Canon vs Nikon

TECHBEV

TECHBEV

Active Member
Joined
Oct 6, 2009
Messages
98
Reaction score
1
There is currently a weekend special @ Game for the following models :

Canon 500D - 5 999
Canon 550D - 6 499
Nikon D3000 - 4 799
Nikon D3100 - 6 999

Which is regarded as a better brand between Canon and Nikon in general.
Which is the better model to choose from the 4. (Not a huge price diff on the Canon model. However R2200 on the Nikon)

Many thanks.
 
I'll be the first to admit I know
Nothing about cameras but I have two professional photographers in my family and both of them swear by Canon. Nearly all their friends that I have met also swear by Canon so I'm guessing Canon is good.

I do think it's personal preference though. If you aren't a professional, probably won't notice the difference between the two hey! I know I didn't. Lol
 
6 of one and a half a dozen of the other. Go to a shop, feel them out and see what you like. Both are good brands.

Search myBB, plenty of Canon/Nikon threads.

I don't know Nikon. You can scrap the Canon 500D from your list, for a few bucks extra the 550D is a much better choice.
 
Disclaimer - Nikon fanboi here. I like their simple menu interface more than the Canon that has buttons scattered over the camera for everything.

The D3000 is an EOL model, still okay, but seriously superceded by the D3100. Pricing on the D3100 is decent, ORMS has it for R6500 excluding the SD card, R100, the binoculars, R795, and the bag, which if it is like the bag I got my D5000 is a lightweight handbag-style thing that isn't very solid.

I think the 500D is also EOL as it isn't on the big sites anymore. ORMS has the exact 550D kit for R6395 at the moment.

And you get a 5 year warranty for the D3100 compared with 2 years for the other three.
 
Nikon fan here too. There is a bit of a premium on Nikon in SA because its just not as popular. Canon is much easier to find second hand stuff for and they have a wider range of lenses, especially for macro. Nikon has the creative lighting system, much nicer feel and easier to use. Some say Canon is designed by engineers and Nikon by photographers.
I think at the entry level that canon are more competitive though.
 
I had a look on the Game site and the Nikon D3100 seems like the better deal as it comes with two lenses to the 550D's single kit lens.

But go to game and see which one sits better in your hand. They've both capable beginner bodies but while you're there also hold a mid range body or two because in a few years that's probably what you'll be buying if the bug bites. :)
 
D1RTY D4WG said:
Hi fi corp had the 600d twin lense pack for 8999
Click to expand...
Don't buy a decent camera from Hifi corp, go to ORms- even if you pay a few bucks more the service levels are not comparable. Also they will give you really good advice.

bruce_the_loon said:
Disclaimer - Nikon fanboi here. I like their simple menu interface more than the Canon that has buttons scattered over the camera for everything.

The D3000 is an EOL model, still okay, but seriously superceded by the D3100. Pricing on the D3100 is decent, ORMS has it for R6500 excluding the SD card, R100, the binoculars, R795, and the bag, which if it is like the bag I got my D5000 is a lightweight handbag-style thing that isn't very solid.

I think the 500D is also EOL as it isn't on the big sites anymore. ORMS has the exact 550D kit for R6395 at the moment.

And you get a 5 year warranty for the D3100 compared with 2 years for the other three.
Click to expand...

What he said, the 5yr warranty is the deal winner in my mind. A few more points, Nikon tend to have better colour depth, CAnon better megapixels. Colour depth for photography is WAY more important, unless you want to blow up your pictures massively.

If you are serious about video, go with the Canon, the mic thing is important if you want to do quality video.

Do you have friends/family you are likely to swop lenses with? THen pick the same brand as them, My sister has a Canon, I have a Nikon and as much as I love my Nikon (smaller body, better grip) I would love to use her extensive lens collection.

If you really want a nice camera spend more and get the Nikon D7000, it is REALLY good, just google it and you will see all the reviews. The equivalent Canon is nowhere in comparison.

For a nice camera review check out http://www.digitalrev.com/article/canon-550d-vs-nikon-d3100/Njg0NQ_A_A
 
Bern said:
What he said, the 5yr warranty is the deal winner in my mind. A few more points, Nikon tend to have better colour depth, CAnon better megapixels. Colour depth for photography is WAY more important, unless you want to blow up your pictures massively.
Click to expand...
The D3100 is 12bit and the 550D 14bit according to DPReview.
 
bwana said:
The D3100 is 12bit and the 550D 14bit according to DPReview.
Click to expand...

I should have been clearer, COLOUR DEPTH:
Nikon D3100 22.5 bits
Canon 550D 22.1bits

But the main reason to choose between them should be
the video mic option (Canon wins if you will actually use this)
Feel in hand (Nikon has a better grip) and functional use (still going Nikon here, button layout better)
Lenses - generally more Canon lenses around as they are more popular in SA and the built in autofocus
warranty - Nikon the clear winner here

Otherwise the two cameras are pretty even on specs. I just point out colour depth bits make more of a difference than megapixels, ask anyone who has a R1000 12MP camera that shoots really nice snowy pictures...

EDIT:
Note adding more pixels to the same size sensor can in fact have a negative impact on picture quality as each pixel gets less light. That is why the pro cameras aren't 200MP.
 
Last edited:
Bern said:
I should have been clearer, COLOUR DEPTH:
Nikon D3100 22.5 bits
Canon 550D 22.1bits

But the main reason to choose between them should be
the video mic option (Canon wins if you will actually use this)
Feel in hand (Nikon has a better grip) and functional use (still going Nikon here, button layout better)
Lenses - generally more Canon lenses around as they are more popular in SA and the built in autofocus
warranty - Nikon the clear winner here

Otherwise the two cameras are pretty even on specs. I just point out colour depth bits make more of a difference than megapixels, ask anyone who has a R1000 12MP camera that shoots really nice snowy pictures...
Click to expand...
Honestly I think this is the most important of them all and it's purely subjective so the OP needs to heft both and see which feels better for him. The availability of a battery grip might mitigates much of the problems many people have with the smaller consumer bodies, particularly when shooting in portrait.
 
In the past year I have shot with plenty of cameras, both Nikon(D3100, D7000, D700 and D3s) and Canon(550D, 7D and 1D).

And I will just echo what most have said here. It is all about personal preference and how the camera feels when you handle it. Go out and test it yourself.

There are things I love about Nikon and there are things I love about Canon. There are also things I dislike about both.

My personal choice is Nikon. I like how it handles, the ease of use and the image quality!

But go out and spend time with each camera. We can't tell you which one will be best.

One final word of advice. When the bug bites, it bites real bad. So perhaps save up a bit longer and buy a higher end body. I wish I listened to that advice from bwana when I first got my D3100.
 
Wow APoc84, dead on the money!

Canon vs Nikon is a pointless discussion at this point. There is very little to differentiate between the manufacturers so you really can't make a bad decision.

I personally shoot Nikon SLR's (because I like the feel), but have owned a 10D and still own a few canon compacts. I use a D700 with my old D200 as a backup body now.

If you have any ambition to change the camera out of auto mode or perhaps purchase some fancy lenses down the line consider going a little higher than a 3100. A D5100 would be nice, an old D90 or better still a D7000 will set you up for years. I've seen enough friends with xx0D series Canon's upgrading to 60D's and 7D's to believe the same is true with the 550/600D.

If budget is the primary concern then fine, get one of these and get shooting. Understand that you will likely re-spend this money down the line on upgrades.
 
I have been a Nikon shooter for a while now and it all boils down to what feels right in your hand, go try the models mention at a camera shop and which feels better for you, in terms of controls and grip.

D3100 is the bottom of the range for Nikon and you need to check the bottom of the range for Canon which is the 1100D.
Nikon D5100 has the same new sensor as the D7000 for a budge camera and the D5100 is a good starter. I started off with second hand cameras and choose Nikon because it hold its value in terms of resale better than Canon, so I just got hooked to the brand.
Canon secondhand market is huge and you can find great gear cheaply.
 
Last edited:
Personal opinion (having owned a Nikon D3000, D3100 and Canon 550D):
If it's your first SLR, get a Nikon, I found the menus friendlier.
Otherwise, 550D, purely for the better video.
 
Just my POV, but I would rather spend a little more money and get a much better camera. I would rather look at getting either the Nikon D7000 or the Canon 60D.

I too made the mistake - I rushed out and bought a Canon 500D when they were released. Six months later I wanted a better camera with better specs, so I bought the Canon 7D. So I have a 500D like new, sitting in the cupboard, that cost me R 10 500 at the time. What a waste.

The path you take now, will probably be the one that you stick with, so think carefully. I started with Canon, bought lenses, so I am kinda Canon for life now. To try and make a change now to Nikon would be an expensive exercise - buying all new Nikon lenses.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X