Nikon D7000 vs. Canon APS-C cameras

[travellingcello]

I read a bit about the Nikon D7000 today, having known next - to - nothing in general about Nikon cameras.

In all honesty, I was given my grandfather's old Canon 300D, (owned a 60D and 5D mkII in the past too) which is how I got started so there was never a chance to choose brands in the first place.

So from what I've read, it would seem that at least on paper, the Nikon D7000 is head and shoulders above all the current Canon APS-C cameras in terms of noise and tonal range. Edit: and aside from the 7D, in the AF department and build quality as well.

I don't currently own any Canon gear, but I've been thinking of buying back into Canon simply because I know about the system and the lenses but I was pretty suprised to see on DXO Mark that the Nikon D7000's sensor scores higher on noise performance than the FF Canon 5D Mk1, and scores significantly higher than any of Canon's APS-C cameras.

So how is it that the Nikon D7000, a camera which can be had for less than £550 new from Panamoz apparently performs better than any other Canon APS-C camera and even the 5D mk1 at a knock-down price?

And if so just where the hell have I been????

 

[Pablosammy]

I read a bit about the Nikon D7000 today, having known next - to - nothing in general about Nikon cameras.

In all honesty, I was given my grandfather's old Canon 300D, (owned a 60D and 5D mkII in the past too) which is how I got started so there was never a chance to choose brands in the first place.

So from what I've read, it would seem that at least on paper, the Nikon D7000 is head and shoulders above all the current Canon APS-C cameras in terms of noise and tonal range. Edit: and aside from the 7D, in the AF department and build quality as well.

I don't currently own any Canon gear, but I've been thinking of buying back into Canon simply because I know about the system and the lenses but I was pretty suprised to see on DXO Mark that the Nikon D7000's sensor scores higher on noise performance than the FF Canon 5D Mk1, and scores significantly higher than any of Canon's APS-C cameras.

So how is it that the Nikon D7000, a camera which can be had for less than £550 new from Panamoz apparently performs better than any other Canon APS-C camera and even the 5D mk1 at a knock-down price?

And if so just where the hell have I been????

The D7000 is a fantastic camera, I've owned one for the last 2 years. The image quality and tonality, as you've rightly pointed out, are as good as some older full-frame sensors.

Don't get too hung up on it though. Buy the camera with controls that feel right. Until you start printing above A3, most sensors will appear to perform similarly, and Lightroom/Photoshop can do wonders if used conservatively. I chose the Nikon D7000 because it felt absolutely right in my hand, and the controls were hardwired and in exactly the right place for me - I find Canons downright clumsy now. Other people will say the opposite - get to a shop and have a quick play with both brands, you'll probably be able to make a decision on the spot.

 

[phil-t]

So how is it that the Nikon D7000, a camera which can be had for less than £550 new from Panamoz apparently performs better than any other Canon APS-C camera and even the 5D mk1 at a knock-down price?

And if so just where the hell have I been????

The D7000 uses the Sony 16MP APS-C Sensor that is in the

Sony A580
Sony A37/57 (SLT means -1/3 stop noise performance)
Pentax K30/K5II

It is only the Canon that is a little behind on noise etc, and consider the Canon APS-C has a few more MP, you have to expect a little more pixel level noise (image noise won't be so different, that's dependant on pixel size), it's only 1/3 stop or so which isn't that much in practical terms.


But I wouldn't get hung up on DxO figures too much, differences in AA filters, beyer filters and even in-camera pre-conditioning of the RAW files all lead to what look like large differencs on DxO but are only small differences in IQ at the end of the day, and DxO's selective measurements are quite difficult to judge things like resolution and other key factors..

And new generation FF sensors have obviously improved, at least 1.5 stops better again in noise and increased DR etc, etc..

If you like Canon's feature set/lenses etc, I wouldn't let the small difference in noise make me choose a D7K over a 7D for example..

 

[travellingcello]

The D7000 uses the Sony 16MP APS-C Sensor that is in the

Sony A580
Sony A37/57 (SLT means -1/3 stop noise performance)
Pentax K30/K5II

It is only the Canon that is a little behind on noise etc, and consider the Canon APS-C has a few more MP, you have to expect a little more pixel level noise (image noise won't be so different, that's dependant on pixel size), it's only 1/3 stop or so which isn't that much in practical terms.

But I wouldn't get hung up on DxO figures too much, differences in AA filters, beyer filters and even in-camera pre-conditioning of the RAW files all lead to what look like large differencs on DxO but are only small differences in IQ at the end of the day, and DxO's selective measurements are quite difficult to judge things like resolution and other key factors..

And new generation FF sensors have obviously improved, at least 1.5 stops better again in noise and increased DR etc, etc..

If you like Canon's feature set/lenses etc, I wouldn't let the small difference in noise make me choose a D7K over a 7D for example..

Yes but the thing is you can't get a second hand 7d for the price of a new D7000, and it would seem that aside from fps and AF, the D7000 is the better camera. And the AF isn't so far behind from what I hear....

It would be interesting for me to go and try one out.

 

[LongLensPhotography]

7D is probably better built and faster, but the sensor is well pretty aged. D7000 looks like a better all-round package that shouldn't disappoint.

5D mk1 is an interesting one to compare. I could bet money it produces much better image quality than both APS-Cs, but then it miserably falls behind with its ancient AF and lack of seals. Take a step up to 1DsII and you have a pretty great package (pun intended) that is only bettered by 1Dx, 5DIII (not II), 1DsIII, D3X, D4, D600 and maybe D3s, all well above £1000.

 

[LongLensPhotography]

And new generation FF sensors have obviously improved, at least 1.5 stops better again in noise and increased DR etc, etc..

DR is getting popular these days :shake:. It is not entirely obvious how DXO measure DR - without any postprocessing OR push to the very limits of the RAW file? The two are very different parameters.
It is quite possible having the firmware that stretches the DR to high levels while recording a RAW, and it would naturally have fairly little extra left (the nikon/sony approach?). Such file may also look less natural, something I have observed on flickr lately.
On the other hand the camera may record a less pre-processed raw with much larger processing latitude, which technically is preferable. I have a feeling DXO doesn't account for this.

 

[pete.rush]

When I started I had no brand loyalty, I chose a camera I felt comfortable to use. Nowadays there's a vast array of camera's and brands to choose from what you have to consider is what are you going to be using the camera to photograph and hence what requirement you need the camera to have. My priority was autofocus, at the time the only one streets ahead of the only other cameras on the market that I could afford was the canon 20D, I've progressed from that to the 1D series and would still buy a canon not only for the autofocus system, but for the lenses.

If your major factor is ISO performance because you'll be photographing 90% indoors, then in that price range the Nikon D7000 probably is streets ahead of the equivalent canon's (60D range not the 650D), although it seems to have the same sensor as a pentax and sony, so do the maths and they would probably be your other choices.

Personally, yes the camera is important, but the lenses make the image. I was (past tense) taking great images still with my 20D because I put the right lens on the front. Camera technology like computer technology will be out of date within a year, surpassed by the next range of camera's.

Nikon has been in the lead over the past couple of years with a decent selection of camera, but perhaps with the release of canon's 1DX, with that technology migrating to the consumer models, things might swing back in the other direction, who knows.

Buy the camera for the complete package, not just the camera and that includes Sony, Pentax, Olympus as well as the main 2 brands.