With Canon and Nikon both fighting for the entry-level market, they have both unveiled movie friendly digital cameras to tempt enthusiast and professional videographers. Despite the two DSLRs coming from different producers, they have a lot in common. They are both useful upgrades to current digital cameras (the Canon T3i and the D5100), and are designed to consolidate their markets by extending into video making, which both Canon and Nikon see as potential areas for growth. It is clear that Nikon and Canon are treating 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 day to day use. It is a bit bigger than the D5200 though, and so easier for someone with normal sized hands to grip. The scroll-wheel clicks reassuringly as it spins and the buttons on the back are tactile. The layout at the back of the Canon T4i is well thought out and has more buttons, making delving into the menu options a lot more speedy and easier. Some are multioption buttons, which can require a little thought. For example, the same button that starts recording video in movie mode also allows Live View in still shooting mode. The slight downside of this is that some of the buttons are very close together. However, the Canon T4i has a dedicated ISO option, 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 a need for it.
Both cameras have an articulating liquid crystal display viewingscreen. The Canon T4i has an obviously higher resolution than that of the D5200. The Canon's LCD 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 a touchscreen. This makes it much easier to arrange settings and, more importantly, it lets you choose a focus point through Live View. You can also take your photograph by tapping on the point where you want the digital SLR to focus. These are very progressive and useful functions, taken from the Compact System Camera (CSC) ranges that are out now. It is splendid to see this technology being utilized by the Canon T4i as it makes it far more useable than any other DSLR in its category.
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 quick 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 instances. The T4i offers full-time AutoFocus in video mode, which competes with 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 probably the better DSLR for shooting movies. The LCD viewingscreen, full-time AutoFocus, and external Mic make it appropriate for your everyday video requirements.
The Nikon D5200 is a neatly packaged camera and smaller than it's predecessor, the D5100. This might cause issues for those of us with big (average!) hands. It sometimes doesn't carry like an ordinary DSLR, especially when fitted to a large lens. While it fails to equal the build quality of the magnesium alloy D7000, the toughened plastic casing feels pretty solid and sturdy. The layout at the rear is easy to navigate with a good choice of buttons to make access to the multiple options straightforward. Live view is easily accessed and film recording can be started with a press of a single button. It has just a single control wheel which is snappy and responsive. There is an IR spot on the front of the body and also a dedicated AF assist light, which the Canon T4i lacks. On the right side there is a customizable Fn option which can be used to manage 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 engage on its own if the camera thinks it is required.
The liquid crystal display screen is taken from the D5100, where it was enormously popular. Like with the Canon T4i, it is very appropriate for photographing at unusual angles and is exceptionally useful when shooting films. 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 show sideways when you're photographing uprights. The playback mode is quick and efficient you won't need to wait for pictures 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 easy to use as the one on the Canon. The Nikon D5200 doesn't have as many external buttons as the Canon T4i, making a few of the menu options 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 articulated screen is excellent for shooting video, and Nikon have improved 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 matches the Nikon, though the D5200 is slightly better at maximum (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, combined with the increased resolution, puts the Nikon D5200 in the lead. 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 really superb video camera. The Nikon D5200 has remarkable, fast AutoFocus, a good articulated screen, a great buffer/processor and very useful in-camera guides.
In my opinion 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 normal conditions and the Canon certainly matches the D5200 on the movie front. Whilst both DSLRs are superb 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 day to day use. It is a bit bigger than the D5200 though, and so easier for someone with normal sized hands to grip. The scroll-wheel clicks reassuringly as it spins and the buttons on the back are tactile. The layout at the back of the Canon T4i is well thought out and has more buttons, making delving into the menu options a lot more speedy and easier. Some are multioption buttons, which can require a little thought. For example, the same button that starts recording video in movie mode also allows Live View in still shooting mode. The slight downside of this is that some of the buttons are very close together. However, the Canon T4i has a dedicated ISO option, 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 a need for it.
Both cameras have an articulating liquid crystal display viewingscreen. The Canon T4i has an obviously higher resolution than that of the D5200. The Canon's LCD 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 a touchscreen. This makes it much easier to arrange settings and, more importantly, it lets you choose a focus point through Live View. You can also take your photograph by tapping on the point where you want the digital SLR to focus. These are very progressive and useful functions, taken from the Compact System Camera (CSC) ranges that are out now. It is splendid to see this technology being utilized by the Canon T4i as it makes it far more useable than any other DSLR in its category.
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 quick 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 instances. The T4i offers full-time AutoFocus in video mode, which competes with 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 probably the better DSLR for shooting movies. The LCD viewingscreen, full-time AutoFocus, and external Mic make it appropriate for your everyday video requirements.
The Nikon D5200 is a neatly packaged camera and smaller than it's predecessor, the D5100. This might cause issues for those of us with big (average!) hands. It sometimes doesn't carry like an ordinary DSLR, especially when fitted to a large lens. While it fails to equal the build quality of the magnesium alloy D7000, the toughened plastic casing feels pretty solid and sturdy. The layout at the rear is easy to navigate with a good choice of buttons to make access to the multiple options straightforward. Live view is easily accessed and film recording can be started with a press of a single button. It has just a single control wheel which is snappy and responsive. There is an IR spot on the front of the body and also a dedicated AF assist light, which the Canon T4i lacks. On the right side there is a customizable Fn option which can be used to manage 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 engage on its own if the camera thinks it is required.
The liquid crystal display screen is taken from the D5100, where it was enormously popular. Like with the Canon T4i, it is very appropriate for photographing at unusual angles and is exceptionally useful when shooting films. 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 show sideways when you're photographing uprights. The playback mode is quick and efficient you won't need to wait for pictures 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 easy to use as the one on the Canon. The Nikon D5200 doesn't have as many external buttons as the Canon T4i, making a few of the menu options 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 articulated screen is excellent for shooting video, and Nikon have improved 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 matches the Nikon, though the D5200 is slightly better at maximum (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, combined with the increased resolution, puts the Nikon D5200 in the lead. 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 really superb video camera. The Nikon D5200 has remarkable, fast AutoFocus, a good articulated screen, a great buffer/processor and very useful in-camera guides.
In my opinion 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 normal conditions and the Canon certainly matches the D5200 on the movie front. Whilst both DSLRs are superb 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.
