Nikon and Canon are both worth billions of dollars, produce high quality products and take exceptional photographs, but which one is the preferred brand among consumers?
Trevor Hoehne, assistant professor of graphic design, said the average eye cannot tell the difference between each camera’s photos.
“It depends on the raw processing of photos,” Hoehne said. “Both are shot with film, you wouldn’t be able to tell much of a difference if you could.”
Is there a big difference between a Nikon camera and a Canon camera?
Michael Kitada, adjunct professor of photography, said both cameras are great products for photography, but they tend to leapfrog over each other.
“They are close,” Kitada said of competitors. “Nikon right now has the edge with their ISO, but soon enough, Canon will come out with something better. They develop different things at different times. Nikon has developed a lot for the professionals, such as high end ISO and resolution for their sensors, where Canon develops video.”
According to Hoehne, Canon currently has the fastest lenses where Nikon falls shortly behind.
“The best comparison I can give is comparing a Mercedes-Benz and a BMW, they are both great systems, you just commit with one,” Hoehne said. “The thing with photography is the money goes to the lenses. I prefer Canon, the lenses are better.”
Both brands offer a variety of products for consumers to choose, but it is often hard to distinguish which is best for the user.
“In the end, it comes down to what your specific needs are, and if you’ve always used one or the other, you will use what you know. It is so close that it doesn’t really matter,” Kitada said.
Ryan Welsh, junior graphic design major, would choose Canon after all the tests that he put them through.
“Nikon has a reputation for photojournalism, wildlife and sports, the way that they lay out their camera is user friendly for that. Canon has a reputation primarily for weddings and people,” Welsh said.
With Hoehne and Kitada agreeing that the two brands are both a good high-quality option, making the choice between the two is all about personal preference and skill. Measuring personal pros and cons can lead to a decision.
