Newsgroups: rec.photo
From: acs@csri.toronto.edu (Alvin Chia-Hua Shih)
Subject: Re: Canon 10s Vs Nikon N90, Which one?
Date: 22 Dec 92 04:30:50 GMT

In <1992Dec18.031906.10270@cbnewsh.cb.att.com> kram@cbnewsh.cb.att.com (kameswar.r.ati) writes:

>For myself, I have narrowed down my choice to the Canon
>10s and the Nikon N90. However I cannot reconcile to the
>2 to 1  price difference in the 10s and a N90. For example

>Canon 10s  - Body + 28-105USM lens =  $570-590
>Nikon N90  - Body + 28-105  lens   =  $1100

Why I like the 10s over the N90:
- USM (fast, quiet, MF adjustment after AF without flipping a switch)
- greater variety of AF lenses
- cost (obviously)

Why I like the N90 over the 10s:
- faster flash sync
- focal plane sync with SB-25
- spot metering
- exposure data recording with the Sharp personal organizer

Note that in postings gone by, there have been comments to the effect
that the built-in spot meter of the N8008s is not as accurate as a good
handheld.  Hopefully the N90 doesn't suffer from the same problem.

Whatever you do, don't get talked into the N8008s.  It will not support
all future lenses (i.e. the ones with the internal motors) so its a bit
of a dead end.

Before being seduced by talk of the "legendary" support of Nikon
Professional Services, figure out how you join!  In Canada anyway,
Nikon treats amateurs rather poorly.  (Someone emailed me saying that
he has friends who took their F4's and F-801s to Nikon Canada for
warranty repair and were refused!)

For the extra money you do get more with the N90.  It's a matter of how
much these features are worth to you.  

Given that AF technology is still evolving, it doesn't make much sense
to look too far down the road.  I think Nikon shafted its N6006 and
N8008 owners by not allowing them to drive the AF-I and AF-D lenses.
Nikon owners think that Canon shafted all of the FD-mount owners by
switching the mount.  There are numerous incompatabilities between
Minolta "i" series lenses and "Xi" series lenses.  And AF hasn't been
around that long!

Thus, it would seem prudent to shop for yourself based on the
requirements of a "serious amateur" rather than "professional".  You
don't know that you'll be a pro.  If you do become a pro, you can
justify the big bucks.  And, when you become a pro, you can buy into
the state of the art.

That being my philosophy, I bought an EOS 630.  I *still* like it more
than the EOS 10s and Elan.  In addition, it's cheaper, and it will
drive *all* Canon AF lenses.  I will admit that the N8008s has some
nicer features (mainly faster flash sync), but it's *much* more money,
and, in my mind, Nikon has basically orphaned it now that they realize
Canon was right to put the motors in the lenses all along.  With the
money you save, you could add another lens to your system, like the
100-300 USM.

After all, it doesn't matter how good your camera body is if your
lenses can't reach the subject...

ACS
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Newsgroups: rec.photo