Harvey Gryttenholm <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote >We never can be certain that the postings on this list have much >effect on Nikon's decisions regarding new products. The warning is simply that I post this with a frightened and queasy feeling. I have never partaken in the infamous mud-slinging foolishness of the Nikon vs Canon debate. I purchased N some 30 years ago and feel "locked-in" simply because of the non-interchangeability of the products stemming from differing lens mounts. I have NEVER even TOUCHED a Canon. Until this past weekend that is. I met a fellow while out photographing eagles. (I was going to say "shooting eagles" but that didn't sound right at all!) He had a new Canon EOS 3 behind a 300mm f/4 Canon lens. The real rub was that his Canon 300 f/4 coupled to his Canon 1.4X TC allowed shooting at 420mm WITH AF. I understand that I can not do this with the Nikon 300mm f/4 AF. Furthermore Canon offer a 400mm f/5.6 AF. Nikon does not. Adding insult to injury is the way the Canon bodies offer a pre-release MLU function that does not involve the old-style lever that even the F5 employs. Those of us who have tried using a lever at an EFL of 1120mm will appreciate how difficult it can be without shifting the subject in the frame even when the gear is mounted on a very substantial 'pod & head. It takes more time too. I am a tad envious. If Nikon is listening . . . please shape up. There are some definite gaps in the glass department and deficiencies in the body options list too. Incidentally, my interest is bird photography with lenses ranging up to an 800mm f/5.6 Nikkor used with the TC-14B. Wishing for a user-friendly MLU feature and a 400mm AF option for in-flight photos is not a mere capricious whim. I feel Nikon has sort of "let me down" here. If I were"starting over", I think Canon would be my weapon of choice. As it is I find myself considering the 400mm F/5.6 Canon with a low-end body. Had Nikon been on their toes, I would not have to ponder this (for me) painful financial decision. Terence A. Danks Nova Scotia, Canada http://www3.ns.sympatico.ca/danksta/home.htm
