I donâ??t know about you, but whenever Iâ??m at a party or friendly gathering and meet a fellow photographer for the first time, almost without fail, the same thing happens. There are the normal how-do-you-do type pleasantries, then you realise you’re both photographers and there’s some small talk and then, before long, the kit question comes up.
Other Photographer: â??So, Canon or Nikon?â?
Me: â??Canon. You?â?
At this point something very interesting happens. Depending on the answer, youâ??ve either made a new chum or, for all intents and purposes, a die hard enemy. OK, that might be putting it a bit strongly, but if youâ??ve been in this situation youâ??ll know what I mean. Providing you both use the same make of camera you get to chatting, often obsessively, about photography and before you know it your other half is annoyed with you because you still havenâ??t gotten her the vodka and cranberry she asked for an hour ago. Should the makes differ however, something entirely different happens. You make polite small-talk for a few minutes then, as soon as thereâ??s a suitable gap in the conversation, one of you makes an excuse about having to speak to someone else or needing to make a phone call and thatâ??s the end of that.
I donâ??t think it’s anything to do with not liking the other person, or even a lack of respect for the way they go about their jobs. There isn’t time to really learn anything about each other in those few short minutes, yet for some reason the different kit creates an insurmountable gulf between photographers. Of course if youâ??re friends first this doesnâ??t happen, but there will always be the tongue-in-cheek, slanderous remarks exchanged whenever the topic comes up.
Iâ??ve spoken to some of my photography chums and theyâ??ve found that the same happens to them too. Interestingly Iâ??ve just thought about it and without exception we all use Canons. There isnâ??t a Nikon among us? How odd.
I find this baffling. I wonder how many collaborative opportunities have been missed because one photographer uses different kit to the other. Itâ??s so short-sighted yet the majority of us seem to do it. Why is there such segregation between Canon and Nikon camps? Is there a group of Nikon users, similar to me and mine, who are pondering the very same question? If so, weâ??d love to hear your take on the subject.
Oddly, I’ve not come across too many photographers that use other manufacturers, but I wonder if the same divide is there too.
Now, weâ??ve tried to stay away from the Canon vs. Nikon debate on TDM. Mostly because we feel a good photo is a good photo and why should it matter what was used to take it? However, that being said, itâ??s always interesting to know what kit people use. So, what do you use? Canon, Nikon or something else? Let us know in the comments and weâ??ll come back to this at a later date with the results.