Newsgroups: rec.photo
From: acs@csri.toronto.edu (Alvin Chia-Hua Shih)
Subject: Re: Bayonet mount strength of Canon EOS10s and the rest
Keywords: Nikon Canon
Date: 16 Dec 92 05:22:45 GMT

In <92Dec16.001139.28306@acs.ucalgary.ca> panlilio@acs.ucalgary.ca (Victor P. Panlilio) writes:

>As a mechanical engineer AND part-time professional photographer,
>this disturbs me. While I acknowledge that Canon's EOS line has
>some excellent technical advantages in autofocus, I've generally
>been skeptical of the line ever since the original EOS cameras
>were put on the market. [...]

What was wrong with the 620 and 650?

>                  [...] In doing side-by-side comparisons of the
>Canon EOS-1 and the Nikon F4e, I've ALWAYS noticed MORE vibration
>being transmitted to my hands. The same relative *flimsiness* of
>the Canon EOS-10s and the newer A2/A2E is also apparent when they
>are compared with the Nikon N8008s/F-801s and Nikon N90/F90. [...]

Granted.  But there *is* a difference in price between the 10s and
the F-801s.  And, you do get some interesting technology in the 10s,
like faster AF, bracketing, etc.

>                                                      [...]  I
>should also add that the Nikons use AA cells, whereas the Canons
>use the 6V lithiums. Much is made of the Canon's autofocusing
>speed, etc., but I find that with the newest D-series and AF-I
>Nikkors the Nikons are not exactly slow to autofocus, either. [...]

True, but it has taken *years* for Nikon to catch up.  Also, what
does it cost to drive these lenses?  You need an F90, or F4.  Not
exactly accessible to everyone!

>                                                        [...] In
>fact, two of the slowest AF lenses I've ever tried are the Canon
>50mm f/1.0 and the 85mm f/1.2 USM lenses. They are WAYYY SLOWWWW.

Nikon doesn't even have *anything* like these in AF!

>I'd hate to be using the EOS line in the jungle (yes, I've had to
>photograph in ultra-humid tropical conditions) or in subfreezing
>conditions (those 6V lithiums again). I have a friend who bought
>both the EOS-1 and the EOS-10s, and is looking for a way to keep
>the batteries warm in the camera so he can shoot wildlife in the
>winter. [...]

Then he hasn't been looking hard enough.  The NiCad pack for the
Power Booster E1 is supposed to be reasonably good at running the
camera at low temperatures.

For the 10s, JVB Designs makes a little 2CR5-shaped module which
can be plugged into an external battery pack.  The external pack
from JVB can be put in your pocket, or you can attach it to the
tripod socket.

>  [...] Needless to say, the Nikon F4e and 8008s do not have this
>problem, and one can always use them with an adapter to keep the
>AA cells inside one's parka. I'm sure there are EOS equivalents.

>There's a good reason why most working pros are still using Nikon
>equipment. Nikon sells *far more* pro-level equipment than Canon
>does, and that is not going to change anytime soon unless Nikon
>manages to alienate its loyal users by dumping the F lensmount.

To actually *get* the faster AF, these pros have to dump their old
lenses!  If you don't happen to have an F4$, you have to dump the body
too!  (And the F4$ doesn't have the fast AF of the F90 anyway.)

Seems like Nikon sells more pro equipment because they're so
technologically short-sighted!  (And their users are *too* loyal!)

>Victor 8^)
>(a very happy Nikon user who's tried but not liked the EOS line)

ACS
(A happy EOS owner who can't even afford to *try* the Nikon line.)

-- 
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Newsgroups: rec.photo