Preorder Nikon D5300 from AmazonNIkon has updated the D5200. Shipping later this month or in early november depending on your location the D5300 will be available. It looks very similar to the D5200 but has some noticeable differences inside. The sensor will be the same used by the D7100(My D7100 Review), which in my tests is excellent- really top notch especially in low light. The processor is upgraded, Expeed 4, and this should really improve the hesitation and slowness that I found in the D5200(My D5200 Review). We now have full 1080p at 60fps, previously only interlaced video at 60fps and 1080. And Wifi built in - goodbye dongle - and GPS. Nifty features. Battery life is stated to be improved though as far as I can tell it is using the same battery and with WiFi and GPS on you are going to see a decrease in battery life. Interesting they have completely ditched the 18-55 kit lens. This camera will be available body only or with the new 18-140 lens. I feel vindicated here - I couldn't believe how bad the 18-55 Nikon kit lens is on the D5200 - it really holds that camera back from image quality greatness and I am glad that it won't even be an option, though I am surprised there is no alternative other than the much more expensive 18-140 kit lens. On a tight budget but want the D5300? Grab it with the 35 f/1.8 or pick up a used 18-105. I have additional lens recommendations for the D5300.
D5300 Specs
24MP - Same sensor as in the D7100 (no OLPF/AA Filter)
5 fps -same as the D5200
39 AF points (9 cross points)
EXPEED 4 Processor
1080P video recording at 60p/50p
Built-in Wi-Fi
Built-in GPS
3.2" vari-angle LCD monitor
Will be available in Red, Grey or Black $796 for body only$1,396.95 (buy from Amazon or B&H) for camera and 18-140 kit lens. This will be an excellent travel camera with the GPS, Wifi and a kit lens that can match the quality of the sensor.[gallery ids="3997,3996,3995"] Preorder Nikon D5300 from AmazonFrom this angle the two cameras look very similar.
Bottom Line: Both the Canon 70D and the Nikon D7100 are excellent and produce really impressive video and stills in low light, and at high ISOs. Focus through the viewfinder is fast on both cameras and it really comes down to the features you are looking for should help you determine which is best for you.
Strengths of the Nikon D7100:
Well built with magnesium body, loads of buttons, customization of several buttons and dual card slots. The Canon 70D body is aluminum and polycarbonate. Both are weather sealed. The D7100 offers dedicated bracketing buttons too.
Excellent low light high ISO capabilities - I was stunned by the low light performance of the D7100 - high ISO files are clean and the dynamic range is excellent and remains excellent even in lower light. I am listing this as a strength for the Nikon but in most cases the Canon is on par with the quality though when I do see a winner it is the Nikon. If we want to talk about live view focusing in low light the Canon does an excellent job. The Nikon still struggles with this. In viewfinder focusing the two seem equal to me. Nikon does offer the crop mode which fills the frame with focus points, certainly useful for faster action.
Images and video are SHARP! Nikon ditched their anti-aliasing filter and the result is sharper video and images AND they still manage to control moire. Even when I try to get moire on the Nikon I can’t - on the Canon I can get it without even trying. It is often avoidable but you are more likely to see it in Canon video.
100% viewfinder- When you look through the viewfinder you get exactly what you see and it is nice and bright. Canon’s at 98% is very slightly dimmer and not exactly what you see - Having that large bright viewfinder is very useful in lower light situations, really helps you see what you are photographing and checking focus.
Retouch menu and extra scenes/effects. The D7100 offers a slew of scenes, some of those scene modes that work in video and a robust retouch menu. Now professionals are not likely to be excited by these scenes and the retouch menu but the options are there and they can be fun even if some scene/effects are gimmicky (selective color I am looking at you) - I will also throw in here the dedicated bracketing button that Nikon adds in, nice for serious HDR work.
Wireless is a $60 add on and is limited to phone/tablet devices but you can send full resolution files through the air. Canon’s wifi is built in with greater features- including connecting to your computer but you are limited to 1920 x 1080 sized JPEGS that you can send across to your phone or tablet.
Uncompressed HDMI Out - this is a professional level feature that allows you to connect an external monitor or HD for recording video straight to a drive.
Strengths of the Canon 70D:
The headline feature of the 70D is that lovely live view and video focus - fast, smooth and almost always on target. In the past with a few exceptions live view focusing on DSLRs has been slow, painfully slow and plagued by a hunting for focus, especially in lower light. The updated sensor technology of the 70D fixes these issues. I find myself using live view whenever it is convenient. The 70D locks onto focus smoothly with any lens and gives you have camcorder like focus while still maintaining the beautiful shallow depth of field and low light capabilities that make DSLR video great. Add an STM lens and focus is silent, perfect for the parent who wants excellent video of their child.
That live view focus is great and having it on an articulated screen is wonderful. lift it up, lower it, face it toward you for talking head videos - it just works very well.
So i just went on and on about the wonderful live view focusing, couple that with the articulated screen and the fact that the articulated screen is an excellent touchscreen and the 70D is FUN to use - nothing feels like a chore. Touch to focus is useful and if you are doing video work, being able to touch softly to make changes is appreciated and flip the screen around if you are recording yourself for talking head videos like the ones on my Youtube Channel and you can still make changes to settings on the camera - though you cannot start and stop video from the touchscreen.
Ergonomics and one handed operation - If you don’t want to use the touchscreen the manual controls on the 70D camera are sweet and with just a finger you push button, rotate a wheel and your settings is changed. Nikon is more two handed in those actions with many buttons left of the screen that needs a push. Not a big difference and some people prefer the feel of the Nikon.
Burst mode and buffer, the burst mode on this camera at 7fps is serious and the buffer is large enough that you can keep shooting at that high speed long enough to capture your moment. D7100 shoots at 6fps and the buffer fills up in just a second. You can enable crop mode on D7100 which gives you better results but still not great especially if you are using those dual card slots - if faster action is your subject matter the 70D offers the burst mode that you need.
Wifi built in with greater options for sharing vs D7100 - Built in Wifi gives you some nifty options for downloading images on the go or direct to your computer(buggy software) or uploading to web services - I am frustrated that you are limited to only transferring 1920 x 1080 sized files and you can't start and stop video.
Longer Bottom Line: Both of these cameras have lots to offer and it really depends on your needs that should determine which is a better camera for you. Parents that want an excellent device to photo and video their children - the 70D really feels like the perfect blend of power and usability, especially paired with the 18-135 STM that will give you silent autofocus. Indie film makers I would think the Nikon with gorgeous low light video and uncompressed HDMI would be what you want. Wedding/event videographers - It can go either way, most professionals I know of and talk to don’t use and are not interested in auto focus during video but I know that there is a group out there very interested in this camera and there are the semi-pros that are interested in easy autofocus while filming and the 70D provides that. That is just a few use cases. . . Want my opinion on which is best for you? Leave a comment below and make sure you tell me what you will be photographing or taking video of. And anything else you think would be helpful for me to know.
[gallery ids="3892,3891,3890,3889,3888,3886,3887,3885,3884"] A few more lower light shots[gallery ids="3899,3900,3901"]70D f/5.6 ISO 320 100% crop 18-135 STM Lens
Nikon recently released a few new products including a new "kit" lens, the Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-140mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR Lens. I put "kit" in quote because currently this lens is not being sold with any cameras but I expect that it will be offered in place of the 18-105 and as an alternative to the 18-55 with future Nikon cameras. My biggest complaint about that current Nikon kit lenses, especially the 18-55, they just don't do the sensor justice. Nikon is offering great sensors in the D3200, D5200 and D7100 and if you have the 18-55 on there you get soft images. Switch to a better lens and the difference is noticeable. Like "OH WOW" noticeable. This lens looks to improve significantly in sharpness. I wonder if we will have to wait for the next Dxxx models to see this bundled or after release at the end of August We may see this bundled with existing Nikon DSLRS? Pre-order the Nikon 18-140 from Amazon | B&HNikon also announced a tiny little entry level Flash, the Nikon SB-300 AF Speedlight. At $150 it is pretty cheap as flashes go but not being able to rotate - only tilt - knocks down my interest a bit. And a better value would be one of the budget Yongnuo flashes like the Yongnuo YN-468 II i-TTL For 1/2 the price you get a more feature filled flash with more power and can rotate as well as tilt. Watch this video for a brief discussion of external flashesPre-order the Nikon SB-300 AF from B&HSpeaking of Amazon - They have upped their rewards program to 4%, 35 days after purchasing select cameras, DSLRS and lenses you get a promotional code that is good for 6 months. All the small print. The hassle is non-existent, you buy stuff on the list and you get the credit.Here are the P&S Cameras, DSLRS and Lenses eligible.
Nikon Lenses for DX Cameras like the D5200 and D7100
Primes - Non-zooming lenses that offer excellent value and low light capabilities - these are the lenses you want for those lovely blurred background photos. Why you should own a prime.Nikon 35mm f/1.8G AF-S DXGreat low-light walk-around lens, versatile focal length- Decent for portraits, street photography and general travel. If I was limited to just one lens this would be it. Amazing sharpness for the value. Buy from Amazon | B&HNikon 40mm f/2.8G AF-S DX MicroSacrifice some light/maximum aperture (just over a stop which is not insignificant) but gain an excellent value macro that does 1:1 lifesize. I was blown away that this was less the $300. Full Nikon 40mm Review. Buy from Amazon | B&HNikon 50mm f/1.8G AF-S FXThe 50mm focal length translates to 75mm on a DX sensor (D5200 and D7100 have DX sensors or crop sensors) 75mm is a lovely focal length for portraits. NOTE: D5200 users get the AF-S G version, linked here. D7100 users have inbody focus motor and you can use the older D version without an issue. Indie filmmakers with either camera may want to consider the D version with aperture control built into the lens. Why Nikon movie makers want mechanical aperture control. Buy from Amazon | B&HNikon 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6 AF-S DX VR EDNikon 18-105 is not exciting but I mention it here as a decent value when purchased with a Nikon camera, better than the 18-55 which really holds back the potential of these newer Nikon cameras with excellent sensors. Buy from Amazon | B&HSigma 17-70 2.8-4 DC Macro OS HSM for NikonNoticeably sharper than the kit and offers a nice f/4 at 70mm, this is great for portraits and the fact that you can be at 17mm and f/2.8 along with optical stabilization makes this an excellent low light zoom capable lens. The Macro feature is not worth mentioning other than to say you can get as close as you can with the kit lens, but you do have those extra stops of light. Buy from Amazon | B&HTamron AF 28-75mm f/2.8 SP XR Di LDA little slow to focus, no image stabilization but SHARP and gives you f/2.8 across the range, 75mm and f/2.8 is beautiful for portraits and this lens is useable on full frame should you decide to upgrade cameras. Buy from Amazon | B&HNikon 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR AF-S DXGOOD Value, gets a little soft out at 300 but for under $400 you get a decent zoom lens. Buy from Amazon | B&HA second option for Zoom, Nikon 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED IF AF-S VR, it is a sharper lens than the 55-300 and bought used from Amazon costs just $300.
Recommended Nikon Lenses for Video
I get lots of questions about shooting video with Nikon and the lenses I recommend for video work- personally it would be any of the lenses that offer mechanical aperture control, this gives you the ability to change the aperture without leaving live view, an annoying quirk of Nikon cameras. Watch this video on Manual Aperture Control in a Nikon D5200. Serious videographers are not worried about auto focus so the 50mm f/1.8D or the Rokinon 35mm f/1.4 offer excellent quality and complete control for video work. These recommendations apply to your indie film/videographer, if you are a parent capturing your child any of the lenses mentioned above are just fine.Buying used is an option for all of these lenses, you don't save much on the prime lenses as they often keep very high resale value but the zoom lenses (any lens I mentioned that is not a prime) you can save enough to make it worthwhile. I buy all my lenses (new and used) on Amazon or B&H these.This was just a list of my value picks of DX appropriate lenses. There are other options too, leave a comment below with your favorite lens. If you have questions about any of these lenses or another lens you are considering for your Nikon shoot me a message on Facebook, linked under the video.
Q: Should I buy the T5i to replace my aging camcorder?A: Maybe - Camcorders are still easier to work with, focus faster and you can get a nice 1080P camcorder for less Sony HDRPJ260V High Definition Handycam 8.9 MP Camcorder with 30x Optical Zoom, 16 GB Embedded Memory and Built-in Projector What you don't get with a camcorder is excellent low light capabilities that the T5i offers and the lovely blurred backgrounds you get shooting with the larger sensor at large apertures. Not to mention all the lenses Canon has to offer and of course an excellent camera capable of taking photos, none of the camcorders can take even close to a comparable photo at this time. You now have the option of the 70D from Canon which does offer camcorder like focusing power with an incredible high quality sensor. More about the Canon 70D.Q: I have a canon T3i, should I upgrade?A: Review the T3i vs T5i post above. The T5i is a nicer camera but doesn't offer a ton of new features that will make you a better photographer or produce much higher quality photos. The one caveat is the new 18-135 STM lens is excellent and buying the T5i with the 18-135 kit is a good value and one of the first longer range "walk-around" lenses that I can highly recommend.Q: I don't understand the difference between the auto focus during video of the T3i and the T5i- can you explain this simply?A: Most DSLRS have a mirror that bounces the light coming into the camera up to the viewfinder and the big brains of the camera(responsible for focusing), when you go to take a photo the camera focuses(very quickly) and then the mirror flips up(this usually is louder than the actual shutter) and the light hits the sensor and you have a photo. In live view or while filming (basically the same as live view) the mirror is flipped up and stays up, this blocks the big brains from being part of the focusing and as a result the camera focuses much more slowly as it uses the littler brain connected to the sensor and can only do it when you ask the sensor to focus, it is not capable of continuous AF. You also have the option of letting the mirror flip down for a second, refocus, and continue filming. This does cut off light to the sensor for a moment and interrupts the video. Canon has made changes to the sensor, it is now a hybrid CMOS sensor that basically has a bigger brain and is capable of continuously auto focusing while filming without flipping down the mirror or being very slow about it.Q: Is the T5i fast enough for sports photography?A: The T5i is now up to 5.3 FPS - Frames Per Second, Shooting RAW you can only get six shots before the buffer needs to clear. My direct experience with the T3i was that this buffer really took time to clear, especially if you were shooting RAW. JPEG gives you almost 22 shots before the buffer is full. So, you hold the shutter down for one second and you get 6 shots and can't take any more for several seconds. In the world of sports (except maybe your child) this is not fast enough and the buffer does not clear fast enough. If you are serious about sports the 60D or 70D is an option or buy 7D - used would be just fine and at $1000 a great deal for a serious camera. Watch my video that details burst mode shooting with the Canon T4i/T5iQ: Is the T5i the best camera in its class? A: Really hard to answer this one - And you probably need to really define the "class" you are talking about. The T5i is an excellent camera with lovely features but it isn't really a game changer (I know that this doesn't directly answer the question) And there are now loads of options. I am still Canon biased, you are buying into a huge ecosystem - tons of excellent lenses (Canon Recommended Lenses (by budget)), oodles of accessories and quality control plus customer service that is really only matched by Apple. When I am shooting weddings I am always keeping an eye on the guests and what they shoot with and Canon is still champ in numbers but cameras like the Sony NEX series and Olympus Pen are certainly on the increase. A strong alternative is the Sony a65 or the Nikon D5200Q: Can I use my old Canon lenses with the T5iA: You can use your old lenses with the t5i, unless they are really old. If they have the designation EF or EF-S they will work just fine with your T5i.Q: What SD Card should I get if I am going to be shooting videoA: You want the SanDisk Extreme 16GB SDHC Flash Memory Card It is fast, reliable and affordable, you do NOT Need the ones labeled Video, they don't offer anything different and the SanDisk Extreme works perfectly for video and photos. If you will be shooting LOADS of video with the canon T5i grab the 32GB versionQ: If I am primarily interested in video - is the T5i or the D5200 a better dslr for videoA: The T5i is easier to work with but the D5200 is excellent in lower light and allows clean/uncompressed HDMI out. Two downsides to Nikon D5200 1. can't change aperture during video or even when live view is turned on. 2. Kit lenses on the Nikon stink and you really need to shoot with a better lens. Primes are great option, so is the SIgma 17-70 C. My review of the Sigma 17-70C.Q: Earlier Rebels could only film for 12 minutes, What is the movie recording limit on the T4i?A: The limit is now 29min and 59seconds. With a fully-charged Battery Pack LP-E8, the total movie shooting time approx. 1 hr. 40 min. at room temperature and approx. 1 hr. 20 min. at lower temps. Remember that each 20 minute clip at 1080P is going to be nearly 10GB. A complete list of recording limits of the T2, T3i, T4i, T5i and D5200.Q: Should I buy a spare battery? and if so third part or canon?A: I would buy a spare, battery life is good -about 500 shots- but it is always nice to have a spare around and I might even say essential if you plan on shoot lots of video. Buying the Canon Brand LP-E8 for the T4i (same battery used for t2i and t3i) is safest but there honestly is little chance anything bad will happen from using a 3rd party battery other than it might not last quite as long. Though in my experience with the Rebel XT 3rd party batteries were just fine.Q: How is the Canon T5i Touchscreen? Do you accidentally press it with your nose?A: The Canon T5i touchscreen is excellent, this isn't a cheap resistive screen we have seen on other P&S cameras, rather it is a screen very similar to the Apple iPhone and iPad screens we all know and love - it is fast, responsive and for now Canon still offers physical buttons for all the controls so you the touchscreen's use is entirely optional, though I think you will find it a much faster and more intuitive way to change settings. - Video Demo of the Touch Screen. In over a year of use of the T4i/T5i screen I have not once accidentally activated the screen.Q: Will EF Lenses work on the Canon T4i?A: YES - EF and EF-S lenses work on the Canon T4i. EF-S do NOT work on full frame cameras like the 5D Mark II and III. My list of Canon Recommended lenses.Have a question not answered here? Leave it in the comments on on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Digital.Photo.Recommendations Liking this page will also put you in the running for the future giveaways. Did you know I just gave away $600 in prizes!
The 60D has been out for almost four years, announced August 2010. The 70D began shipping at the beginning of September 2013. The T5i and 60D share the same sensor. At low ISOs the image quality and noise levels should be virtually identical. The 70D has a new 22MP sensor with improved low light capabilities. All cameras have articulated LCD screens of the same size but the T5i and 70D have touchscreens with the 70D being slightly improved, very little real world difference there. Looking through the viewfinder the 60D/70D has pentaprism which means a brighter viewfinder, The 60D/70D also uses the larger LP-E6 batteries which effectively doubles battery life, 60D/70D gets nearly 1100 shots per battery, the T5i is around 500. You also get higher FPS and shutter speed with the 60D/70D, 6fps/7fps and 1/8000 second versus 5.3 with the T5i and a larger buffer on the 60D/70D gives you a few more shots at those higher speeds. 60D/70D is a bit bigger and a bit more rugged with a top LCD screen. The 70D allows for micro focus adjustment - a pro level feature that lets you align lenses and cameras for maximum sharpness. 70D also has new dual pixel focus for camcorder like focus with any canon lens during video. Silent focus if you use one of the STM lenses. 70D also has Wifi for connecting to live view via smartphone or tablet and accessing images for sharing.Summary - If you are getting paid to shoot you should consider the 60D or 70D, longer battery life, slightly more ergonomic design and button layout plus the top screen LCD allow you to shoot more efficiently. The 70D is expensive but provides some of the best crop sensor images possible at this time and if you want camcorder like focus with the quality of a DSLR there is no better option than the 70D. If you are a parent or amateur the smaller size of the T5i is a bonus, best camera is the one you will have with you most of the time and the STM lenses paired with the T5i do a decent job of auto focusing, just not quite as good as the new 70D.
My Tip- stick the PDF on your smartphone or tablet for easy reading. I use Dropbox for all my manuals, makes them easily accessible from all. Click the image below for the full PDF manual. But why read the manual when I have loads of videos covering the T4i and T5i? T4i/T5i How-to Videos (don't be scared that many are labeled T4i, all the video content is the same).
What lens should I get for the Canon T5i?If you haven't bought your Canon T5i(700D) yet you need to decide if you want the 18-55 STM or the 18-135 STM lenses. Often the 55-250 is sold in a bundle with the 18-55 STM too. This video should help you decide if the 18-55 or the 18-135 is best for you.The 18 - 135 STM lens is excellent and when purchased with the Canon T5i, a good value, that makes the T5i with 18 - 135 kit the an excellent value If you are the type that desires one lens to do most of your shooting. If your budget is tight go ahead and get the 18-55 kit, the kit lens is fine to start with and as you shoot you will learn what is important to you and you can begin to look for lenses that will fill that gap. Update: New video- Recommended lenses for Canon DSLRS.And spend some time learning about lenses and what all those acronyms mean.Q: Can I use L lenses on the Canon T5i?A: Yes - L lenses are Canons professional level lenses and are EF mount. All EF and EF-S lenses work on the Canon T4i, T5i and 70D.Q: Can I use EF-M lenses on the Canon T4i, T5i and 70D?A: No - EF-M only fits on their small mirroless Canon EOS-M camera. EF-M lenses will not fit on the DSLRS.
VideoThese two cameras are very similar in size and shape. You may want to put your hands on both to see what feels nicest. Additional sample videos
What the T5i has that the D5200 doesn't:
Touch screen - use is optional as all physical buttons are still present but it does allow access to all features of the camera in quick and efficient manner.
Silent Auto Focus during video when paired with the 18-55 STM or the 18-135 STM lenses. Nikon also offers full time AF but does not have a silent lens.
Wireless Flash Control - ability to fire external flashes that are not attached to the camera
The ability to adjust your aperture during live view - Useful for learning and a depth of field preview button
Shooting in various aspect ratios 1:1, 4:3, 3:2. 16:9 but only when shot through live view
A bit more space on the back of the camera for larger hands.
Built in focus motor - the T5i will auto focus with all EF and EF-S lenses. D5200 lacks focus motor which limits lens selection - this is not nearly as big a deal as it was a few years ago, Nikon has released plenty of lenses that will AF with the D5200.
What the D5200 has that the T5i doesn't:
Faster focusing brain with 39 AF points - Focus performance was occasionally slightly faster through the viewfinder and in live view. T5i has 9 focus points but the Nikon's general operation is slower and I have missed action shots with the D5200 that I caught with the T5i.
Below 1600 ISO the two cameras perform similarly, above you start to see a difference with less noise and more detail out of the Nikon D5200
More megapixels 24 vs 18 - not nearly as big a difference as it looks on paper. (Illustration coming)
Small flashlight for low-light auto focus assist. T5i has flash that pops up and annoyingly strobes.
More shutter modes - a slow burst 3FPS versus normal 5FPS(same as T5i) and a Quiet Shutter that doesn't sound much quieter.
1080i at 60fps. T5i only offers 1080p at 30fps. At the 60 frame rates the video is interlaced and cropped, quality is OK but not really worth using..
Additional Scene Modes and effects and a more robust HDR feature.
Wireless dongle accessory($60) makes it easy to use phone as live viewfinder/remote and download photos to phone/tablet.
Built in intervalometer for shooting time lapse - though it is limited and basic and possible buggy too.
A retouch menu with a several more options.
A few quirks: aperture changing, tendency to lean greenish though it can be argued that the Canon leans redish
Canon T5i vs Nikon D5200 Summary:
If you were to just count the bullets Nikon would get a fairly clear K.O but not every bullet is worth the same weight and it depends on your needs and use case. Both cameras produce excellent images in a variety of conditions. If I had to pick highlights for each -On the Canon T5i side I would mention that user friendly touchscreen which makes the whole camera a bit simpler to operate and the pairing with the 18-55 STM or the 18-135 STM that provides silent and smooth auto focus during video -this is a very family friendly feature and makes this an all around photo and video machine.On the Nikon D5200 side I would mention the ISO performance and general feature richness of the camera.Another Item worth mentioning - Nikon's track record of customer service is a bit less than stellar, they have had a few camera models in recent years shipped out with serious issues that they denied for way to long and their general average repair time is often several times longer than Canon. I really haven't heard of any customer horror stories with Canon, although they too have shipped cameras with problems they seem to deal with the issue quickly enough and fairly.So which should you buy? You are going to make the best pictures with the camera you are most comfortable using and I think for many of you this will be your first DSLR and that friendly touchscreen and user interface of the Canon is worth lots. If you are willing to work a bit harder it is *possible" to get better photos out of the Nikon but I don't think for many of you that it is worth the quirks and in my opinion the more difficult operating system.Would you like a personal recommendation? Leave me a message on my Facebook page or a comment below letting me know about you, what you like to photograph and where you hope to be as a photographer in a year or two.
Buying
Buying the Nikon or Canon through my links supports this site and costs you nothing extra.
Coming Soon -Next Steps - Price out lens packages for general use. What does Nikon offer for general walk around, good zooms for wildlife, portraits, street, primes, macros etc. External Flash options - Articles/Videos are coming along with "What would be your cost of owning"
Great image and video quality - same sensor as other recent Rebels.
Performance is good, the camera is quick to start up, the touchscreen is excellent and general operation including focus are responsive.
Focus tracking during video seems to be improved especially at the outer edges but the focus speed is still the same.
Physical buttons are excellent and camera feels nice in hand despite it’s small size, generally nice ergonomics.
External stereo mic port and non-proprietary flash hot shoe(allows for a range of mic and lighting accessories that you don’t have the option of using with many of the smaller 4/3 cameras.
Additional scene modes including miniature movie mode
Canon SL1 (100D) Cons
It isn't that small and as soon as you attach any lens other than the 40mm you have a pretty bulky system that really doesn't offer much difference in size or weight from the t4i/t5i crowd.
No articulated screen
No wireless flash control and slower burst/smaller buffer.
Battery life is shorter than t4i/t5i - really only noticeable if you are doing lots of video.
My Thoughts on the Canon SL1 (100D):
I think this camera is right for people who have a collection of Canon lenses and are willing to sacrifice a little performance for minor weight savings, I know those people are out there, I have heard from them. I also think this is a powerful little video recording device- interviewers, using the 40mm, stick an external mic on the hot shoe or wire in a lav and you are going to get gorgeous HD video and low light capabilities that still can’t be matched by most of the mirror-less or micro 4/3 crowd.
But that target audience is pretty small and the rest of us looking for a small camera with better than P&S quality have a fair number of options including the excellent Olympus Pens, the Panasonic GF series and the Sony NEX all of which offer smaller packages, many packed full of fun features and small lens systems that keep the size of the entire package smaller and lighter.
Despite everything I wrote I like this camera and would consider owning it as I am one of those with a collection of EF lenses and at time would like to travel light. I also think it will sell fairly well with the Canon name attached.
After nearly three months of using the Canon T4i side by side with the Nikon D5200, I thought an updated comparison and discussion of the two cameras would be helpful. I am not going to tell you which camera to buy. They both have strengths and weaknesses and depending on the type of photography/videography you do or plan to do.
Key Points or Differences Nikon D5200 & Canon T4i (650D):
Image Quality
In most day to day photos (auto mode or manual) you see little difference between the two camera. There are some shots where extra detail is visible from the D5200 but only after I stopped using the kit lens. The Canon kit lens seems better and the fact that the T4i with 18-135 currently costs less than the D5200 with a less sharp and less convenient 18-55 lens is worth noting.
When the pop up flash is used the Nikon wins every time, flash exposure is significantly better with the D5200.
In lower light the D5200 does an excellent job, The T4i is close but not on par. You also see a higher dynamic range from the D5200, a better ability to handle a range of light. In lower light the T4i does not do as well and you notice a loss of detail in some areas, a neon sign is a good example. You see these differences in photos and video.
Performance & Usability
The T4i feels responsive with very little lag in navigating the menu, switching modes etc. The t5i is said to be even slightly improved with no mirror flip down while switching modes on the dial. The D5200, from time to time, exhibits just a bit of lag, mostly I notice it when waiting to review a shot taken with live view on, it takes noticeably longer which leads me to next point
The Nikon has greater focus point covereage but I find myself using a single point often and have not seen any noticeable differences with focus speed but I have noticed a hesitation from the Nikon when trying to get a burst of shots in, granted these are larger files but the T4i doesn't suffer from this and the other day I was using both side by side on some skateboarders and missing shots with the D5200 because of the hesitation. Shot for shot in RAW though they do end up very close, both manage about 6 or 7 shots before the buffer fills and they start to slow down.
The touchscreen makes the T4i a breeze to use and I often find myself using a hybrid approach of buttons and touchscreen, this approach feels very efficient. I have knocked the Nikon for usability and it does lack the touchscreen but the "i" button does provide quick access to commonly used settings and the programable function button (fn) gives you some customizability that the T4i lacks, though you can program the SET button on the T4.
The touchscreen is also lovely for reviewing images - pinch to zoom works and "flipping" through images is snappy.
After shooting the T4i provides quick menu (Q) with a variety of operations, anything you want to do with an image on the D5200 needs a few clicks into the menu system
Getting picky, there are times when I notice just a bit of distortion around the edges of the Nikon viewfinder, I don't see that with the Canon.
Arghh - the D5200 does not allow you to change aperture when you are in live view. The Nikon does let you adjust shutter speed and ISO but does not update live view, for learning and teaching I love the real time feedback you get on Canon as you change shutter speed, ISO or aperture and watch the LCD simulate your exposure. You can display an exposure indicator.
The D5200 is not nearly as fun to shoot video with, mostly because of the aperture lock out and lack of exposure simulation in live view. I usually shoot a 1/60 of a second and adjust my aperture and ISO as needed, with the Nikon D5200 this requires a few trips out of live view and back before I am happy. The upside is the video quality out of the D5200 at the higher ISOs it is quite impressive.
Feature Set
There really aren't any features on the T4i that are fun, this isn't necessarily a bad thing but when you compare say the HDR mode on the Canon(very barebones) against the HDR mode on the Nikon which actually takes fewer shots but gives you control over processing power - it feels like a pretty simple camera there is wireless flash control which is quite nice and the D5200 lacks but the HDR and the effects menu is fairly simple.
Nikon D5200 offers effects and scenes and allows you to shoot video in with some of those effects applied in realtime. The t5i will offer a similar option but this isn't something the T4i allows.
The Retouch menu in the D5200 is quite robust, not so much on the t4i. I don't recommend you spend lots of time retouching in camera but the options are there if it is important to you.
The Magic Lantern folks are working, an Alpha version is available, and this certainly ups the feature set but I am not sure it is fair to talk about in this review, it doesn't come with the camera.
Bottom lineNikon D5200 - Power camera, excellent quality, nice feature sets that suffers from a few quirks, tad slower performance and needs a lens other than the kit to really shine.Canon T4i - Simple and snappy with tools that help you grow as a photographer, paired with the 18-135 STM is a very friendly and easy to use photo and video machine. Support this site. Buy the Canon T4i(or T5i) or Nikon D5200 from Amazon
I spent a day wandering around Brattleboro, Vermont shooting with the D7100. My initial thoughts, Nice Camera! My thoughts after seeing the higher ISO images I shot, especially the bolts in the hardware store, Wow! Clearly the king of DX sensors at this time. I will have a more complete review as well as a video tour of its features soon. Video Tour is UpThese images are untouched, they may report that they were taken with a D5200 as I had to hack the Exif data to get LR to open
Cannon announced several products yesterday- the T5i (700D), the SL1 (100D), the 18-55 STM and the SX280. The 18-55 STM is arguably the most exciting of the bunch. The previous 18-55 EF-S IS II lens, commonly refered to as the kit lens was sold with the T4i, T3i and earlier Rebels. It is not a bad lens but certainly not exciting. (What makes a lens exciting- Video Coming Soon) The new, STM version of this lens looks much improved in image quality and of course offers the silent AF during video.*Note - Do not confuse the 18-55 EF-S STM lens with the 18-55 EF-M STM lens currently available on Amazon, that lens only mounts on the EOS-M camera, it will NOT work/mount on the Rebels like the T4i and T5i. Differences between the 18-55 EF-S (non-STM) and the NEW 18-55 STM
STM version has 7 rounded aperture blades (smoother background blur/bokeh) non-STM has 6 blades
STM offers Full Time Manual Focus - likely similar to the 18-135 STM trick
Improved sharpness, especially in corners and better contrast with updated lens coatings
Silent Autofocus - we will have to wait and see if it is truly silent like the 18-135 STM or only kinda quiet like the 40mm STM
*The usefulness of the full time Auto Focus depends on your needs and use scenarios. Capturing your children and informal family events it works well enough and can be handy for a more camcorder like experience. For anything that needs to look a bit more professional I really don't recommend that you rely on auto focus, there is just too great a chance that the camera will decide to focus on something other than your subject or needlessly refocus even if your subject hasn't moved. This refocusing during the video is distracting and not professional. Manual focus or basically tuning the auto focus off after getting initial focus is fine for many situations. I talk a bit more about this in How I Shoot My VideosThe 18-55 EF-S STM Lens will be available April 30th - Preorder for $249 from AmazonShould you buy? If you are a parent and you want a decent lens that can double duty for good stills and silent video it is something to consider. If you want to grow as a photographer your money is likely saved for other lens options. Not sure if this lens is right for you? leave me a message here or on facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/Digital.Photo.RecommendationsI'd be happy to share my opinion. Please remember the more information you can give me about you and your photography skills, hopes and dreams, the more accurate a recommendation I can provide.
Follow all SL1 News on FacebookAlong with the barely updated Canon T5i (700D) Canon announced the Rebel SL1, a slimmed down version of the T4i and now T5i cameras.It is the internals of the T5i/T4i with a few differences
80% coverage of AF in Live View, this is an increase and should make live view focusing better, not necessarily faster, just better.
4fps - max of 7 RAW and 28 JPEGs, this is down from 5fps with 10 RAW in the T4i/T5i
9 focus points but only the center focus point is cross type.
Creative filters can be display in real time during live view shooting
Background blur display in live view ( I too am curious to know more)
New Scene Modes- Kids, Food and Candlelight (not present in T4i or T5i)
Externally the camera has a few difference
Mono mic
Non-articulating LCD screen
Multi purpose buttons surrounding the multi purpose SET/Q menu - on the T5i and T4i the button surrounding the set menu are all labeled and the Q button is different.
Camera does retain all other buttons found on the T4i/T5i cameras.
It is smaller, a good bit smaller, paired with the 40mm STM lens, this will be quite the tiny powerhouse.
Quick Facts - Very little has changed. T5i will be available in late April with an 18-55 STM kit lens.
Ask me if you have any questions. Seriously, if you have a question shoot me an email or use the little chat widget.
Have a question? send me an email, I respond to most emails in less than 12 hours. You can also leave me a message on my FB facebook.com/Digital.Photo.Recommendations. Nice giveaway starting soon, follow my FB page to be notified.What the T5i has that the T4i doesn't
Sold with an 18-55 STM kit lens. The T4i is only sold with standard 18-55 kit and the 18-135 STM kit.
A mode dial that rotates 360 degrees. The T4i dial has a gap and a stop.
Creative filters can be displayed in real-time (as you take the photo) T4i only offered creative filter application after you took a photo.
* Silent Af only possible with the STM lenses, the 40mm(only kinda silent), the 18-135 STM and the NEW EF-S 18-55 STM.Images coming soon but really the two cameras are nearly identical inside and out.
Thoughts- With the recent price drops the T4i with 18-135 is an excellent value that probably won't last, I hear that the T4i will be phased out and the T3i will be sold as a cheaper alternative, side by side with T3i coming soon.
Update 3-25-13: I have now been using the D5200 and the T4i side by side for over two months - I have been a Canon shooter for many years and I will probably stay a Canon shooter for many years but the more I use the Nikon D5200 the more I see it as superior to Canon's current(T4i) AND upcoming cameras(T5i). I still see value in the T4i with 18-135 STM as a very nice family friendly machine that does both photo and video in a friendly and approachable way but the D5200, fairly consistently, gives better results. When the light levels drop- the results are noticeably better AND you get more features like intervalometer & Wifi control through dongle. You do have to put up with a few quirks of the D5200 and it generally feels a bit slower in the hand BUT if image quality is your ultimate goal the D5200 is a better camera.
This table compares the Canon T5i(700d) with last years T4i (650D) and several competitors.I am here to help - Feel free to give me a shout, there are no stupid questions about camerasRound up of all T5i information (coming soon)Honestly the chart below is only so helpful - I have other more helpful post outlining the differences in plain speak.
Note - T5i specs are based on rumors from Canonwatch, Canonrumors & DCI- Specs will be updated when cameras are announced March 22
Canon T5i vs Canon T4i vs Canon T3i vs Nikon D5200 vs Nikon D3200
T5i (700D)
T4i (650D)
Canon T3i(600D)
Nikon D5200
Nikon D3200
Quick Thoughts
Minor upgrade over T4i -User friendly, responsive camera with touchscreen control and silent AF during video when paired with 18-135 STM. Now sold with 18-55 STM too and wider AF area for video focus.
User friendly, responsive camera with touchscreen control and silent AF during video when paired with 18-135 STM.
Serious entry level camera w/ articulated LCD and even more room to grow
Preorder Nikon D5300 from Amazon
Pre-order the Nikon 18-140 from 
Pre-order the Nikon SB-300 AF from 
What you don't get with a camcorder is excellent low light capabilities that the T5i offers and the lovely blurred backgrounds you get shooting with the larger sensor at large apertures. Not to mention all the 
It is fast, reliable and affordable, you do NOT Need the ones labeled Video, they don't offer anything different and the SanDisk Extreme works perfectly for video and photos. If you will be shooting LOADS of video with the canon T5i grab the 
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on Amazon.
Differences between the 18-55 EF-S (non-STM) and the NEW 18-55 STM
Follow all
Externally the camera has a few difference
T5i (700D)
T4i (650D)
Canon T3i(600D)
Nikon D5200
Nikon D3200
