How come Canon seems to make it all work, even the G3, with the SLR flash units and Nikon can't seem to? Also the new digital lenses are not backward compatible with the film SLR's. This after I dumped my FE-2 and AI lenses to go with an N-80. I was thinking about going to Canon, but didn't because of all the Nikon flash gear I had that would work with the N80. Canon also seems to have figured out how to make full frame sized sensors for their digital cameras, so I expect to see that trend continue down into the lower priced ranges shortly. The D60 has been discontinued and rumor has it that a killer new model replaces it. Perhaps with a full frame sensor?
If Canon does that, Nikon will be forced to follow. Then all their new digital lenses will not work with the new larger sensor.
I have observed the compatibilities/incompatibilites of the camera industry for years. Olympus, from the OM-1 forward seemed to be the compatibility leader for years and years. Backs, drives, lenses, and flash it all worked from the OM-1 to the OM-4Ti. In the AF era, Canon has been the leader. With some limitations, the IS lenses work on an EOS 650 or 620. Nikon did OK for a while, but when they came out with their silent wave lenses, it all seemed to begin unravelling. Then the VR lenses don't work on older models, then the G series lenses don't work on older models or MF bodies. And now the flash compatibility, once a strong point, is becoming a major headache. Further, in the middle of all this, they bring out the FM-3a, a sort of retro move, while at the same time introducing new G series and digital series lenses that are incompatible with the body. Can you spell P-L-A-N A-H-E-A-D ????
Having said that, I lugged my N80/MB-16 with a 35 f/2 and a Tamron 70-300 (1:2 macro) and a 1.5:1 multiplier on a cruise around Cape Horn. Anybody need any sea lion shots? I was shooting the 70-300 with the multiplier, hand held from the deck of an 80' powered catamaran in high winds and tossing seas. I figured with the motor vibration, the pitching deck, and the buffeting of the winds; I'd be lucky to get one sharp picture out of 5. So I shot lots and lots of film. Guess what? Everything came out sharp as a tack. So now I have a large surplus of sea lion shots, snow capped mountains, the world's southern most lighthouse, and lots of sea birds. I used the matrix meter in P mode with single shot AF, and everything came out beautifuly on Kodak Max 400. Some of the shots were taken at 450 mm. I was amazed!
The rest of my shots were taken with several point and shoot models. Primarily with my new Canon Classic 120. It does a fine job and the "personal" setting on the mode wheel is wonderful. I had it set for spot AF and flash OFF, and it worked out beautifully. It's also a nice solid little camera and is small enough for even shirt pockets. The lens is excellent and as reviewed by Pop Photo, is just about flare free. It was supplemented by my Stylus Epic and my Pentax Espio Mini (in the US it was the UC-1 and was silver, not black like mine). Both are fast, fixed focal length lenses (35 mm f/2.8 and 32 mm f/3.5 respectively)and both are very sharp. I use the Epic for outdoors since it's weatherproof, and the Pentax for indoors as it has a much more uniform flash. Flash on the Canon is very good, but the lens could be wider for interiors. I was concerned about lens speed on the Canon, but with ISO 400, it was never a problem. Outdoor shots from both the Canon and the Epic rivaled the N-80 with the 35 f/2.
Jerry
