On 2/02/2016 19:18, Orchid Win7 v1 wrote:
> On 02/02/2016 01:19 PM, Francois Labreque wrote:
>>  >> Orchid Win7 v1: Nikon
>>> Scott: Canon
>>
>> Begun, the camera wars have.
>
> Yeah, everybody I speak to seems to think that Canon is the only
> acceptable brand.
>
> I have no idea why.

Simple: they used to be, a long time ago, until around 2008. Then they 
completely stalled in terms of image quality, whereas Nikon, Pentax, 
Sony and Sigma (to my knowledge all DSLR brands that mainly use Sony 
sensors) kept improving to the point where today you can buy a Nikon 
DSLR (D5200 for example, 699Euro with an 18-140mm lens) that has in 
every way (light sensitivity, color accuracy, tonal accuracy, dynamic 
range) at least twice the image quality of a more expensive Canon (EOS
700D, 799Euro with an 18-135mm lens)

(This is not an opinion, by the way, I'm talking about measurable facts, 
and I know the new 750/760D has a much better sensor, but it still lags 
behind in terms of dynamic range by a factor of around 2 stops)

Most people that think of themselves as capable of giving advice about 
cameras, because of experience, have been using DSLR's for quite some 
time now, since before 2008. So from their perspective Canon is indeed 
better than Nikon (most people forget about Pentax and Sigma, and Sony 
doesn't really make DSLRs anymore, unless you call their SLT cameras 
real DSLRs, which I don't since it lacks the main component (and reason 
of invention) of a SLR: an optical viewfinder), either because they 
don't know Canon now has the lowest image quality of all DSLRs (again: 
not an opinion, but a measurable fact), or because they have a 
collection of lenses which makes it more interesting for them to stay 
with Canon (irrelevant really if they're giving advice to someone else, 
but people aren't always rational), or because they just don't know any 
better.

Now, in terms of ergonomics and ease of use, that is a matter of 
personal opinion, but I believe most people that have ever used a Pentax 
would agree: nothing beats Pentax :)
Nikon has some weird default settings (like a fixed ISO.. when I use 
aperture priority, that means I only want to select the aperture, so the 
default ISO setting should be automatic, in my opinion), and Canon has 
some weird button placement (it's much easier to turn on and off a Nikon 
or a Pentax than a Canon, for example).
I have personally never really used a Sony or a Sigma, but I haven't 
heard anything good about the Sony menu structure.

In terms of speed, I'll give it to Canon: their EOS 7D mkII is probably 
the fastest camera in it's price range.

Having said all this, I'm not convinced I would recommend a DSLR these 
days, certainly not for a beginner.

If you're not going to change lenses (which most beginners don't), 
you're (imho) better off buying a Sony RX100 mkII (499euro, size of a 
compact camera, slightly more versatile lens than the 18-55mm on your 
DSLR, and the same image quality (or better, if you bought a Canon :))), 
or a Panasonic FZ1000 (699Euro, size of a small DSLR, virtually the same 
zoom range as an 18-300mm lens on your Nikon DSLR, slightly better image 
quality than a Canon DSLR (so about half as good as a Nikon, which is 
still a whole lot better than a normal compact camera) and weighs and 
costs about the same as that 18-300mm lens by itself), or ...
Point is that you don't need interchangeable lenses for good image 
quality or good speed anymore, that time is long past (ever since the 
Sony RX100 mkII, that is, so about 2 years now :))

However, if you want to be able to change lenses, and you're just 
starting, it is (again, imho) a better idea to invest in a mirrorless 
system, as DSLRs will (most probably) disappear from the market in about 
10 years. The advantages of a DSLR above a mirrorless camera are getting 
less every year. In the lower end, the only advantage a DSLR has today, 
is the viewfinder (low end mirrorless cameras don't have a viewfinder) 
and the available lenses (which isn't really a fair comparison: Nikons 
F-mount has been in use since 1959, Canons EF-mount since 1987, and 
mirrorless only since 2004 (or 2008 if you don't count Leica, which you 
probably shouldn't as it's out of most peoples price range :)))

But if you go mirrorless: stay away from the main DSLR brands, Nikon and 
Canon. They both seem to be more interested in protecting their DSLR 
market than they are in making a good mirrorless camera.

Sources: dpreview.com, dxomark.com, personal experience with most brands

cu!
-- 
ZK

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