Canon vs. Nikon: What’s the difference? (Updated for 2012)
June 1, 2011 
144 Comments
Canon versus Nikon
I know what you’re thinking, and I think you’re wrong. That may be a confrontational way to start this post, but this Nikon vs. Canon DSLR debate is fueled by such passion in 2012 that I have to explain what we’re discussing here.
Both Canon and Nikon DSLR cameras provide fantastic image quality and similar features. Because there are so many similarities between the brands, many people think that it makes no difference which brand you choose. While I agree that either brand will give great results, I believe there are important differences between the brands that may inform your decision.
I must mention that there are–obviously–other brands to choose from. Sony and Pentax also make great cameras that are on-par or even exceeding many Canon and Nikon models. The only reason I haven’t included more about them in this article is because more than 90% of the people who use this site shoot Canon or Nikon. I have other articles where I discuss Sony and other brands.
Advantages of Nikon DSLR Cameras
- Low-Light Performance. Over the past two years, few people would disagree that Nikon has generally served up superior low-light cameras than the comparable Canons.
- Number of autofocus points. This one is controversial, but I think most people would agree with me. Head-to-head, most Nikons have more autofocus points than their Canon equivalents. When you get your camera, you’ll realize how important this is because sometimes the low number of autofocus points on Canon cameras means there isn’t an autofocus point for where you want to focus in the frame, forcing the photographer to focus and then recompose.
- Flash Control. Nikon has had better built-in options for controlling off-camera flash for years. Canon has recently caught up, or almost caught up, with its new built-in flash triggers in the 7d, 60d, and T3i.
- Larger APS-C sensors. Nikon uses slightly larger sensors in their crop sensor DSLR cameras. You can read about the difference between crop and full frame cameras here.
- Availability of minor features. Over the years, Canon has been notorious for refusing to add in easy-to-fix features to their cameras. For example, Nikon has been better about including geotagging via GPS in the camera, and expanded auto-exposure-bracketing sequences. In this way, Nikon is more responsive to adding the “little features” into DSLRs–even if the two brands are mostly equal in all other respects.
Advantages of Canon DSLR Cameras
- Video. No question on this one. Canon has creamed Nikon in terms of video performance. Nikon is starting to catch on with 1080p video and a basic autofocus system in its most recent releases, but still lags far behind Canon in this aspect. Canon DSLRs offer more frame rates, some Canons offer better codecs, etc.
- Price. Nikon cameras and lenses are often slightly more expensive than Canon. Obviously, there are exceptions, but if you check the range of DSLRs and popular lenses, Nikons generally cost approximately 8% than the comparable Canon gear according to my calculations.
- Megapixel Count. Most photographers don’t care about this, but it is handy to be able to crop in tight with more megapixels. Canons have outperformed Nikons in terms of pixel count for a few years now.
- Availability. When Canon announces a new camera, you can generally expect to get it in your hands within a short period of time. When Nikon announces a new camera or lens (especially higher-end gear), it frequently takes 4 to 6 months before it is available…. sometimes longer!
- Focus motors. All modern Canon lenses have built-in focus motors. While most Nikon lenses (and certainly all the pro lenses) have focus motors, the beginner DSLRs made by Nikon cannot use all of the Nikon lenses.
Differences That “Might” Matter
Canon is a much larger company than Nikon. It creates printers, cameras, video equipment, binoculars, calculators, and more. Nikon is a much smaller company which focuses almost exclusively on cameras (though they also make sports optics and film scanners). This factor may or may give an advantage to one company or the other, but I’ll let you draw your own conclusions here. Canon may have an edge for the resources of a huge mega-company, or Nikon may have the edge for being focused on one main product.
The “cool” factor. Come on, we all know that the huge cream-colored lenses on the sidelines of sports events always catch our eyes. Admit it. The Canon L lenses look cooler than the dull black Nikons 
Canon actually claims that the white lenses aren’t a fashion thing, but actually an engineering decision to lower heat, among other things. (If you’re a law nerd, you’ll recognize this as extremely stupid, because it militates against them getting a trademark for cream-colored lenses if it the trademark is functional).
So what DSLR camera is best for beginning photographers?
Both the Canon Rebel DSLRs and the entry-level Nikon DSLR cameras are very good. I know that it can be agonizing to choose between them. Generally, I recommend this Canon camera for beginning photographers who are interested in DSLR video or portraits. If you’re more into wildlife, landscape, candids, or flash photography, then I’d give a slight edge to this Nikon camera. By the way, I’m continually updating these camera recommendations as both companies release new products. I changed these camera recommendations most recently on September 15, 2011.
What’s your personal choice?
I’m personally a Nikon photographer, having recently jumped ship from the land of Canon. I switched for the low-light performance of Nikons, but I’m sure Canon will catch up very soon and then I’ll look longingly to the other side of the fence. It was a fit for me at the time, but I think Canons are just as good or better in other respects.
The purpose of the post was to inform you of some of the differences, not to persuade you one way or the other. Do you disagree with me on my analysis? Send in a comment below and tell me how wrong I am. I don’t mind Also, make sure to LIKE ImprovePhotography on Facebook so you can get our daily photography tips.
Buy what you can afford. IMHO, the Nikon memus and features are easier to use and more powerful than the competition. As menitoned previously, by others, the camera is a tool. However, for most photographers, whether pro or amateur, keep in mind, when you ‘invest’ in glass (the lenses), that investment is hard to use on another manufactures camera body.
So, whatever you purchase, love it, learn to use it, and keep shooting every day.
I’m a beginner of photography, and a Nikon Fans,just bought a D800+70-200mm ED VR II today, and i totally love it! I admit that i love Canon’s white lens. Hope that Nikon will also make some white, gray or whatever color they like for coming up lens. Agree with Val keep shooting everyday to improve and don’t regret once u have bought the lens, LOVE it!!
I’m not sure how you can say that Canon has an advantage in availability over Nikon. Take the current race for the “smallest lowest price full frame camera”. The Nikon D600 was announced and released almost immediately. The Canon 6D was announced and released at least 2+ months later(yet to be released). The Canon 1DX was announced October 2011, didn’t actually get shipped by most companies until July 2012. That is nearly 10 months! The same is true of most lenses Canon releases these days.
Advantages of Canon seem to diminish. As David has mentioned about, availability of Nikon cameras is pretty good and it seems that Canon announced the 6D in a reaction to Nikon’s D600.
Video features and quality of D600, D800 and D4 is on par with any Canons cameras and Nikon offers uncompressed output as well on.
Pixel Count / Resolution is larger on Nikon’s D800 then any Canon camera ever produced until now.
I think Nikon made a good choice to start sensor development and production with Sony and it seems that Nikon sensors are (slightly) ahead of Canon sensors at this moment.
For me I went Nikon… Why? Because my friends have Nikon and I can borrow their lenses!
(Tip from a coworker that is a photographer and a Canon guy)
As I’m a beginner I went with the D3200. I’m really happy but their could have included slave mode… How much more work would that have been Nikon?
I use Nikon because they never changed the lens mount. I use manual focus lenses on my DSLRs. And use auto focus lenses on my manual focus bodies(however, they must have the aperture ring).
I bought a $350.00 Nikon camera about 3 years ago. To make a long story short, the camera/battery was obviously defective right out of the box needing a recharge after 20 photo’s. The ensuing contacts with Nikon’s customer service over this issue was a nightmare. I ended up sending the camera, at my expense, back to Nikon to fix. I never received a response if it was a production error in the camera or battery or whatever. After the camera came back I could take 250-300 pictures on a fully charged battery. I gave the camera to my 7 yr. old grandson and bought a Canon Rebel. I have taken over 10,000 pictures with my Rebel with no problems at all. On a scale of 1-10, 10 being excellent, I would rate the Nikon Customer Relations Dept. a very generous 1. I will never possess a another Nikon camera or anything made by Nikon.
My neighbour and I recently became heavily involved in photography over the cold long Canadian winter. Unbeknown to either of us. (We’re close friends but the subject never came up until late spring when he saw me doing some Macro photography on my extensive flower garden.) I chose Nikon because at the time for the money it was better then the equivalent Canon offering. He chose Canon because he got suckered into Megapixel counting by the sales person who was heavily pushing Canon month. Long story short and many thousands of dollars in glass later he says he wishes he would have gone the Nikon way. Too late he says too much invested in glass. I on the other hand only regret it when I have to pay more for essentially the same focal length lenses. All the other time I’m very very pleased. D800 here I come.
I’ve been Canon for at least 35 yrs. I do agree it would have been nice if they would’ve stayed with the FD mount like Nikon stayed with their Nikkor. In studio class 6 months we decided to test the ISO Noise (grain) of the diff brands of cameras in our classes,Beginner,Intermediate, and Advanced. We have about 50 students combined and about half are Nikon and the other Canon. We do have 1 Sony, 1 Fuji, and 1 Pentax K5. No one but the Canons made it to 3200 ISO without having some type of visable “Noise”. As far as low light from what I’ve read, is that not the main feature of the new Canon 6D other than being a new full frame? Thinking about making that purchase soon, only worry is my change from a crop camera to full frame and how big a deal that is. Is the 5D III just as good or not better? Some one please let me know how they feel. Now before I shut up I’m gonna be a Hippacrit!! PUT YOUR MONEY IN GLASS (or at least 1st put your money in tires then better motors)! Did I mention I’as born in Chicago, raised in Tn., and my nickname is Joebob??! LOL!! I’ll try and be more serious next time. Thanks, Cory
I shoot Canon because I started with Canon in 1984. But if I were starting now I would go Nikon, there are more reasons that listed here where I think Nikon has thought more about the consumer and functionality.
i shoot Nikon d4 and d7000 and 300mm 2.8 and sigma 800mm 5.6 and are happy With my gear perhaps canon is better i dont ceare
Canon actually has a more advanced wireless flash system since the 600 EX-RT came out. No need to use PocketWizard or RadioPoppers anymore! Nikon doesn’t have anything similar yet.
Oh and I think that Nikon actually wins on Megapixel count as of now. It’s actually a pain for a lot of wedding photographers shooting with 36 Mpx on D800.
Dear sir I have a Cannon eos rebel T4i eos 650 D i have also purchased a panasonic model no. TC-L32X5 T.V. this is 720p lcd hdtv 32″ this is a sdhc compatable and usb flash memory,i am using Roxio Nxt Pro to make my movies am a novis-novis,now that i have all this hopefully up front my question is: My project is i want to video my Border Collies in action not pictures, but video,have a wireless sdcard to send to my lap top how do i get the video transfered to my sdhc chip.
what are the noise difference between say canon 7d and a d300s nikon then versus a full frame..because in my ever so humble opinion they advertised the 7d as low noise to iso ration but if i even get over iso400 noise is quite evident in certain colors and especially in the skies in the pictures .. and gets worse as you go up..does Nikon handle it any better?
Wow, I’m late getting to this party.
I purchased my first ever DSLR two weeks ago, a Nikon D5100 (body only) with an 18-200mm 3.5-5.6 lens. I can’t explain what I found so compelling about Nikon, but the camera captured my imagination. To this point I’m exceedingly pleased with my choice, but it could just as easily have been a Canon that stoke my heart.
I agree with the analysis
Well, kind of agree, because I lack experience and knowledge but what you say kind of resembles my first impressions. I may change my mind as I progress but so far it seems to me your analysis is quite right.
I must add that I feel Nikon cameras and gear are more “honest” than Canon ones. What you read in their website or ads is what you get.
On the other hand, Canon advertisement is much more aggressive, fancy and misleading.
Canon products are always giving you with one hand but taking you out with the other hand. Ok, all brands do that and it happens in every market as in cars or cell phones or computer or any other highly advanced stuff. But, seems to me, Canon does it in a more dishonest way, I find Canon advertisement highly misleading and making you think you are buying wonders.
Nikon is kind of more honest, they tell you what to expect, technical specs, overall overview avoiding fancy words and avoiding fancy names like “new digic 5 processor super fast, extremely sharp colors, unmatched reliability” man you think you are buying wonders. And indeed Canon gear are wonders but Nikons are as well.
What do I have? I have both, Nikon and Canon and I believe they are one and the same company whose stakeholders invest in both at the same time and creat an artificial competence.
A company is nothing without a nemesis.
All great powers need a nemesis, an adversary, an enemy, a competence.
Canon would cry blood if Nikon gets into bakruptcy and Nikon would be shattered to pieces if Canon ever goes into bakruptcy.
The whole competence among the big two is just a hoax.
I bet they are the same company and their research scientists get together to drink some beer after work hours in the same bar sharing their “secrets”
They need each other.
Both are superb!