I'm a former 30-year Nikon user who switched last November to Canon. I had 14 new (recent production)Nikkors and 4 bodies, and bit the bullet. In all those years, I never had a reason to look anywhere but Nikon. But in the last seven years, I began to be dissatisfied with the attitude Nikon has toward customer service. It wasn't so much the actual service, which was lackluster, but the attitude exhibited by the organization as a whole. I wasn't looking for full frame, or lower light performance or better files, or anything quantifiable. I just wanted reliable service when I had something that was broke. I bought a Nikon 80-400 off an E-Bay customer, who had excellent feedback, who assured me that the lens was a US lens, and I have no doubt he actually believed that. At a Galen Rowell workshop last October, the lens, in the case, accidentally fell off the bed in the motel, and bent. I discovered this when I tried to use it the next morning. I substituted the 18-200 instead for the day, (with very disappointing results). When I tried to have it fixed, Nikon refused to fix it because they said unless I could produce a receipt from an authorized dealer, they would assume it was a grey market lens and refused to repair it. I sold it on E-Bay as a faulty lens for $750, then proceeded to sell all my Nikkors and my four bodies, bought a 5D and 7 Canon lenses, including two T/S lenses, the 90 and 24, (always wanted T/S lenses, too).
One of the things which helped me make up my mind, was that the head of Nikon Customer Service admitted on a national forum, that they reserved e-mail service communications for NPS members, requiring all other customers to wait for snail mail communications. The fact that they were willing to pay a great deal more money to offer a lower level of service told me where their minds were at.
As for Canon service, so far I haven't had much opportunity to experience it. In the one case so far, I sent the T/S lenses to have the planes rotated so that the tilt and shift axes were parallel. The day after they arrived at the service center, I had an e-mail telling me that they would perform the work at no cost to me, and the following Monday, they were both back in my hands. Basically, all I had to do was to send them in, and they took it from there, in a proactive manner. I never had that kind of service from Nikon.
Remember, I didn't make the switch precipitously. It took them seven years to piss me off, and they gave me a reason to look beyond Nikon. Until I am convinced that the attitude has changed at Nikon Service, I will never buy another Nikon product as long as I live, for fear of having to deal with Nikon service.
By the way, I agree that the flash system is not as sophisticated as the Nikon system. I had three SB-800s and an SU-800. I bought three 580EXs and an IR controller for the Canon. So far I have used them with the same effectiveness and good results as the Nikons, and have not been limited by their limitations. They're good enough for my purposes.
I'm basically a happy camper. All I need is another body and a few more lenses, and I'll be back where I was before.
__________________ Dennis
White Balance so easy, even our 5 year old can do it.- Melissa Strickland
Last edited by Dennis_Vied; 08-20-2007 at 08:59 PM.
I've been a Nikon shooter since '72. I switched about a year ago for very much the same reasons as Dennis. The switch was far less painful... in terms of either costs or hassles... than I had always thought it would be. No regrets. Very happy.
I have to agree with Dennis's assessment of the Nikon Service department; I have had poor service every time I used them as well which I find very frustrating.
In fact I would say it would be hard for them to be much worse.
Not being a NPS member I am familiar with the snail mail method of responding to customers. This is interesting because when you call, one of the first questions you are asked is what is your e-mail address.
Someone once told me if you can’t make money at customer service you either don’t understand what customer service is or you are just not trying. I think this is true.
James Haba
White Balance so easy, even our 5 year old can do it.- Melissa Strickland
when I went digital i went with Canon (shot nikon pre-digital). I considered Fuji as I like nikon optics, but the four things that helped my make up my mind:
Service - canon has less 'attitude' than Nikon.
Support - Canon has a rep at every local PPA event and school. Nikon? Never seen them (fuji used to come) canon supports pro photographers.
Technology - canon has more models, more choices and updates them more often.
Users - more people shoot canon...that means easier selling off gear, more choices to buy used gear, or borrow it in a pinch, more folks to seek advice from, etc.
Is one actually better in day to day use than the other? I've not used Nikon digital under the same conditions as Canon, so i defer that call to those that have.
White Balance so easy, even our 5 year old can do it.- Melissa Strickland
Is one actually better in day to day use than the other? I've not used Nikon digital under the same conditions as Canon, so i defer that call to those that have.
I am in the process of discovering just that. I'll let you know after about a year.
__________________ Dennis
White Balance so easy, even our 5 year old can do it.- Melissa Strickland
I hope you all also sign up for Canon CPS. If you need the forms or info Let me know. I dont know if I have it with me, but I know I have it in AK and can email it or post them then if you are interested, or I should still have the email in my email at Gmail, and could forward it and the attachments to anyone that needs it. CPS is very helpful! Take care
I too switched to Canon with the digital jump a few years ago - after 25 years with Nikon (I started when I was in elementary school - ). Anyhow, it was quite painful as this was right after 9-11 and work was dead. It was essentially a last-ditch effort to do something to distinguish myself. I had been shooting digital at times with Nikon, and all film with Nikon. I saw more and more clients wanting me to deliver digital files and I struggled too much with the images from my Nikon. I heard a presentation from Denis Reggie about the original 1D and was sold. If he could get great images with "just a little bit of adjustment" then it would be nirvana.
As it turns out, it was not Nirvana to switch to Canon, but was a whole lot easier. I'm still working on making it better but am amazed at how much easier it is to deliver good images with "just a little bit" of work on the back end. Now if I can just become a better photographer.....
White Balance so easy, even our 5 year old can do it.- Melissa Strickland
Linear Mode
