Canon vs. Nikon... which do you perfer?

[AllCeline]

After over two years of saving up, I finally acquired enough to buy myself a Canon Digital Rebel XSi (was gonna get the XTi, but I figured for a hundred bucks more, I might as well upgrade ). Anywho, in all my excitement, I thought I'd just get some feedback from you guys. My best friend is totally for Nikon (not sure if she really likes it, or if she just has to contradict me).

 

Anyway, for all my fellow photography junkies out there, here's the question: which is better--Canon or Nikon? Which do you personally perfer? My personal choice is Canon... I've had VERY experiences with the brand.

 

So, which is it? Looking forward to your responses.

[stevethefan]

Well they are really BOTH good brands. I had a little Fuji digital camera I bought a few years ago and I loved the thing UNTIL it broke a few months ago.

 

I was looking for a replacement and looked at both Nikon and Canon, although these may be different cameras then yours (these are the small ones). Although Nikon is good most people seemed to recommend Canon. I think you can't go wrong with them.

[Krys]

its all about personal preference. Nikon and Canon are both good. but in my opinion, Canon produces slightly more vibrant pictures than Nikon

[Nikosn17]

I prefer Nikon cause it's similar to my nickname

[Love,]

n i k o n

 

[Koolan]

Most people I know own a Canon. Celine's personal photographer has a Nikon lol

[kathyc25]

Canon alll the way! I would love to get a DSLR

But I love my Canon SX100 IS...its a P&S but has all the settings I need and takes GREAT shots!

[Dionesque]

I love Canon cameras and I'm sincere to this brand, hehe... I really like the quality and colours of the pics taken by my Canon (the old one and the new one) comparing to pics from same events taken by other people with other brands' cameras.

 

Although, a friend of mine who is a profi photographer (ok, she always says she's not pro but I recon she is as she not only own pro gear but also takes really pro pics with it!) uses Nikon and she praises this brand above all. She says Canon products have weird menus etc.

 

Honestly, I think it's the question of personal preferences, like Krys said. You would have to check pics from both cameras you are interested in, you may want to hold both of them in your hand, try out the handling, the menus etc.

 

As for brands - they are both great.

[Bellamy]

Canon color looks more vivid to most people. Nikon color is more natural, and Nikon lens are sharper. Both brands are fine. It really depends on you. I would go for Nikon myself, since I could borrow all the Nikon lens my brother already had.

[Koolan]

I ordered this: http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-DMC-FZ28K-...5638&sr=8-1

 

[Krys]

i got my eyes on this: http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canoneos400d/

 

CANON ALL THE WAY!

[DuonganhCDF]

I wanted to buy a Nikon, and bought a Canon, both are okay. At the first glance, I think this topic is about Nick Cannon, yuck.

[Bralo20]

I stepped into the DSLR rage a couple years ago and the first one I bought was the Canon 300D with the EX-420 flash, the 18-55 kitlens and the 75-300mm zoomlens.

A decent camera to start with but after a while I bought a new camera and I jumped to Nikon instead...

My second DSLR was a Nikon D200 with a 18-200VR lens, a 24-70mm F2.8 lens, the MB-D200 batterygrip and the SB-800 flash. It's now two years and a half old and still very good although I use the camera in severe conditions like fires (i'm a firephotographer for some departements), accidents, etc... So the camera get's a lot of water, a lot of smoke, very much dust, sometimes high temperatures, high temperature changes (freezing outside, hot inside during a fire), etc... and it still works fine... I had it repaired a couple a months ago (actually just a big check and a cleaning) before the warranty was void. Several ten thousands of pictures have been taking with the camera without severe problems (few misreadings of the battery capacity but this is fixed now).

 

Next year a new camera will be bought and the D200 will become the spare while de Canon is good for scrap

 

 

It will probably not be the Nikon D300 but most likely the D3 or the D700. The D3 and the D700 are both full frame camera's but the D700 has a little advantage for me: with the batterygrip the D700 is a bit bigger and heavier than the D3 which I like (I have rather big hands ). On the other hand is the D3 not has expensive has used to be...

 

And also Canon has a very very nice camera... The Canon 5D mkII with HD video recording capacity... Very tempting... However I have allready a Canon XH-A1 HD semi professional video camera which is less than one year old...

 

 

But luckily I have several months to think about it

 

 

Actual equipment:

 

Nikon D200 body

Nikon MB-D200 batterygrip

Nikon 18-200mm VR lens

Sigma 24-70mm F2.8 lens

Nikon SB-800 flash

 

Canon 300D

Canon 18-55mm lens

Canon 75-300mm lens

Canon EX-420 flash

 

Panasonic DMC TZ5

Sony W90

Sony W30

 

Canon XH-A1 HD video camera

 

 

Edited September 30, 2008 at 02:39 PM by Bralo20

[Bellamy]

So you prefer Canon or Nikon?

 

The Canon 5D mkII with HD video recording capacity is not really as good as it sound I think. It has 4GB per clip, 12 min HD restriction. i think they add it avoid compete with DV. I wonder how is the HD video quality, since it has a huge CMOS.

[Krys]

i think he's staying on neutral grounds

[Bralo20]

So you prefer Canon or Nikon?

 

The Canon 5D mkII with HD video recording capacity is not really as good as it sound I think. It has 4GB per clip, 12 min HD restriction. i think they add it avoid compete with DV. I wonder how is the HD video quality, since it has a huge CMOS.

 

If prefer Nikon...

 

However, the Canon 5D mkII gives me serious doubts...

 

I've seen the HD video clips and they are just amazing, way better than my Canon XH-A1 camera... And yes, it's limited to 12 minutes but I don't see this as a problem, I mainly use my Canon HD cam for filming on our construction sites or for use on a fire scene (accident, fire, etc...) I never filmed more than a couple of minutes continuesly...

 

But I have still a few months to think about it I'm making my decission somewhere in the beginning of next year

[Bralo20]

i think he's staying on neutral grounds

 

Actually I do prefer Nikon, however the Canon 5D mkII give me some doubts...

 

However, Nikon seems more durable when you use it in extreme conditions. I'm using my equipment for taking pictures as a firephotographer and my collegea (a fire photographer for the Brussels FD and also a press photographer) is also using Nikon and he never had any troubles with it however he is using his equipment in even more extreme conditions as I do. (He had a Nikon D2x and a Nikon D70 but recently he bought a new D3 and a D700)

[stevethefan]

Leica... but I know that's not a choice.

[Koolan]

I've seen the HD video clips and they are just amazing, way better than my Canon XH-A1 camera... And yes, it's limited to 12 minutes but I don't see this as a problem, I mainly use my Canon HD cam for filming on our construction sites or for use on a fire scene (accident, fire, etc...) I never filmed more than a couple of minutes continuesly...

 

Are you serious? How can it be much better when the XH-A1 costs so much more plus it's a professional model.

 

Upload some clips!

[KimboCosmo]

I have to get a new camera before I see Celine

[celinerific]

I personally prefer Canon.

My motto is "you can never go wrong with a Canon"... But strangely I've never actually owned a Canon. My camera recently broke down - perhaps I'll pick up a Canon soon.

[stevethefan]

Well I also think it depends on what kind of camera/price point are you buying? They are both great brands, but I think at the lower end of the spectrum, like the point and shoots a lot of us have, Canon wins hands down. Nikon, to me, is better at their pro equipment then their lower level stuff but even that is still good.

 

Let the battle begin!

Edited October 1, 2008 at 02:01 AM by stevethefan

[KimboCosmo]

I'm willing to spend up to $400 for one.

 

I just want one that does good under low lighting and special effects. Hence Celine shows...

 

I'll just go to Best Buy on one of my off days and talk to someone who knows what the hay they are talking about.

[Bralo20]

Are you serious? How can it be much better when the XH-A1 costs so much more plus it's a professional model.

 

Upload some clips!

 

I don't have any clips (yet), but I've seen it with my own eyes and the quality is just amazing...

 

However, on the famous dpreview site i've found some samples: http://www.dpreview.com/news/0809/08091705canon_5dmarkII.asp (on the bottom of the page)

 

 

Check out the amazing quality

[Bralo20]

I'm willing to spend up to $400 for one.

 

I just want one that does good under low lighting and special effects. Hence Celine shows...

 

I'll just go to Best Buy on one of my off days and talk to someone who knows what the hay they are talking about.

 

Will be though since near none pocket camera will do good in those conditions

[AllCeline]

Well I also think it depends on what kind of camera/price point are you buying? They are both great brands, but I think at the lower end of the spectrum, like the point and shoots a lot of us have, Canon wins hands down. Nikon, to me, is better at their pro equipment then their lower level stuff but even that is still good.

 

Let the battle begin!

I've noticed that a lot of professionals have used Nikons, but just recently there seems to have been somewhat of a slight shift. But then again, it may be just the hype over the new releases of the 5D Mark II and the 50D Digital. Nevertheless, it still seems to be growing in popularity.

 

The XSi just arrived two days ago and it's an amazing berginner's camera. I'm probably gonna stick with this and hopefully upgrade soon once I start college. I actually would like to get my hands on the Nikon D80 just to have a chance to play around with it.

[Bellamy]

Actually most sport, news photographer use Canon. As you can see tons of big white lens during those events.

[AllCeline]

Actually most sport, news photographer use Canon. As you can see tons of big white lens during those events.

Love the commercial for the XSi that came out earlier this year.

[Bellamy]

1920 x 1080 (16:9) up to 12 mins (Quicktime 1080p H.264; 38.6 Mbits/sec

No wonder the clips looks so good. The bitrate is higher than any HDV.

[kathyc25]

I was looking at that model before I got mine Vic, really nice one!

 

Bralo20 I would LOVE to have equipment like yours! I just really don`t have the cash right now.

Plus for a starter DSLR I think I`ll get a used model first just to play around with.

 

dpreview is such an awesome site, I discovered it when I was trying to decide which camera to get