Are you thinking about buying a DSLR camera and not sure which camera brand you should buy? It’s a huge decision since as you build a collection of lens and flashes, you pretty much have to stick with which brand your camera is. I have owned both a Nikon and a Canon and today I am going to break down the pros and cons of both. This is totally unscientific, just the experience of one Mom/blogger and what she liked and disliked about each brand.
Nikon
Here is what I have owned:
Body – Nikon D60 / Nikon D90 
(the D90 is now the Nikon D7100
)
Lens – Nikon 35mm f/1.8 / Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6
/ Nikon 50mm f/1.4D AF 
/
Nikon 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G 
Flash – Nikon SB-700 AF Speedlight 
Pros
- I really like the white balance and color of the images
- I like the button placements. I especially like that there is a separate dial for both aperture and shutter speed.
- The external flash produces a softer flash light
Cons
- I don’t feel like the images are as sharp as often
- The lens and cameras tend to be more expensive
Canon
Here is what I have owned:
Body – Canon EOS Rebel T3i 18 MP
Lens – Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 / Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 
Flash – Speedlite 430EX II Flash
Pros
- Very sharp crisp images
- Price – you seem to be able to get more for your money. I find this to be especially true to with lenses.
- Lighter weight
Cons
- I don’t like the menus set up as much – they seem to be harder to find things
- Takes longer to adjust your settings because there is not a separate dial for aperture.
When I bought my first DLSR camera I went with a Nikon. I liked it, there is no doubt about it. I used Nikon products for 4 years. I loved the menus and I felt it was so easy to adjust the settings. It made it super easy to shoot on manual because it was so fast. But 4 months ago I sold my Nikon off and purchased a Canon. Why? For me as a blogger I felt like I could not get sharp enough images. For about every 5 images I took, it felt like only 1 was super sharp. With my Canon I feel like for every 5 images, 4 are sharp and 1 might not be perfect.
I don’t have all of the lens that I want, but I am glad that they are cheaper. For example on a 50mm 1.8 lens the Canon is $123.73 compared to the Nikon at $216.98.
Both Nikon and Canon are great companies and they make great products. For me it came down to needing sharp images every single time. I’m hoping that the menus get easier to navigate. I really miss having a separate scrolling dial for aperture! Really miss it!
I hope this helps if you are thinking about buying a camera. I would love to hear about your experiences would Nikon or Canon and what you like/dislike about your camera in the comments.
MyConclusion
I like the initial article, a view point from someone with experience with both cameras. If one ignores the comments/replies, it is enough for a beginner to choose. After reading everything that follows, there is no clear-cut winner. Both brands are equivalent enough that you cannot go wrong with either. Love your choice, don’t look back, learn every detail about your camera and how to best use it and most importantly how to make great pictures.
Thanks for the article Lisa, appreciate it, and to all for your comments.
KAR
There are, by the way, many more camera and lens manufacturers than just Nikon and Canon. By limiting your selections to just two, you may overlook the company that produces the camera perfect for you.
K. Andrew R
I agree. I started with Pentax, and have stuck with them for the past 12 years. The K-1 full frame model feels like it was made for me.
No plastic starter cameras like CaNikon. All bodies are constructed with magnesium alloy and are weather resistant. Not waterproof, but you don’t have to pack up and run when it starts raining. The CaNikon owners will be running for cover.
Sam
In 2018 I did a Photography Course and asked my lecturer what camera he thought I should get. He suggested a Canon due to the wide availability of lenses and how you can get EF lenses that you can also use on a full frame should you decide to go that route later. My first camera was a Canon 200D and last year I was given a Canon 70D. I have found the EF-S 18-135mm f3.5-5.6 is stm to be a great all round lens for these two bodies, I get great crisp shots with this. I just have to watch for chromatic aberration and blown out skies in high contrast shots. I also have a EF 50mm f1.8 stm for portraits and photo shoots. I am very happy with the results I am getting.
Pete Jensen
The person behind the camera makes the pics. Clearly though more expensive, Nikon is far more superior than any other camera.
William M Gibbons
Nikon is the choice for me. I used Cannon for 30-years and was generally pleased with the AE-1 and Cannon lenses. When it came time to buy a digital mini dvd camcorder in 2002 +/- I chose the Cannon. It was moderate to light use for my grandson, being a first born in the family. Within the year it needed repair under warranty. I sent it to their repair facility as directed and waited 4-6 weeks for it to return. This was near the end of the warranty period burning up warranty time. Upon the return it worked for another month and the same repair was needed.
Cannon refused to repair it under warranty and quoted a price to repair that was near the cost of the camera new. I paid $800 for the recorder for my grandsons memories and Cannon just blew me off.
Upon researching the problem and comments from other Cannon users with the same issue, I discovered Cannon knew their product was faulty when they sold it to me. I was livid.
Calls and letters and emails were answered with stock comments indicating no one was reading the mail. . .or cared.
It was a big outlay for me and my grandson couldn’t wait to grow up.
The last scathing letter sent to Cannon was a note that I would have been a lifetime customer, but after this deceit and indifference they gave me, I would Never buy a product of theirs again. 16-years later I’m still a Nikon user.
And I would suggest to anyone to any camera but Cannon.
just blume
I’d speculate that if only 1 out of 4 images shot is ‘sharp’ then the problem is not the camera but the operator. What was your shutter speed? 4 years using a Nikon? Some of us have been using a SLR for a tad longer…. as in 40+ years.
Also, I’m pretty sure a D90 is not a D7100
Jenayalynn
Thank-you so much!! As my days in photography are starting, I was at crossroads, I didn’t know if I should go with Cannon or Nikon dslr. I’ve been searching for any advice that I could possibly get!! And as I read about this blog and the comments, I think I am starting to get the idea of what I want!! Thank-you!!
Mable
I don’t agree with the admin fully.. because as per my opinion I would choose nikon. Nikon’s weight is lighter than Canon’s even their lenses also. Nikon captures sharper images as compared to nikon. Once I asked a pro photographer about these two cameras he said that nikon is the best camera for photography of landscapes the most. But the only best feature about canon is their lenses.
I hope this was helpful to you..
Berggren
I use the Canon EOS 6D MKII and I love it. Best camera I ever owned. Appature dail is s atated in the comments seperate.
I am a landscape photographer and this camera is thw best for me. Been photographing for 20+ years.
With Canon all the time.
K. Andrew R.
Nikon is lighter because it’s made of plastic, just like Canon
Joy
Both Canon & Nikon are good. I bought Canon years ago because ‘made in Japan’…. hahaha
Marjorie Briggs
I have had Canon cameras for years but recently purchased an Olympus that I love. Olympus equipment is every bit as good or better than either Canon or Nikon and many cameras and lenses can be picked up very inexpensive from eBay. The photography world doesn’t just revolve around these two brands. There are many other nice cameras to choose from. Do a little research before you buy.
Ricardo Galvão
One should buy the brand which has auto ISO in any Mode (M,Av, Tv, P)
Mark Bohn
Your comment about the Canon controls is misguided. This is only true on the Rebel series. All of the xxD, xD, and Full Frame bodies have separate aperture/shutter speed dials.
PHIL L
Age old debate of Canon vs Nikon. I once came into contact with a pro photographer and asked his advice on which is better for entry level DSLR pics, he didn’t even hesitate when he said Nikon. VERY easy to navigate and they’re workhorses. I’m the team photographer for 6 different sports teams and my shutter count is up to 200,000 + pics and it still performs beautifully, crisp shots and creamy bokeh. All the photogs that I’ve seen @ Disney World and other tourist traps (the ones that jump at you at the entrance) seem to lean towards Nikon.
Mark
I’m a professional photographer and I wouldn’t hesitate to say canon.
At the end of the day is doesn’t matter its all about the person taking the picture. I can probably get similar results as my top of the range camera out of an entry level camera.
Graham Dean
Thanks I am end of camera life as they, bag etc are heavy I Think I will go with a mirror less smaller and lighter I will keep my canon lenses and use an adapter but I do like the idea of a built-in telephoto which will make for much is of carrying mainly the real reason I want to change is that I can afford it instead of giving the money to my sister and me I want a lighter job that is the only reason I want to change but do I go for Nikon Canon Sony et cetera et cetera thank you bye-bye
Eric Jensen
I bought Nikon one old school manual & digital D40 also D90 my D90 & lenses were stolen $1800’s ,which shot bands,food some action pic’s but D40 its good camera cause i can put Nikon lenses on any Nikon camera don’t need adapter like Cannon !! Go in bag pull out any lenses shoot, were cannons I find adapter!!
Paul La Noue
You can make great images with a Canon or a Nikon. The best computer for photography is in your head. The camera simply does what you tell it. Don’t buy a thirty to fifty megapixel camera and but consumer lens on it. You will waste a lot of money. The sharpness depends on the glass. The professional lens are much sharper. The difference in camera bodies is simply controls and noise. The cameras these days only show noise at high ISO. Noise can usually be handled in post production. The bottom line is you can’t go wrong with Canon or Nikon.
Akhil satyanarayan chukkalwar
Canon is the best because setting is not a problem once you know setting then it will be a amazing to have it
94Warner
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Bruce
When I did the side by side comparison, I found the canon to more expensive. Video is better on the Nikon as well. The main reason I bought the Nikon was weight and size. The canon cameras are to large and heavy. The Nikon D5500 is the best weight to ability in mid range. You will also find the Nikor lenses are lighter too. Of course they are both great options and it depends on what your are wanting to use it for. Just my two cents.
Dasgeiss
My experience is just thee opposite. My Canon EOS 6 is lighter than my Nikon D7500. Making adjustments is much easier and faster on my Canon than on my Nikon. The Nikon is heavier than the Canon. The clarity on the Nikon is incredible. Canon pics are very good but not as clear. One of my Canon EOS 5 totally broke down after about only 300 pics were taken. Circuit boards (plural) both burned out. Turned me off on Canon!
Nicos Rafidhias
I can verify that D5500 is one of the best Nikon models ever. I am using this model for around two years, almost every day, with four different lenses. I still use D7100 occasionally, mostly for 50mm and 35mm and two Canon, as well, 1300D and 700D. Although, I found on D5500 what I was looking for
Geoff Allen
Hi recently brought Canon EOS 750d kit lens EF-S 18-55mm. Which I no longer use ,the two lenses I will be using are 18-200mmSTM and 50mm 1.8 .Just need advise about which filters to buy Polarised or Natural Density.
Andre L
I went through the same dilemma years ago. I kept going back and forth between the two brands. I was leaning more toward the Canon since that was what I had as a film camera. What changed it……holding the cameras in my hands at the store! The Canon didn’t feel as good in my hand as the Nikon. The grip on the Cannon just seemed too short for my hand. So Nikon it was and have not regretted it. In truth, you can’t go wrong with either. See how they feel in your hands and then decide1
steve lythgoe
exactly my thoughts on the best camera, my first DSLR was going to be a canon, but after holding a Nikon , that was the deciding factor. I felt the canon grip was a little small for my hand, its a personal choice , the cameras these days are all capable of producing good images.
Jim Boldon
I too own the t3i, and I receive many compliments regarding the sharpness of the images. I often think of upgrading , but this camera gives me more than what I need!
Gregory J. Golda
The biggest “problem” going from pretty much every other camera to a nikon is the zoom and exposure meter are backwards! Hugely frustrating and a real deal-breaker in my opinion.
Becky B
Canon has sharpening built in to its factory setting. Tripods help with sharp images. Both cameras have their merits, glad you found the system that worked best for you
Mark
you can modify the sharpening amount with the profiles on canons. however shoot raw and you don’t have to worry just make sure you have a good lens and have the subject in focus.
Tara
Thank you for your thoughts. We’re trying to decide what to get and though I know both are great, I found a WONDERFUL comparison website that takes identical photos using every camera out there and I prefer the clarity and sharpness of the Canon images over the Nikon almost exclusively when it comes to the DSLRs.
Shana
What is the comparison website?
PookieParker
Try YouTube for comparisons. Lots of good info and it’s free.
Let's Drink Coffee, Darling
Thanks for the tips! I’ve been leaning towards getting a Canon, but I’m glad to see others’ reasons why they believe Canon is a good choice! So many options, they need to have a store where I can just go use all the different cameras for a full day to decide which one to get!
Laure Allen
From what I know about both of them, I totally agree with everything you said! I LOVE my cannon, and I love that my 50mm lens was half the price that it would have been for a Nikon! Thanks for sharing! Pinned
mikaela
I have no advice but I am jealous you get a new camera. I need one so badly!
Cooolj
The Canon and Nikon are good cameras depends on user.
PookieParker
You are right. It’s not the camera. It’s the person holding the camera, looking through the viewer and pressing the shutter button. Whatever your choice, learn the camera you buy. Take a look at the manual that came with the camera. Don’t try to read the camera’s manual from beginning to end. Unless you are a genius, it will confuse you at first. (Note: I have a Nikon D750 and I still periodically refer to the manual). If you are confused check out the tutorials on YouTube. They are free and good. Use some of the “cheat sheets” on Pinterest. The lens you get with most camera it’s are not that good. Photograph what interests you. Look at other photographers you like.