Nikon and Canon — eternally locked in battle — do each other good by keep product quality neck opening and neck . But in the New entrance - degree DSLR gunfight , if there has to be a winner , it ’s Canon ’s Rebel T1i .
I ’m not trying to be all namby pamby , like “ Oh , you ’re each so particular in your own way , it ’s so hard to prefer ! ” but I ca n’t stress enough how hearty both theNikon D5000and theCanon Rebel T1iare . For the price—$850 for the D5000 , $ 900 for the T1i , both let in beginner - level 18 - 55 mm lenses — either one will work fine , whether you ’re a beginner looking to memorize about photography , or a veteran with investment in a few lenses but not enough cash for a step - up Nikon D90 or D700 , or a Canon 5D Mark II . ( I highlight their spec differenceshere . )
https://gizmodo.com/nikon-d5000-dslr-12-3-mp-720p-hd-video-and-swivel-scr-5210850
In fact , the difference between the D5000 and the T1i tend to be more about button layout and port design than impression - pickings power . If you basically do it what you ’re doing , you may take essentially the same movie with either camera , except in sure situation mentioned below .
handle
Like I enunciate , there are differences in interface . Unlike fancier DSLRs , both have single dial on the right - manus side , and both have just one bombastic full - color LCD screen door for managing configurations , setting up shaft and refresh them after . The Canon ’s is a little enceinte with a mess more resolution , which cause a big benefit when you ’re pullulate video or center in Live View , but is otherwise irrelevant .
In interface design , however , the better design go to Nikon . As you’re able to see below , the organization of data on the cover is much more palatable and less arbitrary . Nikon users who are used to having the 2nd LCD projection screen up top for basic info — plus specialized clit — can quickly teach a new demeanor , baffle all selective information on the gravid LCD , using the “ i ” info push button for pass water most quick fix tweak .
The Canon interface is similar to previous Rebels , and is pretty durn fugly , and the extra clit only help in some cases where they are clearly labeled . ( And even when the buttons are intelligibly labeled , there are some obscure functions — strike the ISO clit while scoot video will put away the auto exposure , for instance . )
Automatic way
I tested each camera both in full - manual mode and on some of the automatic modes . I ’ve get word from a lot of uppity photographers who do n’t care people discussing auto shot , perhaps as a way of trumpeting their own apparently stellar knowledge of the workings of photography . But it ’s important to think of that these sub-$1000 cameras are aimed at untrained entry - level triggerman , and many of those people tell me that they almost always leave it in auto .
In this case , Nikon has six auto fashion , plus a picture setting with like 14 different options , in each case including a photo . The Canon is timid on this point , with just five presets . The scene modes are helpful to fledgeling who ca n’t translate what they see into camera preferences . Still , anyone who buy a photographic camera like this should do so with the purpose to learn manual setting , and may benefit more from just taking 100 shot in each setting , like I do , changing configurations all along .
What I did find is that even in semi - robotlike modes , the Canon and Nikon were more dissimilar than unspoilt . For instance , when I set the White Balance on Cloudy , both got the tweed more or less right , but the Canon tend to take care more pink , while the Nikon was more fleeceable , as you could see :
ISO Noise
Everybody bitches about howmore megapixels do n’t matterand thatoptics determine picture show qualitymore than anything , and they ’re right . But sensing element still weigh , particularly when shooting in low illumination — which you do by jacking up the ISO . As you’re able to see below , while both cameras handle relatively noise - loose shooting at ISO 800 , they both start to get noisy by 1600 , and at 3200 they are both noisy still . But the Canon is less noisy in this case .
https://gizmodo.com/giz-explains-why-more-megapixels-isnt-always-more-bett-5155942
It tolerate to luff out that I shot this with both camera on the default “ normal ” aka “ introductory ” disturbance - reducing scope . Both tv camera let you jack up up noise reducing more , or take it off whole , but in each case , you probably have to confab the manual to learn how , hence me test on the default configurations .
Live View
alive View was last year ’s sensation in the pickle , something first championed by Sony and Olympus , which Canon then claim and ran with , followed , only of late , by Nikon . Now everybody ’s got it , and it ’s okay , but it ’s not great , and it ’s certainly not the preferred shot style for either of these camera .
The problem is , when you have a live mental picture on your LCD , the typical auto - focus mechanics does n’t work , because the mirror inside the camera is lift up , exposing the ocular sensing element .
Canon and Nikon have different way of manage this . Canon say “ make love it ” and set down the mirror for a rip second , letting the tv camera use its normal AF detector and getting a nice mean centering .
The Nikon , from what I ’ve seen in my testing , ca n’t do this . Instead it uses secondary auto - focus techniques that are annoyingly slow . The fact that the Nikon has a leaf - out “ vari - angle ” LCD to make Live View more utile is in reality punch-drunk — by having to waitress for the damn thing to autofocus , and by not insure as good an autofocus , you drop off any advantage you ’d have by watch this pass in the LCD . I think the mirror - drib technique used by Canon and the vari - angle LCD would be a good combination , however , and my surmisal is , Nikon is explore this even now .
Video
This year ’s killer upgrade is video , specifically , gamey - definition video . TheNikon D5000has 720p at 24 frame per second ; Canon ’s T1i pip 1080p at up to 20fps . The question is , will you use it ?
I said it before and I ’ll say it again : Shooting gamy - res television with larger sensors and crowing honkin ’ lens is awe-inspiring . They wide - expression shots have a cinematic caliber , and make better use of light in the way for a more instinctive feel .
BUT — yes , big ole “ but”—the fact that autofocus is reasonably borked when you ’re shooting television means you get by nature lit cinematically scoped blurry videos , unless you and your subject field remain dead still .
Like with received Live View , Nikon and Canon take different glide path . Nikon says “ no AF during shooting whatsoever , ” meaning you concenter first , then hit phonograph recording , then , if you have to , start manually refocusing as your bambino , bozo or ginormous model roquette starts to make its move . Having lived with the D90 for a while , I want to say I get good at manually focusing , but I did not .
As is the case with Canon ’s 5D Mark II , the T1i does let you autofocus during shot , but it ’s not the dainty instant refocus you get while shooting stills . It ’s the wiggy servo - noisy zoom - zoom - rapid growth - rapid climb kind of direct contrast - based AF that guide too long . So while you ’re shoot , you not only see the car re - focalize in activeness , but you try it too .
While Canon ’s noisy AF is by far the adept option of the two for shooting videos , Canon does something in the T1i that might micturate off serious photographer : It disables shutter , aperture and ISO control for video shooting . It ’s full auto , unlike the Nikon D5000 , which , like the D90 , dedicate you a sure degree of camera ascendency while bourgeon video recording . While the Nikon lets you pick out your ISO for example , the Canon actually varies ISO preferences along with machine exposure every time your video ’s lighting change dramatically . I personally do n’t overleap it — and in my experience , Canon does a somewhat respectable job of catch automatic scope like WB right , and is a more trusty camcorder Creator in general — but you might overleap the ascendancy .
One omit welfare to the Canon is that you may take still shot while shoot video recording , without interrupting the video itself . You just get a fugitive freezeframe , and the recording continue . On the Nikon , when you shoot video , you may take a still pic , but the video transcription stoppage when you do .
In the close
So , why did I pick the Canon by a nozzle ? Mainly the video and the better Live View focusing technique , as well as the more or less better high-pitched - ISO public presentation . When I gossip with NYT ’s David Pogue about his rave review of Panasonic ’s Lumix GH1 — a far better camcorder than either of thesebecause of its quiet lens and full - fledge autofocus — he secernate me that this kind of half - broil AF makes the video on these camera a mere “ living-room stunt . ” I reissue his commentary because I harmonize with him for the most part .
https://gizmodo.com/pogue-says-panasonics-pseudo-slr-gh1-makes-a-great-hd-c-5233521
Still , as someone who savor the Nikon D90 telecasting way , half - baked as it is , I expect forward to extensive testing of the T1i , shooting video whenever I can . Because in the YouTube era , we ’re not see to go redo Dr. Zhivago . I for one just need something to register a quick vid of my kid doing something hilarious ( which her momma wo n’t let me send on Giz ) . What I find is that the best video photographic camera is the one built into the still camera I already use . And that ’s why , living-room stunt or not , DSLR picture is go to be important from here on out . Here ’s hop both Nikon and Canon keep working to make them unspoilt .
In Summary
Nikon D5000
nifty all - around entry - level DSLR camera
Well - designed substance abuser interface ; more friendly to beginner lensman
Vari - slant LCD return less good by slow auto - focus in Live View
Ca n’t autofocus during TV shot
high-pitched ISO setting have more dissonance
Canon T1i
Live View autofocus technique is fast and effective , and you could also auto - focal point while shooting video
Less racket at high ISO , better reflexive - shooting outcome
Interface can be puzzling to new lensman
Autofocus in video musical mode is noisy ( as in “ audibly annoying ” ) and slow , so it ’s a good perk than the Nikon but not a hands - down profits
Product Pages :
Canon EOS Rebel T1i
CamerasDSLRsNikonreview
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