I currently use a pentax k10d and all f/2.8 lenses. However, i am concerned about the future of the company. As i start to book more weddings and more portrait sessions i am starting to want more from a camera. So i have decided to switch to either the nikon d300 or the canon 5d. i need help deciding on which one. every one i know uses nikon but i know the benefits of a full frame camera. i will cost roughly the same to switch over to either one unless this site is a rip off:
I would recommend staying with a reputable company...there are a number of them out there. I have purchased for B&H and Adorama. No problems with either. I know there are others, but definitely Google them, search for reviews, etc. before buying. Lots of bait and switch, gray market, and out and out scams out there.
When i was doing the buying thing, the one thing i always noticed was that i didnt get alot of option with Canon, They had nice stuff, but in the user control, I couldnt figure out a simple way to do any manual ISO, Aperture, or anything like that, it was more of a here your options are, select these and this is what you get, Nikon i didnt really get into cause the shop didnt have any I could hold Out of the box and play around with a little, But you should go to a local camera store and ask if you can see it, hold it, see what one allows you the most compatibility** for your price.
Can I ask in what way you feel your current equipment is holding you back? Sounds you have a nice collection of equipment, it would be unfortunate to spend all the money upgrading if it turns out not to be an upgrade.
That said, I can only recommend handling the cameras you are planning to get and seeing how comfortable the cameras and their controls feel. The best specs in the world are no good if your cameras aren't intuitive to use, particularly if you are shooting weddings where you don't have time to think "how do I do xyz on this camera?" When I did this last year after my (Minolta) gear was stolen, I found Pentax a lot more in tune with me than Canon or Nikon were - though, of course, this is an individual thing which is why it's important to try the cameras yourself rather than basing your decision on what someone else likes.
I shoot both Nikon and Canon. If you're sure the choice is between the D300 and the 5D, then I say get the 5D. That's not a knock on the D300. I personally like Nikon bodies better than Canon, but to me Full Frame trumps almost anything. If the D300 was FF, I'd say to get it no question, but its not. The only way I'd get the D300 over the 5D is if I needed a more versitle camera. I.E. you need 51 autofocus points and faster frame rates for shooting sports or wildlife. The Nikon D3 would be the best of both worlds but if you are on any kind of budget that probably isn't practical. The 5D has its faults though. It is a much older model, its slower, its LCD is crap, and the viewfinder is nowhere near as good as my Nikons. But it delivers excellent images at good resolution with really good high ISOs up to 1600. As I said I prefer Nikon, but for weddings and such between the cameras you are picking between, Id get the 5D.
(For what it's worth, it is rumored that Nikon will be announcing two new cameras in June and that one might be a 5D competitor. If so, my D200 will get sold to buy the 5D competitor as my back up to the D3)
While I did recently switch from Pentax to Nikon... I doubt the company is going anywhere. The Hoya deal looks to be nothing but good for the future of the imaging division, and even if they do go under, Samsung is perfectly positioned to carry on the K mount (much moreso than Sony was with Minolta).
