Canon vs. Nikon

[mofunk]

I'm not a beginner but when I chose my camera I took a hard look at what was important to me. I like the menu screen flow better than the other.

Then other factors I needed

Battery life
Top LCD screen
Lens choices (like having the use of older lenses)


Nikon or Canon

Nikon D7000 or Canon 7D

Nikon D90 or Canon T3i

good luck

 

[firestarter]

I'm a Canon owner, with a 550D and a 5DII.

I think Nikon has a nice line up of low end cameras at the moment. Nikon have done a good job in recent years to introduce a couple of good primes for DX sensors... while Canon has neglected this part of their lens range.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

Mirrorless cameras are the future. DSLRs will be a niche product in 10 years. Hardly anyone will be lugging around these big bulky cameras for much longer. I ditched my Canon 5dII for a Leica M9 and couldn't be happier. Sure there's a lot the 5dII could do that the M9 can't, but the M9 goes with me everywhere quite nicely. The NEX and micro4/3 cameras are great too.

In terms of value to a beginner or amateur, the crop-sensor DSLRs from the major manufacturers are vastly superior to the Leica, simply because the Leica costs as much as a decent used car just for the body...for what that M9 body costs, one could buy a Canon/Nikon/Pentax/Sony body plus several pro-quality lenses, extra batteries, memory cards, a tripod, a bag, a book about photography, and Photoshop or Aperture!

I have no doubt the Leicas are fabulous cameras...but they are far too expensive for the beginner.

 

[Vudoo]

Mirrorless cameras are the future. DSLRs will be a niche product in 10 years. Hardly anyone will be lugging around these big bulky cameras for much longer. I ditched my Canon 5dII for a Leica M9 and couldn't be happier. Sure there's a lot the 5dII could do that the M9 can't, but the M9 goes with me everywhere quite nicely. The NEX and micro4/3 cameras are great too.

The Leica M9 is a great camera, but what are you going to do when you want to go beyond 90mm? A rangefinder or a 4/3 system would compliment a DSLR, but it can't really replace it. Mirrorless, NEX and 4/3 cameras are in the future, but they will not make the DSLR a niche market.

 

[koruki]

This may sound immature, but get the brand that most of your friends have. This will allow you to borrow different lenses to try before investing. This is the only valid point in terms of which brand you should choose.

 

[macjonny1]

The Leica M9 is a great camera, but what are you going to do when you want to go beyond 90mm? A rangefinder or a 4/3 system would compliment a DSLR, but it can't really replace it. Mirrorless, NEX and 4/3 cameras are in the future, but they will not make the DSLR a niche market.

Haha I didn't mean to suggest the Leica M9 now that is definitely a niche camera. What I meant to say is that I would really not put the question as Canon vs. Nikon but rather DSLR vs. mirrorless camera. It's all an opinion of course but I think that over the years there are going to be fewer and fewer people buying DSLRs when they can get awesome IQ from a mirrorless camera. I've been using SLRs for 15 years so I know what they can and can't do. The new NEX-7 and PEN cameras are absolutely fabulous and they could work very well for 99% of DSLR buyers and in a much smaller package.

Canon and Nikon are seriously way behind in terms of realizing the market potential here. Smaller is better IMHO. I had all of the super fast mega primes like the 85mm 1.2L, 300mm, etc, until I realized how ridiculous it all was, but that's just me.

If I had a limited budget and wanted a new camera I would get the NEX-5n over an entry DSLR no contest.

 

[firestarter]

macjonny1 - I agree with you 100%. Mirror-less is definitely the way of the future - although the electronic viewfinders still need some development to rival an SLR prism. The latest Sony OLED high res finder sounds very good though.

I'm holding off making any changes to my 'big camera' lineup until I see what sort of mirror-less camera Canon bring out. I hope they do this soon, and have a more serious offering than Nikon's very disappointing 1 series.

 

[hansolo669]

my thoughts

Nikons are leaned more towards beginners and Canons are leaned more towards professionals.

I feel like the Nikon UI is easier to grasp than the Canon's, but that the Canon's UI gives you more liberty.

Definitely go with a Nikon. (I'd recommend Nikon D60, sells for about $450 used, $600 new)

wait what? i would like to argue that both are leaned more towards beginners...depending on what camera you buy.

now op, judging from your responses i highly suggest you go to your local Best Buy/Future Shop and play with the cameras labeled "Nikon d5100" and "Canon t3i" these are both excellent cameras and will give you loads of growing room (as well as offering excellent video recording capability), chose which ever camera you like the best (based on look, how it feels, and how much you like it overall). i also suggest bringing a SD card and putting it in both cameras (don't worry they shouldn't care ) and looking at the images later, this lets you really get a good look at the JPEGs from the camera.

however if i have judged you wrongly i would suggest playing with a d300s and 7d in a proper camera store and then go online (adorama.com, bhphotovideo.com both have excellent used sections) and order either a d100/d70 (for Nikon) or a 20d/30d(for canon) either are excellent and fairly cheep(and still give awesome results), then spend the rest of your funds on some really quality glass (50/35mm 1.8/1.4 prime 70-200 2.8 a wide angle zoom(2.8/4) possibly a fish-eye)

in any event after you master your camera think about buying more/better glass and later consider stepping up to a higher level camera body

welcome to the slr world

 

[chrono1081]

For beginners, I recommend Canon.

I'm a Nikon shooter, but I know what I want out of my camera, lenses and flash.

Canon has more lens choices at varying prices. Nikon is more of a professional system and it shows in their pricing.

Um...no...

If Nikon is more professional how come you always see those big white lenses on the sidelines at sports games? I could say that anything not a Hassleblad or that beast that Markus Klinko and Indrani use is not a pro camera.

Having a certain system doesn't make you a pro. Talking about being a pro and recommending one system over another without reason doesn't make you a pro. A pro is someone who uses tools to get the job done and make a living off of it and a camera is a tool.

For some people, Nikons are the best tools because they like Nikon's lens lineup and ergonomics.

For others, Canons are the best tools because they like Canon's lens lineup and ergonomics.

To say one camera system is better than another is just silly and makes you sound like you don't know photography since thats usually the type of argument new photogs get into.

As I said before, OP go try the cameras in store and pick the one YOU like the best, that way you will use it. If you learn about photography, light, composition, etc you will be able to take amazing pictures with ANY camera regardless of brand (nikon vs canon vs whoever) or medium (film vs digital).

 

[runlsd]

Most people will never experience the limitations of Nikon or Canon as a system. Which means either of these will take you as far as your technique goes.

 

[Photoshopper]

The last two posts say it all...

 

[Vudoo]

Um...no...

If Nikon is more professional how come you always see those big white lenses on the sidelines at sports games?

And all of this time I thought it was because of Canon's deep pockets and equipment discounts/donations as the reason why you see all those white lenses.

With the introduction of the Nikon D3 series, you're seeing a lot more Nikon shooters at sporting events. But the reality is that a lot of professional photographers shoot with what ever equipment the employer hands them.

 

[Razeus]

Um...no...

If Nikon is more professional how come you always see those big white lenses on the sidelines at sports games? I could say that anything not a Hassleblad or that beast that Markus Klinko and Indrani use is not a pro camera.

Having a certain system doesn't make you a pro. Talking about being a pro and recommending one system over another without reason doesn't make you a pro. A pro is someone who uses tools to get the job done and make a living off of it and a camera is a tool.

For some people, Nikons are the best tools because they like Nikon's lens lineup and ergonomics.

For others, Canons are the best tools because they like Canon's lens lineup and ergonomics.

To say one camera system is better than another is just silly and makes you sound like you don't know photography since thats usually the type of argument new photogs get into.

As I said before, OP go try the cameras in store and pick the one YOU like the best, that way you will use it. If you learn about photography, light, composition, etc you will be able to take amazing pictures with ANY camera regardless of brand (nikon vs canon vs whoever) or medium (film vs digital).

Funny post is funny.

I recommend he get a Canon and you blast me.

I point out why I use a Nikon and you blast me.

In effect, I recommended both cameras to him and you blast me.

 

[El Cabong]

Is this thread really still going?

 

[chrono1081]

Funny post is funny.

I recommend he get a Canon and you blast me.

I point out why I use a Nikon and you blast me.

In effect, I recommended both cameras to him and you blast me.

No I'm blasting the "one is for pro's the other isn't". Thats the type of argument new photographers get in to all the time.

 

[hansolo669]

Is this thread really still going?

amazingly

 

[h1r0ll3r]

You're good with choosing either Canon or Nikon. The only thing you'll need to be aware of is once you start buying into one brand then you're going to be stuck with it (unless, of course, you decide to start over, sell all your gear and jump ship to the other brand).

Personally, I prefer Canon since that's what I've always used going back 10-12 years. My first DSLR was the T3i which is a pretty solid n00b DSLR camera. You can go cheaper and pick up a XS or XSi but, from my researching and reading reviews, the T3i was a pretty good place to start off which is why I wound up choosing this model. You can get the camera with kit lens for around $800 new. Any of the other T models like the T1i or T2i will be equally good and be around $100-$200 cheaper.

You should check out eBay for some bundle packages sellers are offering. I recently saw a T3i kit with kit lens, 50mm and 55-250 lens for $999. Pretty nice deal. You get a great newbie camera with the holy trinity of n00b lenses.

Again, you're good going with either brand so you can't go wrong. I'd recommend the T3i since it takes great photos and does 1080p video recording as well.

 

[hstewart]

I started out with Nikon along time ago with old 35mm film stuff, but switch to Canon for Digital. Primary because of my desired in Macro / Flash Area - Canon has the the very cool MP-65E / MT-24EX setup which is quite cool.

I guess a lot depends on what you used it for it and also what lens you used. But in quality they are likely the same.

I would recommend going thought on DPReview.

 

[stevendphoto]

Go with a Canon, used prices are cheaper for their lenses...

 

[Maddix]

Also consider the color palette of the camera your considering. Pics taken with some Canon cameras have a so-called "Canon look". Canon has a better lens mount imo than Nikon. Pro's flocked to Canon in mass when auto-focus caught on because of Canons than Superior EOS mount.

 

[mrcowdude20]

Um...no...

If Nikon is more professional how come you always see those big white

I actually only noticed the Canon's that had the huge white lenses. But a nice camera behind it

 

[mackmgg]

I actually only noticed the Canon's that had the huge white lenses. But a nice camera behind it

Nikon does sell those as well (they call them "light grey"), but they're not standard. Most pro Nikon telephoto lenses can be bought in either black or white.

 

[Vudoo]

Go with a Canon, used prices are cheaper for their lenses...

That can be a bad thing if you are selling. I have sold several Nikon lenses and I usually get what I paid for or more even after using them for a few years.

Also consider the color palette of the camera your considering. Pics taken with some Canon cameras have a so-called "Canon look". Canon has a better lens mount imo than Nikon. Pro's flocked to Canon in mass when auto-focus caught on because of Canons than Superior EOS mount.

That look you are referring too usually shows up in JPGs. If shooting RAW, it's less of an issue.

As for the Canon mount, they alienated a number of owners by the number of times they have changed their mounts. R > FL > FD > New FD > EF and the EFS, while Nikon has has the F mount for decades allowing older lenses to be used on new camera bodies with the lack of auto-focus and metering of course.

 

[hansolo669]

Nikon does sell those as well (they call them "light grey"), but they're not standard. Most pro Nikon telephoto lenses can be bought in either black or white.

now totally off topic on my part but...
how does one get a white nikon lens?
is it special order? or limited edition? or luck?
i only ask because the grey/white versions look pretty cool

 

[firestarter]

As for the Canon mount, they alienated a number of owners by the number of times they have changed their mounts. R > FL > FD > New FD > EF and the EFS, while Nikon has has the F mount for decades allowing older lenses to be used on new camera bodies with the lack of auto-focus and metering of course.

Oh, please. The Canon EF mount is 24 years old, and there's been almost no change in that time.

Of more interest to someone buying a lower end camera is Nikon's decision to stop providing in-camera focussing motors. Most Nikon AF lenses out there won't even autofocus on their new low end range.