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Compare: Nikon D300s vs. Canon EOS 7D
With the recent announcements of the Nikon D300s and the Canon EOS 7D, consumers now have a choice between 2 high perfoming, professional level DSLR cameras, both featuring high definition video, both with APS-C sensors. Priced within $100 of each other, there’s no mistake that these 2 cameras are clearly pitted against each other. Both options are high powered affairs, and either would make a great photographic tool. Still, though in the same class, the Nikon D300s and the Canon EOS 7D have taken slightly different paths, so to shed some light, and hopefully start an ongoing conversation in the comments, let’s compare the Nikon D300s and the Canon EOS 7D.
Where To Buy
Nikon D300s
- Amazon: Nikon D300s Body Only for $1799.95
- Amazon: Nikon D300s with 18-200mm VR II lens
- B&H Photo: Nikon D300s Body Only $1799.95
- B&H Photo: Nikon D300s with 18-200mm VR II lens
- B&H Photo: Nikon D300s with 16-85mm VR lens
Canon EOS 7D
- pre-order the Canon EOS 7D at Amazon. Body only $1699.99
- pre-order the Canon EOS 7D at Amazon. Body and 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens $1899.99
Nikon D300s
Nikon D300s
The highlights:
- 720p HD movies with stereo sound (w/ external microphone)
- In-camera movie editing
- Dual slot media storage
- Continuous shooting at 7 fps
- Virtual horizon in live view
- 51 point AF
Essentially Nikon’s flagship APS-C model, the Nikon D300s is what most would call a refresh of the Nikon D300. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. Afterall, the Nikon D300 was and is and excellent camera. You’ll find the same AF, LCD, and build in the Nikon D300’s more expensive stablemates, and for some time (thanks to pricing structures) it’s sort of been in a class to itself. Well times are changing, and clearly the hottest trend in DLSR cameras these days is the addition of HD video. Last year Nikon was the first to introduce HD video with the Nikon D90 which featured 720p video. That was shortly trumped by the Canon EOS 5D Mark II, which offered 1080p video, and eventually the feature trickled down to less expensive stablemates from both manufacturers. Missing out on this latest trend, the Nikon D300 and the Canon EOS 50D. To rectify the situation, Nikon has released the Nikon D300s, and for the most part you can just equate the “s” with high definition video, though there are some other small updates that we’ll get to shortly. For the D300s, HD video means 720p, specifically 1280×720 at 24 fps. The D300s has a mono built in microphone and stereo external microphone jack (3.5mm stereo input jack) and can film video for up to 5 minutes. As you’ll see shortly, the movie mode of the D300s is less expansive than that of the EOS 7D, but the D300s does offer a potentially helpful difference, the ability to use contrast-detect AF while shooting video. Unlike the EOS 7D, the D300s doesn’t offer manual control during filming, but you can make use of Nikon’s Picture Controls to control the “look” of your video. After video capture, the D300s can “edit” film clips by trimming at selected beginning and end points, the result of which can then be saved, while retaining the original clip.
While HD video is the most obvious addition to the D300s, there are several other noteworthy features. Unlike the EOS 7D, The D300s offers dual card support. Owners can use either Type I CF cards or SD cards or both. Better yet, you can configure a default card usage, write RAW to one and JPEG to the other, write files to both simultaneously for immediate backups, or designate one for just movie clips. Frame rate gets a modest boost, going from 6 fps to 7 fps (minus battery grip), though at 8 fps, the EOS 7D is still a bit faster. Other upgrades to the D300s include the a smaller Type C HDMI jack, the ability to edit RAW files in-camera, accuracy and speed improvements to an already very good 51 point AF system, and the addition of a handy dedicated “live view” and “info” buttons.
Canon EOS 7D
Canon EOS 7D
Highlights
- 18 MP APS–C CMOS Sensor
- 8 fps
- ISO 100-12,800 (with expansion)
- 1080p HD video at 24, 25, and 30 fps with full manual control
- 19 point cross-type AF system
- 100% viewfinder with 1.0x magnification
- Dual axis electronic level display
- New iFCL 63 zone metering system
While it’s tempting to suggest that the EOS 7D is an upgrade to the EOS 50D, it’s probably more accurate to describe it as entirely new beast, and a beast that’s clearly intended to do battle with the Nikon D300s. The EOS 7D like the D300 is professional grade, with moisture and dust protection equivalent to the Canon EOS–1N. It’s a bigger camera than the EOS 50D too, more along the lines of the Canon EOS 5D Mark II, and roughly the same size as the D300s, though heavier than both. Like the D300s, the EOS 7D offers HD video recording, but the options are far more expansive. Most importantly, the EOS 7D offers full manual control while shooting video, just like the 5D Mark II does, but goes several steps further, offering various frame rate options for 1080p and 720p recording, and to make things easier, a dedicated movie/still switch for improved functionality. Video on the EOS 7D is compressed via h.264 which makes for more room, but can be harder to edit since the format is more hardware intensive. Like the D300s, video clips can be edited in-camera, again by clipping selected beginning and end points.
Video isn’t the only notable aspect of the EOS 7D, in fact many folks would say that the 18 megapixel sensor is the most eye-catching stat. On paper, 18 megapixels certainly overshadows the 12.3 megapixels found on the D300s, and while some had thought the megapixel wars were winding down, Canon clearly feels confident that their advances with gapless microlens arrays will allow the EOS 7D to at least match the D300s in ISO while outperforming it in low ISO resolution. This outcome is still unclear, but it looks like the EOS 7D will at least match the 50D at higher ISO, which means at least usable ISO 1600, at least in the early samples circulating on the web. The other notable, the EOS 7D features a new 19 AF point focusing system, all of them of the cross-type variety. This new system is unlike any found on any current EOS system. As noted Canon AF cynic Rob Galbraith puts it:
The 7D offers more AF modes and greater customization than any Canon camera, ever. It blends a new AF sensor, five distinctly different AF modes and key AF system options found only in 1-series digital SLRs currently. Plus it has the ability to automatically activate different AF modes when the camera is being held horizontally or vertically, to optionally use the Depth of Field preview button to switch AF modes on the fly and more. This is a highly configurable AF system, like nothing we’ve seen before really.
We’ll have to wait and see just how competitive this new AF is with that of the D300s, for now though, most early indications are pointing to this new 19 point AF system as being definitely more competent than that found in the EOS 50D.
In addition to all that, the EOS 7D features a couple of other new features for an EOS model. First, the EOS 7D has a new 63 zone iFCL metering system that actually “sees” color. Based on 2 layers, one sensitive to red-green, the other to blue-green, the system can now compare scenes based on color and luminosity, and since it’s all tied into the 19 point AF system, this new iFCL metering sytem is able to use focal distances in the equation as well, hence the acronym iFCL or “Intelligence, Focus, Color, Luminosity”. Secondly, the EOS 7D offers a 100% view through its viewfinder with a 1.0x magnification. That’s bound to make the enthusiasts happy, and goes to show again that Canon seems to be determined to one up the D300s, which offers the same 100% view but at .94x magnification.
Conclusion
In making a decision between these two cameras, most of the variables hinge on the EOS 7D. In the D300s, you know what you’re getting, a solid performer with pro-level build and features with very good image quality. The Canon EOS 7D’s specification seem to promise a lot of added value, with 18 megapixels, a higher ISO range, and much more robust HD video capabilities. But numbers aren’t everything, and I suspect that just as the 12 megapixel D300 easily held its own against the EOS 50D, that the D300s will also offer near equal image quality as the 7D, possibly better at some ISO ranges. A quick visit to DxOMark shows that at least on a technical level, the D300 has a slight edge over the 50D, is that the case with the 7D as well? Then again, it’s really all about the results, and it seems the EOS 7D has a good chance at providing superior results in the form that matters most, printed results. My take: if video isn’t as important, and dependable AF is needed, especially of a dynamic nature, the D300s would be a good choice, otherwise the robustness of the EOS 7D’s HD video mode, the speed, the viewfinder, the resolution, and let’s not forget—the lower price of the EOS 7D, make it appear to be the better choice.
Just a quick note, I love these type of posts because typically they bring in lots of opinions and user feedback in the comments, which soon take on a life of their own. Please leave your take below and when you get the camera, be sure to swing by with some analysis.
Front comparison (click for larger view)
Rear comparison (click for larger view)
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Where To Buy
Nikon D300s
- Amazon: Nikon D300s Body Only for $1799.95
- Amazon: Nikon D300s with 18-200mm VR II lens
- B&H Photo: Nikon D300s Body Only $1799.95
- B&H Photo: Nikon D300s with 18-200mm VR II lens
- B&H Photo: Nikon D300s with 16-85mm VR lens
Canon EOS 7D
- pre-order the Canon EOS 7D at Amazon. Body only $1699.99
- pre-order the Canon EOS 7D at Amazon. Body and 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens $1899.99
Specifications
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Auto Focus |
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AF area selection |
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Focus modes |
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Metering modes |
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Viewfinder |
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LCD monitor |
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Continue the Discussion
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A little bit of misinformation here. The viewfinders on the 7D and D300S are the same size; remember the Canon is a 1.6x crop camera and the Nikon is a 1.5x crop (bigger sensor). 1.0x viewfinder on the Canon is the same as 0.94x on the Nikon (i.e. 1.0x/1.6 = .63x, .94x/1.5 = .63x in 35mm terms).
spica03,
excellent point, I certainly overlooked that. I’ll have to correct that.
7D looks a very good camera but is 18 MP a step too far
we’ll have to wait to find out
The D300s will have image quality at least equal to the D90
Looking forward to finding out if Canons caught up with Nikon this time their last try against the D300 the Canon 50D wasn’t very good
stve,
on a marketing level, Canon has caught up, and early previews show the 7D at high ISO is doing pretty good…and at lower ISO packing pretty good detail
From everything I have read and seen on the web so far, these cameras are fairly close in comparisons. When they don’t compare well, someone usually points out a valid reason why the results differ. One thing I don’t find people talking much about is the lenses for these cameras. Does anyone have any comments on versatility, quality, available options, etc. for the Canon lenses vs. the Nikon lenses? As a potential buyer of one of these two cameras, I am wondering if there is anything regarding the lens which may push a prospective buyer in one direction rather than the other.
The general consensus is that Canon has more and cheaper lenses, but the better strategy is to look at lenses you think you’d want to use, say a macro 100mm or a 50mm prime lens. Then go and check the options yourself, and compare the prices/capabilities.
I am a first time buyer of a D-SLR and would very much like to get into amature photography with a possibility of one day doing it professionally. I was going to purchase to Canon 50d at first, but have considered stepping up to the 7d or d300. Is this “too much camera” for a beginer or would it make sense in the long run? Any advice would be helpful. Thanks.
This would be too much for a beginner as it’s a pro-sumer camera and one mistake on the configuration could easily ruin your photos or don’t give you a better result compared to a beginner camera.
I use Canon because I use it for videography and insert some still photos in my composition but if you shoot still image only specially in low lights then I would go for Nikon.