Nikon vs. Canon?

[Sandra Lero]

Nikon d200 with a sensor size 23.6 x 15.8 mm and effective 10 Mp is not high above of 400D (almost equal features). That is matter of price ;o)

 

[EOS_JD]

Don't go just by Mp!!! The D200 is a far better camera than the 400D - Perhaps in the right hands they will produce similar results but the difference is in how they operate. Just like the 30D is still a better camera than the 400D too..... Even though it has 2Mp less resolutoin!

 

[Don Simon]

Nikon d200 with a sensor size 23.6 x 15.8 mm and effective 10 Mp is not high above of 400D (almost equal features). That is matter of price ;o)

So all that determines features is sensor size and megapixels?
Here's an idea - try dropping a 400D and a D200 from various heights, in the rain, and see which stops working first.


As someone who doesn't use either system, I understand why people like Canon. I understand why people like Nikon. What I don't understand is why everything now has to be reduced to comparison between the two. Thanks to the internet (and before that the opinions of shop assistants) everyone is very aware that there's a big "Nikon vs Canon Debate", and that it matters. It doesn't. Either system offers more than you will probably ever need. I could say the same for other systems but that's a different matter.

Chavite, there's a significant price difference between a Rebel and a D200; I'm not sure why you're considering both. If a D200 is affordable to you, why not a 30D? But anyway, don't worry too much about comparing brands. Your stated requirement was: "a quality camera that takes great shots". Any of Nikon, Canon or anyone else's dSLRs fit the bill there. More importantly, "does either Brand take a better picture?" The answer is NO. Canon's CMOS sensor is usually said to have better noise control at higher ISOs. Well my dSLR has the same Sony sensor used in Nikons, and images shot at ISO 3200 are for me completely useable. As you go up in price in either system, you generally find better sensors and more advanced image processing. Some cameras will have more advanced metering or autofocus than others... these may help you to take a 'better' picture in terms of focus and exposure, but the camera won't automatically take a better shot.

IMO just narrow it down to camera and lens combinations you can afford, and then compare them, in your hands, in a shop - ignore the spec comparison charts. Make a decision and buy.

 

[chavite]

WoW. Nice response. I appreciate your forwardness. Originally, I was actually comparing the Nikon D40, D80 and D200. I shop at Costco and the pricing between the D40 and D80 is pretty close. The D200 jumps up quite a bit after that.

Problem is that I am the kind of person that does not want to invest money if its not the best purchase, even if I must save more to get to the D200 and wait longer to save.

The Canon came into this because of price. I keep seeing great deals for it and wondered how it stacked up to the Nikon's.

When I ask people locally, they seem to have a strong opinion on which they prefer and do not vary (Canon vs. Nikon). I was just a bit taken back.

I am happy to receive all of this feedback and it is refreshing to know that either way, there is no significant difference in brands. I will take a visit to a local "smaller" camera shop and really hold and get a feel for the models as so many of you have suggested.

As a newbie, I really do want a camera that will help me to take a better shot as I know that i may not do so well from the get go.

I look forward to other comments and thank all of you for taking the time to help.

Chavite

 

[Sandra Lero]

I didn't intended to compare very similar bodies and almost equal features of Canon and Nikon products with AFS sensors. I'm just trying to explain that is much better to pay attention on the lenses too. I suggest to invest in EOS 400D and some L family lens, better then Nikon D80 and some kit lens. Both combination has almost same price.
.
I strongly recommended not to try dropping, leaving on the rain and other various things ;o)
.
In other statements I'm close to agree with ZaphodB.

 

[luckyskater820]

Go for your price range, try them all, don't let anyone tell you one is way better then the other, they are all good camreas and all produce good photos.

 

[chavite]

Anyone have a take on the lenses? For example... am I better buying the Nikon D200 without the lenses that come with it? The place I am looking at has the camera for 1500 alone or 2000 with the Nikon 70-300mm AF-S VR Zoom Nikkor Lens.

I need lens input! How do you know which lenses are worth it. I see lots of 18-55 and 70-300 etc...

As advanced and experienced photo enthusiasts, any words of wisdom here?

 

[Don Simon]

Well until someone advance and experienced comes along, I'll have a go

Anyone have a take on the lenses? For example... am I better buying the Nikon D200 without the lenses that come with it? The place I am looking at has the camera for 1500 alone or 2000 with the Nikon 70-300mm AF-S VR Zoom Nikkor Lens.

I'm sure the 70-300mm is ok, but if that's your only lens it could be fairly limiting. It's a telephoto zoom; you would be lacking any wide-angle and 'standard' focal length. They simplify a bit, but but these sites might help to explain the importance of focal length. (Just play around with the 'mm' sliders).

How do you know which lenses are worth it.

It's tempting to say 'price'. And to a large extent that's true, but it's not the whole story. A zoom covering an enormous range like 18-200mm may cost more than one with a shorter range, but that's because it covers that range rather than because it's necessarily 'better'. A good zoom lens will cost more than a good prime (fixed focal length) lens - although if anything the prime lens will be optically better, the zoom costs more to make and so costs more to buy.

There are some generic lens types which are usually very good - for example 50mm prime lenses, 100mm (or thereabouts) macro lenses, 70-200mm zooms with fixed max aperture (f2.8 or f4)... but generally there's no way to be sure what lens is best when just looking at the specifications. At best you can check tests and reviews, as long as you compare reviews and accept that reviewers are not infallible. And of course there are plenty of folks here who can give you their opinion of specific lenses. Viewing shots taken with the lens can help if you know that post-processing was kept to a minimum. But as with the camera, I would personally prefer to handle one in a shop first. Doing this will tell you something about the build quality of the lens, the focus (auto and manual) and generally tell you how the lens behaves.

 

[chavite]

Sorry. Am really new at this. So what your suggesting is that the zoom lense is more limiting than the prime (prime meaning fixed length)?

Do you know why the prime is optically better if they cover the same length?

Thanks

 

[Alex_B]

Finally I will say something on here ,since this thread left the Canon vs Nikon infancy stage

Sorry. Am really new at this. So what your suggesting is that the zoom lense is more limiting than the prime (prime meaning fixed length)?

Do you know why the prime is optically better if they cover the same length?

Thanks

A lens is not simply a single lens, but several lens groups in one barrel. And there are a hell lot of things going on to compensate for all the usual optical problems. This compensation is much easier to achieve for one fixed focal length and less lenses are needed. So a zoom lens is a highly complex system of lenses, full of compromises, and usually not of constant optical quality over the whole zoom range.

For those reasons, on average, zoom lenses are have a larger minimum aperture (are "slower"), more complex and heavy, way more expensive, and of poorer optical quality than their prime counterparts.

But with its variable focal length the zoom lens on the other hand is more versatile in that respect.

of course a low quality prime will usually be worse than a very expensive zoom, if its zoom range is not too extreme. But often you find a cheap 50mm prime for 100 USD which is just as good as a 1200 USD 24-70mm zoom at 50mm. And most likely that prime will be much faster (e.g. f/1.8).

 

[Sw1tchFX]

hmmm ...

hmm ... (does not comment on this sort of thread anymore)

hmmm .. doobeedoo ..

No kidding...

But for the sake of argument, Buy the D80, the D40 is too small and the D200 is too much camera for you.

 

[mystar-sky]

Hi -

I am currently camera shopping and I am debating over whether to buy the Canon Rebel (is digital rebel the same?) or a Nikon (D40, D80, or D200?)

Does anyone have opinions on any of these models? Major differences, preferences, or anything else I should consider?

It would be greatly appreciated. I am a newbie to the photography game... but I would like a quality camera that takes great shots.

Thanks!!

both brands take excellent pictures. Nikon users will say that a nikon is better, and canon users will say that a canon is better.

go to a quality camera store and try out both. Go through the menus and take pictures. See if the store will possibly upload them onto a computer for you so you see them in their almost full effect. Go with the one that you like better. There is a perfect camera for everyone, you gotta test them before you buy them, instead of going by what people tell you to buy, or tell you what is best.

 

[fmw]

both brands take excellent pictures. Nikon users will say that a nikon is better, and canon users will say that a canon is better.

Now there is a sweeping statement. I've been using Nikon cameras since the 1960's and don't consider them superior to Canon. Nor do I consider Canon superior. The issue is really irrelevant.

Here's some real advice. Don't go to an internet forum to get buying advice from consumers of the product. You will get biased opinion. You can use the internet to read reviews from independent reviewers who know how to review products. You can use the internet to compare prices and features. Then go handle the products and buy the one that floats your boat. That is the best one for you.

The marketplace weeds out incompetent products. The surviving products are competent and will get the job done. If you look at the images each one makes, they will look the same for the most part. Get the camera that appeals to you, not the one that appeals to someone else.

 

[mystar-sky]

Now there is a sweeping statement. I've been using Nikon cameras since the 1960's and don't consider them superior to Canon. Nor do I consider Canon superior. The issue is really irrelevant.

Here's some real advice. Don't go to an internet forum to get buying advice from consumers of the product. You will get biased opinion. You can use the internet to read reviews from independent reviewers who know how to review products. You can use the internet to compare prices and features. Then go handle the products and buy the one that floats your boat. That is the best one for you.

isn't that pretty much what i said? I didn't say anything about reading reviews off the internet but i did say about actually trying out the product.

and I'm sorry, I guess I should have said "most nikon users, most canon users". There probably is a small percentaile that are totally unbiased about which camera is the best, but most out there will tell someone to go with the camera that they use.(if it's an option) Since that is what they consider to be "the best". And what I said really isnt irrelevant issue.

Other than "preferred controls and feel" does either Brand take a better picture? I really want the quality to be top notch.

The OP had asked if either brand took a better picture. That's why I had to comment on that both take excellent pictures. But you will find that MOST canon users/nikon users will say that their camera takes better pictures, or is a better camera.

 

[DRodgers]

hope I'm not repeating anything I didn't read the other posts..


I bought my g/f a rebel and I shoot with a nikon d70s I find the rebel nice for auto shooting but not a good choice if you like to shoot in manual the buttons and display just are not up to nikons user features..

I also notice that the 10mp don't make a lot of difference with quality maybe a bit more color then nef raw ..I think also because of the in camera crop factor some quality is sacrificed ..