What's Up With Canon These Days?

Canon and Nikon have been leapfrogging each other for years. I don't see the point of switching brands now unless Nikon has a camera out that you absolutely, positively must have to do your work.

Cannon tends to release new models in the entry level segment every year. Nikon is closer to 18 months between updates, and as a consequence Nikon's updates always seem bigger. Well, they are bigger updates... but for every 3 updates from Canon vs. 2 from Nikon, the two brands remain evenly matched.

With pro level bodies, Canon currently leads the way with megapixels and Nikon has better high-ISO performance. Those are real differences. As you go down the line, the new Nikon D700 finally forced Canon to update the 5D, and then Canon & Nikon seem to divide and conquer: The Nikon D300 is slightly better and more expensive than the Canon 50D, then the Nikon D90, followed by the Canon XSi, and at bottom of the list the Canon 1000D and Nikon D60 (and the old D40) duke it out for anyone on a tight budget. Both brands also have an excellent selection of lenses and flashes that they also constantly update.

As for 15 megapixlel point & shoots offering the same resolution as the Canon 50D, that's simply not true. The lenses on point & shoot cameras are not capable of transmitting that kind of resolution - they top out at around 8 megapixels. To get the full 15 megapixels out of a 50D requires that you use professional quality lenses in combination with impeccable technique.

I use a Nikon D200 myself and this camera seems to offer everything you want...

* 10 MP, check.

* 11 AF points, check - although I only use the central AF point.

* weather sealing, check. I've used it in heavy rain in combination with a weather sealed lens.

But no ISO 128,000 (the D200 goes up to 3,200 and I wouldn't recommend going over 800) and no video. The D300 is better at high ISO and the D700 is much better. I look at the video feature as the new live-view and sensor-cleaning... a whiz-bang feature that will be probably be included on every new model. The purists will grumble that it's a gimmick and everyone else will gladly take advantage of it.

But here's the thing... is the D200 really that much better than the Canon 40D (or the D300 vs. the 50D)? And if you switch now, will you regret it if the Canon 60D does offer a vast improvement?

In my opinion, you can't go wrong with either brand. Just stick with Canon, treat yourself to a nice lens, and upgrade the body if & when they offer a big enough improvement for the right price.

P.S. I've never seen any of your photographs but I enjoy your work on this site ;-)

The only series' I read that I hated were Twilight and the last book in The Hunger Games trilogy. Also, The Inheritance Cycle wasn't amazing either. I think I just don't connect well with YA fantasy. They're almost always about young intense love, sometimes during desperate times, sometimes not. I hate it when a book/author loves their characters so much they don't want to do anything to horrible to them, give them consequences/everything turns out just peachy for nearly everyone, and conflict ensues without casualty. I don't care for near pornography in a fantasy series either. The suggestion or understated action is much better, in my opinion What I love: I have read a lot of diverse, original ideas. I also love the authors that can take a clichéd fantasy premise and write it so well that I don't care.

theres no question. i have the hp r937 (touchscreen)

but my dad has panasonic and nikon

my mom has a cannon, and its battery powered ( double a's ) and i think thats so weird