Canon 600D/650D vs NikonD5100/D5200

[TwinCities]

I've been working with the Canon 550D over this past year and I've got to say I fell in love with canon with this camera. I have been lent it by the school I attend, and I am finally able to purchase a camera of my own. This will be my first DSLR, but I am definitely not new to them. I've worked with several other DSLRs but I am not sure if I should simply allow myself to start with one of these or jump a step up in the semi-pro range.

I just really would like if some of you could share your experience with the cameras listed and give me some tips/advice on which path to take.
Thanks!

 

[A.D.]

I personally would pick a canon for vid work, mainly because of Magic Lantern.

The 600D and 650D are very similar cameras. They both share the same aging 18mp sensor so image quality is comparable between the two (the 650 features a newer processor so has a slight edge). They both have really useful flippy-outy screens (650 has touch screen), whereas the 600 has possibly the best feature of them all - the 3x crop mode (I dont think any other canon has this 3x mode). 600 is cheaper too.

So it pretty much comes down to whether you want to save money and gain the crop mode, or splash the extra for a touchscreen.

 

[brunerww]

I've been working with the Canon 550D over this past year and I've got to say I fell in love with canon with this camera. I have been lent it by the school I attend, and I am finally able to purchase a camera of my own. This will be my first DSLR, but I am definitely not new to them. I've worked with several other DSLRs but I am not sure if I should simply allow myself to start with one of these or jump a step up in the semi-pro range.

I just really would like if some of you could share your experience with the cameras listed and give me some tips/advice on which path to take.
Thanks!

Hi TwinCities - in your price range, (I'm assuming below $1000?), here is how I would rate the three top large sensor interchangeable lens cameras for video:

Good:

Canon T4i/650D (preferable to the T3i/600D, in my view, due to the addition of touchscreen autofocus and an increase in the continuous clip length from 12 minutes to 22 minutes - but you lose the T3i's crop mode).

Since you are familiar with Canon cameras, this will be the most comfortable. But Canon DSLRs below $3000 all have a challenge with moire (shimmering colors on patterned subjects) and resolution. Some people prefer the softer Canon 'look', but I don't.

Better:

Nikon D5200 (preferable to the D5100 due to reduced moire). This is a very good video camera, with very good resolution and color reproduction, almost zero moire and a 30 minute clip length limit. It has no touch screen, however, which you probably won't miss, coming from the T2i/550D.

Here is an example of what this camera can do in Will Vasquez' side-by-side with the T2i/550D:

http://vimeo.com/59767574

As Will says in the video description, "As far as the T2i goes, there is no comparison. The D5200 is clearly a next generation DSLR with a highly advanced CMOS sensor that most likely will be the sensor used in the successor to the Nikon D7000. In the footage tests, the Nikon D5200 video image is much cleaner than the T2i, showing almost no sign of moire and aliasing."

Best:

The best video-capable camera in this price class is the $598 (with kit lens, as of this post) Panasonic G6. Unlike the other cameras, it shoots at up to 1080/60p for smooth action and slow motion, has built-in wi-fi and NFC for wireless file sharing and remote camera control from your phone or tablet, has a viewfinder that continues working while you're shooting video, has lightning fast autofocus (with touchscreen autofocus if you want it), and almost zero moire. It can also shoot for hours continuously, instead of minutes, so you can use it like a camcorder.

Here is what this camera can do:

Narrative: http://vimeo.com/78037118

Doc: http://vimeo.com/73561266

Music Video: http://vimeo.com/76081090

Wedding: http://vimeo.com/72010967

Sports: http://vimeo.com/76875252

Travel: http://vimeo.com/72107884


Hope this is helpful!

Bill

 

[A.D.]

Here is an example of what this camera can do in Will Vasquez' side-by-side with the T2i/550D:

http://vimeo.com/59767574

Some good points from Bill there, though that comparison test was hiliarious! I have no idea what he done to that canon, but it clearly wasnt a controlled and unbiased test.

Comparing picture styles? lol Whatever next? Using different colour balance, lenses, sharpness/contrast/saturation tweaks? Once someone demonstrates a poor review bias we have to discount thier findings.

What the point of even mentioning Magic Lantern was, I dont know. "Eh meh gerrrd!, It beats a modded canon! Nikon ftw!"

"If Nikon uses this sensor technology in the successor to the D7000, adds the ability to monitor audio, and ability to adjust the aperture while in LiveView, they will clearly kick everyones butt. Go Nikon!!"

Oh, there we go then. Fanbois.

He should probably have metioned the vertical banding issue with the 5200 too. Well, he did once someone else pointed it out to him...

"Well, I can now confirm the horizontal noise pattern. It's there in both photos and videos in the shadow areas, and it seems at all ISO's. Bummer. I hope Nikon issues a firmware update for it."


Here's another comparison vid that took me all of about 3 secs to find on YT...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpG2NmOUYL8

Canon looks softer in some shots, but trounces the nikon on noise in every single one (confusing, given the iso performance of the nikon's sensor). Colour handling is nigh on identical, unlike the crazy magenta shift in that first vimeo clip. Again though, tests like this are always skewed, so I wouldn't swear by this one either.

Bill, I'm not crapping on your suggestions btw (it was a very good post), I just thought that it would only be fair to provide some more test fodder as a counterpoint.

Ie: Never believe someone on the internet. Oh, hang on... except me of course.

 

[MileCreations]

While Bill has some interesting points he ALWAYS hates on the Canon and loves the Panasonic. Obviously he has good experience with the Panasonics and possibly bad with the Canon but really as you can see in those tests it depends on how the user uses it. And I'm sure some of those canon profiles could easily be fixed in seconds in a grade (I wasn't happy with the Nikon results tbh anyway).

If you have experience with the 550d and like it I say go for the 600D

 

[ChimpPhobiaFilms]

The Canon T3i is great. I've seen awesome stuff from it. But I'm sure the two Nikons are great as well. I just have experience with the T3i, and I can say it's easy to work with and it gets a nice image.

I'm not really attached to any brand or company. It really matters what will get you the best results... which is often not concerning the camera, but the person behind the camera.