There is no doubt that Canon and Nikon are the two most famous camera brands. These brands are famous for their single lens reflex (SLR) cameras because they were the first ones to make the switch from film to digital. They constantly battle against each other for the title of the best SLR manufacturer in the world.
Canon and Nikon constantly produce new cameras and it is difficult to tell which one is better. All DSLRs may look alike at first glance, but each carries its own advantages and disadvantages. Consumer DSLRs can be categorized into three types - entry-level, intermediate, and prosumer. Below are the pros and cons of Nikon and Canon digital SLR cameras:
1. Entry-Level Cameras
Entry-level cameras are specially designed for beginners and they don't have lots of buttons or features that can be overwhelming. The examples of entry-level cameras are Canon Rebel T3 1100 D and the Nikon D3100. These cameras share many similarities and the photos produced by both cameras are equally brilliant. One big difference between the two is the lens. Nikon D3100 is not completely backwards-compatible with the previous Nikon lenses whereas the Rebel T3 is compatible with other Canon lenses and third-party lenses. So how does this difference impact you? If in the future you want to have a specialty lens, you only have limited options with the D3100. On the other hand, with the Canon Rebel T3 you can get any Canon lenses or buy third-party ones which are usually less expensive.
2. Intermediate Cameras
Intermediate DSLRs are intended for amateur photographers who already had experience in taking pictures with SLR cameras. Let's compare between Canon T3i 600D and Nikon D5100. One big difference between these two cameras is, again, the lens. The D5100 lacks a focus motor and hence older Nikon lenses won't be able to utilize the 11-point autofocus. The Canon T3i, in contrast, works fine with old and new Canon lenses because it does not have this limitation.
3. Prosumer Cameras
Prosumers is short for "professional consumers" and they are intended for advanced amateurs. One thing that distinguishes this camera from the others is their speed. Most SLRs are able to capture 3 consecutive photos per second, but prosumers can take up to 5 photos per second. Now let's compare between Canon 60D and Nikon D7000. If you are a big fan of Canon, the 60D has numerous features to help you capture stunning snapshots. Meanwhile, Nikon comes with a "Creative Lighting System" to help you capture images in low light conditions with minimum fuss. This system allows you to control the amount of light output from a wireless flash directly from the camera. Canon does not have this technology, and in order to achieve the same effect, you will have to invest in additional gear.
