Posts
Which camera will be the nikon D5200's main competitor?
When Nikon launch the D5200, they will be hoping that its stops the opposition in their tracks. But that is a very tall order these days. The speed of technological change means that today's innovation is tomorrow's ' so what?'. The D5200 can be expected to use the 24Mp sensor of its sibling the D3200, which will make it a class leader. The burst speed can also be expected to improve, perhaps to 8FPS, to give the action photographers something to smile about. And for those who want to push the boundaries in low light or still photography, A higher ISO setting and more focal points is a must. Video is a big selling point in this market and whilst the D5100 has an excellent Movie mode, the D5200 would be expected to at least offer a greater range of frames per second and possibly an out channel for head phones to go with the the external mic socket. All these improvements might well put the D5200 out ahead of it's rivals, but there are still some superb cameras out there that need to be checked out before you decide to buy the D5200.
THE NIKON D5100 - There is no reason to think that the arrival of the D5200 will lead to the immediate demise of the D5100. After all, it is a great camera. The image quality is superb, especially in the detail and the way it handles noise issues.16 megapixels is now regarded as a smallish file, but shot through nikon lenses they will stand up well against anything in this class. The innovative articulated viewing screen has been a great success and is very useful when shooting video or at odd angles. The ISO, which is extendable to 25,600, beats many of it's rivals. The HD video is excellent ad the external Mic records in stereo. The only slight downside is the slow-ish 4FPS, but not something that everybody really needs. For the price, this is a great piece of kit.
THE NIKON D3200 - Nikon have really astonished the photographic community with this ' entry-level' camera that seems to want to compete with pro-level bodies. The 24 MegaPixel sensor is remarkable in a camera of this price and had put every other beginner-level camera in the shade. The external Mic (for stereo recording) and HD video make this a great starter for photographer and videographer alike. The solid ISO rating - up to 6400 - and shutter speed range make this flexible and versatile camera the current leader of it's class.
THE CANON EOS 650D/Rebel T4i - This is another recent launch and a very competent performer. The 650D/Rebel T4i gives the impression that it has come to dominate the field and leave no prisoners. The 18MP file is smaller than the D3200, but not significantly (the D3200's file at 24MP is in fact only 16% larger as the size increase is not linear), and in most cases it would be impossible to differentiate between the two. Again Canon recognize that users may want to shoot stills and video and have given the 650D full HD video and good quality stereo sound. The D5100 has a useful articulated screen and the Rebel T4i goes a step further by supplying an articulated touch screen. Canon have obviously been studying what has succeeded in the CSC market and have included the innovative contrast auto-focus system for the 650D. Whilst many other functions are similar to the 600D, there is enough here to give the 650D/Rebel T4i serious consideration.
THE CANON EOS 600D/ Rebel T3i - Up until the arrival of the 650d/ Rebel T4i, this was canon's flagship model in this market. It does offer a good range of features at a fair price. The 18 Megapixel file size was the largest around until matched by the the 650D and beaten by the D3200, and it is quite big enough for almost any requirement. The Canon lenses ensure that the image quality is superb. Like the D5100, it too has an articulated viewing screen, which is handy for shooting the HD video. The 9-point autofocus lets the camera down slightly and the 3.7 Frame Per Second burst speed seem quite pedestrian these days. All together though, this is a very competent camera from an excellent brand.
THE CANON 1100D/ Rebel T3 - This is Canon's basic beginner-level D-SLR. As a step up camera, it offers an easy transition from a compact or bridge camera, but these days much more is expected even at this level. The 12MP files are pretty good, however and stand up to scrutiny. The video is not HD quality, though good enough for internet use and the 9-point autofocus is competent. The on-screen feature guide is really useful for beginners feeling their way around. This shouldn't pose much of a threat to the D5200, but might tempt someone moving up from, say, the Canon Powershot range.
THE PENTAX K-30 - For a company outside the mainstream of D-SLR production, Pentax have a reputation for producing excellent cameras that do the simple things superbly. The K-30 is designed for the outdoors. It is made of toughened plastic and has been completely weather-sealed. the image quality is very good and the the autofocus options are quite varied. The 16MP file size just about keeps it in contention. This is one of only a few cameras that offer full 100% view through the viewfinder, meaning that you can effectively crop as you shoot. The buffer will allow up to 30 frames to be shot at 6FPS, which is pretty impressive and the HD video offers a choice of frame rates, 24, 25 or 30. Pentax have long pushed versatility on the battery front and an adaptor will allow you to use AA batteries. Price with 18-55mm lens 650/ $900
THE PENTAX K-r - Although smaller and lighter that the Pentax K-30, this is a robustly constructed camera with a good variety of functions. Low light specialists will be attracted by the 25,600 ISO top rate and action photographers will find the 1/6000 top shutter speed a real bonus. The restrictive letter-box 16:9 ratio it uses to shoot Hd video can be frustrating and it only records in Mono with an internal Mic. However the in-camera modes are very beginner friendly and it too will take AA batteries. Price with lens $760/ 400
THE SONY ALPHA 57 - The SLR has been around for so long that it is easy to think there is no better system out there and whilst the main manufacturers are herding D-SLR users steadily towards CSC functionality in the hope of removing the viewfinder completely eventually, Sony have chosen a different path. The Alpha 57 is an SLT - single-lens translucent. Instead of having a moveable mirror that bounces the light to the viewfinder and then moves to allow the camera to take the shot, Sony have produced a fixed semi- translucent mirror that bounces some light to the viewfinder and lets the rest through to the sensor. Sony have used this for a while now and it can produce some pretty good results. The A57 has a 16MP sensor that are good quality, though they do need some work if shot in low light. However the advantage is that you can see the shot continuously, even when the camera is shooting at 10FPS. The HD video is competent and has a choice of 25FPS or 50FPS. It also has an innovative digital zoom and a maximum ISO of 16,000. Altogether, this is a pretty good camera for the price. Price $700/ 500
THE SONY ALPHA 37 - This recent launch aims to put Sony back on the beginner level map again. It is fairly basic, but has some innovative functionality. It also is a SLT camera and has a maximum ISO of 16,000. Burst speed can get up to 7FPS, though for full size frames, is set to 5.5FPS. The in-camera zoom function can double your lens length with hardly any quality loss. It has a useful tiltable screen and HD video. Price $550/ 400
THE NIKON D5100 - There is no reason to think that the arrival of the D5200 will lead to the immediate demise of the D5100. After all, it is a great camera. The image quality is superb, especially in the detail and the way it handles noise issues.16 megapixels is now regarded as a smallish file, but shot through nikon lenses they will stand up well against anything in this class. The innovative articulated viewing screen has been a great success and is very useful when shooting video or at odd angles. The ISO, which is extendable to 25,600, beats many of it's rivals. The HD video is excellent ad the external Mic records in stereo. The only slight downside is the slow-ish 4FPS, but not something that everybody really needs. For the price, this is a great piece of kit.
THE NIKON D3200 - Nikon have really astonished the photographic community with this ' entry-level' camera that seems to want to compete with pro-level bodies. The 24 MegaPixel sensor is remarkable in a camera of this price and had put every other beginner-level camera in the shade. The external Mic (for stereo recording) and HD video make this a great starter for photographer and videographer alike. The solid ISO rating - up to 6400 - and shutter speed range make this flexible and versatile camera the current leader of it's class.
THE CANON EOS 650D/Rebel T4i - This is another recent launch and a very competent performer. The 650D/Rebel T4i gives the impression that it has come to dominate the field and leave no prisoners. The 18MP file is smaller than the D3200, but not significantly (the D3200's file at 24MP is in fact only 16% larger as the size increase is not linear), and in most cases it would be impossible to differentiate between the two. Again Canon recognize that users may want to shoot stills and video and have given the 650D full HD video and good quality stereo sound. The D5100 has a useful articulated screen and the Rebel T4i goes a step further by supplying an articulated touch screen. Canon have obviously been studying what has succeeded in the CSC market and have included the innovative contrast auto-focus system for the 650D. Whilst many other functions are similar to the 600D, there is enough here to give the 650D/Rebel T4i serious consideration.
THE CANON EOS 600D/ Rebel T3i - Up until the arrival of the 650d/ Rebel T4i, this was canon's flagship model in this market. It does offer a good range of features at a fair price. The 18 Megapixel file size was the largest around until matched by the the 650D and beaten by the D3200, and it is quite big enough for almost any requirement. The Canon lenses ensure that the image quality is superb. Like the D5100, it too has an articulated viewing screen, which is handy for shooting the HD video. The 9-point autofocus lets the camera down slightly and the 3.7 Frame Per Second burst speed seem quite pedestrian these days. All together though, this is a very competent camera from an excellent brand.
THE CANON 1100D/ Rebel T3 - This is Canon's basic beginner-level D-SLR. As a step up camera, it offers an easy transition from a compact or bridge camera, but these days much more is expected even at this level. The 12MP files are pretty good, however and stand up to scrutiny. The video is not HD quality, though good enough for internet use and the 9-point autofocus is competent. The on-screen feature guide is really useful for beginners feeling their way around. This shouldn't pose much of a threat to the D5200, but might tempt someone moving up from, say, the Canon Powershot range.
THE PENTAX K-30 - For a company outside the mainstream of D-SLR production, Pentax have a reputation for producing excellent cameras that do the simple things superbly. The K-30 is designed for the outdoors. It is made of toughened plastic and has been completely weather-sealed. the image quality is very good and the the autofocus options are quite varied. The 16MP file size just about keeps it in contention. This is one of only a few cameras that offer full 100% view through the viewfinder, meaning that you can effectively crop as you shoot. The buffer will allow up to 30 frames to be shot at 6FPS, which is pretty impressive and the HD video offers a choice of frame rates, 24, 25 or 30. Pentax have long pushed versatility on the battery front and an adaptor will allow you to use AA batteries. Price with 18-55mm lens 650/ $900
THE PENTAX K-r - Although smaller and lighter that the Pentax K-30, this is a robustly constructed camera with a good variety of functions. Low light specialists will be attracted by the 25,600 ISO top rate and action photographers will find the 1/6000 top shutter speed a real bonus. The restrictive letter-box 16:9 ratio it uses to shoot Hd video can be frustrating and it only records in Mono with an internal Mic. However the in-camera modes are very beginner friendly and it too will take AA batteries. Price with lens $760/ 400
THE SONY ALPHA 57 - The SLR has been around for so long that it is easy to think there is no better system out there and whilst the main manufacturers are herding D-SLR users steadily towards CSC functionality in the hope of removing the viewfinder completely eventually, Sony have chosen a different path. The Alpha 57 is an SLT - single-lens translucent. Instead of having a moveable mirror that bounces the light to the viewfinder and then moves to allow the camera to take the shot, Sony have produced a fixed semi- translucent mirror that bounces some light to the viewfinder and lets the rest through to the sensor. Sony have used this for a while now and it can produce some pretty good results. The A57 has a 16MP sensor that are good quality, though they do need some work if shot in low light. However the advantage is that you can see the shot continuously, even when the camera is shooting at 10FPS. The HD video is competent and has a choice of 25FPS or 50FPS. It also has an innovative digital zoom and a maximum ISO of 16,000. Altogether, this is a pretty good camera for the price. Price $700/ 500
THE SONY ALPHA 37 - This recent launch aims to put Sony back on the beginner level map again. It is fairly basic, but has some innovative functionality. It also is a SLT camera and has a maximum ISO of 16,000. Burst speed can get up to 7FPS, though for full size frames, is set to 5.5FPS. The in-camera zoom function can double your lens length with hardly any quality loss. It has a useful tiltable screen and HD video. Price $550/ 400
About the Author:
Jeremy Bayston has worked in the Photo industry for over two decades and has written about cameras and photography on various photographic websites. Check out his site devoted to the Nikon D5200 for the latest news from Nikon. Sign up for his newsletter about the D5200 to be the first to know about the launch of the D5200 D-SLR.
