Canon EOS 7D vs. Nikon D300s?

Question

I was browsing some cameras and I came across these two. Can someone please list the pros and cons for each camera? I'm leaning towards the Nikon, but if someone could give me a good enough reason to believe the Canon is better...

Thanks for all the help!

Answer 1

For stills, Image quality & noise quality on both cameras are pretty much equal and they both are excellent. Canon opens a can of whip butt when it comes to resolution at 18MP vs 12MP. that's a 50% boost in resolution leaving you able to crop off 1/3 of your photo and stil have the same resolution as Nikon. Canon opens up another can of whip butt with its full 1080p HD video & 720p where Nikon only has 720p.

Answer 2

Nikon D300s Vs Canon 7d

Answer 3

One important note, you should never buy a camera based soley on what you read in online reviews, magazines or even the opinions of people on this board. When you get ready to buy, you need to go put hand on these cameras in person. That said, the D90 is best value of the bunch, offering the same image quality as the D300s. If this is your first DSLR, the best bang for your buck is to buy the D90 and devote the rest of your budget toward lenses, period. You can buy two D90's for the cost of either of a D300s or Canon 7D. That's significant and if you don't already know what those other bodies offer above and beyond the D90 to improve the process, you shouldn't waste time investigating them, let alone money buying them. It would be equally wasteful to blow your budget one of these cameras and then be stuck withh a cheap 18-55mm kit lens. A more thorough discussion can and should be had with regard to the D300s verus the 7D. When I was looking at the 7D and D300s, I went further than most by making arrangements to have both cameras on hand for nearly three weeks. I also borrowed the Nikon equivalents of the Canon lenses I already owned. This let me use both cameras and make thorough comparisons without having to change my normal workflow. It is important to note that neither of these cameras is a typical purchase for a first time DSLR buyer. For most, which camera they choose between these two will boil down to whether they own Canon or Nikon lenses. I looked at the D300s because I'd long felt my 40D had come up short in terms of autofocus and high ISO image quality. The D300 and D300s addressed those issues and so I was considering selling all my Canon gear to fund the switch to Nikon. Then along came the 7D. Not that it was better than the D300s but, the 7D addressed all the shortcomings of my 40D relative to the D300 and D300s. I had a pro-Nikon shooter tell me the Canon had AF problems but, I could find no evidence of this with the 7D I evaluated and eventually purchased. I've taken over 3000 photos with that camera since December and I've been quite pleased. Image quality is not a problem.

Answer 4

If you do a Google search for "7D vs D300S" you'll find this has been discussed many, many, many times before. My first question is do you already own lenses for either system? I ask because neither is a typical first DSLR purchase. The typical buyer will be someone upgrading from a lower grade Canon or Nikon. If you already own a bunch of Canon glass, the 7D is the natural choice. If you have a bunch of Nikon gear, go for the D300s unless you are willing to sell all your stuff to switch systems. If this is your first DSLR, neither is especially first timer friendly as the both lack the typical pictogram modes found on entry-level DSLRs. That said, the Canon 7D at least retains a beginner friendly "full-auto" mode which makes it more "beginner friendly" where as the Nikon is pretty much a pro-grade camera with a 1.5x crop, rather than full-frame, sensor and lacks an "easy button."



If you are an experienced SLR user, the Nikon has a lot going for it. It's AF system is still offers advantages over the new Canon in that it covers more of the frame, has more points and functions faster/more reliably in low-light. I personally like the fact the Nikon viewfinder gives me indicators for the metering and exposure modes in the viewfinder where as I have to look at a dial or LCD panel on the Canon. The Nikon also has dedicated buttons/dials for these settings as well as the AF mode where as they are accessed via modal buttons on the Canon. There is simply more information in the Nikon viewfinder and it's possible to change nearly all critical settings without taking your eye out of the viewfinder. This really is a professional's camera and it's a pleasure to shoot with one. Sounds like I own one...Doesn't it? Well, surprise, I own the 7D.



The Canon isn't necessary "better" than the Nikon but for those of us who shoot XXD bodies and are heavily invested in Canon glass, the 7D finally addresses all the areas that left us jealous of Nikon D200 and D300/D300s shooters. The biggest issues were that we wanted an updated and more versatile autofocus system, better/more accurate metering, and better build quality with more weather seals. The 7D, as mentioned earlier, retains a "full-auto" mode that makes it "easy" for new DSLR shooters but the custom setting positions on the mode dial are a handy feature that let's you customize the camera to your own personal liking. Speaking of customization, the 7D allows users far more options for assigning button functions than previous Canon cameras. The bottom line for me is I would have sold all my Canon gear and would be shooting a Nikon D300s today had the 7D not come along when it did. All Canon has to do now to keep me from defecting to Nikon is apply all the 7D's technology and feel to a full-frame body so I can sell my old 40D.

Answer 5

They are both very good cameras.



Image quality is undisguinshable.

Both have very fast continuos-shooting modes (the 7D is slightly faster)

Both are made by reputable companies highly regarded among the photographic community



Your choice really boils down to which one is more comfortable to hold, easiest to use, and the lens choices from the manufacturer.