Canon vs Nikon: what brand has the better camera for beginners and professionals? If you’re going to buy your first DSLR or mirrorless camera, you should know everything about Nikon vs Canon cameras.
Both camera brands produce high-quality photography gear but with some differences. Read my post below to find out what are they.
Canon vs Nikon for Beginners
If you’re looking for the best DSLR camera for beginners, Canon or Nikon bodies are most likely to be chosen. Canon SL2 or Nikon D3400 are the most affordable and user-friendly for any hobbyist.
Main Features
- Read more about cheap Canon cameras.
Pros & Cons
Canon EOS 200D
Both models can serve as a great foundation to be later improved with camera accessories. If you’re looking for cool modern features, then you might prefer the Canon camera in this case.
Nikon D3400
Keep in mind that Nikon D3400 still offers high-quality images for affordable price and are a good choice for beginners too.
Verdict
Both models are based on a 24.2 MP APS-C sensor that provides great resolution. As for the limitations of this Nikon camera, I want to mention the absence of HDR and popular functions like time-lapse, interval shooting, etc. Additionally, the camera is provided with Bluetooth connection that is too limited and only allows for lower-quality images to be sent to your smartphone and doesn’t support remote shutter release.
The Canon DSLR, on the other hand, can offer many additional functions in photography and videography, one of them being HDR video mode. The Multishot Noise Reduction system provides clear photos in dim light.
Doing your Canon vs Nikon for beginner choice, keep in mind that the former camera body has more creative functions that are fun but still easy to learn. Canon model is a great purchase for a hobby or a career start.
- Check out more best entry level DSLRs.
Canon vs Nikon for Semi Pro Photographers
In this section we’ll test Canon 6D Mark II vs Nikon D500. They stand in the same price range but are far from being identical in specs.
Main Features
- Check out the best Canon wide angle lens.
Pros & Cons
Canon 6D Mark II
If you’re going to update your old DSLR and buy something special that will be a nice choice for studio photography, test this camera.
Nikon D500
If you would like to capture everything with stunning clarity, speed and resolution, choose this camera model.
Verdict
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Is there an absolute winner? As I confronted Canon vs Nikon semi pro, I could not reach a strong verdict but I had a higher preference for the Nikon photography camera.
The Canon’s core is impressively powerful, it combines a 26-MP matrix with a DIGIC 7 processor which make this camera’s performance smooth and fast, not to mention great image quality.
At the same time, they could do much more with such internals. The camera’s dynamic range is disappointing and the absence of 4K is upsetting. It is still a great option even despite those downsides.
Pay attention to the lenses. As I checked these two devices, I found over 300 lens options for the Nikon F mount and only 270 for Canon’s EF mount and that is a considerable disadvantage.
As for D500, it is really hard to find flaws in the rugged, nearly professional camera. The autofocus with 153 points is gorgeous, continuous drive and 4K UHD footage are amazing.
- Read more about the best Canon camera for portraits.
Nikon vs Canon for Professionals
If you’re going to offer professional photography services, you need a full-frame sensor. There is a big selection of them in both brands. Let’s review Canon 5D Mark IV and Nikon D850.
Main Features
- Find good Canon accessories.
Pros & Cons
Canon 5D Mark IV
If you’re ready to spend money on professional photo equipment, choose this Canon camera for high resolution photos that can be printed on billboards.
Nikon D850
If you need extreme resolution and extreme speed, choose the D800 that allows you to capture fast action in 45.7 megapixels of brilliant resolution.
Verdict
In this case, the Canon DSLR is a better choice due to a number of features. Thus, shooting is made more convenient with it through the articulating screen that opens more angles. Additionally, the LCD itself has a visibly higher resolution. Speaking of which, the pixel count is also higher, 46MP Nikon vs Canon’s 30MP.
The D850 has higher color depth and dynamic range along with more precise focusing. The Nikon is also represented by a higher amount of focusing points (92 more of them in Nikon plus another 58 cross-type ones) and Bracketing or Stacking feature for taking a few shots with varying focal points.
To produce such image quality, the camera would have to use much energy, but that’s wrong. Its battery capacity allows taking almost twice the amount of shots on one charge. Last but not least, Nikon’s illuminated buttons are incredibly helpful when shooting in the darkness.
Still, choosing professional Canon or Nikon DSLR, you might value size over certain capabilities. Then the 5D Mark IV is definitely your camera because it is considerably lighter and more compact. Otherwise, D850 is more powerful in other specs.
- View more about the best Canon camera.
Canon vs Nikon Mirrorless Camera Comparison
Certainly, such two big brands design mirrorless camera that are in trend today. So I thought I would also make a small mirrorless camera comparison. For that, Canon EOS R will have to stand against Nikon Z7.
Main Features
- Read more about the best Nikon lenses for weddings.
Pros & Cons
Canon EOS R
This is the first full-frame mirrorless camera from the Canon’s new EOS R system that have many compatible lenses for professional photography.
Nikon Z7
If you’re looking for a mirrorless camera that is compatible with new Z nikkor lenses, over 360 F-mount nikkor lenses and a variety of Nikon system camera accessories, buy this camera.
Verdict
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Whether you pick Nikon or Canon, it will still be a great camera that works at the highest level and offers many advanced features. The former would be a bit ahead, though, if you compare all their capabilities.
Thus, the Z7’s image quality is higher, it is smaller and offers more interesting features for the price they charge you. It has a 45.7-MP sensor and though both cameras work on full-frame sensors, Canon’s has a smaller pixel count. This lowers the image resolution along with the number of details and shortens the amount you can crop off without losses.
Comparing Canon vs Nikon videos, it seems like the former has only one fps less. But in reality, when you shoot with continuous AF, the best Canon for video limits you to 5 fps while Nikon still gives you all the 9 fps it declares.
But there are some considerable benefits EOS R can beat its rival with. For instance, better executed AF and high ISO performance, plus a wider range of supported lenses. On the other hand, Z7 offers built-in stabilization which is a major advantage.
In any case, regardless of what you choose among Nikon vs Canon cameras, you will always end up with high-quality gear. But maybe in this particular case, it is better to go for the former.
- Read more about the best mirrorless camera for beginners.
Ann Young
Hi there, I'm Ann Young - a professional blogger, read more
