With Canon and Nikon both struggling for dominance in the the beginner level category, they have both announced video friendly digital SLRs to tempt enthusiast and professional videographers. Despite the two digital SLRs coming from different companies, 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 movie making, which both Canon and Nikon recognize as potential areas for expansion. It is clear that Nikon and Canon are regarding the beginner level market as a major battleground, particularly in the States.
The Canon T4i doesn't feel quite as tough as the D5200, but it is solid enough for everyday use. It is a slightly larger than the D5200 though, and so easier for anyone with average sized hands to hold. The scroll-wheel clicks reassuringly as it turns and the buttons on the back are tactile. The design at the back of the Canon T4i is well considered and has more buttons, making moving into the menu options a lot quicker and easier. Some are multioption buttons, which can take some thought. For example, the same button that commences recording video in movie mode also starts Live View in still shooting mode. The small downside of this is that some of the buttons are too close together. However, the Canon T4i does have a dedicated ISO button, and immediate 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 liquid crystal display view screen. The Canon T4i has a recognizable larger resolution than that of the D5200. The Canon's liquid crystal display view screen has 1040 thousand pixels, while the D5200 has 921 thousand. One of the the Canon T4i's unique selling points is that the LCD view screen is touch sensitive. This makes it much easier to program settings and, more importantly, it lets you pick a focus point through Live View. You can also take your picture by tapping on the area where you want the digital SLR to focus. These are very clever and useful functions, taken from the Compact System Camera (CSC) categories that are available now. It is great to see this technology being picked up by the Canon T4i as it makes it far more useable than any other digital SLR in its category.
The Canon's phase detect AutoFocus system is tremendously quick. Whilst it has only 9-point Auto Focus system, as opposed to the 39-points of the D5200, it is both responsive and accurate for every day photography. The Canon T4i doesn't have a dedicated AF assist light, but it is able to use its built-in flash in these circumstances. The T4i supports full-time AF 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 fair to say that the Canon Rebel T4i is probably the better DSLR for shooting movies. The LCD backscreen, full-time AutoFocus, and external Mic make it appropriate for your everyday video needs.
The Nikon D5200 is a solidly built camera and smaller than it's fore runner, the D5100. This might introduce problems for those of us with big (average!) hands. It doesn't always carry like a proper DSLR, especially when fitted to a big lens. While it fails to match the build specifications of the magnesium alloy D7000, the toughened plastic casing feels fairly solid and sturdy. The design at the back is easy to navigate with a good selection of buttons to make access to the various functions simple to follow. Live view is easily accessed and film recording can be initiated with a press of a single button. It has just one control wheel which is snappy and responsive. There is an IR port on the front of the body 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 needed.
The LCD screen is taken from the D5100, where it was very popular. As with with the Canon T4i, it is very handy for shooting at unusual angles and is exceptionally useful when shooting video. The help options are excellent and make the Nikon D5200 quite beginner friendly. The display rotates with the camera, meaning that information on the status screen won't appear sideways when you're taking uprights. The playback mode is quick and efficient you won't need to wait for photos to load. And there is a comprehensive info screen which lets you manage just about every shooting parameter that the D5200 has t choose from. 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 AF and extremely fast in Live View. The D5200's articulating screen is excellent for shooting video, and Nikon have raised the choices 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 delivers 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 ahead. 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 splendid articulated touchscreen and is a truly superb video camera. The Nikon D5200 has astonishing, fast AutoFocus, a good articulated screen, a great buffer/processor and very useful in-camera guides.
I think if you had no lens loyalty either way, the Canon T4i would be the better camera to purchase. The difference in image quality is not really noticeable under average conditions and the Canon certainly equals the D5200 on the video front. Whilst both cameras 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 slightly larger than the D5200 though, and so easier for anyone with average sized hands to hold. The scroll-wheel clicks reassuringly as it turns and the buttons on the back are tactile. The design at the back of the Canon T4i is well considered and has more buttons, making moving into the menu options a lot quicker and easier. Some are multioption buttons, which can take some thought. For example, the same button that commences recording video in movie mode also starts Live View in still shooting mode. The small downside of this is that some of the buttons are too close together. However, the Canon T4i does have a dedicated ISO button, and immediate 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 liquid crystal display view screen. The Canon T4i has a recognizable larger resolution than that of the D5200. The Canon's liquid crystal display view screen has 1040 thousand pixels, while the D5200 has 921 thousand. One of the the Canon T4i's unique selling points is that the LCD view screen is touch sensitive. This makes it much easier to program settings and, more importantly, it lets you pick a focus point through Live View. You can also take your picture by tapping on the area where you want the digital SLR to focus. These are very clever and useful functions, taken from the Compact System Camera (CSC) categories that are available now. It is great to see this technology being picked up by the Canon T4i as it makes it far more useable than any other digital SLR in its category.
The Canon's phase detect AutoFocus system is tremendously quick. Whilst it has only 9-point Auto Focus system, as opposed to the 39-points of the D5200, it is both responsive and accurate for every day photography. The Canon T4i doesn't have a dedicated AF assist light, but it is able to use its built-in flash in these circumstances. The T4i supports full-time AF 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 fair to say that the Canon Rebel T4i is probably the better DSLR for shooting movies. The LCD backscreen, full-time AutoFocus, and external Mic make it appropriate for your everyday video needs.
The Nikon D5200 is a solidly built camera and smaller than it's fore runner, the D5100. This might introduce problems for those of us with big (average!) hands. It doesn't always carry like a proper DSLR, especially when fitted to a big lens. While it fails to match the build specifications of the magnesium alloy D7000, the toughened plastic casing feels fairly solid and sturdy. The design at the back is easy to navigate with a good selection of buttons to make access to the various functions simple to follow. Live view is easily accessed and film recording can be initiated with a press of a single button. It has just one control wheel which is snappy and responsive. There is an IR port on the front of the body 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 needed.
The LCD screen is taken from the D5100, where it was very popular. As with with the Canon T4i, it is very handy for shooting at unusual angles and is exceptionally useful when shooting video. The help options are excellent and make the Nikon D5200 quite beginner friendly. The display rotates with the camera, meaning that information on the status screen won't appear sideways when you're taking uprights. The playback mode is quick and efficient you won't need to wait for photos to load. And there is a comprehensive info screen which lets you manage just about every shooting parameter that the D5200 has t choose from. 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 AF and extremely fast in Live View. The D5200's articulating screen is excellent for shooting video, and Nikon have raised the choices 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 delivers 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 ahead. 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 splendid articulated touchscreen and is a truly superb video camera. The Nikon D5200 has astonishing, fast AutoFocus, a good articulated screen, a great buffer/processor and very useful in-camera guides.
I think if you had no lens loyalty either way, the Canon T4i would be the better camera to purchase. The difference in image quality is not really noticeable under average conditions and the Canon certainly equals the D5200 on the video front. Whilst both cameras 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 twenty years. He has a particular interest in digital imagery. Learn more about the new Nikon D5200 on his website www.d5200.org and read the free 25 page guide to 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.
