you could’t go wrong with a mid-range or flagship smartphone if you need an excellent camera for recording memories.
But to level up your photography and turn it into art, consider getting a serious camera.
There are many great camera brands out there.
Companies such as Sony, Fujifilm, Olympus, and Leica have made great consumer and professional cameras.
However, you still can’t beat Canon and Nikon when it comes to digital SLRs and lenses.
The Upgrade Path
Canon and Nikon are among the biggest camera manufacturers globally.
Considering this, both Canon and Nikon did not gain these numbers by offering lousy products.
Instead, we’ll focus on their camera and lens offerings.
That’s because lenses will last longer than most camera bodies.
They’re also more expensive, with premium and professional lenses costing more than the camera.
However, Canon is consolidating most of its cameras into the RF/RF-S mount for mirrorless cameras.
In total, Canon has 77 lenses across the three lines.
), eight consumer EF lenses, 20 professional EF lenses, and six specialty lenses.
The EF-M mount offers three zoom lenses and three prime lenses (what are prime lenses?
), while the RF/RF-S mount has 29.
You should note, though, that Canon is slowly winding down its DSLR business.
This means some EF/EF-S lenses are either out of stock or on backorder.
Now let’s look at Nikon lenses.
First, we’ll count Nikon’s DSLR lenses.
This brings Nikon’s lens options to a whopping 83and that’s just for DSLR cameras.
This brings Nikon’s total lens options to 118.
Because of the sheer number and availability, we can say that Nikon bests Canon in the lens category.
Let’s check out what Canon and Nikon offer below.
Entry-Level DSLRs
These are the most affordable cameras at $1,000 and below.
It’s also what most consumers buy as their first camera.
The Canon EOS Rebel T7 and Nikon D3400 are the most affordable cameras from each respective manufacturer.
Nikon’s entry-level offering is more than 60% more expensive than Canon’s cheapest model.
Because beginners typically buy the cheapest camera, we’re giving the win to Canon here.
They’re typically priced between $1,000 and $2,500.
Both devices are priced at $1,199, although the latter launched at $1,399.
On the other hand, you have three options with Nikon.
The D7500 and the D500 are cropped-frame DX cameras, while the D780 is a full-frame FX DSLR.
But if you want the cheapest full-frame DSLR, you should pick the Canon EOS 6D Mk II.
However, you should consider the entry dates of these cameras.
The EOS 90D, which launched two years later than the D7500, consistently performed better in reviews.
They also typically feature the best that a camera manufacturer can offer.
The same is true for the D6 and 1D X Mk III.
At this level, the difference in image quality and performance is negligible.
The most likely decision point for most buyers of these cameras is what gear they already have.
After all, if you get the same quality and performance, why would you go with something heavier?
In 2021,PetaPixel reportedthat Canon stopped the development of its EOS DSLRs.
Nikon followed suit in 2022, according toa Nikkei Asia report.
The Z 30 is an excellent option as it’s relatively new while still remaining affordable.
But if you want to enjoy the latest tech from Canon, you should pick the R50.
Although it’s more expensive than the Z 50, this APS-C mirrorless camera launched in May 2023.
So, you should expect Canon to incorporate its latest developments here.
However, the better cheapest option is Nikon’s Z 30.
Because of this, we’ll award this category to Nikon.
Regarding performance, Canon’s mid-range mirrorless cameras barely edge out Nikon’s offerings.
The EOS R8 stands as the best option here.
So, let’s look at what Canon and Nikon offer for professionals.
These cameras' quality is around the same level, especially as they all launched around the same time.
Is Canon or Nikon Better?
With that, we see that Nikon has a slight edge over Canon.
