Tuesday, March 28, 2006
Nikon D200 vs. Canon 5D: Fight!
Posted by Jason Dunn in "ARTICLE" @ 12:00 PM
"The Nikon D200 – Canon EOS 5D Head-to-Head Review marks the debut of our comparative review format. There's plenty of debate about whether the 10.2 megapixel Nikon D200, at $1700, and the $3200, 12.8 MP full-frame Canon EOS 5D even ought to be compared – the price and sensor size differences are often cited points. But here's why we think it's useful to look at them together: first, the D200 and the 5D are the latest cameras from the leading DSLR manufacturers, and are the results of big R&D efforts. As such, they ought to show where the two companies are going, and what they're capable of. Second, they are Canon and Nikon's step-down models to their flagship DSLRs – both the EOS 5D and D200 represent more affordable, scaled-down versions of their top of the line cousins, with the full-frame 5D a smaller iteration of the 1Ds Mark II, and the D200 a mid-level D2X."
This is a somewhat curious match-up at first blush, as the introductory text mentions, but when you get right down to it each camera is aimed at the high-end prosumer market, but not quite the professional market (though one could easily argue that either camera would do good work in the hands of a professional journalist or other pro shooter). Based on my quick read of some of the article, I remain pleased with my choice of the D200 over the 5D. One of the most potent items that swayed me away from the 5D was the lack of an integrated flash. When I thought about how often I used my SpeedLite with my Canon Digital Rebel, I realized that my usage pattern simply demanded an integrated flash, no matter what. Anyone out there looking at the D200 or 5D for their next camera?
This is a somewhat curious match-up at first blush, as the introductory text mentions, but when you get right down to it each camera is aimed at the high-end prosumer market, but not quite the professional market (though one could easily argue that either camera would do good work in the hands of a professional journalist or other pro shooter). Based on my quick read of some of the article, I remain pleased with my choice of the D200 over the 5D. One of the most potent items that swayed me away from the 5D was the lack of an integrated flash. When I thought about how often I used my SpeedLite with my Canon Digital Rebel, I realized that my usage pattern simply demanded an integrated flash, no matter what. Anyone out there looking at the D200 or 5D for their next camera?
