Canon vs. Nikon: Why I want to switch to Nikon, but can't fully
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- Опубліковано 7 лют 2025
- Watch the updated version here: www.youtube.co...
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Chelsea, this link is not working..
So... no more 70-200mm problems?
this link doesn't work..
Tony & Chelsea Northrup love your work sir...... Hope that one day ,i could meet you and chelsea together and we all have a good photography time.....with a cup of tea...
Portrait photographers generally use 85mm or 105mm. In every poll those prime lenses appear like the king lenses for portrait photography.
So, I think if you want to give a recommendation for this kind of photography you need to separate your personal preference (70-200) and compare the most common and recommend prime lenses. I miss that.
This video was an emotional roller coaster.
damn yer handsome! just sayin
I totally agree
Watch the updated version here: ua-cam.com/users/edit?o=U&video_id=Hmne4lMa8Pc
Hi Tony, the link doesn't work! Nice brand's comparison by the way!
the link doesnt work
Thank you Tony and Chelsea for setting a new standard for UA-cam photography education. I really enjoy your work and wish you great success in all that you do :)
I love your guys's stuff....I literally don't watch tv....if i have time to watch something I watch what you guys and other top photographer youtubers have to offer. thanks for putting so much time into this!
I like these videos! Just bought my first DSLR; it helps to translate all the technicalities into meaningful information for beginners like me. Still a lot to learn.
Can you please make an update video on that? A lot has changed since 2014 and I'm facing the Canon vs. Nikon dilemma...
Yep, will do.
Same here, this would be great. Thanks!
i am gonna share you my experience, if you got tons of money or money is not a concern, please go for nikon. but if you are like me who care about money, then easily canon. their lenses is cheaper by quite huge amount. and also, if you like shooting wide angle, nikon wins but slightly. but if you are telephoto person (shoot sport, wildlife, etc) , then CANON wins big time.
+kittenfan thanks! I'm mainly interested in portrait photography though, maybe some travelling photos-landscape. Trying to decide between Canon 80D and Nikon d7200...
Hi there, let me advise you about many things here so you can make better decision. I was on your boat 8 years ago. alright between 80D and D7200, i just searched it online, NO BRAINER, go for d7200. WHY? more AF points 51 vs 45. also same ISO performance but nikon d7200 is cheaper too in amazon, i looked. however, photography is about LENS. are you looking to upgrade your lenses? if yes, this is what you should be worried about. this makes the situation tricky. for your question on body, D7200 no brainer. for Portrait, it is about the same, but i still favor canon more since they got more selection on lenses and trust me, Their lenses are A LOT CHEAPER than nikon. nikon lenses break the bank. sure, their lens is more lovely like they give you the hood free and the design is nicer, better build quality arguably but damn expensive. For landscape, nikon wins but slightly though (this is only when you decide to go for full frame) . if you stay in crop sensor APSC camera, you better served with canon (again canon wins). if i were you, i would go for canon. but again. IF MONEY IS not an issue, HELL go for nikon. the lens is better designed, more robust in general and i just love the handling personally
This is the best +Tony Northrup video, as this proves what I've thought for years but could not definitively prove.
Nikon = superior bodies, Canon = cost effective everything else.
Fantastic video Tony, I've shared this through my social media pages :)
My cousin turned me onto your channel...glad to learn I (inadvertently) bought your recommended best beginner DSLR. YAY! Now, I have to learn how to use it. Thanks for all your offerings.
Got at least ten grand worth of Nikon glass. I am locked in. Nothing against Canon.
Tony, that is the most intelligent discussion on Cameras that I have heard to date. Very practical and useful. I've been shooting canon since 2005 and wanted to switch to Nikon more than a few times and you have cleared up all the details for me. I never switched because I wasn't sure about my reservations. Of course I want to do ALL kinds of photography, so remain frustrated like yourself because I want to have my cake and eat it. Love the way you dropped the GH4 in there as the best for video. Totally nailed it. GH4 is super flexible and truly professional in it's array of options - particularly with it's grip extension. You're really outdone yourself this time. Good job.
Terence Kearns Thanks, Terence!
I have been researching DSLRs for a few days now, always have liked messing around with point and shoots, but the more I learn about cameras and DSLRs the less I know about what one I want to buy.... By the end of this I'll know everything about cameras and have no idea what one to get.
Get an older nikon d3 or d700. You’ll be happy. Worry about getting the best glass you can afford.
my name is malik and I'm starting make video on youtube which Camara is best ..i have a choice Nikon D3200 if u have batter choice plz tell me same budget like D3200
+Waqas Malik For video, look for a Sony a5100 or a6000 instead. Enjoy, and good luck!
+Tony Northrup Thank you very much dear sir
My husband as the D810 and absolutely loves it. He has the 300mm that he uses for wildlife but he sticks with his 58mm for most of his portraits. I have the D5500 since I'm only a (casual/armature photographer) and have really enjoyed it compared to the D5200 that I had. Right now I have the 35mm and the 40mm macro lens and so far have been great as "walk around" lenses. My husband purchased the Nikon 70-200mm f2.8 a couple of years ago. Since he has his 300mm, I use the 70-200mm at times. All are great lens and bodies. We've been very impressed! Thank you for all your tips Tony!
I always wondered why I couldn't get as close with my Nikkor 300mm than a friend that has a Canon 200mm! I'll research my next lens more before buying. Thank you for your wonderful videos!
Nice work Tony!
Superb video, thanks for making it and sharing it, Tony.
Hey Tony, Can you do an update on this subject? Will be good to see if this Nikon vs Canon has changed and how does Sony now fit in?
+Aaron Leung
and of course the Micro Four Third system of Olympus and Panasonic ;)
I would like that too
+Nicolas Otero did u know Jesus used to walk everywhere and now people drive and fly in planes? It's only a matter of time before the transition happens to mirrorless. To think otherwise is to be short sighted.
+Nicolas Otero I'm a Nikon shooter too, but if you think 5fps is something to be proud of vs a inferior Samsung NX1 15fps then you really are short sighted. Only the d5 is starting to catch up in terms of what the nx1 has to offer. Sadly the nx1 is no longer made, but it provides a glimps to what 1 year old mirrorless camera can do.
D5 wins in sensor size, dual memory slots, better iso performance and better stills AF and that's about it for a camera that's more than 3x the price tag.
NX1 is the best apsc camera out there. The new d500 may only beat it in AF. Everything else like cine 4K (6.5k down scaled to 4K), h265, 15fps, touch screen, touch focus, wifi updates, better video AF, 4K to sdcard, MP, NX1 wins hands down.
JohnReviewer112 can you name another apsc camera that shoots 15fps and is 28mp or greater? The NX1 can stand on its own for stills. It just happens to be amazing at video as well.
The way you've set the stage/studio, lighting and the way you've framed the video, positioned yourself and the presentation display monitor, excellent!!
I must say.. you are giving the most sciebtific videos about cameras and lenses... your videos helped me a lot... keep up with the good work
Damn, just discovered you yesterday. Your knowledge and summaries are just awesome.
+barbwirepupp Thanks!
As a former canon owner (and still a big fan) I have to say that a lot of the video is not correct. Basically my Nikon D810 with ANY of the fast G primes gets me better results than my Canon gear did. Period and end of story. Even with a 24-84vr kit lens the D810 is superior in many ways to my previous 5D3. The Nikon always carries more detail (Yes, it IS visible), better color at higher ISO and hugely superior dynamic range with the D810 at low ISO and my Df all the way to ISO 12600. I am a professional still shooter, so I go with what works best. Canon sensors are so far behind the D810 now that a few lenses at certain price points do not make for the winning system. Nikon is also being more aggressive as of late in sealing holes in the lens lineups over Canon. Also missing is the serious fact that Nikon's flash system is a lot nicer. At lower budgets picking what feels better is more important than anything else, but if you're serious about shooting Canon has a lot of sensor work to do before they can be taken seriously against the D810/D4s combo or D810/Df combo. Most of my pro canon shooting friends have either switched or added Nikon to their systems.
Robert Brody What about the video isn't correct? I raved about the Nikon image quality and recommended it for everything in the medium focal range. The D810 slaughtered the 5D Mark III in our review. We totally agree about all of this.
The problem is not the camera the problem is the photographer. Guys I have canon I I never will switch to Nikon or another company, not because I'm a fanboy certainly it's because I got a lot of accessories and batteries for my canon then if I change I will Lose my money. That is why buy to be honest a good Photografer will make nice pics with any camera cause my talent is on my head the rest is crap believe me guys.
+jeisson vasquez guzman That's a big thing. When I first got into photography I bought the cheapest decent looking 2nd hand entry level DSLR I could. It was a 400D. It lasted me a long time until it was restricting some things I could do. By that time I had accrued 6 lenses, flashes, remotes, which I would have to ditch for a switch to Nikon. Though at the point I could afford L Glass or a 400mm lens, the expense isn't much relatively, but that time isn't now.
That's the best comment i've read bar none. These cameras are just tools. In other words even if you have the most expensive camera in the world and if you don't have the skills and the eye for photography then you'll better off shooting on your phones. A good n skilled photographer can shoot better images with low end camera compare to someone who does not have the skills with very expensive high end cameras. Remember, it's not about what camera you shoot with, it's all about your skill enough said.
+Philip Ypon well I don't want to seize the moment to promote myself but I got a canon 50D since a long time ago. And if you want to see the kind of photos and video that I have been making just go to my UA-cam Chanel that is digitalflex5x1 and just take a look, you don't have to subscribe to my Chanel I'm not looking for followers or something like that.
I love canon, but apples for apples Nikon has better images at low light and has more dynamic range.
Most knowledgable UA-cam photography channel, brilliant!
+Danny Hodge Thanks!!
Really liked the side by side on the bodies and what you thought. Great details in the comparison.
Wow,
Much better than some of the other equipment reviewers!
Much more informative and much less goofy.
I didn't actually learn anything about the Nikon line, but I learned something about the Canon line.
(You might have mentioned the difference between the tilt-shift lenses on each side. But then you might also have mentioned the Nikon 135mm DC lens)
As for the Nikon 70-200 F/2.8 VRII, there I think you were somewhat short on details. I may end up doing my own tests.
because I've never seen (and always wanted to know) what the true focal length is when focused at various distances (a chart would be nice).
~Mark
Mark Stump You can google 'nikon 70-200 effective focal length'--the focus breathing problems are universally accepted. Here are the measurements (focusing distance, actual focal length at 200mm):
1.27m (closest); 128mm
1.4m; 132mm
2m; 147mm
3m; 164mm
5m; 176mm
10m; 186mm
Honestly, nobody ever asks me about tilt-shift, and I prefer to do that correction in post, anyway... it's just not as common a need as portraits, wildlife, macro, landscapes, etc.
Tony Northrup Thanks for the reply: darn it, I just spent the afternoon doing my own test. I've known for a long time that it wasn't 200mm up close, I just wanted more data.
As for tilt shift, you can't change the plane of focus in post. I know you can straighten things, I agree w/ you there.
Tony Northrup - Thanks for posting this. I searched and found the information on the DPReview Forums after you mentioned it:
www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/2708229
I noticed that it was primarily at shorter distances and thought, "what's the big deal if you are a wildlife photog as the focal length thing is practically resolved?" Then I realized that it would be bothersome in the studio where the changes between 1.5 and 3 meters is so large that getting consistent compression, etc. would be problematic.
While I gather from the thread above that internal focus (IF) lenses have this problem to some degree, this is a rather egregious example. It is a shame because the DxOMark scores on the lens are so stellar. Especially its corner to corner sharpness.
Just out of curiosity, have you used the lens to see how it works in your shooting environment? Ironically, in the thread above, a tester said they got sharper pictures at the shorter focal length, even when upsized to match the focal length of the older VR lens. Then again, that same tester wasn't using/comparing it to the Canon L lens.
cant believe you cant find a nikon lens for portraiture!!!?? what about the 180 mm f2.8 or the 135mm f/2D???
Or even the 200mm f2. All great lenses for portraits.
He must be looking for zoom lenses.... don't you think.. When in need, you don't want to be changing lenses....
I have both Nikon 135mm f2.0 AF-DC and the Nikon 180mm f2.8 .Both great lenses. Have owned them since the 90's .
nikons 105mm f1.4 is a solid portrait lens, and 105mm is the sweet spot for portrait work
My Nikon D810 makes for an outstanding portrait camera with both my Nikkor 105mm f1.4e and my Nikkor 200mm f2.0. I am not shackled to my 70-200mm f2.8.
Just a question. Why, why the comparative picture between 70-200 lenses used a Tamron lens instead of the Nikon 70-200mm?
Winston Cavalcante Good point!
+Winston Cavalcante Making the model smile in the Canon picture and looking depressed in the Tamron isn't adding to credibility either.
Because he is illustrating the focal length compromise that is identical between the Tamron and Nikon lens, on the same camera for an apples to apples comparison. It's literally the one thing that would make sense to support his argument.
It's very well-organized and easy to follow! Please keep posting more!
That was super technical Tony. You entertained this geek for a solid 20 minutes.
Good video. I'd say the game has changed a bit again and would welcome an update. Canon has resolution now, but still poor DR. Nikon has a better lens lineup with the 1.8 primes and more variety across the board in terms of 35mm photography.
+Steven Robinson The game in general has become really tight, but still not changed all that much in the last 4 generational revisions... Canon has the lenses, Nikon has the cameras. Throw in good 3rd party lenses (like the Sigma Art series of lenses), that blow them both out of the water, and the choice again, becomes a step easier.
The thing is, when discussing lens "breathing", Tony can say the Canon lenses breathe less, and that is true, however, with lenses at the long end, one needs to step back... you don't have to, but you do to get the effect (highly blurred backgrounds, clear subject) that he wants. But no one states the obvious, that there is no rule that Canon and Nikon lenses must be used at the exact same distances, and that if you take 3-4 steps closer with the Nikon lens, you get the same "apparent" zoom level, same apparent background blur... and that kind of makes Tony's reason for selecting the Canon, not a real reason in real life usage in the manner that he says his photography depends on.
+JerryPHcom lol actually there is a rule that says you have to shoot the nikon and the canon from the same exact distance. the point is to remove variables not create them in order to compare. Also, as was mentioned in the vid you dont always have the luxury to use your feet to zoom in and out in real world shoots.
+JerryPHcom lol actually there is a rule that says you have to shoot the nikon and the canon from the same exact distance. the point is to remove variables not create them in order to compare. Also, as was mentioned in the vid you dont always have the luxury to use your feet to zoom in and out in real world shoots.
I think you would be making a big mistake to switch to Nikon, I had Nikon for years, but when everything started going digital, Canon was just way head of the game. Also pictures I was taking with my D3X didn't seem to be as good as my friends that had Canon, so I sold all my Nikon equipment and switched to Canon and never looked back, just my 2 cents.
Nikon = Action & Landscape. Canon = Portrait.
But everything is personal preference. Nikon has a better build. Canon does better with video.
But in terms of IQ... whether you shoot action, sports, landscape, portrait, or product.. it really doesn't matter as much anymore since post process can pretty much emulate any type of style, color, and feel.
I shoot Canon because the color straight out of the box is better on skin and is warmer. The Nikon tends to have a bit more
yellow tones in shots - would be great for sunsets and outdoor shooting.
But both brands are awesome. Nikon or Canon for DSLRs. Fuji for Mirrorless. Sony for P&S. Everyone else kinda sucks.
just go out and take photos !
Sony is great!...for high end cameras....nikon!
jsong21 Exactly right! Either way post processing is basically everyone will use with both cameras.
Nikon: landscape and portraits
Canon: sports
LOL
GREAT comments and non biased it is good to see/hear an honest comparison with hard facts
hi Tony i'm a canon user but i totally agree with you, thanks for sharing your experience
BTW, unless you're a professional photographer, you're insane if you buy brand new camera bodies and lenses. The used market is flooded with perfect condition gear for 50% or less of its value when new. I recently bought a barely used Nikon D80 body as a backup body while traveling for $125. Despite the fact that it is "only" 10.2 MP, it is far more camera than most people need, and with the right lens, it will outshoot 20+ megapixel cellphones easily. With the right lens, it will also outshoot a 20+ MP DSLR being used by someone who never changes their lens based on what they are shooting or what the lighting conditions are, and just leaves the kit lens on. My primary camera is a D7100, also bought as a Nikon factory refurb for $580. Save your money, do your research, and buy wisely!
You can say that again! ....I am perfectly happy with my Canon 50D...I paid 400 bucks for it when it was just 4 years old....saved around 1000 bucks...I don't need the latest greatest...I just want nice photos....You don't have to mortgage the farm to make nice photos.....
Russell S really well said and the refurbished from manafacturer are great too. besides as you advance in skill you'll be able to resell most your stuff for about the same price and you will lose less of anything on investment
whoaaa i never even thought to buy a used one, you blew my mind right now.
For 90% of the photographers out there the choice between Canon and Nikon shouldn't affect your ability to take good shots. I think this nit picking is more for the 10% of pros who really take it to the extreme level. So I'd say unless you're in that 10% best not to lose sleep over it.
Doug Vandegrift Yeah, I totally agree. We regularly switch between Canon, Nikon, and Sony, and we get the job done with whatever we have.
People are spending thousands, so it's worth putting some thought into, but if you've already bought, just shoot with what you've got.
+Doug Vandegrift how you know pros are 10%. Whats your source for this state
yeah , just going to bed, time is the same as you guys now. lost an hour sleep
It can be frustrating though to have to compromise. Ask any concert/ culture photographer, always with a Nikon body they're really happy with but just not quite the right glass in front of it. When noise performance is king... Thankfully an 85mm does the job.
Tony you had mentioned in this video that you love the Canon 200mm f/2.8 and you stated that Nikon does not have a equivalent. Nikon has had a 200mm f/2 ED VR II lens for some time since at least 2012 before this video was made. I do realize it is rather expensive. Thought you should know so you are giving correct information.
www.nikonusa.com/en/Nikon-Products/Product/Camera-Lenses/AF-S-NIKKOR-200mm-f%252F2G-ED-VR-II.html
The 200mm f/2.8 is much cheaper than a f/2, which is like $6000
+Lourenço Montibello he doesn't mention that price is a factor. If you want the best, you will pay for it. The 200 F/2 is world class, especially the V2. If you shoot Nikon and want a fun experience, rent it out for a weekend one time. Al other lenses will never look the same to you. :)
+JerryPHcom Obviously you haven't used Canon's 200/2 or 200/1.8 yet :)
Hey Tony,
Just as a quick comment, I bought my first DSLR for a holiday to Antarctica. I got a Pentax K-50. I got it specifically because it was rated to -20 degrees celcius and weather resistant (both body and kit lens). I also picked up a second WR 55-300 lens for it as well.
As it happens, I ended up having a slight emergency on some 'fast ice' (frozen sea ice). Upshot of it was I fell into the Southern Ocean. My camera was around my neck at the time, and tossed it lens first into the ice/snow. I got pulled out of the water and and the camera was covered in ice/snow. Took it back to the ship dried it off (after I dried myself off) and the camera was working like a charm.
I agree that buying the right camera for the right job is a great idea, and I'm glad that I got one that was weather resistant. :-)
+John Grayson That's the great thing about Pentax camera's. They take a licking and keep on shooting. Not only that but also you can put any lens from a screw mount all the way to todays lens on a Pentax. Try doing that with Nikon or Canon. I do agree though that Pentax does not have the lens line up that Canon or Nikon does but lets be honest here, how many times do you need a 800mm lens? Or a 1200mm lens? Not very often.
+John Grayson That's a really odd place to go on holiday!
I saw DPReview doing some destruction testing. an old EOS 1D was left in the freezer, defrosted with I think hot coffee and was just peachy! I am amazed some of the abuse these cameras can take. Also I would have been far too worried about dying to think about tossing the camera.
I tossed the camera because it was around my neck (read: on my chest).
As I fell I landed on my chest on the ice, on purpose, to minimize how much of my body went into the Southern Ocean. This was below the Antarctic Circle so it was cold.
Point is, given I was landing my chest on the ice, I didn't want a chunky metal object in the way.
John Grayson Ah, I thought you'd gone for camera preservation as a priority, which would be kind of heroic, as long as you survived!
+mavis cruet Nope. Camera be damned I was running on pure animal instinct.
Slight error - the 5DIII is 22MP not 24, Which means you get a higher percentage of its resolution becoming usable than the D810
Tony, now that I've used the Canon 5D MkIV I must say the Dynamic Range, Higher MP and Autofocus make the camera on par and if not better than the D810 in most areas.
Also with the new Canon 24 - 105 F4 II and it's unbelievle sharpness it's a much better improvement over the previous Canon and current Sigma.
Canon 24-105 II is not sharper than the Sigma 24-105 Art. You compare them here:
www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/ISO-12233-Sample-Crops.aspx?Lens=1072&Camera=453&Sample=0&FLI=0&API=0&LensComp=918&CameraComp=453&SampleComp=0&FLIComp=0&APIComp=0
Hi Tony, do you have plans to update this comparison anytime soon? Thank you.
Here ya go: ua-cam.com/video/Hmne4lMa8Pc/v-deo.html
My gosh! Changing system just because of the new camera body?..
Let's imagine a 'Canon guy' that sold his 5DMkIII and switched to the back then brand new Nikon D800(E) because of that 36 megapixel sensor. Resolution, whoa!
The guy now has to sell all the Canon lenses (since he doesn't have any Canon anymore) and replace them by Nikon lenses. Ok, let's drop that 'Nikon-doesn't-have-equivalents' stuff. Our guy found lenses of other focal lengths and apertures from the Nikon system and is quite pleased.
Now there's the Canon 5DS(r). 50 megapixels. What should the guy do? Change back to Canon family?
Ok, he switches back to Canon, sells Nikon body and lenses, buys Canon glass…
If in couple of years Sony or whatever manufacturer produces for Nikon a 100 megapixel sensor? Change the whole system again?
I think pros will definitely need those extra advantages right here and now, 'cause they earn money and(!)… this is a very competitive field: a pro has to deliver astonishing results, 'cause there are other great pros that deliver astonishing results. If not me, someone else will do this, will reach that new edge.
But let's remember about the budgets the pros have. They definitely can afford having both systens: Canon and Nikon. And more… I know about several pros with six digit budgets who shoot with, for example, Nikon/Phase One-Mamiya-Leaf/Leica (one guy), Canon/Hasselblad/Pentax 645/Sony A7R and A99 (another guy).
I think there are three philosophies:
1) sticking to a brand;
2) changing brands and gear (whole systems);
3) using several systems.
Changing brands and whole systems has its sense: a pro has to deliver. If I don't shoot the highest quality images clients/employers can hire another photo guy who does. But… If I change the whole system I have to sell my current system cheaper, because it is used, and buy new gear. It's more expensive. I have to invest money on this. Besides that I have to get used to the ergonomics of the new to me brand. That decreases my overall quality as a photographer while I'm learning new gear.
Sticking to a brand I can spend that money on equipment within that brand and probably that equipment will improve my images significantly.
Having several systems is great, but more expensive.
I started watching this video out of curiosity, wondering what biased claptrap was going to be thrown at me. What a pleasant surprise to find such a well informed and very intelligent analysis. Well done Tony - You have a new fan.
Tony, more great insight! I've gone through so many of your videos. So glad I subscribed to your page a while back. You're a true Professional, well spoken and patient. Hope the family is great! Keep shooting pal.
Nikon has the 200mm f/2 prime lens wich is way better at f2.8 than Canon's 200mm f/2.8... But it is also much bigger and heavier!
Nicholas R.M. Yeah, that's the problem--it's $6k and 6.5 lbs.
Tony Northrup the
Canon became popular as they were given away for free to professionals. Prior to then Nikon had 95% market share on merit alone.
But what about Leica? My father was a Leica guy, I'm not a big photographer myself but I'm just curious.
Alan Unrau Does Leica not make "regular" DSLRs? Honestly, if I would win a camera of my choice in a lottery I'd take a Lytro Illum just because it must be so interesting to shoot with it, but that's a different story and the technology has not matured yet.
+0M9H4X leica is a specialty camera brand, very expensive without any fancy features.
+0M9H4X Overated. If you want something similar buy Fuji.
+0M9H4X +Alan Unrau
I agree with Alan for the most part. I will add that Leica is not only a brand that produces rangefinders - the M line - but also dslr like - the R line- and medium format - S line -.
Leicas are all high end cameras produced for the wealthy amateur or very successfull professionals. Any field where who you are and what you do needs a tag of exclusivity on it, a statement of luxury and uniqueness.
If you might consider getting in serious photography, first buy the best bang for the buck you can afford, train your skills and work the ladder for bigger jobs and better gear.
If you just love photography and like to document your everyday life, friends, family and journeys, pick up a great film camera its cheap and very rewarding or just get a Fuji X for the closest feeling to it.
Cheers
+Alan Unrau Leica used to be something special, something unavailable anywhere else. They've spent the last 30+ years living on that reputation without really being innovators and they lost a lot of ground. especially in performance and quality. You pay for a well designed, industry leading box that just doesn't give you the photos that Canon or Nikon can give you at 1/2 the cost or less. Leica does make dSLR cameras, in medium format sizes, but for full frame sensors, you will be stuck with the range finder sized format. What is funny is that the Fuji cameras can almost match and often beat a lot of the specs of the Leica cameras. It is very much a specialist camera for a very tiny and specific market segment.
A wonderfully clear and unbiased review which will help many to choose equipment without being stuck on brand names. I used Canon SLRs for decades and I was very pleased with the outcome but have now switched to Nikon DSLRs. I like both brands because they offer different things. Don't worry about negative comments from 'fanboys' because they are only interested in reading the praises of their chosen brand.
You are right, Nikon pro bodies can be used as weapons and still go on shooting, no wonder they use them in space.
As a full time freelance photojournalist i never use zooms for stills. I know that i am a bit old fashioned, but i started with Nikon and primes in the beginning of the 80´s, and i will probably retire with my primes and my Nikons. For close up portraits i use the 200mm 2,0 VR2 or the old 180 2,8. further away i use the 85 1,4 AF-D or the 105 2,8 VR macro. It depends a lot of my mood on the given day which i choose. All these lenses are tack sharp and focal lengths are what they should be.
For video i use my only zoom a 24-120mm 4,0 VR.
the 70-200 is not the most superior portrait lens.. what about all of the ultra sharp primes...?
It's a matter of style. If you shoot weddings, kids, or anything where you need to be able to move quickly, a zoom really gets the job done much better.
Prime: 135mm f/2L :)
But if you get the D810 you will probably just switch back when the 5D MK 4 comes out
The Hardware Cove Maybe. We'll review it when it comes out.
That's the idea, sell, sell, and sell again!
Tony Northrup I guess the 5D3 is already pretty good.... and I have it.
And once you switch to the 5D mk4, you probably will want to switch back to nikon once the D820 comes out. That train of thought is really bad.
Lol no
I just got a pentax instead XD
+weo1weo1weo1 I'm trying to sell my 70D to get a Pentax K-1. The Canon served me well as my first DSLR, but I've discovered I love to shoot landscapes and the K-1 should be awesome for my needs.
+Dave Dewald i just got a new nikon though now XD i wont be selling ny pentax though, cuz it does take nice photos!
Tony a wonderful analysis and layout of this subject . Assuming the data is correct within some reasonable error a well presented video.
You have superior knowledge and your videos are so informative. They are really helping us decide on our future purchases.
This guy sounds exactly like Ezra from Pretty Little Liars lmao
You say that 60 fps is way better than 30. And I completely agree. So I wonder, why didn't you shoot and upload this in 60fps? xD
Animiles shooting in 60fps gives much more editing freedom, exporting and viewing in 60fps doesn't have much effect
Nick Withford
60 fps looks way better. Action scenes give way more information, pan shots look way smoother, talking looks more realistic. Since it is a video there is movement, and any movement looks way better when it has more fps.
Pretty much all gamers want at least 60 fps for a reason.
I can also see if a video is 60fps or 30 within 5 seconds. Especially when I see someone talking or in a pan shot.
Conclusion, it gives more freedom while editing. It doesn't have much effect on exporting and it looks way better. I see no reason not to use 60 fps :D
60 fps makes it look more unrealistic. 24/30fps give a motion blur that makes it look a lot closer to what we would naturally see.
Zachary Williams That is not how it works. That is not how it works at all..
Humans do not see in fps. It is a constantly changing input. When you record at 30 fps the camera will record a picture with the motion blur that happened in the last 1/30 of a second. After that it records the next 1/30 of a second for the next frame. But when you view the video it will show a still frame for 1/30 of a second and the next one afterwards. You'll lose a lot of movement in between.
Unless we can record motion blur in a dynamic way with very high fps we could mimic the way our eyes work. Otherwise the motion blur recorded by a camera won't look real.
The funny thing is, we will perceive motion blur when something is 'moving' on a screen if the fps is high enough due to the way our brain interprets the signals :)
On camera's it's not as bad as in games though. Many games have an option for motion blur, and that just looks horrible.
60fps is useless for studio stuff, talk show, etc. Extra useless bandwith used. Spots, action? Yes. Interviews? No.
i use both cameras but i love nikon 😘
First thing I noticed was how well lit this video was .... makes sense you are a portrait photographer lol
this video was very helpful... you went where most people do not go... comparing between these two major brands.. thanks!
Tony, why are you so concerned about pixels! They're not as important as you think. Do you do any real photography or do you just spend your days staring at DXO fart? I have lost all respect for you.
+Bernard Melus Hi, Bernard! Thanks for writing.
I don't think pixels are as important as subject matter, but I've done a great deal of commercial work, where pictures are often rejected for not being sharp enough. Also, if you spend thousands setting up a shoot, it makes sense to choose gear that will give you the best possible results.
Yes, I do some photography. Here's my portfolio: northrupphotography.com
Where's yours? I couldn't seem to find yours.
+Tony Northrup You can pull as much detail as you want but with alot of the newer lenses they are adding more and more elements to correct for chromatic aberration which gives a flat, plain look to the immage. Also you said that Nikon doesn't have a 200mm f2.8 equivalent, have you looked at the Nikon 180mm f2.8? It is a wonderful 8 element lens that is just incredible. There is a reason Nikon is still making this lens. Still working on my portfolio, ill let you know when it is done.
+Bernard Melus Yea lol you are right, like at the T5 vs D3300 comparison he went by the fact thatD3300 has 11AF andd T5 only 9AF points, and that the D3300 has 5fps burst and T5 only 3fps, and a lot of stuff that is not only megapixels. Lol if you care about mega pixels and say that they are the only thing that matters buy a Nokia Lumia 1020 , that thing got like 42MegaPixels and any of these DSLRs or modern point and shhoot will do better xD, sry for long comment but it seems that a lot of people get stuck at MP and think that more MP = better pictuers and don't take in calculation the censor or image processor, anyways I'm not talking like for Tony, he seems to know what he is doing, Im talking to a vast majority, sry for bad English.
+Tony Northrup why being so defensive? cant you accept criticism? its healthy, and you can grow out of it. maybe he was a bit childish but cmon.. "where's yours"
..
+Moody Given the criticism was misguided and somewhat untrue. I believe the response was appropriate :)
The solution is simple, Canon and/or Sony for video, Nikon for photo.
There is a Nikkor 200mm f 2 and there is a 400mm f 2.8
Fabian Kägy Well, yeah, but they're $6k and 6 lbs. Not workable for portraiture.
Tony Northrup Thats true! But I think that you should at least mention that they are out there, even if they are not workable. Instead of saying that there is no option from nikon.
***** He also says that not one of the other manufacturers produces a 70-200mm F2.8, despite there being two sony versions, so treat his absolute statements with a grain of salt.
I really really like Your approach. Very consistent and practical view on the topic.
Hi there Tony. Great info thanks. But what about us amateur moon, star and planet gazers? Would we benefit from the better Nikon picture quality, as you could say we are less lens dependent . Or would would you still push canon with specific lens combinations.? Don't forget we do where money permits, stick these cams onto telescopes. Look forward to hearing from you.....or maybe another video !
Nikon do have a cheaper 50mm. It's the 50mm f1.8D with no focus motor...
Yeah, we have the 50mm f1.8D, and it's a great lens. But I was discussing lenses that would autofocus with entry-level bodies, and that lens won't autofocus with entry-level Nikons.
even a mid range sub $1000 d7000/d7100 etc will auto focus non AF lenses so argument is pretty invalid.
yes and i am selling my Nikon tomorrow for worse canon for that reason , and with the difference am buying a used STM 50mm .
why should you care when you're going to use it on a D810??? how can it be even an argument? and if you shoots at 200m F2.8, why should be the 70-200 your preferred lens and not the nikkor 200 F2.0 VR II ? nonsense to me
Tony does anyone ever said that your videos ALWAYS have bad color grading work?: ) your skin looks like from movie Walking dead :) Can someone add some red color to your skin? :)
Tomas Av. It's the vampire look!!!!
What happened to your videos Tony? they used to be interesting and useful now it's all about gear, brands and super technical boring stuff which will never make anyone a better photographer. who cares what camera you use? what is important is the learning the craft but maybe that's boring to most people, so sad...
Good luck!
***** you should watch more of our videos.
***** you're making a lot of assumptions, in my opinion. Taking the time to learn the "technical boring stuff" as you call it is what makes all of us better photographers. Granted we need to have an eye for composition, but if we don't know how to use our gear or why pick a particular lens/body combination, how can any of us become better at perfecting our craft? Personally, I'm grateful for the time put into compiling the data and putting it into an easy to understand and digest format.
Tony Northrup This is about the first video in a LONG while that's informative and technical and actually kept my interest throughout! Thank you so much. As you start working on the more professional side, these technical informations MATTERS. Don't be discouraged by the clown remarks.
Tony, congrats on another informative video. Your organization and your delivery are excellent. I wonder whether your microphone, however, is partially covered because the audio sounds muffled. Or, maybe you are EQing the audio incorrectly. It just seems that there is way too much bass, and way too little treble in your voice recording.
very informative, it will definitely help the new photographers in choosing the gears..... thank you very much
I just tossed my headphones across the room. "Nikon Has a cheaper version [50mm] but it doesn't have auto focus and you need auto focus for portraiture" Um... Sid Avery? Alfred Eisenstein? Robert Doisneau!? no?
+Isaiah Sleziak How about I rephrase... Beginning photographers will have much more success with shallow depth-of-field portraits when they can autofocus.
+Isaiah Sleziak Modern DSLRs don't have a visual focusing screen to aid for focus. So you relay just on the focus indicator. I have a Nikkor 50mm 1.2 and I have been able to get sharp pictures with my film camera (since my school days). On the other hand I find it very difficult and frustrating to use it on a digital body, precisely because the lack of focusing screen.
+antronk I also have the 50mm 1.2 I wouldn't recommend shooting it without a tripod at f1.2 on any camera. If I want/have to hand hold at 1.2 I usually get the focus close and then physically rock in and out to focus, that usually does the trick. Besides that manually focusing any other f-stop is not an issue.
+Isaiah Sleziak -- … somehow the focus rings had more grip on the old Leicas and Hasselblads compared to modern infinity-focus plastic.
The Kaiser Haha! that must be it! plus they didn't have to deal with focus by wire back then :P
Nice review, however, I just can't trust a photographer who dislikes Leica so much.
There actually is / was a cheap 50mm 1.8 for Nikon
+Adro Pulverize Yup - I've got exactly that one - yes it's manual focus... and I love it - it's great for portraiture and it's got wicked short DOF to play with... I got mine for like $90, the next lowest is 1.4 which goes for like $500 or more
This is the best and most detail explanation so far I have dig on the internet. This is a "Must see video"
Thanks for making this video Tony.
Hello, Tony. As usual very useful & informative video. However, there is a kind of work around to this specific focus breathing issue on Nikkor 70-200mm f2.8. When in ample light, attach 1.4x TC & problem is gone. Though it will turn into f4 in terms of light gathering but DOF is equivalent to f3.2 approximately. It will also have background blur roughly equivalent to 200mm f2.8 due to increased magnification. Though this will be limiting in low light situations like weddings, events etc. due to loss of 1 stop of light. I agree that it is certainly more useful to have this focal length natively & this no way warrants a switch, but for those of us who are already invested, this definitely helps. I own this lens for couple of years & my general set up is to have 24-120mm on one body & 70-200mm + 1.4TC on another when outdoors for travel, landscape & portrait photography. This way I generally avoid overlapping focal lengths & end up having more reach. This combo with 1.4TC works really well, sharpness & AF penalty is minimal. I generally shoot outdoors, so definitely works for me.
I can't do this any more... Its not 'Nike-On' its 'Nik-On'...
***** Just so you know that I'm always open to feedback, I looked up official Nikon USA videos and they say 'Nike-On', just like I do. It's possible they prefer a different pronunciation in other countries.
Tony Northrup Ahh that's probably it I'm from England was not to offend but that is probably the only foreign pronunciation that I dislike, anyway's great video, I've always been on the side of Canon but this may have just changed me :)
In Japan it's closer to Nik-on, not Nye-con. Either way, people know what you're talking about and Nike-On is accepted in the USA at least.
nice video by the way. actually, this is a great video. well thought out. thanks for taking the time to make it. I just wish i knew this stuff before i bought a cheap/slow sigma on my way to my first Safari. haha.
I still managed to get some memorable shots and learned a lot so it worked out.
but pronouncing it the British way makes it sound like a kids toy company. (ie, doesnt sound as cool.)
Hasselblad anyone?
Leica or Phase One? :D
Hasselblad? i cant even afford a damn entry level dslr and yet i see people talking about medium format cameras haha rip my wallet/life
You can buy those relics for very little. I think a 500 CM goes for a few hundred bucks on eBay. But why? The idea behind 2 and 1/4 was better detail. You can buy a digital back for that Hass for 5 grand or so and end up with a lens restricted 6000 dollar camera that pales when compared to a used 1200 dollar D800. As for the Leica recommendations sure! Buy a camera and a singe 80mm lens that you can buy an entire Nikon or Cannon system for. That's the ticket.
megapixels is not all quality guy...
+Cigar Tutorials he is talking about "perceptual megapixels", which ia an objective and efficient way of measuring sharpness. Yes, photography is all about sharpness...
+Cigar Tutorials it is guy, when u need to crop bruh.!!!
"Perceptual megapixels" might be a useful way of comparing RESOLUTION (not sharpness) but it is a partly subjective measure.
No it's not. It's on objective metric.
***** Well I was wrong to assume that it is subjective. Maybe it is objective and maybe it is subjective. The only people that know for sure work at DxO. As wikipedia says: "The Perceptual MegaPixel (P-MP) is a proprietary ranking of lens-camera combinations, created by DxO Labs. It is intended to express the resolution of which a combination of camera and lens is capable. Complete scientific or technical documentation of the process used to compute P-MP values has never been published, and P-MP measurements have never been made without the cooperation of DxO Labs. "
But note: RESOLUTION, not sharpness.
I like How you had Chelsea smiling in the Canon shot and a looking very neutral/unhappy in the Tamron bravo for subtle advertising manipulation. You guys really do have a lot of skills in your toolbox.
A very articulate and intelligent comparison. You really nailed the key points that I was interested in. Thanks.
Stop saying 'Nye-kon' it's wrong and irritating. The correct pronunciation is 'Nee-kon.' It's Japanese.
Nikon USA's official pronunciation is Nye-kon... check their videos. We're in the US. I know it's weird that Nikon uses different pronunciations in different parts of the world. And yes, I'm aware they're Japanese: ua-cam.com/video/4-8Dvw5Tp4I/v-deo.html
It's same situation if Japanese person was to say yes In English
Tony & Chelsea Northrup You have to say it like the Japanese since they named it. There is no American pronunciation of Nikon. There is the Japanese way and wrong way and 'Nye-kon' is wrong
Similar with "Raspberry Pi" read as "pie". Always hurt my ears. "We are in the US"? So English words read in eg. European countries should be read in local language, not in English? Nah...
Canon is So overated.
Hector Rivera I bought a d3300 sold it and got back into photography and bought a Canon T6... the Nikon was vastly superior
Tony, I just bought a Nikon D5500 based on your prior testing and although I have only taken a few shots they're all very sharp. I ordered your book on Amazon and I should get it next week. Thanks for all your information.
A gm you're welcome, and thanks! Enjoy!
I was in a similar position last year, but made the switch anyway. Finally, I just decided that any problem(s) I encountered after switching, I would just find a workaround for. Guess what? It worked. I miss a couple of things about Canon (mostly that 5x macro lens and that 85mm f/1.2) but overall I gained a lot of things I loved by switching to Nikon, and I just enjoy shooting with Nikon more. It's just a better experience overall - for me, at least.
This has been an “eye opening” video for me. I’m infatuated with the Canon 70mm-200mm f2.8 IS II for portraits. It is so flattering. As a techie myself, I really enjoy your detailed explanations, but what I like the most were the real life examples. This video was posted 11 months ago…Have you found a replacement for the Canon 70-200 on Nikon or Sony yet?.
Awesome video Thanks for sharing. Now going to watch the 2016 updated version
Very Nice tips.
Its really amazing to know that you do so much research and provide it to us the extract of the current technology available in the field of photography.
Thanks.
Thanks alot for taking the time to make this video. It helped me alot.
Your videos are unsurpassed for providing useful information and facts. Lots of "talking head" videos and opinions on the web, but yours provide more useful details that I need before spending my money. Keep up the good work!
Looking forward to that comparison Tony.Keep up the good work both of you
Which to buy, for commercial photos: Canon 6D M2 or Nikon 750??? Please., help to decide
Tony, Have you considered trying the new version of Nikon's 80-400 AF-S VR on your D810 as a substitute for the Canon 7D with the 400 f/5.6? You could use the 1.2x or 1.5x crop modes on the D810 if you need more magnification. DXoMark rates the 80-400 excellent sharpness at 400mm. I know a local photographer who shoots BIF with that combo(D800+80-400) and his results are pretty damn good and sharp. You would be getting the added feature of VR and multiple focal lengths with the 80-400. That would be a big benefit for wildlife shooting, especially handheld. The only downside would be the higher cost of the 80-400 vs the Canon 400mm. But if the new setup works you could sell your old Canon gear.
Wow! What a beautiful portrait of your wife, at 10min 34sec into the video. A very high quality and great image.
Great video, Tony. Getting my first full frame soon, D750. Got a Tamron 24-70 f/2.8 with VC and sticking with all tamron lenses. Just can't afford to pay the outrages prices of Canon and Nikon lenses. Next lens after full frame the Tamron 150 - 600 mm.
+Peter Landman and a tokina 16-28/2.8 :)
Outstanding Work 'Maestro'. Those like us who are Jumping from Film into the Digital Photography World (6D is Very Impressive and $2k less than the 5D Mk3) certainly does Appreciate your Work, Experience and Knowledge. Kudos.!
Thank you Tony , such very impressive information and , for the same reason I'm waiting for any DSLR from canon with good DR
I'm not a pro, I have canon 70d and I just love it. Its focus is amazing and fast. This is still good enough for me and when I saw a lot of 'hunting' in video from Nikon models like D7100/D7200 I just prefered Canon at that time. Generally, when I was chosing my first DSLR I wanted to find good all around camera and personally I got it. Talking about stills - yes, Nikon is better in some cases, but this benefit is quite small for me considering my investments into Canon gear and a lot of pain to switch to Nikon system. It seems now I'm a hostage of this brand.
I am just getting into this and am overwhelmed. Thanks for the info even though it was more than I personally needed. It was eye-opening. I am a blogger still using a point and shoot in the market for a DSLR. I do mostly food and craft photography although I am slowly falling in love with landscape in my spare time. Decisions, decisions....
I have several Canon & Nikon DSLR's. A big plus for Canon is that their included software includes free software for image download/processing also full camera control by PC- the two pieces of software are free. A big plus for me..
Nice balanced review. Thanks. I was thinking of getting a panasonic for video too. How is it for low light sports in poorly lit gymnasiums?