When professional photographers meet each other for the first time there's always one question that gets asked - "Canon or Nikon?" Depending on the answer, you've either found an instant ally or you end up making excuses for your choice of camera system.

Sure, there are other manufacturers out there but the Nikon vs Canon rivalry goes back decades. Once you choose your first digital SLR camera, it’s basically the beginning of a life-long relationship with a particular brand so you'd better choose right.

Both the top-end offerings from Canon and Nikon sport full-frame image sensors which means they capture photographs on a chip the same size as old skool 35mm film. There are two advantages to this - one being that those interchangable lenses you whack on the front of these things actually remain true to their size markings. A 50mm lens, known as a standard lens because it is roughly the same as the angle of view as the human eye, becomes just  that - a 50 mm lens. Most other DSLRs have chips smaller than a 35mm film frame which means a standard lens takes pictures more like thoseyou  use to get with an 85mm portrait lens on film.

Another advantage is the sheer number of pixels they can cram on these chips nowadays means top-range DSLRs can compete on image resolution with medium format cameras favoured by commercial studio and fashion photographers.

Both these cameras are capable of shooting multiple frames per second and are also completely sealed from the elements which means you can use them down at the beach or in middle of the outback without worrying about dust or splashes of water.

So what’s the damage on your wallet for one of these babies? Nikon’s D3x currently retails for around $13,000 and the Canon 1Ds MkIII for about $10,500. Cheaper deals can always be found online but often don’t carry an Australian warranty so in the long run it pays to buy from a local dealer you can visit for after sales support.

Can’t afford these but want the same resolution? Look at the Canon 5D MkII and the Nikon D700. They might not have the all the pro features but they use similar if not the same sensors as the top range models.

- DJ asb

For a chance to WIN a Canon EOS 50D - RRP over $2500 (w /lens) click here