Let me tell you the story of how and why I am now shooting with Nikon. I grew up with Nikon, having shot with the FM2, F90x, F100 and even with the Kodak DCS 760 which was modelled after the F5, and which was my first digital camera. It was as big and as heavy as a brick. I remember paying close to $18,000 for it. I then started shooting with the Nikon D100. I found that I wasn’t getting consistently great results with the D100, so I then switched to the Canon 20D. It served me well for a while and soon started shooting with the 5D and then with the 5D MkII. At the time, I found the quality of the Canon system to be better although I always preferred the ergonomics of the Nikon system. I had been shooting with two 5D MkII’s for a few years and was very happy with the results, as long as I didn’t shoot higher than 1600 ISO. I found the camera to be reliable and the focusing fast.
In May 2011, I photographed my gorgeous friends, Dave and Quin Cheung while I was presenting a workshop in Toronto. I photographed Quin as a modern day geisha and she looked absolutely amazing! It was a shoot that I had been looking forward to for quite some time. Several years earlier when I first met them, I remember saying, “I want to photograph you naked!” They freaked out a bit but then I replied, “Don’t worry, I’ll be naked.” We all laughed and have since become the best of friends. (By the way, I will be featuring the shoot in upcoming chapters of my educational web site, the Ice Society – www.theicesociety.com). During the shoot, I knocked over one of my 5D MkIIs and it fell off the wall and onto the sidewalk. The body cracked from the fall and was completely unusable. Since I always shoot with two cameras, I just accepted that I would buy a new one with with the insurance money once I filed the claim. The problem was, I was getting ready to leave overseas and would need both of my cameras and I didn’t think I would have enough time to purchase a new one before I left.
Rewinding my story just a bit and going back to January 2011 at the SWPP convention in the UK, I won their major award – the Photographer of the Year among 10 accolades. The prize that was given to me for winning that award was a brand new Nikon D3s with a 24-70mm f/2.8 lens. The rumours around the industry at that time was that it was the first Nikon digital camera to rival if not better any Canon digital camera, but I never even took the camera out of the box. I simply left the box on a shelf in my studio and didn’t think twice about it. It just didn’t seem worth it to me because I wasn’t about to invest in Nikon lenses and suddenly change everything I had because I would have to replace up to 8 lenses and still get another body.
But soon after I broke the 5D MkII, I borrowed a Canon 1D MkIV and shot a wedding with it because I was considering buying it to replace my broken camera. I enjoyed shooting with it the whole day, but it wasn’t full frame and I just love shooting full frame. Because I had become so used to shooting full frame, it just didn’t feel right to me. So I quickly dismissed that camera as being an option. Finally, my curiosity got the better of me and I pulled that Nikon D3S out of the box and shot with it. Three letters…W-O-W! Ignorance apparently is bliss! I had no idea how amazing the D3s was. When my friends and students would tell me that the D3s was the best DSLR on the market I would quickly dismiss them and say that it’s “the chef and not the oven” and didn’t need another camera system. I quickly purchased my favourite lens, the 70-200 f2.8 and a SB-900 Speedlight. The camera and buttons seemed comfortable again and the muscle memory I had built in my early career came back to me very quickly. The focusing was super fast and using focus points other than the center one was very reliable. The crowning jewel, though, of the D3s is without a doubt the amazing quality with high ISOs! I’ve never shot at any ISO above 1600. Now I find myself regularly shoot with ISOs of up to 10,000 quite comfortably. For a while, I shot with the D3s and the 5DMII was my back-up camera but I discovered that I hardly ever used the Canon again. So since June 2011 I have been shooting with the D3s exclusively and I have just invested in more lenses including the 24-120mm f/4, 85mm f/1.4, 50mm f/1.4, 14-24mm f/2.8, 105mm Micro, 45mm tilt shift and the 16-35mm f/2.8.
I can’t wait for the Nikon D4, and from what I hear is the best DSLR ever made. I haven’t had a chance to use it yet but I’m really looking forward to getting one soon. I am the first to tell or teach you that your camera is only a tool and that you make the difference. That being said, I am getting shots with the D3S (because to the great quality at higher ISOs) that I have never achieved before. The camera is allowing me to provide even better results to my clients.
Welcome back to the BEST camera maufacturer on the planet !!!!!!
Kev
wuhooo!
I’m speechless!!! If I ever get to the level photographic expertise that you are at, I’ll def invest in an amazing Nikon!!! You crack me up!
Was there not a movie that had the line…”Yes ladies and gentelmen hes not as dumb as he looks!” Ahhh, yes, Ghosts of Girlfriends past where Matthew Mc(Whats his name) was a photographer and yes he was shooting a Nikon camera!!!!!
PS, Kidding about the looks thing, it was just in the movie
Booo… wish you’d come to this conclusion before I purchased my 5D2 haha! I do love the Canon but the iso is a problem and like you say I’m missing shots where the only way of getting it is to crank the iso up so high that it’s too grainy and soft to use. Man I want one of those Nikons!
I could cry!! I just bought the 5D2 this past weekend while waiting for the 5DIII….The BEST photographer ever switches to Nikon…wish I had known…too much invested now…pray that Canon follows suit!
Awesome first hand account of your experience Jerry! #winning ! HAHA
the low light performance is pretty spectacular and i’m hoping that by the time i upgrade our 5D Mk1s (all four of them), that level of ISO magnificence will have found its way onto the 5DMk3 or whatever it is by then!
Nikon ALL the way – it has always been the best! You know it!! Great ad for Nikon! You go Jerry
Oh dear Jerry, please shoot my wedding with your Nikonssss… I mean it
Cheers!
Jane
Welcome to the dark side . . .
Hey Jerry,
The Nikon system is definitely an amazing one for all the reason you stated, and I recently had the chance to play with a pre production D4 which really does take things to another level… however there is the Canon 1Dx which is just as good if not (marginally) better.
I’m a canon shooter and have been incredibly frustrated at their sluggishness in replacing the 1Ds Mk3 (which I love) but they really have pulled the rabbit out of the hat with this machine. the Low light focusing is just out of this world as is the high ISO performance.
I cant wait to have the 1Dx for a day next month before the launch and really see what it can do!
I’m looking forward to seeing your results with the Nikons
Sanjay
thank you!! i’ve been asking this question for the past year. i wanted an honest opinion from someone who has shot with both. not the fan boy that has only shot canon or nikon saying WHOOOT WHOOT.. this is it baby.
i’ve been at the point to invest in more glass, but not being kinda ugh on the canon focus.. i needed some real answers. so it looks like i FINALLY have the answer and from someone i truly respect. thank you thank you for taking the time to write this.
a future nikon shooter.
Thanks for sharing Jerry, it was really interesting to get your perspective on this, the ISO is definitely a restriction on creativity, I mean how much noise reduction can one do in PP??!!
Great history, you can’t talk about some system if you don’t know both sides. I’m a Nikon user and I love it, but I can’t say nothing against Canon equipement, because I never has been use seriously. When somebody ask me which is the best, I only have an answer: use what you feel good.
Way da go Jerry – Welcome back to your first love! Looking forward to what that extra ISO bump delivers to your creative output.
Cheers from the UK
Paul & Debbie Dakeyne
Its my first time on your blog and all I can say is: Great to see with a Nikon!
I’ve always been a Nikon user until a Canon manager asked me “What will it take for you to shift?” and offered me cameras and lenses at a ridiculous price. “She said if you are not happy with it, sell it at 2nd hand price and you’d still make money.” it made sense… so I did make the jump. I was excited for the new gear and shifted. Over a year after, as i was reorganizing my hard drive, i saw the shots and the difference. I loved the shots i took with my old camera more. Thats is when I decided to go back to Nikon for good (though I am still open to the idea that canon can come up with a better camera in the future though it has not happened yet).
I am glad you shifted!
Lets be honest though. Jerry could shoot with an iPhone and still produce award winning photographs. As he said “It’s the Chef and not the Oven”, but Jerry is some what of a special case when it comes to his creativity.
On a side note, we are still waiting for “THAT” image to be shown Mr Ghionis.
hello Jerry i too use two systems. Nikon and Canon.
but i find i seldom use Canon.
im happy you shifted perfect choice.
Oh Jerry!!! You have made my day! I shoot a D3s and my first time using it I shot a BB King Concert…10k ISO and near pitch conditions except on stage…and little to NO grain! It was instant LOVE!
As a Nikon shooter I would like to welcome you to the club. I agree that they are making great cameras. Especially for the high demands of wedding photographers. I have also been told that the Nikon wireless lighting system is much better than Canon’s.
Welcome to the dark side Jerry
fabulous story & now i want to upgrade my Nikon to the D4 too! i am looking forward to seeing the Geisha images! Love you guys!
Canon fanboy need to read this
I went the other way, I needed to upgrade my D300 to a full frame camera and had been using Nikon ever since going to digital. The toss up between the D700 or the 5D MK2 meant after a lot of pros and cons the 5d mk2 won. I often shoot up to 6500 ISO and love the grain; when it’s too much a little touch of Nik software Dfine 2 and it’s a great improvement, here’s hoping the MK3 is even better as I wont be swapping manufactures again its way tooooo expensive! Each leads for a bit then the other takes over.
waiting 5D Mark III
oh “S**T” many years ago I invested in canon 5D and then 5D mkII with L lenses in particular the 70-200 2.8. Not only that but also an ST-E2 transmitter a lowel ID light etc etc…….. why because thats what you used!!!
Try the 1dx mark iv and you will switch back. Lol.
I’m back for a little more inspiration : )
Thanks for the story Jerry. Now lets see if Ryan Schembri follows suit even after being snubbed by Nikon.
[...] after the F5, and which was my first digital camera. It was as big and as heavy [...]… Jerry Ghionis Blog This entry was posted in Real Wedding and tagged Ghionis, Hello, Jerry, name, Nikon, shooter by [...]
Its my first time on your blog and all I can say is. If you were fantastic in canon, do not even want to think about nikon. uffffff
Jerry,
Welcome back. Please do not leave us again. Obviously Canon’s lost is a huge gain for Nikon. Can’t wait for your next video on Ice Society. I am going to join.
I am a Sony shooter and i chose that brand because of the ergonomics that i love. That said it’s true that Nikon ISO possibilities are greater than any brand, and you feel more comfortable shooting at high ISO’s, which is something that wedding photographers need. Ahhhh why not changing to Nikon too? Kidding
You had a D3s just “lying around?” Lol. I would kill for a D3s right now, never mind the D4. . .
Welcome back Jerry, Though I have never shot with Canon before, I am in tottaly love weith my Nikon D3 & D3s, I have placed an order for D4 and can’t wait to have that either, Every shot is wow to me and just so glad to have you with Nikon.
I totally agree with you. I’ve been using the D3s’s, have 3 of them. I always tell people in my workshops about the super quality, but people that use Canon just defend their territory. Maybe since they have a lot of money invested! HA!
What a great story! I too have shot with both systems, and rent a Canon here and now just to get the feel of it, so I can tell my students the differences “I feel”, but this… YOU switching! all I have to do is give them this link!!!
GREAT HAVING YOU BACK!!!
That is just about how I came back to Nikon… well sort of. I shot the film bodies for a long time, then moved to Canon with the D1 flop. When the D3/D300 came along, I suddenly went back and have been really happy with the D700′s. Cannot wait to play with the D800 soon.
Ok Jerry that’s it!!! You switched so I can follow you anymore.
Just kidding
. If I had the money I’d get one too.
As a long time Nikon user, it’s nice to see you make the switch. I can’t wait to see what you’ll be able to do with the D4.
Best of all is that you invest in Nikon primes’ glass. Now wait and see D800 with these lenses. And no, 5d MkII focusing is not what you need. You can say its fast (as you said) but I can not say the same for its accuracy
Hey Jerry, Am also scratching together for a D4, am starting to create fusion slideshows and it’s got to make things easier. take care, Jay
Welcome back!
great gear helps to get the look and great editing makes the style.
Quick!!! Go buy the exact same equipment that Jerry has so that you’ll be able to be as creative as he is as soon as the camera is in your hands….:lol:
As photographers we probably have more equipment than is needed to do a job that 99% of the clients will accept as being phenomenal – i.e., if you have the talent that goes with it. If you’ve got the money, why not? Maybe your talent will instantly go up. However, do you have the revenues? Now, where can I shoot in total darkness to benefit from the camera’s quality?
C’mon, pull down the shades in church or inside somewhere, I want to shoot high ISO. Why because the camera can do it. And, I insist in not using any other type of lighting, not even a small flash.
What will we do when Jerry goes medium format on us? Better start saving the $30 grand now…:)
Love your work Jerry. I could tell you were shooting Canon because it has a “certain” look to the images just like Nikon has its own signature. Regardless, of which system you use, your work is simply a pleasure to look at. I met you in Orlando and bought your every deck of cards. Your inspire many of us to become better than the week before!
How inspiring to see a truly original way of putting your pictures together, it really emphasises the moment, mixing various shots together as one
Love your stuff!
Welcome to Nikon Jerry!
I’d LOVE to see what you can produce with the Nikon D-50 6mp and a 17-55 kit lens and a Vivitar 285 flash! You rocked the iPhone now lets see you “inspire” ME and use the same gear I have.
I wanted to send you the very little remark to finally thank you yet again considering the breathtaking information you have provided on this website. This has been particularly open-handed of people like you to make publicly all that many of us might have distributed as an electronic book to help make some bucks for themselves, notably since you could have tried it if you ever wanted. The inspiring ideas as well served to be the good way to comprehend some people have the same passion the same as my very own to learn more in regard to this problem. I’m sure there are some more fun sessions up front for many who look into your blog post.
Any thoughts about coming back to Canon with the 1Dx now appearing to best the D4?
I saw you write 16-35mm f/2.8. That’s a Canon lens
Anyway, do you preffer 16-35mm f/4 VR or 17-35mm f/2.8? Also you forgot about 70-200mm f/2.8 VR2, that you always preffer 
I love that lens, even is Nikon or Canon!
like he said.. a camera is just tool and you make a difference!…nuff said!
Hands down. Nikon!!! Full frame is the best. Love the colors.
the most amazing wedding video i’ve ever seen. a beautiful insight into who you are and a joy to watch. thank you for sharing!
Thanks for sharing, from another happy D3s customer!