Why Nikon?

It’s probably apparent by now that I’m a big proponent of Nikon. Not that I don’t appreciate, own, and use many other brands of camera, but many followers have asked me why Nikon is my camera of choice.

Truth be told, it didn’t start out that way. I learned Photography on a Minolta SR-T, and my first serious camera was a Canon. But when it came time to get really serious about photography, Nikon offered some substantial advantages, aside from the excellent ergonomic design of their Modern SLRs.

First of all, unlike all other SLRs, Nikon did not change their mount when they migrated to auto focus in 1983, with their F3AF. You can still use most F-Mount lenses dating from 1959 on any Nikon SLR since 1977, including today’s Full-frame and APS-C DSLRs.

Second, due to Nikon’s rather long flange-focal distance, Nikon lenses are in a way, “Universal” lenses. Lenses constitute a much greater investment than bodies, so it makes sense to get as much use out of them as possible. Nikon lenses are easily adapted to Canon and other bodies without the degradation caused by corrective optics in the adapter. Even as a Nikon user, if Canon comes out with a must-have EF or EF-S lens body, I can use it with many if not all of my Nikon lenses.

Third, Nikon has more “star” lenses that other brands, and even more star “legacy” lenses. Professional Canon users frequently adapt Nikon lenses because the equivalent lens is simply not available in the Canon lineup.

Nikon F to Canon EOS lens mount adapters have no corrective optics to degrade performance. They are also incredibly thin. This G version allows aperture control on the newer G lenses which have no aperture rings.

This version also features a chip for focus confirmation.

Nikon F lenses mount to Canon EOS camera bodies almost as if they were made for them. The EOS mount is larger than the F mount, so one part of the mount can fit inside the other. The latest version from Fotodiox has both an aperture lever for use with G series lenses, and a focus confirmation chip, making it possible to shoot in aperture priority mode (the primary choice of professionals).

It’s not unlikely that there will be a Canon body in my future.