Sheila Smart wrote:Gees, there are a lot of Nikon users here
The history of the site is that we started as D70Users.com.
While initially a meeting point for D70 owners, we decided that camera
models truly have a limited shelf life, at least in marketing terms, and thus we renamed the site to DSLRUsers.
In point of fact, we have always welcomed all camera users, whether digital or film based, and whether Nikon, Canon, or whatever: we're about photography, and not pissing contests.
And yes, you're quite correct: once you've bought into a particular system, you are basically locked in because of the extent of the investment that you commit to.
As a general rule, I don't really see that as an issue, because I believe that both Canon and Nikon prodce lenses and cameras of exceptional quality, with the primary differences being ergonomics and feature implementation details, rather than specific image quality issues.
That said, my feeling is that Nikon ergonomics suit me better, and I believe that in the lower end cameras (D50/70 vs 300D/350D) the build quality of Nikon is somewhat superior to what Canon provides. Certainly, I dislike the tacky/plasticky feel that makes the low end Canons feel more like PHDs rather than real cameras.
Despite this, I would love to have an extended play with a 5D, as I do miss the benefits of a full frame image.