Have you ever taken the time to figure out what it would cost you to switch brands? I always read about guys that switch back and forth whenever something cool comes out for one brand or the other, but I never really took the time to consider what it would cost.

I'm not looking to switch by any means (hell, I've got a Canon on pre-order) but I was curious enough to do the math...

Just counting the big ticket items like bodies, lenses, flashes, and a couple accessories, I would need to buy $12,700 worth of gear to make a lateral move to Nikon. If I included all the batteries and other random Canon equipment, it would probably be closer to $13,500.

Of course I could sell a lot of my stuff, but adding up the used market value for those things and I'm at around $8850. That would mean I'd need to cough up $3850 to $4650 to make the switch. It's amazing how fast that adds up! I'm assuming the guys I read about on the forums fall into one of three groups:
1) they have too much money
2) they only own a body and a lens
3) they shoot professionally and can write this stuff off


I know there are a lot of guys here that have pretty big kits. Have you ever added up what it would cost to switch? Or if you recently made the switch, what did it cost you?

 

Yep, I did the math when the 5D came out.

I'm too invested in Nikkor glass, and would NEVER come close to recouping the cash to make it worth the switch.

In the end, being I am more of a Nikon fan anyway, I am glad I waited it out.

And 3) writing it off....doesnt make THAT much of a difference. I write off all my camera gear (as I will write off my D3) and its not a deciding factor for me when if comes to buying gear like this.

 

Let's just say that when I made the change from the D70s to the 40D, I sold the Tokina 12-24mm and the d70s + grip + batteries + SB-600 flash, and still had to wait a couple months before I bought the 40D (due to university course payments of course..) but still, would've taken me a few months regardless.

 

Hmmm.... It would probably cost me.......my marriage.

 

Its worth it....

 

Woah sailor...youre way off course here. You need a map to get back to ramblings proper?

 

I sometimes come in here to mess around with SS and Dan....It's good for their marriage...

 

About 2 k to go to a comparable nikon setup.
Just 2 lenses, a low end flash, and a 10mp body. It isn't much stuff, but it's still more than my skill can take advantage of.

Heck if I hadn't bricked my 300d I probably still wouldn't have upgraded to to a 10mp camera. I don't think I've run into a area where the extra features of the 400d were really needed, but I'm a pretty casual hobbyist compared to ... some people.

 

considering I only own 4 lenses, and bought them all used within the last 6 months or so, I think I could get back nearly what I spent on them. Lenses in general don't depreciate too fast, but as with buying and selling anything online, especially from Hawaii, all my money goes to USPS/FedEx/UPS. My body (XT) I bought used like 2 years ago as well but it is old, so I probably lost like $250 on that, and all the other little stuff, CF cards, battery grip/batteries, not sure all my filters would match up, etc.

I am still very much considering buying a 5D hoping used prices plummet once the new one comes out. So while that's not switching brands, I'd still have to basically start over. I could probably only really afford a used 5D anyways if I sold all my non-compatible lenses.....or I could go w/ a 50d, keep my lenses, but it would hurt a lot more on the wallet up front. I figure I'll decide if and when the 5dmkII is ever announced.

 

all my equipment - $13,000. not switching anytime soon

 

heck im trying to just figure out how to make the switch from nikon crop sensor to nikon full frame without braking the bank with all the crop sensor glass I own.

 

traitor. I helped you get that d70 fool.

 

Not knowing how much the comparable Nikon equipment would cost, all I can say is I'd probably lose around $1200 on my gear. I'm guessing I'd have to spend close to $5k?

 

ive thought about this, but yea it would end up costing me more.

 

Yeah yeah, I know.

That camera was awesome. I still miss it.

 

 

Dan, I don't have quite as much invested as you, but I do have four lenses and the 40D, plus various peripherals, so I don't think I'll be switching any time soon. I'd just lose too much. I honestly think there isn't that much to be gained in switching between Canon and Nikon. Even with Nikon's recent surge, both brands are very good, and Canon is certainly good enough for my needs. I can't say I haven't been tempted, but I won't be switching.

If I really want something better, I'll just move up the Canon lineup.

 

:ibjupitersolosaysmorethan50k:

 

^ Bet you its more.

 

For me, the biggest shock was adding up all the little things that I've acquired over the years... the off-camera shoe cords, the timer remotes, the wireless remotes... all those little things add up in a hurry. Not to mention they'd be a pain in the ass to sell. I'm sure I could sell it all, but I like to deal locally but just given the number of gizmos I'd have to offload, I'd be driving all over the place for weeks to meet people.

If the ~$4000 price difference wasn't enough incentive to stay with a brand, the annoyance factor of having to sell all this stuff would do it for me. I guess I'm a lazy bastard.

I think if I had to do it, I'd just keep the current gear and just start building another kit from scratch.

 

truthfully I think thats probably how the guys that shoot professionally do it. they probably just have the lens they use 90% of the time for both brands and buy whatever body is best and then when they want to switch just sell the bodies.

 

To replace what I have, over 30k, that's because Nionk glass is about 20% more than Canon. More for Sony's new glass.

I have thought about it because of the 14-24.

 

I'm only about $2,500 in.

Still wouldn't switch though. I love my D300 too much.

 

Ditto.

Well, except the Nikon part....

 

id say im about 3,500 into canon

 

Well i spent 950 when the rebel xti was out got it stolen right out of my car so i lost 950.

Then had a chance to start fresh so i got the d80
about $1200.
sb800 $300
tripod $300
50mm 1.8 $118 sold it
18-200 vr $649 damn them for having that sale. (300 off now)

Sold the d80 to a friend

d300 - $1800
50mm 1.4 $230
70-200 2.8 vr 1800 after taxes.

For me to sell off my gear for a fx its not bad.

I have a friend whose in already 8 lens but going to d700. Dang he told me the cost of losing alot of dx lenses haha....

 

 

he's talking about switching brands, ie Nikon to Canon, not DX to FX

 

Well he sort of did switch once his canon was stolen.

 

Long time ago switched camera systems. Big loss for me was learning the new camera cost me many photos...all the dials and such were in different spots or turned the opposite way. But that was before autofocus and was film...
Recently bought into dslr, and had some old Nikon AF lenses. Tried Canon and didn't like the feel of the camera and lenses I tried. Stayed with Nikon (d80, d40X for my better half)
Ken Rockwell has some interesting thoughts about value of cameras and lenses on his site. Wish I could afford a D300...or 700!
DaveL

 

Please don't mention that name.

 

Lol, K.R.?

 

wtf!!!

 

I think I'm at around 6k. Although, it would cost me weeks in knowledge. I can work settings on my D300 fairly fast. Having to forget one brand's layout and switch to another brand's layout will confuse the hell out of me! I don't know about Canon, but Nikon's switches and buttons layout is awesome!

 

so i was looking at the prices of a D700 plus the mb-10 battery grip. If i sold all my gear that is all i would be able to afford, ahhah a d700 + grip and no lens.

as for a D300, i could do that, and maybe get only teh 70-200 VR