Canon VS Nikon

[Grizz]

Camera jong question.

I know the most important variable in achieving a great shot is the person holding the camera. A pro will get the shot and it doesn't matter what camera system they are using.

Having said that, all the DSLR recommendations for action or sports photography I've read choose Canon over Nikon. What gives Canon the edge for shooting sports?

[MeatPuppet]

What gives Canon the edge for shooting sports?


Noise free high iso images and frame rate. At the prosumer level, the frame rate isn't so much an advantage for Canon since the introduction of the Nikon D200(5fps). At the higher levels, Canon's 1DMKII allows 8fps(1DMKIII is 10 fps) at full resolution. Nikon's D2x only allows 8fps in a 6mp cropped mode. At it's full resolution of 12mp, it is only 5fps.

Canon has Nikon beat hands down for noise free images as well. This is important in sports because it allows you to use higher iso to keep the shutter speed high enough to freeze the action without having to worry about noise.

Also at the pro level, Canon's weather sealed bodies and lenses are a huge plus.

[Tippster]

The metering and focusing are faster and more accurate on Canons as well, supposedly. Not much faster than the Ultrasonic motors in "L" series lenses.

[AstroPax]

The metering and focusing are faster and more accurate on Canons as well, supposedly.

So you think a Canon 5D can focus faster than a Nikon D2Xs? <chuckle>

You are painting a very broad brush by not differentiating between models.

Have you ever even shot both a Canon 1DSMKII, and a Nikon D2Xs?

Very little, if any difference in focus speed between the two. And, if anything, the Nikon matrix metering is superior.

-Astro

[AstroPax]

Noise free high iso images and frame rate. At the prosumer level, the frame rate isn't so much an advantage for Canon since the introduction of the Nikon D200(5fps). At the higher levels, Canon's 1DMKII allows 8fps(1DMKIII is 10 fps) at full resolution. Nikon's D2x only allows 8fps in a 6mp cropped mode. At it's full resolution of 12mp, it is only 5fps.

Well, for one thing, a D2Xs is more expensive than a 1DMKII. However, the image quality from a D2Xs is definitely superior to that of a 1DMKII.

Also, it's 12.4 mega pix at 5 fps from a D2Xs vs 8.5 mega pix from the 1DSMKII. Personally, I would rather have the 12.4 mega pix instead of the 8 fps...since I really never even use the 5 fps from my D2Xs as it is. 5 fps is plenty fast.


Canon has Nikon beat hands down for noise free images as well. This is important in sports because it allows you to use higher iso to keep the shutter speed high enough to freeze the action without having to worry about noise.

This is true. No doubt, at higher ISO's, a 1DMKII is substantially less noisy than a D2Xs, however, I personally never shoot at greater than 250 ISO anyway. If I shot indoors sporting events, such as basketball, I would definitely use a 1DMKII for such an application.


Also at the pro level, Canon's weather sealed bodies and lenses are a huge plus.

The D200 and the D2Xs are both weather sealed, and both of my main Nikkor lenses (70-200, and 17-55) are also weather sealed.

IMO, the main advantage of a 1DMKII over a D2Xs, for example, is the high ISO noise quality...very important for indoors, low light photography if you don't have flash(s) available. Focus speed and accuracy between the two is a toss-up, and very lens dependent. The meter on the D2Xs is better, IMO.

Ergonomics, the Nikon wins, hands down.

Is a 1DMKII a better dedicated sports camera than a D2Xs? Of course it is, due to speed and noise....but that is what it is designed for. It is a very, very thin line. Regardless, there are plenty of pro sports shooters that use Nikon D2X's, regardless of what some would like you to believe to the contrary.

-Astro

[Summit]

Mid line, Canon 30D beats the D200, if for no other reason than cost and lens availability/cost. The D200 is a great camera too though, possibly more feature laiden.

[cj001f]

ahh, a true photo forum is born.

A Canon v. Nikon battle royale filled with specious reasoning and randomly chosen "winners". Just say you own the fucking thing and are supporting your personal bias because you are some effete connoisseur.

[MeatPuppet]

ahh, a true photo forum is born.

A Canon v. Nikon battle royale filled with specious reasoning and randomly chosen "winners". Just say you own the fucking thing and are supporting your personal bias because you are some effete connoisseur.


Well, if it makes you feel any better, I own neither. I have fallen in love with my Fujifilm S5 Pro. before that I owned a D200 and loved it. Before that I had a Canon 10D.

If fact, I don't ever see myself owning a Canon, unless I win the lottery(which seems unlikely since I don't play) and buy a 1DsMKII just for giggles and grins. I have been salivating over a D2Xs, and may just buy one soon, or maybe I'll wait for the much fabled D3x(if it ever appears).

All this and I still believe Canon is better for sports...so there:p


Summit: You are correct, on all three points.

[cj001f]

bahhhhhhh

[MeatPuppet]

whatever it's a D200 body with a different sensor,



Exactly.

I get 10 stops of dynamic range(30D has ~8stops of DR), with iso 3200 damn near as clean as the 5D, with superior Nikon ergonomics, and Fuji color.


...brings a smile to my face:cool:



Edit: too slow...;)

[Tippster]

So you think a Canon 5D can focus faster than a Nikon D2Xs? <chuckle>

You are painting a very broad brush by not differentiating between models.Ergo the "supposedly - The opinion I wrote was not my own, but our photography department's. We certainly should only compare apples to apples.


Have you ever even shot both a Canon 1DSMKII, and a Nikon D2Xs?

Very little, if any difference in focus speed between the two. And, if anything, the Nikon matrix metering is superior.

-AstroYes I have, but not in a real-world setting -- just tooling around seeing which i would like, and which interface i would prefer. Supposedly the Nikon Matrix meter is "better" but that's all subjective at that level.

I have owned Nikon Cameras for most of my life and do not bash them at all. However, I feel there must be some reason why almost none of the Agency Photojournalists shoot them, and I doubt it's only due to marketing.

If you want to get picky pretty much everyone I've talked to says the Sigma Foveon chip is superior to the CMOS w/DIGIC III chips, yet only fine art and hobby photogs shoot them AFAIK.

[bklyn]

It's all about the photographer.
My two best selling images are from a plastic holga and a 6mp DSLR.

Buy the best glass you can afford.
Do without if you have to make a shitty compromise to cover a focal length.
Don't be lazy - get closer to the action or further away if necessary.

:biggrin: Nikon and Fuji bodies for me. I'm so accustomed to them that I'm at a loss now with the Cannon menus and buttons. Still... a great image is a great image and these new cameras are all capable of taking extraordinary ones... if you have the skill. ;)

[schindlerpiste]

Canon may have the edge with DSLR, but as far as film (SLR) Nikon always had the best Japanese glass, and the best glass period, other than Leica. The Nikon F2 was superior in every way to the Canon A1 and F1, and the FM3A is faster, more rugged, more dependable and comes with better glass than any EOS.

I say this, and I am/was the proud owner of a Canon A1.

http://72.14.205.104/search?q=cache:-d4uYCLFEnUJ:photo.net/equipment/35mm/canon-v-nikon+canon+A1+Nikon+F2+compare&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=4&gl=us

[Summit]

I miss when all features could be operated by knobs and switches (35mm manual, Pentax 5n, Canon Elan II, Minolta Maxxum 7) instead of menus and "hold this button down while turning that wheel"

My Elan II was the easiet to operate AF camera I ever owned. I still have one as a backup body.


If you want to get picky pretty much everyone I've talked to says the Sigma Foveon chip is superior to the CMOS w/DIGIC III chips, yet only fine art and hobby photogs shoot them AFAIK.

I'm sure everyone would use FOVEON3X if it was in something besides a Sigma body that can only use Sigma lenses. ;)


Canon may have the edge with DSLR, but as far as film (SLR) Nikon always had the best Japanese glass, and the best glass period, other than Leica. The Nikon F2 was superior in every way to the Canon A1 and F1, and the FM3A is faster, more rugged, more dependable and comes with better glass than any EOS.

I say this, and I am/was the proud owner of a Canon A1.

I think the FM3a is an awesome body. I thought the Canon T90 and Olympus OM4Ti were incredible and superior manual focus bodies. I loved my OM4. I still have it.

I thought the EOS-3 was the best 35mm AF body ever made. I loved mine even more than my Elan II and definately more than my A2. I still have it.

[Viva]

Nikon always had the best Japanese glass,

I disagree. All of the major Japanese camera manufacturers made great products. The best Pentax and Olympus glass rivaled anything Nikon made.



Don't be lazy - get closer to the action or further away if necessary.

A favorite hobby on mine is to randomly grab on of my fixies (fix-focal length lense) and go out photographying with just that lens. I have to force myself to adjust to the strengths and weaknesses of that particular lens on my camera (e.g., I move around a lot). The 21mm f2.3 has a whole different set of personal requirements than the 77mm f1.8. It's challenging and, even if it doesn't make me a better photographer, it's fun.

okbye

[warthog]

I miss when all features could be operated by knobs and switches (35mm manual, Pentax 5n, Canon Elan II, Minolta Maxxum 7) instead of menus and "hold this button down while turning that wheel"



Number one reason I went with the D200. I still have those features.;)

[truth]

So you think a Canon 5D can focus faster than a Nikon D2Xs? <chuckle>

You are painting a very broad brush by not differentiating between models.

Have you ever even shot both a Canon 1DSMKII, and a Nikon D2Xs?

Very little, if any difference in focus speed between the two. And, if anything, the Nikon matrix metering is superior.

-Astro


Are you always such a dick or just on the interweb? Your pretty fucking impressed with yourself aren't you? Why don't don't you keep your pompous blathering to sportshooter.com where your drivel fits right in?