This isn’t a scientific example by any stretch of the imagination. And comparing one lens from Nikon vs. one lens from Canon isn’t fair especially since we have so many other factors that are different such as sensor size, different sensors, autofocus systems, metering systems. I did edit both photos using Adobe Camera Raw with the same settings. The cameras in question are the Nikon D90 and the Canon 5DII.

Just in handling and auto focus I like the Nikon’s capture of the subjects – I was able to nail the shot in one try. And it took several attempts to get the Canon to duplicate the shot made by the Nikon D90. But here you can see side by side comparisons at about 100%. These were cropped so you can see the difference.

Nikon 105mm VR vs Canon 100mm IS

Nikon 105mm VR vs Canon 100mm IS

If I was to pick a winner I would go with the Nikkor 105mm f/2.8 VR. A lot of that is just from my gut in my selection. In testing the Canon 100mm f/2.8 IS this week I have been feeling the Nikon just gives me better results. And I think that is one reason I decided to keep photographing with both camera systems. I was really close to selling my Nikon gear to replace it all with Canon. But that 105mm is hard to beat. If you don’t have one you should go out and buy one.

Or get it from amazon.com.

Over the weekend I have ordered some lens hoods for my new Canon lenses. In my adoption of Canon cameras and lenses I have been noticing the differences between Nikon and Canon. And there are some things that are just glaring differences. Almost all the Nikon lenses I have ever purchased came with a lens hood. Of the 3 Canon lenses I have purchased only one came with a lens hood. Maybe Canon only ships lens hoods with their L series lenses. If that is true that is just stupid.

Well, amazon.com has a huge selection of Canon lens hoods.

Why would I suggest you use lens hoods? Two main reasons. First the lens hood helps cut down flare and improves contrast in a photograph. If you have bright lights shining at the lens then it does wash out an image. If you want to test this use your hand to shield light from the sun or bright lights. And you will hopefully see the contrast difference. Second, I use lens hoods as protection for my lenses. I don’t believe in using UV filters on the front of my lenses for protection. And (knock on wood) lens hoods have acted as perfect protection for the front glass element of my lenses.

Why would I spend $300-$1500 on a nice lens with excellent glass and precision optics and then place a piece of plastic or a cheap piece of glass in front of the lens?

The only filter that I would use is a circular polarizers. The circular polarizer helps make blue skies bluer and clouds more contrasty and bold. It also helps make colors more saturated. Polarizers also help reduce reflections on water, green plants and even objects. They are the one filter Photoshop can’t imitate.

So there is my mini-soap box on lens hoods and circular polarizers.

This is pretty cool – the two top 50mm lenses from Nikon and Canon. You will probably notice the size difference between the two lenses. Canon’s 50mm lens has a über wide aperture of f/1.2 and Nikon is limited to f/1.4.

People will often complain that professional lenses weigh so much – well that is due to physics and if the lens is made out of metal, alloy, or plastic. More and more Nikon lenses are made from plastic – at least on the outside.

Will Nikon ever make an f/1.2 50mm lens? They already do! However, it is manual focus. I have heard from someone who heard from someone who works on Nikon lenses that the Nikon mount cannot support an f/1.2 lens if that lens has a focusing motor onboard. I don’t know if that is true. However, Nikon’s lack of f/1.2 is one reason I am adopting some Canon gear.

Nikon f/1.4 vs. Canon f/1.2

And aperture really is my deciding factor when buying a lens. If I can afford the wider aperture (lower numbers) then I will buy it. Otherwise I will upgrade when I can. The Canon lens is so much larger because the glass has to be so much wider. It is huge! But it helps the camera shoot in the dark and my favorite feature is the control over the depth of field.

Nikon f/1.4 vs. Canon f/1.2

Nikon f/1.4 vs. Canon f/1.2

Yeah, I was and still am saving up money for the Canon 85mm f/1.2 lens – that is the gold standard lens that I have been lusting after for quite some time now, however, it is about $1900 online and it is going to take a while to save up the dinero for that bad boy.

In the meantime I figured I would take a baby step in that direction by investing in the Canon 85mm f/1.8. Is there a difference in the two lenses besides that magic f-stop? No, that is ridiculous what kind of stupid question is that?! I kid. The 85mm f/1.2 comes with a lens hood. Oh, and the 1.2 is an L series lens.

Right now I have one Canon lens – which is ok – but what happens if I am out photographing and that lens breaks? Then I have a camera body with no lens. I have my Nikons to pick up the slack – but it’ll be nice to have a few Canon lenses.

Also – photographing with a full frame camera – such as the Canon 5D Mark II I have realized that 50mm almost feels like a wide angle lens. So the 85mm will give me a little bit of a feel of a telephoto.

My luck? I will probably get the 85mm in the mail before my Canon 5DII gets back from repairs.

And I am also thinking of buying a Canon 28mm f/1.8 – that would be a baby step till I can afford the Canon 24mm f/1.4. It is weird – Canon has a HUGE selection of lenses – much more than the Nikon world.

I think most photographers have a favorite lens – and that they keep that lens on their camera almost all the time. I would say that I am a fan of my Canon 50mm f/1.2 (although that lens is my only Canon lens right now). It is on my camera 100% of the time. For my Nikons I find that I use my Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 80% of the time and only change it when there is a need for a different lens.

So I decided to ask photographers on Twitter and Facebook what their favorite lenses were and here are some of the responses:

• favorite lens is the Canon 24-70 f2.8L USM. It is pretty much glued to my camera body.
• I love my 70-200 2.8 IS.. I love the depth of field I can get with it &I love the crisp photos it creates. I use it 50%
• My 85 1.8 is my favorite, but it’s my least used since it’s not practical for my usual applications. 28-75 2.8 is most used
• Canon 28 2.8 (I’m on a crop sensor) is on my camera 60% of the time.
• I use my 50mm 1.8 the most. Want to replace it soon though, it’s getting old..
• Great question. My favorite lens is my 35/2 Leica, but I don’t use it the most. The lens that gets used the most is the 24-70 on the D3.
• 24-70 2.8 %95 of the time

Recently I received an email asking which lens to buy – and they were comparing a Canon 24-70mm f/2.8 and the Canon 24-105mm f/4 IS. They like the functionality of the IS (image stabilization) but they also like the f/2.8 of the other lens. (hey Nikon and Canon – when are you going to build a lens that is 24-70mm with f/2.8 AND VR or IS?)

My recommendation was to buy BOTH! Actually I am joking. I recommended he try them out first and then decide from his experience which lens he could buy. I recommended he check out http://borrowlenses.com. For about $100 he could rent both lenses for a week and see which lens he liked more.

There are so many types of lenses out there – and lenses that meet the different needs and budgets for each photographer. And I would highly recommend renting or borrowing a lens to try it out before you buy. There is nothing worse than buying a lens and then never using it. I have one or two that just stay in my camera bag.

Me? I will go for aperture over VR or IS. It isn’t just photographing in low light – it is creating the magic blur behind the subject and you really can only do that with a wide open aperture.

Maybe I should write my next post on which lenses you should consider…