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UPDATED 7 JAN 2009: I have created a much updated and expanded version of this image, which includes the current Nikon and Canon DSLRs as of January 2009, as well as competing models from Sony/Minolta, Olympus, Panasonic/Leica, and Pentax, as well as others. You may wish to check that out instead. See my blog post too.
Publicity photos © 2007 Nikon and Canon. Relative sizes are not exact. Top left camera costs about $650, with lens. Lower right camera costs about $8000, no lens. See the blog post I wrote about them.
The top row of this image became obsolete as early as February 2008, since Canon introduced the Rebel XSi (a.k.a. the 450D) and Nikon the D60. As of later in 2008, Canon replaced the 40D with the 50D. There are also the new D700 from Nikon, and the Canon EOS 5D Mark II, which replaced the original full-frame 5D.
danidantje, chrystallinesweet, Craig Peter Azucena, freakystyleypetey, and 66 other people added this photo to their favorites.
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ImageSanguine 53 months ago
Sometimes the World can amaze you in some amazing ways... this was an epiphany for the fact n doubt!
Jamie... I'm a Mac user and now a Canon too... LOL.. some university should do a study on this for sure!
Derek K. Miller 53 months ago
If it's a data point, I've been a Mac guy and Nikon shooter, both for about 25 years. Before that I used an Apple II and photographed on Pentax.
See the comments on my Jan '09 collage for a discussion on the D40, D40x, and D60. The simple summary: when I made this image, there was no D60 (or D90 or D700 or D3x, or XS or XSi or 50D or 5D Mark II), and when I made the new one, Nikon still sold the D40 but not the D40x, which had been replaced by the D60.
eastendimages 53 months ago
my main dslr is nikon and my main computers (at home and work) are macs. but i also use canon dslr and a pc laptop with windows crap:-) by the way, i don't have any beard.
i don't think there's a trend at all. if most people use entry level canon dslrs it means that most of them use also pc, because there are more windows based computers around (ergo there's more chance, that canon user will actually use a pc). if someone uses a camera professionally, there's more chance, that they'd also use apple mac - especially when the equipment pays for itself and the price doesn't matter that much.
eastendimages 53 months ago
"Canon rules, nikon sucks. "
yeah, sure. you've been tricked to believe, that you're a true pro, because you've just spent £8000 instead of £3000 :-) both systems are good. though they're shite compared with a scan from my blad or even low resolution shot (with reasonable light) from mamiya or contax with kodak back.... :-/
by the way - i'd like a nikon with canon glass. it's not gonna happen!
Derek K. Miller 53 months ago
Lots of people also go the other way -- Canon body, Nikon lens. In fact, that's how this stop-motion movie was made.
eastendimages 53 months ago
this is where the canon body gains some edge - a possibility of mounting some nice glass with a suitable adapter (nikon doesn't do focusing well, because of the distance to the film/sensor plane of focus) - all the takumars, jupiters, fast zuikos...nikkors.
David Rs™ 53 months ago
Only Canon :)
Derek K. Miller 53 months ago
The service situation may depend on where you are. I've heard opposite stories (great Nikon service, crappy Canon service) from other people.
And I included both the EOS 40D and 50D, as well as the Nikon D80 and D90, on my latest collage:
SaganGathering 53 months ago
I hate Nikon. But it's not for technical reasons. It's for the same reasons i loathe Carl Zeiss and Yamaha: they are all corporate sponsors of the vile Safari Club International.
Which is how they all lost my business.
eastendimages 53 months ago
but the only picture in your photostream is taken with nikon!? :-)
anyway, swarovsky, nikon and zeiss are the main players in the scope business, so they not going to turn their backs on the hunters :-/ do you really think, that the other major players in optics and electronics are saints? all of them are involved in military research etc.
ImageSanguine 53 months ago
Wow.... sorry for being rude but.. er.. the ONLY picture you've posted is rather unconvincing for a true photo and is taken by a Nikon, a company you give a very typical and eerie reason at best to hate...?!?!
And disney resort... I did a google and apparently the service center is quite well known... by far I do believe Canon's service is really good but I've only owned one Nikon Coolpix that I never had to get serviced. Now I own a Canon DSLR in which case I find Canon to be truly good in services and post sales! :)
Grimax 52 months ago
Now im really confuse...hahahaha... its gona be my first time in dslr ..can someone tell me...which camera would better nikon 300 or the canon 50d...as of now i like canon 50d as it has got the better iso and better MegaPilex .....i need to know about colours and sharpness too...it would be a great help ....
Derek K. Miller 52 months ago
They're both good. For a first-time DSLR, it's hard to go wrong with either one. Remember that megapixels are really not very important, especially at this level -- for many people, the main effect of more megapixels is needing more hard disk space to store the images, and not much else. If you can try them both out at a camera store and figure out which one feels better to you, that might help you make your decision.
Here is DPReview's review of the 50D.
Here's the D300.
Look down the comparison pages on the 50D review, and you'll see that it's very difficult indeed to say which of the compared cameras (the 50D, D300, pentax K20D, even the Sony A700) has better image quality. The D300 does a bit better at higher sensitivity (lower light), but for most people it's nearly impossible to make a serious distinction.
So your answer comes down to which camera feels better in your hands, and which lenses and accessories you prefer to work with. Part of that answer may lie in what your friends use, because if you can borrow stuff when you need it, that would be good.
Don't forget the Pentax K20D either. The company makes a line of great lenses, has backward compatibility for decades, offers weather sealing, and charges less money than Canon and Nikon for somewhat comparable performance in many respects. Check out my big grid for other options too.
CK'sPhoto 52 months ago
if it's your first time with a dslr I wouldn't get a d300 or a 50d.. perhaps the 50d is more user friendly.. if you need modes like portrait and landscape modes.. then the D300 is not for you. it's geared more toward professionals. I'd look into the D90 maybe
Derek K. Miller 52 months ago
On the other hand, if you learn to take pictures without scene modes, then you'll get up to speed on photographic techniques sooner. Of course, I learned back when there was no such thing as a scene mode on any camera -- my dad's Pentax was fully manual (aperture, shutter speed, focus) and only had a battery to run the needle light meter -- so I may be biased.
CK'sPhoto 52 months ago
that's true... but it still takes a while to learn it if you've never shot before.. If you don't have the money to burn I wouldn't advise getting an advanced camera for a beginner.
I would invest in a more beginners body and get better glass as time goes.. then get the rockin body.
Grimax 52 months ago
Thanks for the help i think ill go for the canon 50d.... i even look at the review of Pentax K20D...im quite impress with the feature and also the price... as ive decided to go for the canon 50d...its has empty my pocket so i have to decide for the lens... so could you advice which lens i would go for ...without compromising the picture quality....... which would better ... i was hoping canon 28-135mm IS USM or should i go for canon 18-200mm ... do recoment some lens which will be good with canon 50d...
Derek K. Miller 52 months ago
Personally, if I only bought one lens, I'd get the EF 50mm f/1.4:
www.dpreview.com/lensreviews/canon_50_1p4_c16/
But I'm kind of old-school. I find a solid fast prime lens to be the best way to get started. But you don't have to go that hard-core. You can get any of the zooms (the 18-200mm IS is a very useful general-purpose walk-around lens) AND the very inexpensive but still good quality 50mm f/1.8 (only $100!), and get the best of both worlds.
www.dpreview.com/lensreviews/canon_18-200_3p5-5p6_is_c16
www.dpreview.com/lensreviews/canon_50_1p8_ii_c16/
Judge Rock 52 months ago
I started out in the 60s with a Yashica and in the 70s moved to a Nikon F-1. They mostly sat unused as my life was busy and I did not shoot enough pictures.
With the advent of digital cameras and my pending retirement I have found photography again and I now have and USE about $30,000 worth of Canon cameras and lenses. I can't compare Canon against Nikon digital cameras as I have never used Nikon digital. What I have compared is the results of both and clearly with the right photographer either will produce excellent results.
It is unlikely that I will ever change back to Nikon, not because of Canon chauvanism but because of the huge investment I have in lenses and other accessories.
Derek K. Miller 49 months ago
This collage is out of date. Notes and comments on it are now closed. Please go to the Newer collage. Thank you.