Should you buy a Canon EOS 30D or Nikon D200?

March 28, 2006 by Ben Long
Filed under: Reviews 

The Nikon D200, a 10 megapixel SLR with an APS-sized sensor began shipping in November of 2005. At $1700 for the body, it was $200 more than Canon’s nearest competitor, the 8.3 megapixel EOS 20D. Canon has now fired back against the D200, but not with a similarly-pixeled competitor. The new EOS 30D offers several improvements over the 20D that it replaces, but rather than matching Nikon’s pixel count, Canon stuck with the 8.3 megapixel sensor of the 20D, and dropped the price of the 30D body to $1,399. Photographers who are looking for a mid-range Canon or Nikon camera now find themselves asking "Do I need more pixels, or more dollars?"

Who these cameras are for

Both Canon and Nikon offer excellent lower-priced alternatives to these cameras. The Canon Rebel and Rebel XT, and the Nikon D50 and D70s are all great cameras with good features sets and excellent image quality. However, they are all hampered by slower performance, mostly in the form of slower burst rates and slightly slower recycle times. Some of them also lack some of the features of the mid-range models. If you have found that the entry level SLRs don’t pack the features that you need, then the 30D and D200 are probably more in line with what you’re looking for.

The quick answer

First the good news: both of these cameras deliver excellent images, whether you choose to shoot raw or JPEG. Yes, if you search through hundreds of images, you will definitely find some instances where the 30D performed slightly better than the D200. But right next to these, you’ll most likely find a set of instances where the D200 performed slightly better than the 30D. In both cases, you’ll probably find that any differences are easily corrected using simple adjustments.

With that said, it is worth noting that the 30D performs a little better at high ISO than the D200, particularly when shooting in low light, with long exposures. Both cameras provide built-in long-exposure noise reduction capabilities, but the D200 is noticeably noisier at ISO 800 and 1600, especially in very dark situations. What’s more, the noise manifests as both chrominance and luminance noise, meaning you’re gonna have your work cut out for you if you want to try to remove it. Note that the noise is not terrible, it’s just worse than what you find from the 30D. If you don’t do a lot of low-light shooting, then this will rarely – if ever – be a concern.

Many users have reported troubles with vertical banding in the D200. These frustrating artifacts can appear at any ISO and in any type of image. Nikon has acknowledged this problem and offers a free and speedy fix for it. You can read Nikon’s official policy about this issue here.

I did not experience any banding issues during any of my testing.

Note, too, that I shoot almost exclusively in raw mode. Both cameras offer a number of JPEG-specific features that make it simple to change in-camera JPEG processing parameters, but these features are irrelevant to the raw shooter. If you shoot only JPEG, then these features might be useful, but neither camera offers anything in this regard that is a deal-breaker or maker.

In JPEG mode, the D200 ships with a default sharpening setting that is less aggressive than the 30D, which might lead you to believe that the 30D immediately produces better images. Both cameras provide control over in-camera sharpening, and you can easily adjust both to produce equivalent results.

Your camera salesman might try to pitch you on pixel count as a deciding factor, but this is really a non-issue. While the difference between 8.3 million and ten million may sound significant, in practical terms it’s really not. The extra pixels provided by the D200 simply aren’t going to give you a significantly higher degree of cropping possibilities, or improved image quality at large print sizes.

These two squares show the relative size differences between the two cameras. The inner square represents the size of a full-res 30D image, while the outer square shows the size of a rull-res D200 image.

Since image quality is, for the most part, not going to be a huge factor in your decision-making, you can focus on feature set, interface/usability, and price. Those are the issues that we’ll address in the rest of this feature.

Note that if you already own lenses for either system, then your choice is fairly simple. Neither camera offers features or quality differences that warrant jumping the fence to the other side. If you’ve got an investment in lenses already, then your choice is whether the upgrade to a newer model is better than what you already have, not whether you should switch to a different system.


Build and interface

These are both very sturdy, hefty cameras, and both models offer excellent build quality, with no creaks or flex. The D200 is slightly taller than the 30D, but both fit the hand comfortably. Neither camera offers the complete high-end weather proof seals of their more expensive brethren, but you should feel confident taking either camera into just about any shooting situation. The D200 does offer sealed seams, which might give it a slight advantage in certain conditions, but I was unable to test this.

That said, the cameras do feel different. Though the D200 is slightly larger than the 30D, it’s not noticeably heavier. However, depending on the size of your hands, one camera might be more comfortable than the other.

Before we go any farther, I should state upfront that I am not now, nor have I ever been, a fan of the Nikon SLR interface. This is not necessarily a bad thing, because there are people who find that the Canon interface makes as little sense to them as the Nikon interface does to me. The two companies have staked out very different interface philosophies, and this should mean that one approach or the other is going to feel more "correct" to you.

Both cameras have specific interface elements that work better or worse than the other, but in general its safe to sum up the differences with a few generalizations:

• Nikon cameras use interlocked controls, which means that you have to use several controls simultaneously to make a change. While this means that it’s extremely unlikely that you’ll ever accidentally change a setting, it also makes the camera extremely difficult to use with one hand.

• Canon’s interface uses far fewer buttons, because multiple features are stacked on individual buttons. While this makes it easier to find a particular adjustment, some people feel that it’s more of a hassle getting to a particular control.

Curiously enough, the only time I had any trouble with accidentally changing a control was on the Nikon. The camera’s focus mode selector is a three-way rocker switch located near the bottom of the lens mount, and in handling the camera, I changed the position of the switch on more than one occasion.

Both cameras provide external controls (as opposed to controls buried within the menuing system) for all of the everyday shooting adjustments that you’d ever want to make. Shooting modes, exposure compensation, ISO, white balance, metering mode, focus mode, drive mode, white balance, and flash exposure compensation are all adjustable from buttons on the camera. The D200 also lets you change image quality from an external button, something that you must do inside a menu on the 30D. I don’t find this a detriment on the 30D as I rarely – if ever – change the image quality setting.

However, the 200D also lets you change bracketing mode with an external control, while the the 30D requires a trip to the menuing system. We’d gladly exchange the 30D’s Print Direct button for a bracketing button.

On the 30D, all of the controls mentioned above – except for shooting mode – are located in one place on the camera – on the top right side, above the status LCD. Shooting mode is controlled by a single dial on the other end of the camera’s top. On the D200, these options are spread all over the camera, from the top, to the back, to the side of the lens mount. Though you can count on getting used to the control layout of any camera that you work with regularly, the Canon controls simply make more sense to me.

The D200 has two other important interface pluses over the 30D. First, the power switch is a rocker switch that surrounds the shutter release. Because you tend to pick up the camera by it’s hand grip, powering up the D200 is something you can easily do with your right hand. On the 30D, the power switch is located on the rear of the camera. The 30D also has a poorly placed depth of field preview button. Canon has opted to included the depth of field preview control in the "traditional" location, on the bottom left side of the lens mount. Even after all these years, I still find it difficult to locate while framing a shot. By contrast, the D200’s DOF preview button sits between the handgrip and the lens mount, making it simple to reach over from the handgrip with your forefinger to activate the DOF preview.

The D200 appears to have a slightly brighter viewfinder than does the 30D. I say "appears" because the difference is very slight. The 30D focusing screen has a rather grainy texture, while the D200 has a very clear screen. This might serve to make the D200 appear a little brighter than the 30D. The brightness difference is no where near what you notice when you compare either of these cameras to a full-frame camera like the Canon EOS 5D.

Both viewfinders provide the same 95% coverage and same magnification.

Canon and Nikon’s philosophies differ all the way down to how a lens should screw on to the camera. Canon’s lenses mount by rotating them in a clockwise direction (when facing the camera) while Nikon’s mount in a counter-clockwise direction. If you’re used to one mount already, switching to the other will seem weird and counterintuitive. (Given that Pentax and Olympus lenses also mount counter-clockwise, I feel a tiny bit justified in saying that Nikon has it backwards! But at the end of the day, this is not a deal making or breaking issue, so never mind.)

Both cameras have large, bright LCD screens and top-mounted LCD status displays. For the most part, both companies have done an excellent job with their status displays, crafting readouts that provide all the everyday shooting information that you need.

In playback mode, I found the Nikon interface to be slightly non-intuitive. I’ve been reviewing digital cameras for years, and have shot with more cameras than I can remember. Still, I had to consult the D200’s manual to figure out how to get a histogram display. Again, this may just be that Nikon’s overall interface heuristic doesn’t fit with my brain somehow.

Both cameras accept CompactFlash type I or II cards, and both provide USB-2 and Video Out ports.

Shooting

Both cameras are very comfortable to shoot with, though they both have feature and interface issues that make for occasional rough spots. While both cameras provide excellent auto focus and metering, with similar modes and features, I found that the 30D had an easier time focusing in low light. It focused faster than the D200, and was regularly able to focus in situations where the D200 spent a lot of time searching for focus, and occasionally couldn’t find focus at all.

The 30D’s new spot metering mode is long overdue, and very welcome. The D200’s Spot Meter specs are a hair better than the 30D’s, though, offering a a tighter spot of 2%, vs. the 30D’s 3.5% of the viewfinder image.

No matter how feature-packed your camera is, when it comes to everyday shooting, there are only a few controls that you need to regularly use. For most situations, you’ll probably find yourself routinely adjusting:

• Exposure compensation
• ISO
• Shooting mode
• Auto bracketing
• Drive mode

If you change to a different shooting mode, such as aperture or shutter priority, then you’ll also be adjusting shutter speed or aperture. Finally, you might find yourself changing metering modes to contend with tricky lighting situations. If you’re a JPEG shooter, then might find yourself regularly adjusting your camera’s white balance setting, although both of these cameras pack excellent auto white balance modes.

The D30 has two control wheels, a large one on the back which is easily turned with the thumb of your right hand, and a top-mounted wheel, just behind the shutter release. The D200 also has front and rear mounted control wheels, and its rear wheel is similarly easy to operate while holding the camera. I found the front wheel – which is positioned on the front of the camera, below the shutter release – to be a little more difficult to reach while shooting. Both of these wheels are used for adjusting the every-day camera settings that you’ll change.

On the 30D, you adjust exposure compensation by turning the rear mounted wheel, while on the D200, you press an exposure compensation button situated behind the shutter release, while turning the rear wheel. I’ve always found the Canon control much easier, speedier, and far more comfortable to use. That said, the wheel stiffness seems to vary slightly from user to user. Friends have complained that they’ve accidentally changed exposure compensation on their Canon cameras by bumping into it with their nose. Whether this says something about Canon’s design, or these people’s noses, I’m not sure. Personally, I’ve never had a problem.

Both cameras provide exposure compensation readouts both in the viewfinder, and in the top mounted status display. The D200 provides an exposure range of -5 EV to +5EV, a nice boost over Canon’s -2 to +2 EV. Both scales are adjustable in 1/3 or 1/2 EV increments. However, Nikon’s exposure compensation display goes from overexposed, on the left, to underexposed on the right which still confuses me.

On the D200, the exposure compensation setting persists even after you cycle the power. If you’re used to an exposure compensation control that resets with power-down, then you’ll need to get in the habit of checking your exposure compensation setting every time you power up the camera, to make sure that you haven’t left it in an odd place. If you expect your camera to be configured just as you left it, then you’ll be frustrated with the 30D.

Film shooters who make the switch to digital quickly get accustomed to having ISO as a third exposure parameters, and both cameras offer ISO adjustments in 1/3-stop increments. On the D200, you change ISO by pressing and holding a button on the top left of the camera, while turning a control wheel. On the Canon, you press a button on the top of the camera, near the shutter release, and then turn the control wheel on the back of the camera. Again, I find the Canon control easier, and can even adjust ISO while looking through the viewfinder.

Shooting mode is adjusted on the 30D with a physical dial on the top left of the camera. On the D200, you press and hold the Mode button on the top of the camera, while turning the rear control wheel. Again, I find the 30D’s control much easier. Interestingly, the D200 does not provide any scene modes (Landscape, Sports, Sand and Snow, etc.) while the 30D still provides the full complement. This is a wise move on Nikon’s part as anyone will to spend close to $2000 on a camera probably doesn’t need these modes.

On my 20D, I regularly use the Night scene mode, which activates the camera’s Slow Sync flash feature. On the D200, slow sync flash is activated using the flash control, just like any other flash mode.

Both cameras provide auto-bracketing, but Nikon offers far more power, in an easier-to-access interface. To activate auto-bracketing on the 30D, you must go into the menuing system. Once there, auto-bracketing is easy to set, and appears clearly marked in the top mounted status display. As you adjust exposure compensation, the bracket display slides back and forth making it simple to see exactly where your bracketed range will fall. However, the 30D only allows for brackets of three shots, in regular 1/3 or 1/2 stop increments. One bug I find particularly annoying is that your auto-bracketing setup is lost if you change a lens – even if you never power off the camera.

To activate auto-bracketing on the D200, you press and hold the bracket button while turning the rear wheel. This external control is more convenient than the 30Ds menu-based control. What’s more, the D200 lets you bracket up to nine frames. This is ideal for HDR shooting, or any situation where you want to bracket heavily. But, the D200 has another advantage in its ability to bracket only 2 frames. Very often, I want to shoot metered, plus one stop over. Being able to auto-bracket two shots is a handy feature that I would use every day. Finally, the D200 remembers your auto-bracketing setting after cycling the power.

On the downside, the D200’s autobracketing display is harder to read in bright light and doesn’t display the shifting readout that Canon uses when changing exposure compensation while bracketing.

Both cameras provide a self-timer, and two burst speeds. In the faster burst mode, both cameras are capable of roughly 5 raw frames per second. In the slower burst mode, this rate drops to around 3, but the slower rate provides the camera with more time to flush its buffer, meaning you’re less likely to have the camera lock up to finish file writing.

Both cameras provide shutter speed ranges of 30 seconds to 1/8000th of a second.

On a less relevant note: when I reviewed the Nikon D70s, I developed a case of shutter envy. As a 20D shooter – with it’s loud, mirror-slapping shutter – the sophisticated quiet shutter of the D70s was very enticing. I expected to find the same shutter sound on the D200, but was surprised to find that the two cameras sounded very similar.


Performance

If you’re hoping to find a single characteristic that will make your decision for you, performance is not going to be it. Both cameras power up seemingly instantly, wake from sleep just as quickly, offer speedy burst rates, and excellent file write and read times. If you really want to ensure maximum performance from either camera, it’s worth investing in speedier flash cards, as these will make a difference. Overall, though, you’ll find both cameras very responsive.

You also won’t get very far in weighing battery life. Both cameras provide excellent longevity, easily shooting 500 shots on a single charge, with power left over.

Features

While both cameras pack more features than you’ll probably need (really, when was the last time you actually USED white balance bracketing?) the D200 has a particularly useful extra feature in the form of a built-in intervalometer. Completely customizable, you can configure the intervalometer to start shooting at a particular time, as well as control how often it fires, how many frames it should shoot at that moment, and how long it should continue to shoot at the regular interval that you’ve specified. Canon’s only intervalometer option is to buy their $130 remote control or tether your camera to your computer, and – at least on the Mac – the included remote control software doesn’t offer as many features as the D200’s built-in intervalometer.

Both cameras provide a number of options for adjusting in-camera image processing. As mentioned earlier, I’m a raw shooter, so these options aren’t features I use. However, if you sometimes (or always shoot JPEG) you’ll find a similar complement of features on both cameras.

The D200 has a few other cool extra features. Repeating Flash mode lets you set an interval for flash firing, allowing you to perform cool long-exposure/multi-flash combination shots. As with the D70s the D200 offers a superior flash system, allowing for easy slaving of multiple flash units. On the more silly end of the feature list are Multiple Exposure features which let you create composites of multiple exposures within the camera.

Getting to all of these features is a bit of a hassle on the D200, due to Nikon’s 4-way rocker controller. To scroll down a long menu, you must repeatedly press the button. On the 30D, the rear wheel is used for menu scrolling, making it simple to zip through a long menu with a single motion (it’s just like selecting an item on an iPod menu). Nikon needs to allow menu nav using one of the D200’s control wheels.

Noise

As mentioned earlier, the D200 yields noisier images when working at high ISO. These two 100% crops show the same scene photographed in Auto mode at 1600 ISO.

That’s the 30D crop on the left, and the D200 crop on the right. Both images were shot in raw mode. Please note that this is a low-light/high ISO torture test. I do a lot of work shooting in extremely low light and so spend a lot of time working in the dark at 1600 ISO. This image was shot in a dark, windowless lab that was lit only by the light of some computer monitors and some flourescent lights outside an open door. This is not meant to be an indication of high ISO performance under normal lighting conditions. In brighter light, the difference between the two cameras is not nearly as pronounced, but it is still noticeable.

Lens selection

Whichever camera you choose, you’ll be buying into a lens system that you’ll probably stick with for years. Long after you’ve upgraded to another camera, you’ll most likely be using the same lenses you buy today. Both Canon and Nikon provide excellent lens offerings, and both systems are well-served by third-party lenses of varying degrees of quality. Both companies also now produce a series of lenses designed specifically for the reduced sensor sizes in these cameras.

The D200 has a cropping factor of 1.5x, while the 30D has a 1.6x factor. Both cameras provide excellent wide-angle options for those of you who are frustrated by the lack of full frame.

Both cameras provide lenses with excellent image stabilization technology (Nikon calls it "Vibration Reduction") and both companies produce some stand-out lenses. Lens choice will not be an issue with either of these cameras.

Conclusion

The simple answer to the question "Should you buy a Canon 30D or Nikon D200" is "yes, you should." Both cameras are excellent photographic tools that yield beautiful images, have deep feature sets, and are compatible with a huge range of lenses. You’ll be able to use either of these cameras for years.

Since neither camera has a clear technical advantage – the resolution difference is really not significant, there are no significant performance or image quality differences unless you shoot a lot at high ISO – your final decision will probably be based on two factors: personal preference for the cameras feel and interface, and price.

I’ve tried to point out the places where I feel both cameras fall down, interface-wise, but that’s just one person’s opinion. To really make an informed decision about these cameras, you need to get your hands on them, and see how you like the feel. While you have access to them, pay particular attention to the process of changing exposure compensation, shooting mode, ISO, auto bracketing, and drive mode. These will be the features you use regularly, and this small sample of operations will give you a good idea of the overall interface approach used by both vendors. (Obviously, if you have some particular need, you’ll want to test the relevant features.)

For the time being, the only raw conversion softare that supports the 30D is the included Canon software which is, in a word, bad. Hopefully, major vendors will be updating their software to add 30D support very soon.

Your price concerns might be a little clearer and easier to understand: the D200 costs more. The typical street price difference is about $300, so if you’re already feeling like the Canon camera is pushing your budget, the Nikon offering is probably not an option. Bear in mind also that you’re going to want to buy some lenses, so the $300 difference might impact your lens-buying options. On the other hand, you get a couple of features in the D200 that the 30D doesn’t have – such as the built-in intervalometer and better auto-bracketing – so there is a slight value add for the extra price of the Nikon.

If you make your living shooting in low-light, then I would say that you’re better off with the 30D. The better low-light autofocusing, and quality advantage that it has in low-light, high ISO situations will serve you better.

Both companies deserve credit for continuing to advance the field, and for striving to produce better, more usable tools. Your next concern should be to get to a camera store and get a feel for the cameras. You’ll probably find that your decision is easier once you’ve done a little experimenting of your own.

 

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Comments

39 Comments on Should you buy a Canon EOS 30D or Nikon D200?

  1. DSLR Photography - Photography News - DSLR Cameras and DSLR Lens Community - Photo Sharing - Photo Community » Should you buy a Canon EOS 30D or Nikon D200? on Thu, 30th Mar 2006 12:02 pm

    2. [...] Website: Should you buy a Canon EOS 30D or Nikon D200?   [...]

  2. Complete Digital Photography » Should you upgrade your Canon EOS 20D to an EOS 30D? on Thu, 30th Mar 2006 1:29 pm

    3. [...] Related Links: Should you buy a Canon EOS 30D or Nikon D200? Canon 17-85 EF-S vs 18-55 EF-s vs. 24-85 EF Canon 10-22 EF-S Review Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT Review [...]

  3. H.NET :: Should you buy a Canon EOS 30D or Nikon D200? :: March :: 2006 on Thu, 30th Mar 2006 3:51 pm

    4. [...] Should you buy a Canon EOS 30D or Nikon D200? –ê –≤–æ—Ç —Ç–∞–∫–æ–µ —Å—Ä–∞–≤–Ω–µ–Ω–∏–µ –º–Ω–µ –∫–∞–∂–µ—Ç—Å—è –≥–æ—Ä–∞–∑–¥–æ –±–æ–ª–µ–µ –∫–æ—Ä—Ä–µ–∫—Ç–Ω—ã–º (–ø–æ –ø–æ—Å—Ç–∞–Ω–æ–≤–∫–µ), —á–µ–º —Ç–æ, –æ –∫–æ—Ç–æ—Ä–æ–º —è –Ω–µ–¥–∞–≤–Ω–æ –ø–∏—Å–∞–ª. [...]

  4. Russell on Fri, 31st Mar 2006 1:45 pm

    5. Great comparison review. Either camera would make an excellent choice. In my opinion, low-light performance is generally overstated and many of the differences are actually minute. Like buying one care over another that has different feeling shifters. You’ll eventually get used to either one.

    I don’t like the sentiment however, that the lack of scene modes is a good thing just because of camera price. They can come in handy for anyone, and the so-called pro can simply not use the feature. But to exclude it is significant. You would think, for example, that despite the fact that I paid over a grand for a bicycle, it would be nice to have a kickstand included. It’s the same thinking I suppose regarding the lack of a pop-up flash on Canon’s 5D. As if I’d never use the think to walk the streets and use the pop-up as a much-needed fill-flash. I’ll let my mother use my camera if she needs it.

  5. Rosario’s Tech Info » Blog Archive » Nikon D200 and Canon 30D Shootout on Wed, 5th Apr 2006 9:26 pm

    6. [...] Ben Long, over at Complete Digital Photography, has posted an extensive comparison between the Nikon D200 and the Canon 30D. Which camera should you get? Ben says: [...]

  6. Ted on Tue, 30th May 2006 2:12 am

    7. Thanks for a great, objective comparison.

  7. carpeicthus on Tue, 30th May 2006 9:18 am

    8. Nice write-up. On the low-light auto-focusing, though, you’re very likely used to an AF system that works nearly exactly like the camera you’ve been using for some time. In my experience, the D200 focuses better (in the center point) in extremely low light than pretty much *any* other camera, even with the D2 lines. With a fast lens, I have no problem focusing at -2 EV (about 80 times darker than candlelight). I often shoot in situations where my 5D-using friends would get cleaner images, but cannot get a focus lock at all.

  8. Pr Carlos on Wed, 31st May 2006 3:46 pm

    9. I just love it your review, it is complete, we have all we need to konw, the best I ever seen.

    I’m SLR 35mm user, I had the top of line Nikon F3 then 10 year ago i did jumt to the Canon Af system. Now I want to jump to the digital word, so I really need a good review, I realy need help.
    I don’t want an expensive system anymore, I spent to much money over the years on 35mm, but I still want a good quality image and I bilieve that the cameras had replaced the film, so now, they are big part of the image quality.

    Hey, if you have any suggestion to a good quality image camera at good price, please, let me know, doesn’t matter the brand.

    God Bless you!

  9. Biran on Mon, 12th Jun 2006 3:26 pm

    10. Great article. I am an amateur photographer looking to upgrade my digital camera (Canon Powershot G3). I admire Nikon’s reputation but have enjoyed my existing camera’s perfromance. So, having read your article, I favor the Canon 30D. Among the Canon’s advantages are:

    1) It will save me $300.
    2) D30 performs better at high ISO
    3) Less bulky
    4) Easier to change settings – fewer buttons to fuss with
    5) More user-friendly playback mode
    6) Focuses better in low light (great indoor advantage)
    7) Full compliment of scene modes (landscape, portrait, etc)
    8) Excellent wide-angle and image stabilization

    I just hope Canon is more consistent with lens caps. A friend of mine has a G3 and his cap falls off much easier than mine.

    Anyway, both great cameras. I thank you for your review!

  10. G.Chandrashekar on Sat, 1st Jul 2006 12:18 am

    11. Hi,

    I understand that in case of Nikon digital cameras the ‘old’ lenses can still be used without a problem whereas in case of Canon, this is not so. You need to buy an adapter or make one yourself because of the mounting difference. And even with the adapter there could be some issues remaining, like inability to focus as infinity. Any opinions?

  11. Ken Elliott on Sat, 1st Jul 2006 6:46 am

    12. Nice review. As someone who has owned both Nikon and Canon cameras in the past, I’d like to mention a few things. I find Nikon’s “backwards” lens mount to be faster and easier to change lens than Canon’s. Let’s call it personal preference, but I’d consider it a plus, rather than a minus. I am one of those people who bump the Canon controls, and ended up with poor shots. This is much less of a problem with the Nikon. It would be nice to have “scene” settings – I do miss the ability to set that for quick, casual shots. And the wider exposure bracketing is a huge deal to me. I view the cameras as “Photoshop input devices” and the Nikon does a better job for me.

    But here’s the deal breaker – Printing. To print a 8″ x10″ print at 300 dpi, you need an image at least 2400 pixels high, by 3000 pixels wide. The Canon 30D sensor is 2336H x 3504W. At 300 dpi, that’s a print size of 11.68″ x 7.79″ – too short by almost 1/4″. That forces me to jump to the Canon 5D, and that’s a big jump. The Nikon D200 sensor is 2592H x 3872W. At 300 dpi, print size is 8.64″ 12.91″. This forces me to crop it, and I must keep that in mind when I compose. At least I can get exact dot alignment on the Nikon, which I cannot get on the Canon. If you downsample or upsample either, you introduce mathmatical errors into the image and quality suffers. I’ll be glad to cover this in detail if you want an article.

    The Olympus E500 has a 2448H x 3264W sensor, which prints at 8.16″ x 10.88″ (@ 300dpi). So Olympus nails this one on the money, at a fraction of the price of the Nikon or Canon. It’s a great camera, and its the one I suggest for most people. But you will envy the huge lens and accessory selection of Canon/Nikon.

    All that being said, it’s great to have such wonderful cameras to choose from. Thanks for the great review!

  12. YUVA THAKKAR on Sat, 1st Jul 2006 9:33 pm

    13. need real help. i am trying to buy one of these two cameras as i have two projects on a regular basis:
    1. I have to shoot pictures of jewelry as product shots.
    2. I have to sometimes shoot them on models too !
    I love people, and would love to photograph them as well. Help. Which camera of the two and which specific lenses for the macro(?) shots and portraiture. Thank You fellow readers and gurus !

  13. Randy on Tue, 11th Jul 2006 7:46 pm

    14. Great coverage of two cameras!…Good humour too! (Yes, I am Canadian.) Just bought 30D because it just plain feels better with certain lenses attached. I dont think Nikon yet has the edge over Canon in digital image prcessing. Canon images are inexplicably better. Canon just got it right!

  14. Rob on Tue, 18th Jul 2006 3:05 am

    15. What a great article , finally i have got a non biased opinion. I have 2 friends who are professional photgraphers one a Nikon fan the other a Canon fan they both would’nt consider the other brand.

    I myself am a big Canon fan but I want to to consider all options before I upgrade from my Canon 300D , the one thing that concerns me about Canon is the constant upgrades making your old camera worth nothing in the space of a year , I’ll be lucky to get $500 for my 300D. If I go the new 30D with 17-85 IS lens , grip ,extra battery, 4 gig card I’m spending over $3,500…. what will it be worth in a year especially if digital cameras keep moving in the direction of the 5D my lenes will be worthless as well.

    Rob

  15. kwanonku on Fri, 28th Jul 2006 8:12 pm

    16. Anyone consider Olympus & KM?
    Juzz comparing on the same field when shooting fashion show event, surprisingly Olympus & KM delivered better picture quality (in term of correct WB in halogen floodlight).
    Olympus E-1 + 50-200mm Zuiko Digital
    KM D5D + 70-200SSM
    D200 + 70-200VR
    20D +70-200IS

  16. Richard Selby on Sat, 21st Oct 2006 2:38 am

    17. Good details , but not complete, very pro Canon and you admitted that! The D200 menu has many more features than the 30D, can you set up a double exposure on the 30D, no, how about Black and White, no, only 9 AF points compared to 11 in the D200. Can you tell me the last time you saw a prosumer shooting mode on a Pro camera? The D200 has 4 individual banks for storing different shooting environments, and as far as controls go Nikon dominates in this area. The largest difference between these camera bodies is noise control from the CMOS sensor. The reality is if I’m looking at a 8X10 are you going to see a huge difference in noise? Software takes care of that!
    The thing that impresses me is they try and put the D200 in he same class as the Canon 5D, the 5D costs 1500.00 more. Phil Laskey from Dpreview (very pro Canon) asked if the difference between the Canon 5D and the D200 was worth the extra cost, he said, “not for me.” I’m not dogging Canon, I have a great deal of respect for Canon, they make fine cameras and lenses and to say anything different would be a flat out lie!
    If your going to do a review/comparrison, make sure you list all the details!!!!! I don’t know all the details about the 30D but I know you left out enough details about the D200 to make it very slanted in favor of Canon. IMHO!

  17. Complete Digital Photography » Should you buy a Rebel XTi or Nikon D80? on Fri, 10th Nov 2006 2:45 pm

    18. [...] Related Links: Should you buy a Canon EOS 30D or Nikon D200? Canon 17-85 EF-S vs 18-55 EF-s vs. 24-85 EF Canon 10-22 EF-S Review Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT Review [...]

  18. Ten Ox on Fri, 24th Nov 2006 2:12 am

    19. A few things that bothered you about the D200 are adjustable in menus, require changing a setting, and then go away for good!

    For instance, you can set the various function buttons to act as ‘one touch’ buttons. Change this setting and then you no longer have to hold the ISO or shooting MODE button, just touch it and make your change of setting, then either touch it again to go back to shooting mode or touch the shutter halfway and voila, ready to shoot with new setting.

    Once you’ve entered a setting mode, you can usually use the front or rear wheel to change your setting, no need to touch the rocker button at all. In fact, you can use the front or rear wheels in various ways to scroll through menus as well. You can also set the wheels to work in reverse; this is handy to change the direction of default operations: I like to scroll through aperture and shutter speed using the fr/rr wheels in the opposite direction of the default settings, and this was changeable in menus. Also these basic changes are sticky, remaining until you go change them again.

    The ability to use older lenses is a BIG deal. There are so many available (as true for Canon) that are very high quality and generally available at low prices compared to new. This is not true of lesser priced Nikon dslr bodies.

    The Canon’s low light performance is better than the D200, but I don’t see it as dramatic as you’ve shown — I just wonder if you set all the in-camera settings that clean up the image for better results. These have to be deliberately set in menus. It’s like High ISO NR and Long Exposure NR; two separate settings that rely on greater processing in-camera, make for better low light performance, and require longer operation times.

    /..

  19. Nick T on Wed, 13th Dec 2006 6:49 am

    20. Nice writeup, though fairly biased towards the Canon. I’ve had both Canon and Nikon (and other brands) and would suggest that to choose between these two would be personal choice only.

    I did purchase the D200 recently to complement my arsenal, and I find it a really good piece of equipment with easy to use interfaces and menus. Once you have read the manual and used it for a couple of days, the controls becomes second nature, as I would assume the Canon controls are for our reviewer.

    It was a difficult choice to purchase the D200 as I really fancy the Canon brand (having owned a couple of Canons incl. 35mm’s) but the ability to shoot at 10mp, whether you need it or not, was the ultimate deciding factor as manipulation of pictures becomes so much more powerful with more pixels to play with.

    I recently took some pictures in ‘realistic’ low-light conditions, using ISO1000 and 1250, and shutter speeds of 800 or faster (for some Asian Games indoors action) and the shots, though slightly underexposed, were fantastic. The keepers ran through a simple photoshop procedure and came out brilliant. My friend, a Canon 20D owner, did mention that he would not be able to achieve the same results….

  20. Dan on Sun, 24th Dec 2006 1:30 pm

    21. Dear Mr. Long,

    I would like to congratulate you for your excellent review Canon 30D Vs Nikon D200. This is the best review I have seen so far.

    I hope you will continue supporting the Internet community with subjective reviews like this one.

    Congratulations,

    Dan

  21. filmfan45 on Tue, 9th Jan 2007 3:52 pm

    22. Nikon Glass is and has always been a notch above Canon. Both in build quality, contrast,
    and resolution.

  22. Screamer on Mon, 5th Mar 2007 5:42 am

    23. One of the better reviews out there.
    However, I’ll point out a couple of things that are missed and I think they are important:
    1. Configurable (“smart”) Auto Iso on D200, very useful.
    2. Matrix metering system will give higher percentage of correctly exposed shots in different situations, without compensation.
    I have a d200 so I guess I’m biassed as anyone ;)

  23. David Chin on Wed, 14th Mar 2007 12:09 pm

    24. Canon 30D is better at low-light autofocusing? I think you got it backwards there. The Canon 30D is absolutely bad at AF’ing in low light, even my D70 beats it hands down.

  24. Luka Koprivica on Tue, 20th Mar 2007 1:50 pm

    25. This is very nice comparison, but I will underscore just some misleadings. (English is not my native language, sorry for mistakes…)
    I own D200, since january 2006. Before that I shoot on Canons, but D200 made me switch… No regrets. But, as I was on Rodos, Greece, for 6 months, I worked as hotel photographer and all guys from my firm had 30D’s, so even I shot some days with it, so i know what I’m saying…
    For someone who uses Canon, Mr. Long, you have been reasonably fair in commenting advantages of 30D vs D200.
    Some mistakes are coused just by not knowing the facts, so I just want to add something I find important.

    You’ve said D200 is not much heavier than 30D! Well, If yo know that Canon 30D weights 706g, Nikon D200 830g and Canon 5D 810g, than I would say that Nikon is very heavy! Heaviest in the class!!!

    Very important thing to correct is that D200 is fully weather sealed. So, as Canon 1 and Nikon 2 series. Very cool for the price!

    Then, Viewfinder coverage is the same 95%, but magnification is 0.9 for Canon and 0.94 for Nikon! So you may think thas’s the same, but that means you don’t know or you heaven’t try these! The difference is very obvious, not crucial but it is much more confortable to use Nikon.

    Also, in low light D200 is much better! It is truth that Canon focuses faster, but not in low light, specialy when compared to D200.

    The only real advantage of 30D in professional, 2-3 hours continous shooting is it’s less sticky handgrip. Nikon’s is dream – just perfect, but too sticky.
    Also, if you like quiet camera, not old time “click” sound when you take photo, Canon is much less noisy.

    If I was too hard on Canon, I apologize, but I have experience with both of these cameras and I don’t favour any brand.

    At the end, I have to say, Canon 5D is much better match to 200D than 30D. 200D is simply pure professional tool, while 30D that cannot be, even 5D is on the edge, except in studio… But that theme is maybe for some other review…

    I just wanted to add something that have been missed, to contribute to this very fine review, despite some misses.

  25. Brian on Fri, 23rd Mar 2007 7:47 pm

    26. I am torn between the two cameras! I have held both and love the feel of the Nikon. The only thing I worry about is the noise at high ISO’s. Can anyone comment on this? I am a very much an amature photographer, and I know that both these cameras are over my head right now, but I plan on taking photography very seriously as soon as I get one of them.

    Thanks

  26. JT on Thu, 10th May 2007 8:50 pm

    27. I have the origional entry level digital rebel (I believe the 300D is the model number). My brother and father are both Nikon guys. Once has a D70 and my dad the D200 purchased late 2006. I was going to buy the Canon 30D in anticipation of the birth of my son, whom will be 2 next week. In the past 2 1/2 years I have taken over 10000+ pictures with my entry level EOS. I know I will get blasted for this, but I think it all comes down to the person taking the pics. It’s like Golf, for years I played with shit clubs while my dad has the latest and greatest driver, blah blah blah. I still beat his ass 90% of the time.

    I am in the market for an upgrade and am tossed. I know at this point it almost makes no sense to purchase either the D200 or 30D as there is a new model for both on the near horizon. I can’t afford the Mark III so I am at an impass.

    Am going on vacation with the family and this will be the true test. Them vs Me. I will report back with whom ends up with the better shots.

    Until then, if you are going to buy either one of these cameras, just remeber, besides the equipment, the only difference between us and professionals is the number of pictures we take, and get paid for. The more you take, your probability increases exponentially. You will get a prize shot or two.

  27. Joe Bravo on Fri, 11th May 2007 1:24 am

    28. NEW MODEL ON THE NEAR HORIZON? Can you please expand on this? You’ve heard of something specific….or are you just acknowledging the natural order of things? Signed, D70 owner of 2.5 years looking to move on and trying to figure out what road to choose.

  28. David Ruderman on Sun, 13th May 2007 3:06 pm

    29. I’ve seen a few rumors about an upcoming D300 later this year. I know some people were disappointed that no announcement was made at the recent International shows. I also own a D70 with hopes of upgrading to the D200 replacement. My advice (which I have trouble following at times) is to be patient and see what Nikon announces towards the end of the year. Most of the trade says they are due for an announcement and D200 prices have come down a bit.

  29. Gustavo Kuhn on Thu, 24th May 2007 8:40 am

    30. I have the Digital Rebel XT for 2 years and dont see too many diferences between the D30 and my camera!!Almos the same tech.
    I wonder if the D 200 have a pro sensor…
    I will wright an opinion in the near future..Where can i get the d30 in the San Francisco Area?

  30. Sam Coyle on Wed, 11th Jul 2007 6:54 pm

    31. Ben,

    Thank you for the excellent revuew of the two cameras. I currently have Nikon equipment and the information that you provided was very informative.

    As you said, personal preference and current systems on-hand are the primary considerations.

    Thanks again and may God Bless!
    Sam

  31. Michael on Sat, 28th Jul 2007 8:25 pm

    32. Ben & All,

    I bought the XTi & now planning to upgrade – will wait for 40d & then do my comparison against d80. I recently moved to DSLRs from P&S.
    My question: Except for Canon, all manufactures offer spot metering in their entry level DSLRs. And comparing EOS against Nikon, the spot circle is about 3.5% vs 2% (till 5d). Though marginal it may seem & less important for most shooters, it is still a matter of convenience (Though I manage to get accurate exposure with 9% partial & Manual mode on the XTi pretty much all the time РAnd If one could ascertain the EV of a single simple tone, How hard is it with combination of 2 or 3 tones that are present within the spot circle). So, I think it is still workable, whether it is 9% or 3.5% or 2%. But its more convenient as it gets smaller (I may be wrong, please excuse me – also I know one could zoom in, but still it is no match).

    Now my question: Why is Canon not able to offer AF linked 2% spot-meter like it is offered Nikon with D80 ($800 body)? And even on 5D it is not as sophisticated as D80.
    1. Do they want to reserve this for their top models (Dividing the market based on features)? or 2. Is it too hard to engineer a 2% spot as compared to 3.5% spot? Or 3. The extra cost spent in doing 2% + AF linked is better spent on something else? Or 4. Is 3.5% better than 2% in any way?

    I am really curious to know the answer to this…

    -Mike.

  32. Henning Ras on Tue, 14th Aug 2007 11:51 am

    33. Well guys,
    There you have it!!
    Canon will always be above the rest because Nikon refuse to compete on Canon’s ground to produce a better model.They will always behind Canon and if and is a BIG IF, they get on the same specs,their price will be MUCH BIGGER than Canon cameras.
    That is why whenNikon brought a model out,Canon fires back with one that has a spec better on chart and prices are better.
    Common,Nikon D200 is their first entry level to Pro,where as Canon has the EOS 5D and it’s specs are MUCH higher than the D200.

    I started my photography with RICHO KR10X in South Africa.The toughest model I ever used.Went to army with it and it fell about 100meters from a clif,Still intact with the lense!!I think a Nikon or Canon could be to smithereens with that fall.
    I upgrade on full auto with a CANON EOS 600 and Sigma 28-300 lens.Later when I immigrated to the UK,I want accessories,no luck on that.Bought the Canon Eos 30Dateback model.
    Few yers later to the Canon A70,a baby of digital camera.

    Guess what,I bought aCANON EOS 30Dtwo months ago and will NEVER regret the deal.I still say tghat knowing your gear and camera,is better than the any top range camera on the market.It is he camera that makes the picture and cannot adjust itslef to the specs you want on a picture.To proof this here is an egsample.In South Africa,I took six weddings in two months with my RICHO KR10X and the guy from Photo Firts Laboroties,had a FULL AUTO NIKON.Even when I hand in the rolls to bedeveloped,I asked the parents NOT to hand them in at Photo First.They forgot about it and did it there.One day when I lef that shop,the lady behinf the counter said the owner would like to see me.I asked why and then he said he made a mess with lots of the pics.He paid me afterwards to use the negatives from the RICHO KR 10X.All I said to him was to go back to basiics and learn the camera.He was not very happy with my answer,becuase he said his NIKON is better than my RICHO KR10X.
    He never told me when he had his next shoot,becuase the NIKON cuased him tooo much trouble!!

    So take the chalenge NIKON fans and accept the truth in reallity!!
    Ask Nikon developers to produce a toy that can be on level with the rest of the digital photography world!!

    Henning Ras
    http://www.gnld-advance.com

  33. Carmen on Wed, 15th Aug 2007 10:24 am

    34. I am looking for an SLR camera to replace my Nikon Coolpix 5700. I have had several issues with this “expensive” camera like light sensor and focusing problems. I’ve found that these are widespread issues and Nikon do not want to recall or repair the wrong components for free. But this helped me make a decision and I won’t buy another Nikon. I won’t have to rely on Nikon customer service again to make my camera work. I’ll get the Canon EOS 30D instead. Thanks!

  34. Peter J on Mon, 12th Nov 2007 12:46 pm

    35. Hi , excellent review…read with interest…but I still have a problem I am fumbling with. The Canon 30D and the EF lens range. What does the EF actually mean? Does this mean I cannot use earlier models of lens with the 30D. I have a SIGMA 70/300mm 1.4-5.6D DL MACRO ZOOM LENS auti focus which I thought would be good for the 30D…Am I wrong. Please help me out here.

    Thanks

  35. Brooke Whatnall on Thu, 22nd Nov 2007 11:50 pm

    36. We just upgraded to a Nikon D200, its an amazing camera, takes great quality shots, the build quality is amazing, feels like a brick, would recommend it to anyone with nikon lenses or starting out in Digital Photography, if you are in Canon already though, not worth it.

    The D300 isnt worth the extra price for the extra features, unless you are anal about little things like 1 more fps and sensor cleaning.

    You can see shots taken by our D200 at our blog which has a post to our gallery:
    http://kiwiphotography.wordpress.com/

  36. sveta on Tue, 27th Nov 2007 11:39 am

    37. Lucky to find you, keep on the good workk guys! Best of luck.D

  37. Bill on Wed, 28th Nov 2007 1:02 am

    38. Found your site in google, and it has a lot of usefull information. Thanx.

  38. Wesley Townsend on Thu, 29th Nov 2007 3:25 pm

    39. Great work on the differences on the 30D vs. D200….When will evaluate and compare the 40D and the D300, soon as possible i hope.

  39. Stanley Sun on Wed, 1st Apr 2009 9:57 pm

    40. The review says you need to use the menu to adjust image quality, but one of the custom functions lets you program the function of the “Set” button (in the middle of the rear wheel) to adjust the image quality setting.

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