Canon Lenses Vs. Nikon Lenses

[Soto]

Maybe this has been discussed before but I want to concentrate all the exact information here.

I have a friend that uses Nikon with Nikon Lenses but I don like the images from Nikon lenses... I see that Canon lenses gives you really sharp pictures and perfect colors... Is it me or is my imagination?

What you guys can say about this...


:)

[Tee Why]

I'd disagree, looking at photozone.de, I think more nikon lenses fall into the excellent resolution area wide open and at the corners than the Canon equivalent.

However, this doesn't account for contrast and color etc. Just my thoughts though.

[kevin_c]

Are you talking about 'digital' images here because this might be due to the different way the bodies/software process that image.

I still have some Nikon Film gear (F100 & a couple of primes) and some of my old lenses really were sharp, but I cannot compare with Canon because I have only ever had Canon digital.

I think both Canon & Nikon both make some really excellent lenses as well as some real dogs :-)

[davidfig]

Have to be careful. These days its harder to tell the difference between consumer and pro nikon lenses. Used to be they where marked, like L, but not anymore and price is not necessarily a guaruntee of quality. I think that Nikon and Canon have excellent pro lenses.

For me the real question is why are there so many rumors that Nikon cannot make full frame cameras. They have great lenses, well at least the pro ones.

[condyk]

I have a friend that uses Nikon with Nikon Lenses but I don like the images from Nikon lenses... I see that Canon lenses gives you really sharp pictures and perfect colors... Is it me or is my imagination?

Swap gear for a while and maybe the results will change. Swap forum for a while and maybe the opinions will change. Ask your friend what s/he thinks because that's what counts about his/her gear choices. I say this is all a waste of time. If you think sharp pictures and perfect colours are all that count then stick to Duck shooting and you will be very happy.

[coreypolis]

they each have good, they each have bad. Whether its good or bad often has more to do with whose hand its in rather than the sand it was made from

[hudsonch]

I still have some Nikon Film gear (F100 & a couple of primes) and some of my old lenses really were sharp, but I cannot compare with Canon because I have only ever had Canon digital.

About a year ago, I got a chance to use my friends FM2 + 55mm macro. It is crazily sharp and contrasty - even better than my CZ Planar 50/1.7. But I have never used Nikon's digital gears, and hence I can't compare apples with oranges.

[sapearl]

Which is better..... Ford or Chevy? Both car companies, like Nikon and Canon, make excellent products - as well as their clinkers. The both have good and bad production days. They both have had good and bad designs. The market place proves that they are both top notch.

The best lens is the one that does the job and that makes you the happy for your needs.

[RedSox]

I'd disagree, looking at photozone.de, I think more nikon lenses fall into the excellent resolution area wide open and at the corners than the Canon equivalent.

However, this doesn't account for contrast and color etc. Just my thoughts though.

You need to look at those result in perspective. All Canon lenses are tested using a 350D with 8MP sensor and Nikons are tested with a 12.4 MP sensor 200D. So we are talking about comparing apple to orange if you are using photozone.de MTF data trying to say one brand is better/worse than others. Read his FAQ for more detailed explaination. To me if you really want to compare two lenses. You will need to mount them on the same camera. For example. Mount the Canon lens on the 350D and mount the Nikon equivalent on the 350D use an adaptor.

[Soto]

Swap gear for a while and maybe the results will change. Swap forum for a while and maybe the opinions will change. Ask your friend what s/he thinks because that's what counts about his/her gear choices. I say this is all a waste of time. If you think sharp pictures and perfect colours are all that count then stick to Duck shooting and you will be very happy.

wow, sorry if I bother you with my post... didn't want to hurt you feelings for Nikon...

If I see that Canon lenses are sharper than Nikon's is just an opinion... dude!

[Wilt]

Consider this...for DECADES the Nikon brand was the choice of professionals, and Canon was #2 trying harder to overtake them. Nikon lenses are terrific, professional quality lenses! Canon moved ahead after the world was swayed by the lack of high ISO noise in the new digital bodies. The Nikon lenses didn't change, the Canon bodies did!

[ssim]

wow, sorry if I bother you with my post... didn't want to hurt you feelings for Nikon...

If I see that Canon lenses are sharper than Nikon's is just an opinion... dude!
I don't think that your post bothered him at all. I believe that he is trying to illustrate that there is no clear answer on this. Take lenses from both camps of comparable quality and shoot them on comparable bodies and do the same effective post processing and you will have good images.

You can't say that the images you are looking at are bad due to the lenses. It is a matter of the body that is running whole affair and the various parameters that are used along with the level of post processing done.

I occasionally go over to one of the Nikon forum boards. Reverse the names and they have the exact same conversations. Remember that this is a Canon board so you will get answers that are generally biased towards that end.

I've seen some shots from Nikons that are great just like I have from Canon. Your statement "I don like the images from Nikon lenses" is somewhat subjective in that it is in the eyes of the beholder. Generally Nikon's glass is fairly highly respected. In the end it really does come down to personal preferences like was pointed out.....Chevy or Ford.

[Soto]

I don't think that your post bothered him at all. I believe that he is trying to illustrate that there is no clear answer on this. Take lenses from both camps of comparable quality and shoot them on comparable bodies and do the same effective post processing and you will have good images.

You can't say that the images you are looking at are bad due to the lenses. It is a matter of the body that is running whole affair and the various parameters that are used along with the level of post processing done.

I occasionally go over to one of the Nikon forum boards. Reverse the names and they have the exact same conversations. Remember that this is a Canon board so you will get answers that are generally biased towards that end.

I've seen some shots from Nikons that are great just like I have from Canon. Your statement "I don like the images from Nikon lenses" is somewhat subjective in that it is in the eyes of the beholder. Generally Nikon's glass is fairly highly respected. In the end it really does come down to personal preferences like was pointed out.....Chevy or Ford.

Nice...

Wow, your equipment list is very impressive... :eek:. I wonder how much money is there...

[Lester Wareham]

I'd disagree, looking at photozone.de, I think more nikon lenses fall into the excellent resolution area wide open and at the corners than the Canon equivalent.

However, this doesn't account for contrast and color etc. Just my thoughts though.

You can't compare photodo type measurements across different camera platforms like that to compare lenses, its a system measurement test.

[J Rabin]

It has nothing to do with sharpness, it's the mount. They all take great photos, but here is the rub:
Canon pulled ahead of Nikon years ago when they abandoned all their existing base of "FD" camera users and went to the "EF" mount. The EF mount is big and wide, it permits a lot more electronics and communications between the body and lens. It permits the rear optical elements of many rear-focusing element sports lenses and zooms to be very fast in achieving focus, and more optimally sized for the demands of full-frame digital sensors of today. It was a gutsy move by Canon back then in the 80s.

Nikon, to its conservative credit, protected its installed base of users. Canon FD users were pissed back then. If there had been forums, you would have heard howling at the moon.
On most Nikon bodies today, you can use Nikon lenses made 25+ years ago. In fact, you can use Nikon lenses on Canon cameras easier than Canon FD lenses on current Canon cameras.

However, this backward compatible decision has hampered Nikon in the digital age. Nikon makes great glass. Excellent wide angle lenses. Wonderful macro lenses that when connected to a Nikon body read out the "effective aperature" with the lens set aperture. Great stuff.

But, with the mount they have I am not even sure they could do a full-frame if they wanted to. The electronics and rear elements won't fit.
Canon's wide EF mount is just way, way ahead in this generation. My Nikon professional colleagues know this, and talk about it alot, just not with us Canon users.

Well, just my opinion... You can turn on flame throwers now. Jack

[Bosscat]

Read this and maybe you'll get a more unbiased answer

http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/nikon-vs-canon.htm

I personally think that images from a Nikon are every bit the equal, if not better then a image from a Canon.

[CyberDyneSystems]

"word" :)

The only way you''ll get a side by side is either mounting the Nikon to a Canon body, or using film.
Otherwise the comparison is being colored by the digital bodies too much for an accurate assessment.

Again, downsides of there backward compatibility aside, Nikon lenses in general leave little to be desired, they are excellent.

[steved110]

The correct stance is that Nikon and canon lenses all have their own strengths and weaknesses. It's harder to tell consumer from pro grade with nikon lenses though. the info about their mount is interesting though - but if their lenses fit 'full-frame' film cameras, i fail to see why they wouldn't for a full-frame digital camera.

but to satisfy the forum, I'll say that nikon make their lenses out of recycled coke bottles and Nikon users eat babies. ( please note the VERY big ;) and an even bigger :rolleyes: before anyone oils up their flame thrower!)

[CyberDyneSystems]

Read this and maybe you'll get a more unbiased answer

http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/nikon-vs-canon.htm

I personally think that images from a Nikon are every bit the equal, if not better then a image from a Canon.

Unbiased? form the single most biased and vocal photographer on the internet!? :lol:


Kidding aside, Ken has some interesting things to read for sure. This article you link to is unusually well balnced in the opening statements,. as compared to much of his writings I have come across. But read on see that the rest of the article tends to be very Nikon biased. Any downside on Canpns part is huge, those from Nikon are played down.

[XMX]

I find the Nikon lenses to be better with colors, and sharper at the wider angles.

[Wilt]

Ken seems to be tempering his tune. http://www.kenrockwell.com/canon/1022.htm he says "This (Canon 10-22) is a great lens. It's so great it makes me want to swap over to Canon from Nikon, because it's better than my favorite Nikon 12 - 24 mm lens."

[kevin_c]

Ken seems to be tempering his tune. http://www.kenrockwell.com/canon/1022.htm he says "This (Canon 10-22) is a great lens. It's so great it makes me want to swap over to Canon from Nikon, because it's better than my favorite Nikon 12 - 24 mm lens."

He's obviously not being given as much equipment to 'try out' by Noink these days ;)

[Bonjour43ma]

I can say that Nikon pro lenses are better built, even when compared to L lenses.

Otherwise I think both companies have some amazing lenses, it's pointless to compare optics on two different systems because of all the variables (sensor, body, image processor... etc). Although most people agree that on film, Nikon optics are ahead of Canons.

[farrukh]

Read this and maybe you'll get a more unbiased answer

http://www.kenrockwell.com/ (http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/nikon-vs-canon.htm)

Unbiased? Guess you're kidding :-)