Nikon vs. Canon

[J. Craig Shearman]

Any other still photographers among us film collectors? I've been a Nikon user for 30 years and I'm always amused by the Nikon vs. Canon arguments, just like B&H vs. Eiki vs. Kodak, film vs video etc. I've decided to have a little fun with it and just started www.nikonvscanon.com (http://www.nikonvscanon.com)with monthly scores on whether Nikon or Canon is winning (based on photo contest results in Popular Photography and Shutterbug). Take a look, and be sure to click on my Google ads so I make some money. :)

[David Brooks]

I am a still photographer and have used Nikon cameras for more than 30 years. I have all of the Nikon reflexs from the F to the F3hp. I never bought a F4 (too costly). I also have in my collection, the Nikkormat series, FE, FG, N series and a couple that were never sold in US (to the best of my knowledge). I am currently using the Nikon D-100 digital camera and F-3hp and N-90 for most work. I also collect cameras (about 500 cameras) including some Canon cameras. I do have a Canon digital (G-5 a 5 megapixel camera) for point and shot applications. Probably there is little difference between the Nikon and Canon - but then I am prejudice to Nikon.:D

[J. Craig Shearman]

That's quite a collection! I have four F2 bodies, two of them with motors, and an FM with motor, about 15 lenses (all Nikkor primes except one Tokina zoom) and a bunch of filters, accessories, etc. Lusting after a D200 at the moment. My only Canon is the Canonet GIII QL17 rangefinder from the early 70s, aka "poor man's Leica." Used it quite a bit for snapshots til the advance mechanism started slipping and having fits. Cheaper to replace it than repair it but mostly I use an Olympus Epic Stylus (the one with the very sharp 35 2.8 non-zoom lens) point and shoot for snapshots.

[David Brooks]

I also have some Lecia cameras. IIB, IIIB, IIIF, IIIG, M3, M4, M6, M7 and a bunch of the Russian copies of IIIB (FED, Zorki and others). I had a Nikon SP back in 1960 and traded it. Dumb me! Most of my camera collection is 35mm cameras from the late 1940s through the mid 1960s.

The Nikon D200 looks nice. I have 12 Nikkor lens and also Sigma, Tokina, and others all for Nikon reflex mounting. If you want to get into a 35mm nice rangefinders, look at the Voigtlander (now made by Cosina). I bought a couple without breaking the bank along with lenses that work real well.

[Jim Latendorf]

Back in the late 1960's and early 70's, I always drooled for a Nikon F series camera. And, as far as getting a Leica was concerned, out of the question. Couldn't afford them. I settled for the classic Minolta SRT-101. Not a bad camera for the money. My brother got one for me at the BX when he was "stuck on Guam" in the Navy. Came with the f1.2 lens standard while stateside ones came with a f1.4 or f1.6 lens. I still have it and it works like new. I still like the manual method of shooting stills. One Minolta fanatic said once; "Give me a SRT-101 loaded with ASA100 film and I can shoot just about anything". Optics where "OK" but not Nikon. Ernst's lenses are still the best.

Optics is key, here.

I read once that the Leica rangefinder cameras (M series) where the only "court approved" cameras. Quiet shutter action.

Fun stuff

Jim L.

[Jim Reid]

One Minolta fanatic said once; "Give me a SRT-101 loaded with ASA100 film and I can shoot just about anything".

I bought an SRT 201 back in '77 and I feel that way about it. Still works great.

[David Brooks]

Minolta makes good cameras. You mentioned the f1.2 lens, way back in 1963, when I was in the USAF stationed in the Philippines at Clark AFB, I bought a Canon 7 range finder with a f0.95 lens at the BX. I shot some pictures inside the tunnels on Corregidor Island without flash using Tri-X that turned out! However, the f0.95 lens was notorious for very soft focus on the edges. I traded it in for a Lecia M3 in 1965.

I have a large collection of Minolta's subminiature (16mm) cameras in my camera collection but do not have the SR-101 SLR in my collection.

[J. Craig Shearman]

Back in my newspaper days when courts first started allowing cameras into the courtrooms again (after banning them back in the 30s or 40s) the preferred camera as a Leica rangefinder. There were lots of concerns about cameras being obtrusive and one issue was noise. Leica rangefinders could meet the test the courts set for noise levels, but SLRs, especially with motor drives, could not. Some photographers put SLRs into "blimps" similar to what they use when shooting stills on movie sets and achieved the mandate levels of low-noise that way. But a lot of people used Leica if they shot in a courtroom. Good excuse for some low paid newspaper photographers to get their papers to spring for a Leica body or two and lenses to go with it. Minolta SRT 102/202 were on my wish list before I got my first Nikon F2. Saved my pennies for it when I was 16. Still have it and it still works 30 years later despite times when I was burning through easily 500 rolls a year.