video - IMO the 90 is not in the same league as the 5d2 (I own them both) - so for video its hurting to be nikon

However there was a notable lack of any video on the D3x which leads me to speculate that they will enter the 'pro sector' late and properly the a D4 or suchlike

Of course nikon dont have a video division to fall foul of too - we see bizzare actions from canon that just scream protectionism

On a tecnical note - the nikons glass can always fit canon but not vice versa due to the bayonets to chip distance

So I vote Nikon for the big picture

S
 
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So lets get this right there are only two brands of DSLR Nikon and Canon?





by the way thanks for the advice on the Canon and Nikon compatibility.

I'll get no joy here i'm off to a photography forum.
 
Well I have never met an operating professional (earning 100% from photography) '35'mm photographer who doesnt use canon or nikon

They have a masive base of repair, spares, hire, huge lens ranges from ultra fish to extreme telephoto - pro requirements - and most imprtant - if your kit goes down you can blag a set off your mates until you are sorted

None of this may matter to you

In terms of technology the superiority of these brands may be historical bagage because the sony alpha range looks good on paper at least

the best stills forum is LL

S
 
jamesmallonuk said:
how does the Pentax glass generally compare to say Olympus
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it depends, there's no "generally" in my opinion. the point is that you can use for example sigma glass on your pentax or olympus too, and with an adapter you can use nikkors on most too due to the long flange distance. i haven't used much pentax glass but there's really no big difference between brand, there's much more variation in different series from one brand. olympus glass is "generally" great and the price is often right, especially for manual lenses.

again, i don't understand why you'd want to go with only one brand. this is not necessarily a rhetorical question, if you have a good reason let's hear it.

/matt
 
morgan_moore said:
Well I have never met an operating professional (earning 100% from photography) '35'mm photographer who doesnt use canon or nikon
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i know one who uses an olympus µ-1 for most his stuff. he's really well paid and critically acclaimed too. he's obviously not using it because it's good though, but because it's bad. ;-)

why do you have to earn 100% from photography to be a pro? if so i'm 50% amateur director, 25% amateur photographer, and 25% amateur cinematographer. also i used to work 20% in a video store, was that a job or a hobby? ;-) many press photographers write too, many ad guys are also art directors or whatever, and so on.

/matt
 
So matt are you thinking of getting a GH1 and that olympus lens?

you forgot to mention 100% pro smartarse
 
i won't be shooting much video for a while, so i'll wait for the next generation nikon, but if a gig shows up this fall the gh1 is a hot candidate, especially with that olympus lens.

can you get paid being a smartass? damn, i wish i had known that yeas ago. wait, didn't i work as a journalist for a while? ;-)

/matt
 
You dont have to be operating 100% as stills man to be a pro - I was just saying all the ones that I know that do operate 100% use Canon or Nikon

They are the established 'pro' brands

Does that make them better brands - Im not one to judge especially in these fast changing times

It does however mean that there are loads of great used lenses around and a large knowledge base

Back to the topic of the thread I beleive Nikon will get there given time - historically they do anyway

S
 
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