Nikon is better than Canon

(Skip reading and head to the bottom for a chance to win a 10% Nikon voucher or a nikon 1 sweater). Anyway.

Since 2003 when I got my first Digital SLR, I've been a pretty die hard Canon fan. I chose Canon over Nikon back then because the CMOS-chip in the Canon 10D was better than the CCD-chip in the equivalent Nikon camera. Canon also had a lens lineup that was better than Nikon, at least for me. Especially the Tilt&Shift lenses, and the f-stop 1.2 lenses. Good stuff.
Quite often I get questions related to photography gear, especially when people are about to buy their first DSLR or when they want a new lens. I always recommend Canon because I am very happy with my gear and I produce pretty ok results from time to time. My most popular articles are the ones about Canon gear (Canon 1Ds3+iPhone+WFT and Tilt&Shift photography) and they are read by hundreds of people every month.

Perhaps I am naive, but I thought the good PR and the sales that I provide to Canon would entitle me to some small measure of appreciation from Canon. Perhaps a small discount on their gear, perhaps even a "sponsored by Canon"-link of some sort that would make my efforts worth while. So, I wrote to the PR and sponsorship representative in Canon Norway.

The answer I got when I first wrote them a few years ago, was that the sponsorship money was all ready spent that year so there was nothing left for me. I wonder what that person did for the remainder of that year. Perhaps he/she was busy answering naive and overly optimistic emails like mine.

The last time I wrote, a couple of months ago, I got no reply at all. Well done Canon Norway!

Then, out of the blue a representative from Nikon Norway contacts me and asks me if I want to receive a) invitations to closed events, b) free stuff, and c) discounts on their products. Reason? I have a website, including a blog, about photography.

In this day and age where Business 2.0 is the new deal, social media is where people talk, and direct online contact with your customers and potential customers is alpha omega, Nikon is sure to beat Canon if they don't get off their behinds.

Not convinced?

Well, I've got a 10% discount voucher for Nikon stuff here, and a nice Nikon 1 sweater. Tweet or Like this article in the top, and you can win this voucher or the sweater. The Voucher only works in the largest Norwegian photo gear stores, but the sweater will keep you warm(er) anywhere on the globe. (I will ship for free anywhere)

Whoever wins the voucher is much more likely to spend money on Nikon, instead of on Canon. All because Nikon is connecting to bloggers and giving us something back.