Canon vs Nikon vs Sony vs ...

[Chickysmom]

I realize many experts here prefer one brand over another for many different/personal reaasons. But my question is this:

It seems that you get more "bang" for your buck with Canon, true?

Since I am starting with very little knowledge and no gear that will work on eaither brand, I have been comparing the two and feel that Nikon costs more.

I have only owned point-and-shoot cameras (one Kodak and one Canon) so have no preference of one brand over another when it comes to SLRs.

 

[meagan9848]

I am not a professional photographer, but I have had four digital cameras (Nikon coolpix, 2 different Kodaks, and a canon powershot SD450). Out of these cameras, the powershot is by far my favorite. I take a lot of pictures at concerts and at night, and the photo's I've got from the Canon are far superior to any of the others. My only regret is that I didn't save my money and buy the canon in the first place.

...maybe that helps.

oh, and I can add that all my friends that are art or graphic design majors use canons.

 

[TheLionKing]

Are we talking point and shoots, DSLRs, film cameras....

I think both brands have a good spectrum of cameras and prices to satisfy most people.

What's more important is the brain behind the viewfinder than the brain in the camera.

 

[Chickysmom]

Are we talking point and shoots, DSLRs, film cameras....

I think both brands have a good spectrum of cameras and prices to satisfy most people.

What's more important is the brain behind the viewfinder than the brain in the camera.

I have been comparing the values of both brands in the SLRs.

Canon Rebel XT
Canon D20
Canon D30
Nikon D70s

I am not thrilled with the Nikon D50 as the status LCD is not backlit for easy viewing in low light situations.

I am leaning towards the Canon D30 or Nikon D70s, mostly because of the larger LCD, but I'm certain the camera will be much more than I need....

 

[Kelly Grannell]

I have been comparing the values of both brands in the SLRs.

Canon Rebel XT
Canon D20
Canon D30
Nikon D70s

I am not thrilled with the Nikon D50 as the status LCD is not backlit for easy viewing in low light situations.

I am leaning towards the Canon D30 or Nikon D70s, mostly because of the larger LCD, but I'm certain the camera will be much more than I need....

D20 vs D30 main difference that I actually use:

1. spot metering
2. 1/3 stop ISO settings (now I tend to use ISO 640 instead of ISO800)
3. Ginormous LCD

Nikon D70s is noisier at ISO 800 and 1600 compared even to XT (which is a slight noisier than 20D which is sliiiiiiiiiiiiiightly noisier than 30D), oh and no vertical grip which is a must for me. (D50 actually have a cleaner high ISO than the D70s)

Get the 30D and be done with it

 

[Chickysmom]

2. 1/3 stop ISO settings (now I tend to use ISO 640 instead of ISO800)


Get the 30D and be done with it

Could someone explain briefly what this "1/2 or 1/3 stop" setting is when referring to the ISO settings? It looks like you can pick settings between the standars 100, 200, 400 etc.?

And I wish it were that simple convincing the hubby! lol

 

[TheLionKing]

Could someone explain briefly what this "1/2 or 1/3 stop" setting is when referring to the ISO settings? It looks like you can pick settings between the standars 100, 200, 400 etc.?

And I wish it were that simple convincing the hubby! lol

Stops are really talking about aperture openings, but changing a stop either means you are doubling or halving the amount of light hitting the film or sensor. Going from an F stop of 4 to 5.6 cuts the light in half.

When talking ISO going from ISO 100 to 200 double the sensitivity of the sensor or you could say it increases the sensitivity one stop.

Some cameras increase the ISO in 1/3 stops so for example ISO 100, 125, 160 and 200 are available to choose for "fine tuning". Others may go by half stops which would be 100, 150 and 200 or even just go by stops from 100 to 200.

 

[Anewman]

I am leaning towards the Canon D30 or Nikon D70s, mostly because of the larger LCD, but I'm certain the camera will be much more than I need....

Right now, I would take the Nikon D200 over the D30. I am a Canon 20d user. When I purchased Nikon had D70 priced closer to the 20D than Any other camera. Right now Nikon has the D200 priced closest to the D30 and I would be willing to pay the extra $300 just for that buffer.

 

[ducklite]

I think you also need to look at glass. Nikkor lenses are superior to any other lens. I'll take a few inadequacies in the Nikon body in order to use the purest glass on the market.

And when you get into the highest end bodies (the bodies in the $3000+ category) most will agree that Nikon is superior, including pros. The reason many pros don't use Nikon is because they began as an amatuer, and bought less expensive Canon bodies and lenses. By the time they were a pro and could afford the more expensive bodies, they had too much invested in Canon glass to make the change.

Anne

 

[pxlbarrel]

I'll wade in here and say that both cameras take great photos but I lean towards the Canon because it's easier to use. The controls are more intuitive than the Nikon's. I've used Nikons at work and I've got Canons for personal use. I've never forgotten how to do something on the Canons but always seem to be leafing through the manual for the Nikons (have used 3 Nikons at work from point and shoots to DSLR).

Ease of use goes a long way in determining how often you'll use a camera.

 

[timkin]

My opinion is the photographer controls the output. Many compare Canon vs. Nikon with little regard to the lense or situation. I think the Nikon DSLR perform slightly better in well exposed shots where the Canon performs slightly better in low light situations. Unless your producing posters most will not see the difference on print. The DSLR body price actually becomes insignificant when you start to purchase professional lenses. Good Luck.

 

[Kelly Grannell]

Right now, I would take the Nikon D200 over the D30. I am a Canon 20d user. When I purchased Nikon had D70 priced closer to the 20D than Any other camera. Right now Nikon has the D200 priced closest to the D30 and I would be willing to pay the extra $300 just for that buffer.

I don't know about thath buffer thing. I've taken 37 shots continuously (burst mode) at about 4.8 fps with no problem. How many pictures do you need to take?

 

[ducklite]

I agree that the Nikon isn't always the most intuitive. I use mine constantly--taking on average 1000 or more photo's per month--in April I expect to take over 5000 photo's due to a big assignment.

My point is that if you use your camera very regularly you will know it inside out. My camera has become an extension of me. I seldom use my DiMage these days, and can't remember how to use many of the functions anymore.

Anne

 

[TheLionKing]

Anne is correct about thinking about the glass. Professional photographers spend more money on the lenses than they do on the camera body.

Both companies make fine lenses. But if your goal is to take good photos for your own use and be able to print them up 8 x 10, the quality of your photos will have more to do with your skill and eye behind the lens and the lighting conditions you choose to shoot in or are presented to you.

In the Canon versus Nikon discussion, most people would agree that Canon has an advantage on the long telephoto end and Nikon has the advantage on the wide angle side. This may be why you tend to see more Canon lenses and bodies at sporting events than Nikon. It may also be due to the fact that the white lenses are a little easier to spot.

In conclusion, unless you have aspirations to become professional, what is going to be more important is whether the camera is designed to your liking. You need to hold the camera, work the buttons and fly wheels and see if it feels good to you.

 

[boBQuincy]

I have no great loyalty to either Canon or Nikon. I bought a Canon D30 when I was ready for a dSLR because that was the only one available and affordable.

Each has a range of lenses from great to not so good, each has a range of bodies from good to wow.

Nikon has the price point for now with the D50.

As for pixels, 90+% of the available printers only go up to 8x10. Even 6 MP is overkill for 8x10, more is just more memory cards, so pixels should not be the deciding factor.

As for image quality, we do more damage to that by not using a camera support than the difference between Nikon and Canon sensors and lenses.

Iow, they both sell very good imaging equipment and it is more a matter of preference than of image quality.



boB

 

[Kelly Grannell]

great post boB!

 

[handicap18]

I have been comparing the values of both brands in the SLRs.

Canon Rebel XT
Canon D20
Canon D30
Nikon D70s

I am not thrilled with the Nikon D50 as the status LCD is not backlit for easy viewing in low light situations.

I am leaning towards the Canon D30 or Nikon D70s, mostly because of the larger LCD, but I'm certain the camera will be much more than I need....

What kind of photographer are you? Are you a serious amerture who would use the camera on a very regular basis taking thousands and thousands of pictures a year and maybe looking to sell a print now and then. Or are you your basic average citizen who takes their camera with them on vacation, takes pictures at family gatherings or when the kids do something that you think "oh where is my camera" and also likes to think of themself as a hobbiest who would also take some time every now and then and drive to the coast and walk around the beach or harbor area or lake area or where ever and look for interesting subjects to photograph. Maybe blow a few up to 5x7 or 8x10 and frame it up on the wall and likes the idea of being able to change lenses to get better pictures?

I'm the latter. I've been an SLR user for 15+ years. I've been using Nikon for that long as well (although I did learn on a Canon). At the time of my first purchase Nikon had a better deal and camera than Canon so thats what I went with.

When I was first looking into and saving for a dSLR I swore I would only get the Nikon D70s. They then came out with the D50. I thought, nope not for me, to entry level for me. Then I figured out what kind of photographer I was and when dollar came down to dollar, the D70s for the price was a bit more camera than I needed. The D50 is far from entry level. Now it doesn't have the backlit LCD, neither did my film SLR's. Plus just about everything you need to see in the LCD you can also see in the view finder. No Depth of Field Preview on the D50. Never had one on my film SLR's, I wouldn't miss it, plus its digital, take the picture, view it a second later, self made DOF preview. The LCD screen on the back of the D50 is bigger at 2" and the reviews I read told me the sensor was the same as the D70s and it had better sensitivity at higher ISO's. The D50 doesn't have the extra 1/3 ISO stops, but using film I only used 200, 400 or 800 (sometimes 100 or 1600).

The biggest part was the price. Fit my budget perfectly. Couldn't be happier with it.

This is what fit for me. Just take some time. Figure out what your photography habits are. You can't go wrong with any of these camera's unless its out of your budget. But if price isn't an issue I like the D200, but like I said I'm a Nikon user (already have lenses)

 

[AZ JazzyJ]

This debate has been raging on since puppies were the oldest animals on earth. There is no magic answer that either is better than the other. Features will leapfrog as each vendor attempts to outdo the other. Ease of use is a purely subjective thing. One person may feel the menu structure of the Canon is superior while another will say the same thing for a Nikon. The best advice I can give you is to find a camera store or even better a friend or photo club where members have each of the cameras you are considering. Take each camera, put on a comparable lens (try to make everything but the camera body the same so you are comparing apples to apples). Then shoot some pictures. See which camera feels the best, which one has the controls where you would naturally find them. The camera that is most comfortable is the one you should get. After all you are going to be the one taking the pictures so if you are not at ease with the camera, you won't produce the best shot possible regardless of how technically advanced your camera is.


Jeff

 

[Anewman]

I don't know about thath buffer thing. I've taken 37 shots continuously (burst mode) at about 4.8 fps with no problem. How many pictures do you need to take?

I am guessing that you shoot Jpeg.

Some pay extra for a bigger LCD, it would not help me one bit. Like I said Bigger buffer helps me more than a bigger LCD, spot meter I would love.

The D200 is said to shoot a 5fps burst of 22+ RAW shots, where as with a 20D I am lucky to get 7 or 8(I imagine the 30D gets about 10). The $3000 Canon 5d can not even match that RAW performance, it maxxes out at about 18 RAW shots with a SLOWER 3 fps.

 

[Geoff_M]

Let me say that I think both companies make fine digital products. Buying into one system versus another would not be a "mistake".

I would also echo that Canon does seem to have the edge in lower light situations, but many people feel that Nikon's glass offering is better, and I would also add that most reviewers feel that Nikon has the edge when it comes to digital flash systems.