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That is the question.  When shopping for a dslr there are two major competitors in the market that constantly raise the bar in performance, value, quality and support–Canon and Nikon.  If you read my previous post you will remember that you are buying into a system.  When you buy canon it is very difficult to switch to Nikon once you have invested in all the accessories and glass.  The converse is true as well for Nikon switching to Canon.  In this post, I will try to address some factors that might help and review a few different models that I believe are noteworthy.  This post will focus on DX/ APS-C sensor size cameras.  I will have a follow-up post regarding full frame cameras.

You can ask a Canon person why it’s better than a Nikon and they will tell you a long list of reasons and you can ask a Nikon person and their list will be just as long.  It comes down to preferences and their personal needs.  In the entry level dslr market the competition is very fierce.  The manufacturers have made the current crop of DX/ APS-C amazingly feature rich with tremendous performance.  Just like computers they get better and cheaper all the time.  Do not try to keep up with the newest technology with every release–you will go broke buying camera bodies.  Get the best fit for you with room to grow.  Something that you will not out-grow for the next couple of years.

I suggest going to a camera store or local electronics store and get your hands on a few different models.  Hold the Nikon in your hand and then hold the Canon in your hand.  They both have different feels.  The entry level Nikons have a smaller, more compact body than Canons generally.  I personally like the dial lay outs on the Nikon better than Canon.  They are much more intuitive and better ergonomically positioned.  As you can see in the picture below:

Nikon's D90 mid level Dslr

Right below the shutter release (silver button on the top left hand side) and on-off switch is the sub-command dial.  This allows you keep you hand in place holding naturally on the camera while accessing different features.  It’s a small body which saves you arms when you have to hold the camera for extended periods of time and reduces fatigue.

Nikon D40 entry level Dslr

The Nikon menus for all their cameras are easier to understand and faster to access settings than the Canon menus.  You can change your white balance, saturation, ISO, drive, etc. quickly and there is not searching through different tabs in the menu like Canon.  However, with Canon you have more options and you can increase your saturation level more than Nikon.  Canon does give you more control but it comes at the cost of deep extensive menus that are confusing for some.  In my opinion I feel that Nikon is a better starter camera for someone who is lazy to learn all the different functions a dslr is capable of.  Nikon makes it easier for the beginner and Canon has a steeper learning curve but more options for control.

Another factor to consider is the auto-focus. or AF.  Nikons have a focus assist light that aids in focusing during low light situations.  You can see the LED light between the lens and grip–it’s a clear circular lens.  Canon has an AF assist as well for low light conditions, but it is a series of flash bursts.  I have not yet figured out how to turn this feature off and if you can actually turn this feature off.  It is very annoying not just for me as a shooter but for the subject as well.  If you are taking pictures in a dark environment it is very noticeable–sort of like being in a disco in the 70s with a strobe light.  However, I do find that the Canons focus faster than Nikons in the less expensive consumer cameras.  Nikons will not shoot if it has to search for focus–Canons will shoot but  you may have a soft image.

Canon Rebel XS

Where Canon excels past Nikon is the capture software.  Canon includes the capture software with every camera purchase.  Nikon’s capture software is an extra $100 and it does not work nearly as well as it’s competitors.  This software allows you to tweak all your raw files and jpegs files so that you have more control and a better image.  Canon’s jpeg file size also is more logical than Nikon’s system.  Nikon’s file sizes are almost all the same, whereas Canon adjusts the size depending on the situation and the amount of detail and image data in the picture file.

Mid-level dslr Canon 50D

Lenses are perhaps the biggest consideration to take into account when trying to decide which system to buy into.  For this post we are only considering Nikons and Canons.  There are other manufacturers for both brand (e.g. Tokina, Sigma, Zeiss, Leica, etc.)  The lenses range from entry level kit zoom lens to professional constant aperture zoom lenses.  Also, entry level fixed focal length lenses to professional fast fixed focal length lenses.  At the more affordable end of the market I prefer the the Canon zoom lenses over the Nikon.  Canons feel better constructed and made of higher quality materials.  Nikons are made of light weight plastic and have a cheaper feel.  Canon’s lenses are made in Japan and Nikon’s are made in many different countries which leads to inconsistent build quality.  I also prefer the Canon professional line of lenses over the Nikon’s line.  This is just my personal preference.  The L-series lenses are amazingly durable, sharp and fast.  For all you beginner shooter wishing to make this a life long hobby or a future profession consider lenses carefully.

We are a Nikon and Canon family.  We like having both systems for different needs.  They both produce wonderful images and work well for our needs.  I suggest you read further about the two cameras brands and do your research in the specific models.  The cameras in the post will have their own reviews coming soon.  I hope you enjoyed this post at profoto forum. profoto forum pro foto forum profoto forum pro foto forum profoto forum profoto forum pro foto pro foto pro foto profoto forum profoto forum pro foto forum profoto forum profoto forum profoto forum profoto forum profoto forum profoto forum profoto forum profoto