With Canon and Nikon both competing to dominate the beginner level category, they have both launched movie friendly DSLRs to tempt enthusiast and professional videographers. Despite the two digital cameras coming from different companies, they have a lot in common. They are both useful upgrades to current digital cameras (the D5100 and the Canon T3i), and are designed to consolidate their markets by extending into movie making, which both Canon and Nikon see as potential areas for expansion. It is clear that Nikon and Canon are considering the entry level market as a major battleground, particularly in the USA.
The Canon T4i doesn't feel quite so robust as the D5200, but it is solid enough for everyday use. It is a slightly larger than the D5200 though, and so much easier for anyone with normal sized hands to grip. The scroll-wheel clicks reassuringly as it spins and the rear buttons are responsive. The modelling on the back of the Canon T4i is well thought out and has more buttons, making moving into the menu functions a lot quicker and easier. Some are multioption buttons, which can need a little thought. For example, the same button that commences recording video in movie mode also allows Live View in still shooting mode. The minor downside of this is that some of the buttons are quite close together. However, the Canon T4i offers a dedicated ISO option, and quick access to white balance, drive mode, and AF settings (the D5200 lacks all of these). There is an IR sensor on the front of the camera, but no Fn button as there isn't really any requirement for it.
Both cameras have an articulating liquid crystal display view screen. The Canon T4i has an obviously higher resolution than that of the D5200. The Canon's liquid crystal display viewingscreen has 1040 thousand pixels, while the D5200 has 921 thousand. One of the the Canon T4i's best selling points is that the liquid crystal display viewingscreen is touch sensitive. This makes it much easier to arrange settings and, more importantly, it lets you choose a focus point through Live View. You can also shoot your photograph by tapping on the point where you want the DSLR to focus. These are very innovative and useful functions, taken from the Compact System Camera (CSC) ranges that are out now. It is excellent to see this technology being utilized by the Canon T4i as it makes it far more accessible than any other digital SLR in its category.
The Canon's phase detect AutoFocus system is exceptionally quick. Although it has only 9-point Auto Focus system, as opposed to the 39-points of the D5200, it is both responsive and accurate for general-purpose photography. The Canon T4i doesn't have a dedicated AF assist light, but it is able to use its built-in flash in these instances. The T4i supports full-time AutoFocus in video mode, which competes with the D5200 and, with Canon's STM lenses, the focussing is quiet enough for shooting video. It also has an external Mic socket. It is fair to say that the Canon Rebel T4i is possibly the better digital camera for shooting video. The LCD backscreen, full-time AutoFocus, and external Mic make it appropriate for your everyday video needs.
The Nikon D5200 is a solidly built camera and smaller than it's predecessor, the D5100. This could cause problems for those of us with large (average!) hands. It sometimes doesn't carry like a proper digital SLR, especially when carrying a larger lens. Although it fails to equal the build quality of the magnesium alloy D7000, the toughened plastic body feels pretty solid and sturdy. The layout at the back is easy to navigate with a good choice of buttons to make access to the multiple options straightforward. Live view is easily accessible and film recording can be started with a press of a single button. It has just one control wheel which is snappy and responsive. There is an IR spot on the front of the camera and also a dedicated AF assist light, which the Canon T4i lacks. On the right side there is a customizable Fn function which can be used to control image quality, ISO, active-D lighting, or white balance (there are no dedicated single buttons for these functions). The pop-up flash automatic in green mode, meaning that the flash will open on its own if the camera thinks it is required.
The liquid crystal display screen is has come from the D5100, where it was very popular. Like with the Canon T4i, it is very appropriate for photographing at different angles and is really useful when shooting video. The help menus are superb and make the Nikon D5200 quite novice friendly. The visual display rotates with the camera, meaning that information on the status screen won't show sideways when you're shooting uprights. The playback option is quick and efficient you won't need to wait for pictures to load. And there is a wide-ranging info screen which lets you change just about every shooting parameter that it has t choose from. However the four way selector is not as simple to use as the one on the Canon. The Nikon D5200 doesn't have as many buttons on the back as the Canon T4i, making a few of the menu choices hard to get to. The new(ish) Expeed 3 processor makes the Nikon quick and decisive in phase detect AF and extremely fast in Live View. The D5200's articulated screen comes in handy for shooting video, and Nikon have increased the choices of frame rate options, introducing 60i and 50i. Like the Canon T4i, it will accept an external microphone and has full-time video AutoFocus.
At low very ISO, the Canon T4i matches the Nikon, though the D5200 is slightly better at maximum (non-expanded) ISO. Overall, the Nikon provides slightly better image quality than the Canon. Remember, the Canon T4i also has a physically smaller sensor than the D5200. It may not seem like much, but 1.6x rather than 1.5x, combined with the increased resolution, puts the Nikon D5200 in the lead. For more information on the sensors, take a look at the sensor scores published by DxO labs.
To summarize, the Canon Rebel T4i has superb AutoFocus, a splendid articulating touchscreen and is a really superb video camera. The Nikon D5200 has remarkable, fast AutoFocus, a good articulated screen, a great buffer/processor and very useful in-camera guides.
In my opinion if you had no camera loyalty either way, the Canon T4i would be the better camera to purchase. The difference in image quality is hardly noticeable under average conditions and the Canon certainly competes with the D5200 on the video front. Whilst both DSLRs are remarkable in their own ways, the Nikon D5200 costs more than the small improvements over the Canon T4i would warrant.
The Canon T4i doesn't feel quite so robust as the D5200, but it is solid enough for everyday use. It is a slightly larger than the D5200 though, and so much easier for anyone with normal sized hands to grip. The scroll-wheel clicks reassuringly as it spins and the rear buttons are responsive. The modelling on the back of the Canon T4i is well thought out and has more buttons, making moving into the menu functions a lot quicker and easier. Some are multioption buttons, which can need a little thought. For example, the same button that commences recording video in movie mode also allows Live View in still shooting mode. The minor downside of this is that some of the buttons are quite close together. However, the Canon T4i offers a dedicated ISO option, and quick access to white balance, drive mode, and AF settings (the D5200 lacks all of these). There is an IR sensor on the front of the camera, but no Fn button as there isn't really any requirement for it.
Both cameras have an articulating liquid crystal display view screen. The Canon T4i has an obviously higher resolution than that of the D5200. The Canon's liquid crystal display viewingscreen has 1040 thousand pixels, while the D5200 has 921 thousand. One of the the Canon T4i's best selling points is that the liquid crystal display viewingscreen is touch sensitive. This makes it much easier to arrange settings and, more importantly, it lets you choose a focus point through Live View. You can also shoot your photograph by tapping on the point where you want the DSLR to focus. These are very innovative and useful functions, taken from the Compact System Camera (CSC) ranges that are out now. It is excellent to see this technology being utilized by the Canon T4i as it makes it far more accessible than any other digital SLR in its category.
The Canon's phase detect AutoFocus system is exceptionally quick. Although it has only 9-point Auto Focus system, as opposed to the 39-points of the D5200, it is both responsive and accurate for general-purpose photography. The Canon T4i doesn't have a dedicated AF assist light, but it is able to use its built-in flash in these instances. The T4i supports full-time AutoFocus in video mode, which competes with the D5200 and, with Canon's STM lenses, the focussing is quiet enough for shooting video. It also has an external Mic socket. It is fair to say that the Canon Rebel T4i is possibly the better digital camera for shooting video. The LCD backscreen, full-time AutoFocus, and external Mic make it appropriate for your everyday video needs.
The Nikon D5200 is a solidly built camera and smaller than it's predecessor, the D5100. This could cause problems for those of us with large (average!) hands. It sometimes doesn't carry like a proper digital SLR, especially when carrying a larger lens. Although it fails to equal the build quality of the magnesium alloy D7000, the toughened plastic body feels pretty solid and sturdy. The layout at the back is easy to navigate with a good choice of buttons to make access to the multiple options straightforward. Live view is easily accessible and film recording can be started with a press of a single button. It has just one control wheel which is snappy and responsive. There is an IR spot on the front of the camera and also a dedicated AF assist light, which the Canon T4i lacks. On the right side there is a customizable Fn function which can be used to control image quality, ISO, active-D lighting, or white balance (there are no dedicated single buttons for these functions). The pop-up flash automatic in green mode, meaning that the flash will open on its own if the camera thinks it is required.
The liquid crystal display screen is has come from the D5100, where it was very popular. Like with the Canon T4i, it is very appropriate for photographing at different angles and is really useful when shooting video. The help menus are superb and make the Nikon D5200 quite novice friendly. The visual display rotates with the camera, meaning that information on the status screen won't show sideways when you're shooting uprights. The playback option is quick and efficient you won't need to wait for pictures to load. And there is a wide-ranging info screen which lets you change just about every shooting parameter that it has t choose from. However the four way selector is not as simple to use as the one on the Canon. The Nikon D5200 doesn't have as many buttons on the back as the Canon T4i, making a few of the menu choices hard to get to. The new(ish) Expeed 3 processor makes the Nikon quick and decisive in phase detect AF and extremely fast in Live View. The D5200's articulated screen comes in handy for shooting video, and Nikon have increased the choices of frame rate options, introducing 60i and 50i. Like the Canon T4i, it will accept an external microphone and has full-time video AutoFocus.
At low very ISO, the Canon T4i matches the Nikon, though the D5200 is slightly better at maximum (non-expanded) ISO. Overall, the Nikon provides slightly better image quality than the Canon. Remember, the Canon T4i also has a physically smaller sensor than the D5200. It may not seem like much, but 1.6x rather than 1.5x, combined with the increased resolution, puts the Nikon D5200 in the lead. For more information on the sensors, take a look at the sensor scores published by DxO labs.
To summarize, the Canon Rebel T4i has superb AutoFocus, a splendid articulating touchscreen and is a really superb video camera. The Nikon D5200 has remarkable, fast AutoFocus, a good articulated screen, a great buffer/processor and very useful in-camera guides.
In my opinion if you had no camera loyalty either way, the Canon T4i would be the better camera to purchase. The difference in image quality is hardly noticeable under average conditions and the Canon certainly competes with the D5200 on the video front. Whilst both DSLRs are remarkable in their own ways, the Nikon D5200 costs more than the small improvements over the Canon T4i would warrant.
About the Author:
Jeremy Bayston has worked in the photographic industry for two decades. He has a particular interest in digital imagery. Learn more about the new Nikon D5200 on his website www.d5200.org and download a free 25 page guide to the new camera. Discover more about the Canon rebel T4i on his website www.rebel-T4i.com. Both sites offer expert advice and reviews of Nikon and Canon products.
0 comments:
Post a Comment