Switch from Nikon D80 to Canon? Advice?

I currently have a Nikon D80 with the standard 18-70mm kit lens and a 55-200mm VR. I am a young photographer that enjoys shooting fairly regularly. I mainly target landscape, portrait and macro work. I am not interested in studio photography at this stage. I line of photography that I would like to branch into is sports photography.

Main question: I have just seen the new Canon 450D and am beginning to feel jealous of it over my Nikon. Is this justified?

I have also looked at the range of lenses offered by both companies and I am beginning to favour Canon's line-up.

I would like: which is better, Nikon or Canon? I am looking to add lenses to my collection but do not want to purchase a load of Nikon kit for me to 'jump ship' later on.

Should I make the jump now?

I have heard that a lot of sports photographers use Canon kit, is this correct?

Please guide me? I would like a rundown of what do you think is the best kit for each of the photography styles listed above?

fr the longest time, 35mm film professional photographers, used Nikon cameras majority of the time because of the great Nikon lenses. When the shift to digital images happened, Canon came up with their Image stabilization lenses that became popular with sports photographers. My suggestion to you is that you should keep the Nikon brand that you have because you already invested in the Nikon lenses and flash. I knew someone who has a Canon setup and he changed to Nikon because the Nikon D300 came out. I think is not a good investment and thinking. I think if you have either a Nikon or canon digital SLR, you should stay with that brand and keep using the lenses you have. The person behind the camera is still the most important part of the photography equation. I like the Nikon D300 and I swear by it, but it is an easy transition for me because I used to have a Nikon 100 and all the lenses that I can just use again.

In sports photography, the D300 has 8 frames a second and if you want lenses, Nikon has a vast array of VR lenses for ports like the 600mm f4 VR. These super long lenses cost between $7500 to $9000.

Don't be too caught up with equipment design, if you have Nikon stay with Nikon, if you have Canon, stay with it. Neither would really have a big advantage over each other in the long run. It is what system you can do your work and either will be fine.

Canon is just a tad better than Nikon is some ways but not all. In your case, you would have to of had at least 30 years of photographic experience to see a difference in areas where most shooters don't. So, unless you can sell your current D80 and break even, you might as well keep what you have because you won't really gain anything by switching ships.

You can't go wrong with either brands. You don't you stick w/ Nikon, since you start build a reasonably good collection of lens already.

If you keep thinking the glass is greener at the other side, you are going to waste a lot of money and achieve nothing.

Don't you know that Nikon lens system go way back? You will still able to use a 30+ yrs old lens on your D80, because Nikon still using the same mount.

Stick with your Nikon. It is just not worth switching. You have invested a good amount of money in your lenses and equipment and it would cost even more to switch.

Canon and Nikon both make professional quality cameras and lenses. They are of equal quality.

I am a Canon guy by the way.

sell your Nikon D80 and buy a Canon

My advice is to pick one and stick with it. Your gear has already lost a ton of value, and you could probably just upgrade your camera or lens arsenal for the cost of switching religions.

Al ot of sports photographers use Canon, and a lot use Nikon. The Nikon D3 is pretty much 'the' sports camera, but Canon lens are seen everywhere at sporting events. This might simply be because they stick out a little bit more - being the only white lenses - but both companies are fantastic.

Really, both are wonderful camera systems. Both are constantly coming out with new cameras and their specs will take turns being on top. You could keep trading back and forth, spending more and more money, OR you could stay with what you have and focus on the important part of photography: the part with the actual photo-taking.