I used Canon cameras for many years.  I was always an enthusiastic amateur.  But somehow I never felt comfortable with my cameras.  Then, last year, I changed to Nikon and bought a D200.  The D200 is like my best friend - every time I pick it up I am inspired; it feels great and when I take pictures it is as if the camera is an invisible extension of my brain.  I shoot away in my studio with the D200 and a 35mm F2 and I'm in heaven.

Although many peeps have difficulty with the D200, I get excellent results; hell, I've even had 198 out of my last 200 accepted at StockXpert...

But I have always been mindful of advice from Hidesy - submit the largest file sizes possible, because that inspires confidence in buyers.  She uses a Canon 16mp thing; her stuff always shows XXL whereas mine is capped at L.  She tells me this makes a big difference in sales; not in sales of XXL, but buyers see the XXL and think "Ah - a professional......."

But Canon seem to be widening the gap; not content with the 16mp thing, they've now got the 1Diii with two internal processors, now the upcoming 22mp monster and even a 40D with a further two processors.

I notice that all of the top microstockers use Canon - Hidesy, Lise, Yuri, Andre.

I love my Nikon, but I want XXL.  I hope Nikon makes some announcements soon otherwise I'll really have no choice but to change. The D2X is not an option because that only just scrapes XL.

I'm pretty much an amateur and have been shooting Nikon (D50) and Olympus (E-330). The new Canon 40D has my attention and has enough of the right stuff that may make my jump ship. I do love my D50 though and really had my eye on a D200.

Well, Canon have made their official announcements, and mighty impressive it is too, with a whole new range of pocket cameras, lenses and of course the 40D and 22mp monster.

Two of the new pocket cameras have CMOS 12mp sensors.

As I indicated earlier, 10mp is now very much 'consumer' and if I want my pics to shout 'professional' I am going to have to make a jump to 16mp pretty soon.

Let's see what Nikon have to say later this week.

Just three or four years ago, 3mp was 'consumer' and 4mp to 6mp was the professional end of the market.  How times change.

With Shutterstock and Fotolia specifying 4mp minimum, how long will it be before 'stock' agencies up the minimum to 6mp or even 8mp?

Let's see what Nikon have to say later this week.

The largest investment is glass, not the body. Once you're stuck with one of the two religions (Nikonism or Canonism), there is no cheap way to convert. And whatever Canon comes up with, Nikon will follow sooner or later. And vice versa too.

Whatever the MPs, it's still the sensor size and the glass that counts IMHO.

Well, Canon have made their official announcements, and mighty impressive it is too, with a whole new range of pocket cameras, lenses and of course the 40D and 22mp monster.

will be a great little camera ..........if you want to shoot license plates from the  space station.......   I agree, it is getting a bit ridiculous.

I've been shooting Canon since 1969 and I've had no problems with a single one I've had. And I can tell you,  I beat the crap out of them. They've been dropped in rivers, dumped in snow, hiked thru dust storms, desert heat, blizzards.... and keep on shooting for me.  On the other hand, I've a lot of friends that are Nikon people and they can tell the same stories (many times they were right alongside me on shoots).  You can't really go wrong with either one.  They're both top of the line!
    The point was made, that the glass is just as important, if not more.  And if you have a lot of money invested in the lenses...  why jump ship? 
      Nikon vs Canon....  six of one, half dozen of the other has been my experience. They are both great  shooters with great lenses and top of the line accessories.

     I'm shopping now for a 5D. 

This may be an excellent chance for people to get a used Canon 1Ds MkII as pros begin to unload theirs in favor of the newest stuff. It wouldn't surprise me if the price for a used one drops below the price of a new 5D - keep your eyes open if you're in the market!

Don't count on many used Mark II for sale. 16MP is already on the limit of what some of the Canon L lenses can resolve. With 21MP, that selection will grow even smaller, except for those who use third party glass from Leica or Zess. My guess is that the Mark III will sell much slower than the Mark II, and if Nikon really launches an FF camera on the 23rd, the whole picture will look very different overnight.

Exciting times   

With 21MP, that selection will grow even smaller, except for those who use third party glass from Leica or Zess.

It's true but I havent noticed that it is problem with traditional analog photography. Film resolution is about 200 lines per milimeter [lpmm]. New Canon's resolution is 156 lpmm. There is still quite big distance to the resolution of analog film and the lenses are the same.

I was thinking today about ditching my 1Ds MkII for a Mk III. 22MP would allow me a huge amount of downsizing room, and I'd never have to worry about blur or noise.

... perhaps in the new year, when the initial surge has abated a bit.

I just want to know the specs and availability date for the new 5D. 14bit is really required for some of the pics I have to post process. I am wishing for 16 MPix though.

See DPreview.  The new G9 thing has a 12mp CMOS sensor, so does the new A640 (or something).

The G9 looks like a good thing to tuck in a pocket.  I'd like to see a detailed review first.

I should modify my original post on Canon's...  Every Canon I've owned since 1969 has been an SLR. All of those I have been very pleased with.

   But  about a year ago I got my wife an A620..  I'm not thrilled with it at all.  The quality of the shot is just not there even though it's more mp than my Rebel... I regret buying it and wish I had just spent a few more bucks and bought her a rebel or xt..
    Soon as I get my 5D, I'll pass my Rebel on to her and sell the 620.  Her former pocket camera was a Sony Cybershot... now that little thing took 'kick-butt'  pictures... just too small.   -tom

Well, scratch my earlier comment about jumping ship. The D300 announcement is keeping me solidly in Nikon.

Hi. Any experience with DX lenses? I just started shooting D2XS after years of film+Nikon Prime lenses... I thought maybe I'd try a zoom lens... 17-55 DX and 35-70 2.8 G... both highly rated, and fairly pricey... but...

I'm now considering going back to prime lenses for sharpness demanded by stock.

Thoughts?