With Canon and Nikon both fighting for the beginner level category, they have both unveiled movie friendly DSLRs to tempt enthusiast and professional videographers. Despite the two digital SLRs coming from different manufacturers, they have a lot in common. They are both useful upgrades to current digital SLRs (the Canon T3i and the D5100), and are designed to strengthen their markets by extending into video making, which both Canon and Nikon see as potential areas for expansion. It is clear that Nikon and Canon are considering the entry level market as a major battleground, particularly in the USA.
The Canon T4i doesn't feel quite as tough as the D5200, but it is solid enough for everyday use. It is a bit bigger than the D5200 though, and so much easier for anyone with normal sized hands to grip. The scroll-wheel clicks comfortingly as it spins and the rear buttons are tactile. The layout at the back of the Canon T4i is well considered and has more buttons, making delving into the menu functions a lot quicker and easier. Some are multioption buttons, which can take a little thought. For example, the same button that commences recording video in movie mode also allows Live View in still shooting mode. The small downside of this is that some of the buttons are very close together. However, the Canon T4i offers a dedicated ISO button, and speedy access to white balance, drive mode, and AF settings (the D5200 lacks all of these). There is an IR sensor on the front of the camera, but no Fn button as there isn't really any requirement for it.
Both cameras have an articulating LCD view screen. The Canon T4i has a recognizable higher resolution than that of the D5200. The Canon's liquid crystal display viewingscreen has 1040 thousand pixels, while the D5200 has 921 thousand. One of the the Canon T4i's biggest selling points is that the liquid crystal display backscreen is touch sensitive. This makes it much easier to arrange settings and, more importantly, it lets you pick a focus point through Live View. You can also shoot your photograph by tapping on the location where you want the DSLR to focus. These are very progressive and useful options, taken from the Compact System Camera (CSC) categories that are for sale now. It is splendid to see this technology being adopted by the Canon T4i as it makes it far more accessible than any other digital SLR in its range.
The Canon's phase detect AutoFocus system is extremely fast. Although it has only 9-point AF system, as opposed to the 39-points of the D5200, it is both responsive and accurate for normal shooting. The Canon T4i lacks a dedicated AF assist light, but it is able to use its built-in flash in these instances. The T4i offers full-time AutoFocus in video mode, which matches the D5200 and, with Canon's STM lenses, the focussing is quiet enough for shooting video. It also has an external Mic socket. It is reasonable to say that the Canon Rebel T4i is likely to be the better camera for shooting movies. The liquid crystal display view screen, full-time AF, and external Mic make it perfect for your everyday video needs.
The Nikon D5200 is a solidly built camera and smaller than it's predecessor, the D5100. This might cause problems for those of us with large (average!) hands. It doesn't always feel like an ordinary DSLR, especially when carrying a large lens. Although it fails to equal the build quality of the magnesium alloy D7000, the tough plastic casing feels pretty solid and sturdy. The design at the rear is easy to navigate with an array of buttons to make access to the multiple features straightforward. Live view is easily accessible and movie recording can be initiated with a press of a single button. It has just a single control dial which is snappy and responsive. There is an IR port on the front of the camera and also a dedicated AF assist light, which the Canon T4i fails to have. On the right side there is a customizable Fn function which can be used to select image quality, ISO, active-D lighting, or white balance (there are no dedicated single buttons for these options). The pop-up flash automatic in green mode, meaning that the flash will pop up on its own if the camera thinks it is required.
The liquid crystal display screen is inherited from the D5100, where it was enormously popular. Like with the Canon T4i, it is very appropriate for shooting at strange angles and is really useful when shooting video. The help features are superb and make the Nikon D5200 quite novice friendly. The display rotates with the camera, meaning that information on the status screen won't appear sideways when you're photographing uprights. The playback option is quick and efficient you won't need to wait for pictures to load. And there is a wide-ranging info screen which lets you change just about every shooting parameter that the camera has to offer. However the four way selector is not as simple to use as the one on the Canon. The Nikon D5200 doesn't have as many buttons on the back as the Canon T4i, making a few of the menu choices difficult to get to. The new(ish) Expeed 3 processor makes the Nikon quick and decisive in phase detect AutoFocus and extremely fast in Live View. The D5200's articulating screen comes in handy for shooting video, and Nikon have raised the number of frame rate options, introducing 60i and 50i. Like the Canon T4i, it will accept an external microphone and has full-time video AutoFocus.
At low very ISO, the Canon T4i equals the Nikon, though the D5200 is slightly better at the top (non-expanded) ISO. Overall, the Nikon provides slightly better image quality than the Canon. Remember, the Canon T4i also has a physically smaller sensor than the D5200. It may not seem like much, but 1.6x rather than 1.5x, along with the increased resolution, puts the Nikon D5200 on top. For more information on the sensors, take a look at the sensor scores published by DxO labs.
To summarize, the Canon Rebel T4i has great AutoFocus, a great articulated touchscreen and is a truly superb video camera. The Nikon D5200 has astonishing, fast AutoFocus, a good articulating screen, a great buffer/processor and very useful in-camera guides.
I believe if you had no lens loyalty either way, the Canon T4i would be the better camera to buy. The difference in image quality is barely noticeable under average conditions and the Canon certainly equals the D5200 on the movie front. Whilst both DSLRs are remarkable in their own ways, the Nikon D5200 is more expensive than the small improvements over the Canon T4i would warrant.
The Canon T4i doesn't feel quite as tough as the D5200, but it is solid enough for everyday use. It is a bit bigger than the D5200 though, and so much easier for anyone with normal sized hands to grip. The scroll-wheel clicks comfortingly as it spins and the rear buttons are tactile. The layout at the back of the Canon T4i is well considered and has more buttons, making delving into the menu functions a lot quicker and easier. Some are multioption buttons, which can take a little thought. For example, the same button that commences recording video in movie mode also allows Live View in still shooting mode. The small downside of this is that some of the buttons are very close together. However, the Canon T4i offers a dedicated ISO button, and speedy access to white balance, drive mode, and AF settings (the D5200 lacks all of these). There is an IR sensor on the front of the camera, but no Fn button as there isn't really any requirement for it.
Both cameras have an articulating LCD view screen. The Canon T4i has a recognizable higher resolution than that of the D5200. The Canon's liquid crystal display viewingscreen has 1040 thousand pixels, while the D5200 has 921 thousand. One of the the Canon T4i's biggest selling points is that the liquid crystal display backscreen is touch sensitive. This makes it much easier to arrange settings and, more importantly, it lets you pick a focus point through Live View. You can also shoot your photograph by tapping on the location where you want the DSLR to focus. These are very progressive and useful options, taken from the Compact System Camera (CSC) categories that are for sale now. It is splendid to see this technology being adopted by the Canon T4i as it makes it far more accessible than any other digital SLR in its range.
The Canon's phase detect AutoFocus system is extremely fast. Although it has only 9-point AF system, as opposed to the 39-points of the D5200, it is both responsive and accurate for normal shooting. The Canon T4i lacks a dedicated AF assist light, but it is able to use its built-in flash in these instances. The T4i offers full-time AutoFocus in video mode, which matches the D5200 and, with Canon's STM lenses, the focussing is quiet enough for shooting video. It also has an external Mic socket. It is reasonable to say that the Canon Rebel T4i is likely to be the better camera for shooting movies. The liquid crystal display view screen, full-time AF, and external Mic make it perfect for your everyday video needs.
The Nikon D5200 is a solidly built camera and smaller than it's predecessor, the D5100. This might cause problems for those of us with large (average!) hands. It doesn't always feel like an ordinary DSLR, especially when carrying a large lens. Although it fails to equal the build quality of the magnesium alloy D7000, the tough plastic casing feels pretty solid and sturdy. The design at the rear is easy to navigate with an array of buttons to make access to the multiple features straightforward. Live view is easily accessible and movie recording can be initiated with a press of a single button. It has just a single control dial which is snappy and responsive. There is an IR port on the front of the camera and also a dedicated AF assist light, which the Canon T4i fails to have. On the right side there is a customizable Fn function which can be used to select image quality, ISO, active-D lighting, or white balance (there are no dedicated single buttons for these options). The pop-up flash automatic in green mode, meaning that the flash will pop up on its own if the camera thinks it is required.
The liquid crystal display screen is inherited from the D5100, where it was enormously popular. Like with the Canon T4i, it is very appropriate for shooting at strange angles and is really useful when shooting video. The help features are superb and make the Nikon D5200 quite novice friendly. The display rotates with the camera, meaning that information on the status screen won't appear sideways when you're photographing uprights. The playback option is quick and efficient you won't need to wait for pictures to load. And there is a wide-ranging info screen which lets you change just about every shooting parameter that the camera has to offer. However the four way selector is not as simple to use as the one on the Canon. The Nikon D5200 doesn't have as many buttons on the back as the Canon T4i, making a few of the menu choices difficult to get to. The new(ish) Expeed 3 processor makes the Nikon quick and decisive in phase detect AutoFocus and extremely fast in Live View. The D5200's articulating screen comes in handy for shooting video, and Nikon have raised the number of frame rate options, introducing 60i and 50i. Like the Canon T4i, it will accept an external microphone and has full-time video AutoFocus.
At low very ISO, the Canon T4i equals the Nikon, though the D5200 is slightly better at the top (non-expanded) ISO. Overall, the Nikon provides slightly better image quality than the Canon. Remember, the Canon T4i also has a physically smaller sensor than the D5200. It may not seem like much, but 1.6x rather than 1.5x, along with the increased resolution, puts the Nikon D5200 on top. For more information on the sensors, take a look at the sensor scores published by DxO labs.
To summarize, the Canon Rebel T4i has great AutoFocus, a great articulated touchscreen and is a truly superb video camera. The Nikon D5200 has astonishing, fast AutoFocus, a good articulating screen, a great buffer/processor and very useful in-camera guides.
I believe if you had no lens loyalty either way, the Canon T4i would be the better camera to buy. The difference in image quality is barely noticeable under average conditions and the Canon certainly equals the D5200 on the movie front. Whilst both DSLRs are remarkable in their own ways, the Nikon D5200 is more expensive than the small improvements over the Canon T4i would warrant.
About the Author:
Jeremy Bayston has worked in the photography industry for two decades. He has a particular interest in digital imagery. Learn more about the new Nikon D5200 on his website www.d5200.org and even download a free 25 page guide on the new camera. Discover more about the Canon rebel T4i on his website www.rebel-T4i.com. Both sites offer expert advice and reviews of Nikon and Canon products.
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