Anyone gone from a Nikon D80 to a Canon 40D?

[VxDuncan]

Anyone done the following? I'm thinking the unthinkable, having changed from Canon (300D) to Nikon (D80) a couple of years back, I'm wondering if time might be to go back to Canon. I love the quality of the D80, and the punchy colours, but the High ISO noise and amp glow for long exposures are getting to me a bit, plus it doesn't like firing off a shot if the lights too low or it doens't have focus (not good for astrophotography). Seems the 40D would be better for High ISO stuff (which is a lot of my photography as I prefer natural light). Also being able to get a std 17-55mm F2.8 IS lens is a big pull, there isn't an equivilent for Nikon.

I'd be looking to change
Nikon D80
17-50mm F2.8 Tamron
24-120mm F3.5-5.6 VR AFS Nikkor
10-20mm Sigma Ex
50mm F2.8 Sigma EX Macro lens
80-200mm F2.8mm ED D Nikkor
2x Kenro teleconverter, plus spare batts etc.

For:
Canon 40D
Canon 17-55mm F2.8 IS
Sigma 70-200 F2.8 HSM (can't afford the Canon L IS)
Possibly 10-20mm Sigma

Don't think I should be too out of pocket, though would miss the 10-20 if I couldn't run to it.

Anyone done anything similar? I hate the idea of abandoning Nikon (love the brand), but usable 3200 ISO and IS on the standard fast lens would be great, along with liveview for focusing at the telescope.

Any advice either way?

[cirks]

can't help with your dilema much but Canon used to do a version of the 20D (the 20Da) tailored for Astro-photography. Don't know if there is a 40D version or not or, might even be worth checking whether Nikon do - at least that would save your lenses.

[Elderly]

If you want to keep all your Nikon fit lenses, you could try a Fuji S5pro;
it's very good at high ISO.

Do you really need IS on a 'standard' lens?

[VxDuncan]

I was aware of the 20Da - very expensive! Shame they never took the idea further. I think the camera was a low volume test bed for the live view. Good cam though. My use is 95% travel photography so main use is daylight. Might have another look at the S5 and see if it lives up to the hype. I guess the D300 might be on the cards too, but god it's expensive!

[flat-planedCrank]

VxDuncan said:

Anyone done the following? I'm thinking the unthinkable, having changed from Canon (300D) to Nikon (D80) a couple of years back, I'm wondering if time might be to go back to Canon. I love the quality of the D80, and the punchy colours, but the High ISO noise and amp glow for long exposures are getting to me a bit, plus it doesn't like firing off a shot if the lights too low or it doens't have focus (not good for astrophotography). Seems the 40D would be better for High ISO stuff (which is a lot of my photography as I prefer natural light). Also being able to get a std 17-55mm F2.8 IS lens is a big pull, there isn't an equivilent for Nikon.

I'd be looking to change
Nikon D80
17-50mm F2.8 Tamron
24-120mm F3.5-5.6 VR AFS Nikkor
10-20mm Sigma Ex
50mm F2.8 Sigma EX Macro lens
80-200mm F2.8mm ED D Nikkor
2x Kenro teleconverter, plus spare batts etc.

For:
Canon 40D
Canon 17-55mm F2.8 IS
Sigma 70-200 F2.8 HSM (can't afford the Canon L IS)
Possibly 10-20mm Sigma

Don't think I should be too out of pocket, though would miss the 10-20 if I couldn't run to it.

Anyone done anything similar? I hate the idea of abandoning Nikon (love the brand), but usable 3200 ISO and IS on the standard fast lens would be great, along with liveview for focusing at the telescope.

Any advice either way?

Take a look at the new D300 ? They've swapped to cmos now so i'd guess that it might rival canon for its high iso noise.

I have a 30D at the mo, but if i was making the decision between the 40D and the D300 now i really don't know what i'd go for (I almost went for the D200 instead of my 30D. Its really nice )

If you want high iso perfomance then how cheaply are 20D / 30D's now ? maybe £300-500 ? Could you just have the canon for the telescope shots ?


Hope this helps (or at the very least complicates the issue )

[5H4K]

Try http://www.neatimage.com for reducing ISO noise.