In the past couple of months, it would seem that the battle between Canon vs. Nikon was at rest, until they both released a new camera, and added more fuel to the fire. Within the space of a few days, they both released very similar cameras, at almost exactly the same price, trying to take over the same market.
But which camera is best, the Canon 6D, or the Nikon D600?
These new cameras have accessed a new area in DSLR’s, with low-cost, full-frame cameras for the semi-pro / advanced amateur market. It’s a very exciting camera, because the Canon is $1400 cheaper than the Canon EOS 5D MkIII, and the Nikon is $900 cheaper than the Nikon D800.
You can see more about these cameras here:
Megapixels 20.9 Megapixel Full Frame CMOS sensor Nikon 24.2 Megapixel Full Frame CMOS sensor
Processor DiG!C 5+ Draw Expeed 3
ISO 100-102,400 Canon 100 - 25,600
Memory Type 1 SD Slot Nikon 2 SD Slots
Focus Points 11 points Nikon 39 points
Frames Per Second 4.7 fps Nikon 5.5 fps
Viewfinder Coverage 97% Nikon 100%
Screen Size 3.2″ Draw 3.2″
Liveview Yes Draw Yes
Min Shutter Speed 30 sec Draw 30 sec
Max Shutter Speed 1/8000 sec Canon 1/4000 sec
Wi-Fi Yes Canon Optional
Video Full HD Movie Draw Full HD Movie
Connectivity USB 2, Mini-HDMI, Mic Input, Wireless, Remote Terminal Draw USB 2, Mini-HDMI, Mic Input, Remote Terminal, Wireless
Battery Type Lithium-Ion Draw Lithium-Ion
Quiet Shutter Mode Yes Draw Yes
Built-in Flash No Nikon Yes
Battery Life 980 Canon 900
Multiple Exposures Yes Draw Yes
HDR Mode Yes Draw Yes
Shutter Life 100,000 Actuations Nikon 150,000 Actuations
Price $2,100 Draw $2,100
Now, which is best?
Well, if we count all the points out, we find that Canon wins four times, Nikon wins 7 times, and the rest are all draws. But this isn’t exactly conclusive, because not everything is equal.
For example, I care more about the ISO of the Canon, than the pop-up flash of the Nikon. But I care more about the focus points of the Nikon, than the battery life of the Canon.
So the decision is really up to you, which do you prefer? If you’re buying your first camera, and you’re trying to work out which one to go for, then this information is really useful to you, but chances are that you’re not spending $2100 on your first camera, with no lens.
If you’re a Nikon user, stick with Nikon, and if you’re a Canon user, stick with Canon. They’re both great cameras, and have opened up a really interesting price range in digital photography. I’m interested to see what both brands do next.
One this I will say is that I’m excited by the Wi-Fi and GPS functions of the Canon. What features do you like? Leave a comment below, letting me know.
