So, I have a 40d myself and a friend asked me what is more user friendly, Canon or Nikon, and I could not answer him. I told him I was more familiar with Canon, since I have one. He told me someone from B&H told him if he was just getting started, to go with Nikon. They are easier to use, feel better in the hand, etc.
I was kinda surprised at that. So I thought I would ask the collective here. I threw the other makes in also, just to see what happens. I will assume he is more interested in Canon and Nikon, but what the heck.
This is not for a professional, I will say it is for a family guy that wants to get his first DSLR, I know he mentioned the 50d and the D90, but he was open to anything. He has money burning a hole in his pocket.
First I thought the Canon was odd that it didnt have as many "shortcut" buttons and switches. Now I think the Canon controls are much more intuitive and very simple, kinda like an ipod.
If you think about it, anyone can just put a bunch of buttons for every feature on the camera, but it takes some good design to place only a few and make them work well.
I've only used a Nikon once, and to me Canon and Nikon are exactly the same. If you know how to use a Canon then you can use a Nikon without reading any type of manuals. I believe with any of these brands the camera is pretty much the same when it comes to ease of use. The main thing for a newbie is to learn how to manually control a DSLR... after that you can pick any brand you like. I highly recommend sticking with Canon or Nikon though, as they control the majority of the market.
Most friendly to the average user: disposable camera.
Personally, though, I don't mind having complex but capable friends. Perhaps they are harder to get along with at times, but once you get to know them, their inner qualities really outshine a few rough edges.
This question is very much someone's opinion. My last Nikon was a D2H and then moved to Canon and have always had various 1D bodies. Canon 1D's fit my hand like a glove and are built with a solid construction I never found with Nikon..when I pick up a Nikon now, it feels toy-like. The dials and buttons are all just variations to me so no real diff there. The menus on Canon are intutitive. So I would not really say Canon is better than Nikon in the user-friendly department, but owning both them, the idea that Nikons has a better 'feel in the hand' is just not the case at all for me...and again, I shot Nikon and Canon, Canon is what fits my hand far better.
MSC wrote:
This question is very much someone's opinion. My last Nikon was a D2H and then moved to Canon and have always had various 1D bodies. Canon 1D's fit my hand like a glove and are built with a solid construction I never found with Nikon..when I pick up a Nikon now, it feels toy-like. The dials and buttons are all just variations to me so no real diff there. The menus on Canon are intutitive. So I would not really say Canon is better than Nikon in the user-friendly department, but owning both them, the idea that Nikons has a better 'feel in the hand' is just not the case at all for me...and again, I shot Nikon and Canon, Canon is what fits my hand far better....Show more →
Canon really does fit my hand better...but I really would have to disagree with you...the new Nikons such as the D300s and above fit very well and in my hands they sure do not feel like a toy...far from it actually.
The Canon 1 series have a real quality feel. The rest of their range is pretty plasticky compared to the Nikons. As far as easy to use, I couldn't tell you.
For the ergonomics of the controls, Nikon wins by a big margin. Nikons ability to program two buttons on the front of the camera is BRILLIANT. This allows one touch Live View, or Mirror Lockup. MLU as a drive mode is also an excellent idea. Nikons implementation of bracketing is streets ahead of Canon. Nikons Auto ISO is way better than Canon's.
Canon's insistence of burying MLU deep in the menu system is disgraceful. Whoever thought of that one should be sacked immediately, maybe even shot. Need I mention the direct print button? Completely useless and not programmable to something that is useful.
For "feel in the hand" ergonomics, Canon fares better. I prefer the shaping of the grip on 5D and XXD cameras over Nikon DX00.
andrewd01 wrote:
For the ergonomics of the controls, Nikon wins by a big margin. Nikons ability to program two buttons on the front of the camera is BRILLIANT. This allows one touch Live View, or Mirror Lockup. MLU as a drive mode is also an excellent idea. Nikons implementation of bracketing is streets ahead of Canon. Nikons Auto ISO is way better than Canon's.
Canon's insistence of burying MLU deep in the menu system is disgraceful. Whoever thought of that one should be sacked immediately, maybe even shot. Need I mention the direct print button? Completely useless and not programmable to something that is useful.
For "feel in the hand" ergonomics, Canon fares better. I prefer the shaping of the grip on 5D and XXD cameras over Nikon DX00. ...Show more →
Wow, buttons got you all fired up!
None of my cameras have a direct print button at all. ISO, FEL, and other features are finely place where you need them and can use the index finger or thumb without moving your hand at all, as well as auto AF having its own back button (very nice), AF point selection perfectly placed, but then again, I know the cameras so well I can do any of this without ever taking my eye away. The joystick menu selection was a nice add, albeit unimportant...the old way was just fine.
Two things that Canon could do it make MLU have its own button, or the ability to program one of the buttons for this feature. That way I would not have to take the 3 seconds it takes now to turn it on or off...that would be a life saver.
The thing would be to make switching cards a button with single step. Again, it might save me a couple of seconds and my life would then be perfect!
