SLR Cameras Full Story

Canon versus Nikon

Film SLR camera bodies and lenses can last for decades, and many 35mm SLR lenses can also be mounted on digital SLR camera bodies. For these reasons, experts recommend thinking in terms of building an SLR system rather than thinking just about which camera body to buy. Reviews identify pros and cons for each of the two major brands, Canon and Nikon.

First, it's a good idea to consider how far you think you want to take your photography. An entry-level camera and lens kit may be perfect for taking family and vacation photographs, but if you want to become a photography enthusiast, you'll want to think about how easy it is to step up to a better camera body when you're ready for it.

On this score, Canon has the edge because it's still making new SLR cameras across the whole range of features. Nikon has stopped producing its "middle-range" film SLR cameras, so you'd have to jump from the entry-level manual-focus Nikon FM10 (*Est. $250 with zoom lens) - all the way up to the Nikon F6 (*Est. $2,000 body-only) . That's a huge jump.

Except for a few die-hard brand loyalists, camera experts consider both Canon and Nikon lens systems equal in quality. Your best choice depends on the type of shots you most want to take. Phillip Greenspun, comparing the two lens systems in an article at Photo.net, recommends the Nikon system for macro and wide-angle lenses (both good for close up shots of small objects and room interiors). He recommends Canon for long telephoto lenses - good for portrait shots, studio photography and for photographing birds and wildlife. He also likes the Canon perspective correcting shift-tilt lenses - useful for shots of all buildings.

Experts recommend comparing camera bodies (with similar lenses) to see how well you can see through the viewfinder. Owners report that although the Nikon FM-10 must be focused manually, the viewfinder is rather dim - making it harder to tell when the image is in focus. At the other extreme, reviews recommend the top-of-the-line Canon EOS 1V for its large bright viewfinder. The autofocus (AF) system on the middle-range Canon EOS 7NE (*est. $460 with zoom lens) is designed to follow the focus of your own eye as you look through the viewfinder.

If you love the idea of controlling everything manually, Nikon is a better choice - not only because of the all-manual Nikon FM-10, but because you have a wider choice of used manual lenses. The current Canon SLR bodies (both digital and film) use only EOS autofocus lenses. Some older Canon manual focus lenses perform very well and are excellent buys, but can only be used on very old Canon camera bodies.

Experts say Pentax lenses, long a high-quality favorite for photographers on a limited budget, are still an excellent buy secondhand. But since Pentax stopped making camera bodies and lenses in 2006, you're limited to used Pentax or Minolta camera bodies or to third-party cameras that use the Pentax K mount.

Though used Pentax lenses in good condition are bargains, building a Pentax SLR system does limit the lens choices available. Also, you can usually rent a special, expensive Canon or Nikon lens by the day or week for a special trip or event. That's not usually true of Pentax lenses.

Since it's easy to agonize over comparisons between brands and models, it may help to remember that it's not the equipment that really matters. In his article on how to choose a 35mm SLR, Ken Rockwell states emphatically that picture quality is in no way dependent on your camera or lens. It's good to be reminded that it's your eye and the skill you develop with practice that makes the picture. So in the end, the overall feel of the camera in your hands may be more important than any features we can describe here.

The sweet-spot 35mm SLR camera

The Canon EOS Elan 7NE , $460 with lens) is the only current "middle-range" 35mm SLR camera still in production. It's moderately priced compared with the Canon EOS 1V or Nikon F6 (*Est. $2,000 body-only) - but offers significant improvements over the entry-level models discussed below. Though budget cameras are often tactfully called "entry-level models," experts say it's better to buy a middle-range camera body at first. You can buy good lenses, then move up to a pro-level camera body later if you decide you need it.

In addition to the usual manual focus and autofocus options, the Canon EOS Elan 7NE has a unique eye-controlled autofocus. You can train the camera to follow your eye movements, focusing on the exact spot you're looking at. (A safe infrared beam monitors your corneal movements to calculate exactly what you're looking at.) You can see how useful this would be if you were tracking a moving object.

Fast speed is another improvement over less expensive models. The film advances at 4 frames per second (fps) to capture motion without blurring it. For use on a tripod, you can minimize camera shake with the mirror lockup option - which locks the mirror up after you've set up your shot, so using a cable release to trigger the shot doesn't cause an internal vibration that would blur the shot.

The backlit LCD (that shows the settings) is backlit and easy to read, and you can customize up to 13 combinations of settings. Controls get good reviews, though some owners say the depth-of-field (DOF) preview button can be hard to find while you're looking through the viewfinder to preview the shot. (DOF preview is an important feature in an SLR camera, since it shows you exactly which parts of the image will be in sharp focus and which will be blurred. One of the big advantages of an SLR model over a point-and-shoot camera is the ability to control this.)

Build quality also gets high marks, with a metal body instead of plastic - though the tradeoff is higher weight compared with cheaper plastic models. (At 20.3 ounces, the Canon EOS Elan 7NE weighs over a pound.) A flash is built into the camera, though for even better results, Canon recommends using its external flash, the Speedlite 430EX (*est. $240). Among other advantages, this minimizes red-eye.

Budget autofocus 35mm SLR cameras

Canon also offers two less expensive 35mm SLR cameras that provide autofocus as well as the option to focus manually. The Canon EOS Rebel T2 (*est. $300 with zoom lens), recommended in far more reviews, is the obvious choice. The Canon EOS Rebel K2 is also still available, according to Canon USA, although sometimes difficult to find. Most retailers carry the Rebel T2 since it offers more features for the money. Reviews also say its build quality is better. For example, the lens mount on the Rebel T2 is stainless steel.

In a January 2005 review for Shutterbug.net - the last comparison review of 35mm film SLRs we found -- Peter Burian calls the Rebel T2 "a best-value SLR that will keep the Rebel series the most popular in 35mm photography." Unusual at this price level, the Canon Rebel T2 includes depth of field preview - an important feature for SLR cameras, as noted earlier.

To minimize blur you can use this model with a cable release, but it lacks the mirror lockup available on the Canon EOS Elan 7NE discussed earlier. You can customize only six functions (combinations of settings) compared with 13 on the Elan 7NE. Speed is also slower on the T2 -- 3 fps compared with 4 fps on the Elan. Reviews say the viewfinder on the Elan 7NE is also better.

On the other hand, the 12.9-ounce weight of the Rebel T2 makes it ideal as a "carry-everywhere" SLR camera, and some owners say it's easier than the Elan to operate with one hand. It has a popup flash, but you can also synchronize it with an external flash. If you want a film camera that will take good travel and photo families, the Canon Rebel T2 is all you really need, at a very good price.

Budget manual-focus 35mm SLR cameras

Here Nikon takes the lead with its well-reviewed manual-focus FM-10 (*Est. $250 with zoom lens). Though this model is made by Cosina and doesn't match the build quality on which Nikon has built its reputation, reviews say it's still a good camera for the money. It has a convenient lever for DOF preview, and overall performance is excellent.

Finish is relatively poor, and reviews say the viewfinder is a bit dim. Mirror lockup is available only by using the self-timer. However, reviews say there are several reasons you might choose this camera kit over the Canon EOS T2 (*est. $300) even though the Canon offers the option to use autofocus. The traditional way to learn SLR photography is to learn to control everything manually. If you plan to take a photography class, this camera could be a good first choice. Also, you might already have a Nikon digital SLR that uses the same lenses, or want to be able to buy excellent older secondhand Nikon lenses. (The Canon EOS cameras can't use the older Canon manual lenses.)

If you're pretty sure you want to build a Nikon system -- for whatever reason - experts say it's much better to put your money into an inexpensive camera body like the Nikon FM-10, so you'll have more money to buy good lenses. Reviews say the kit zoom lenses that come with any of these camera kits are ok as "starter lenses" but that photography enthusiasts will soon want lenses that let in more light and give sharper focus.

As noted earlier, secondhand Pentax lenses are also considered a great value, and you can find well-recommended Pentax and Minolta cameras secondhand. The current Vivitar V3800N (*Est. $140 with 50mm lens) or also uses Pentax "K mount" lenses, as does the new Voigtlander VSL43 (*est. $190 with zoom lens). Most owner-written reviews say the Vivitar V3800N is fine, but we did find some complaints about poor durability - for example, the exposure meter failing work after a year or so. The camera bodies of both models are made by Cosina, and are similar in many ways to the Nikon FM-10.

The Voigtlander VSL43 is made in Japan rather than Southeast Asia, a point reviews note in its favor. A detailed review at Shutterbug.com notes although it's completely manual, it does have "one concession to automation," autoexposure with aperture-priority. (This means the shutter speed automatically adjusts to the lens opening you choose.) Most of the body is plastic (polycarbonate) but the lens mount is metal. There's no flash built in, but the traditional hot shoe lets you mount a flash.

Pro 35mm SLR camera

At the pro level, Canon and Nikon compete evenly. Leica makes well-recommended pro SLR cameras too, but they're priced well beyond the limits of this report, and only take expensive Leica lenses. To get a starter kit with a zoom lens adds about $1,400 dollars to the body-only Leica R9 , which is manual-focus only. If price is no object, reviews say Leica SLR cameras are a great choice for photographers who prefer manual focus anyway, since they're lighter, uncomplicated and use top-quality Leica lenses. The viewfinder is very bright but doesn't show 100 percent of the image.

Canon and Nikon top-of-the-line models are sold without kit lenses, since there's an assumption that most buyers are already building a lens system -- or if not, will want the best. These models have everything you might want in a 35mm SLR camera - but also, reviews say, more than you might want if you're inexperienced. In that case, reviews say these sophisticated cameras can be a bit overwhelming because there are so many features and options.

Just as an example, the Nikon F6 (*Est. $2,000 body-only) offers 41 custom settings. That can be overwhelming when you're first learning to use one setting at a time. Owners rave about the Nikon F6 in reviews posted at BH Photo, but don't recommend it for a beginner.

Instead, reviews say it's better to begin learning film SLR photography with the Nikon FM-10, if you're building a Nikon system - or for building a Canon system, to start with the Canon EOS Elan 7NE or Rebel T2. The exception might be if your eyesight needs the excellent viewfinder on the Canon EOS-1V . Or, if your photography takes you into challenging environments, you may need the superior weather sealing and temperature resistance built into both the EOS-1V and the Nikon F6 (*Est. $2,000 body-only) . Magnesium adds strength with minimal increases in weight.

In addition to their sophisticated features, these flagship models are called pro cameras because they're built for years of day-in, day-out hard use. This is measured in shutter cycles - similar to measuring the miles a car accumulates. The Canon EOS 1V is rated for 150,000 shutter cycles..

You do get some luxury at this price level, such as viewfinders that show 100 percent of the picture that will be captured on the negative. Shutters are quieter and vibrate less. Other advanced features include sophisticated autoexposure that uses a microcomputer to evaluate a scene, to provide superior exposures for subjects and scenes that would faze an ordinary exposure meter. Spot metering provides fine control of exposures. Photographing moving subjects is also advanced, not only because of fast speed but because both the Canon EOS 1-V and the Nikon F6 can lock onto a moving subject and follow it. You can switch viewfinder screens too, to enhance composition and focusing.

Which is the better camera? It's often a moot point, since by the time you buy an SLR at this price level you're probably already committed to either Nikon or Canon. (Devotees call switching brands "going over to the Dark Side.") However, Bill Katzenstein writes a useful head-to-head comparison entitled "Battle of the Titans," published at Shutter Release and revised as recently as March 2007.

The Nikon F6 has a slight edge, partly because it can focus a little better in dim light. It shoots faster too, unless the Canon is equipped with the optional Canon Power Drive Booster PB-E2 (*est. $420). The Nikon's spot metering is also more precise.

The Nikon's biggest advantage, though, is its evaluative "3D Color Matrix Metering II" system. Most autoexposure systems "see" a scene in grayscale, but the Nikon F6 can "see" the actual colors and take them into account in calculating the best exposure settings. It takes depth of field into account as well. Katzenstein notes that although an experienced photographer can use spot metering, bracketing and experience to handle complex metering situations, the Nikon F6 can make the judgments much faster, rapidly adapting to a changing scene. You can see how valuable this could be at a big event with lots of people and movement.

Overall, reviews praise both cameras about evenly. The Nikon F6 is the ConsumerSearch Fast Answers pick because of the color matrix metering - which seems like a significant advantage. Remember to consider the distinct advantages of each lens system, discussed earlier. If you have any trouble holding a camera absolutely still, or use a long lens to photograph birds, the Canon image-stabilized lenses might make all the difference.