Canon tele lenses vs Nikon tele lenses (Comparison)

[Apop]

Lately there might be a few canon users that feel sad because of being confronted with owning inferior sensors.

I thought it could be fun to use the life work of The Digital Picture to compare some crops of canon and nikon lenses (with or without teleconverter) , to cheer those folks up!!!

You can have the best sensor out there, but if your lens is inferior, you may end up with equal or lesser shots!


******--First up canon 70-200 IS II and nikon 70-200 vrII
both @ f2.8 where it matters, im sure from f4 onward they are quite equal.

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/ISO-12233-Sample-Crops.aspx?Lens=687&Camera=453&Sample=0&FLI=3&API=0&LensComp=621&CameraComp=614&SampleComp=0&FLIComp=4&APIComp=0

Now the first thing people who want more reach and own either of these lenses is to put the latest 2.0 TC's on (version 3 in both cases).

Wide open
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/ISO-12233-Sample-Crops.aspx?Lens=687&Camera=453&Sample=0&FLI=7&API=2&LensComp=621&CameraComp=614&SampleComp=0&FLIComp=7&APIComp=2

f8
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/ISO-12233-Sample-Crops.aspx?Lens=687&Camera=453&Sample=0&FLI=7&API=4&LensComp=621&CameraComp=614&SampleComp=0&FLIComp=7&APIComp=4

Hmmm, looks like canon is sharper and less CA

******---- Next up is a tele that people might want to have because of speed and versatility with tc's
300 f2.8

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/ISO-12233-Sample-Crops.aspx?Lens=739&Camera=453&Sample=0&FLI=0&API=0&LensComp=650&CameraComp=0&FLIComp=0&APIComp=0

Now with 1.4 converter
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/ISO-12233-Sample-Crops.aspx?Lens=739&Camera=453&Sample=0&FLI=1&API=1&LensComp=650&CameraComp=614&SampleComp=0&FLIComp=1&APIComp=0

and 2.0 converter
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/ISO-12233-Sample-Crops.aspx?Lens=739&Camera=453&Sample=0&FLI=2&API=1&LensComp=650&CameraComp=614&SampleComp=0&FLIComp=3&APIComp=2

f8
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/ISO-12233-Sample-Crops.aspx?Lens=739&Camera=453&Sample=0&FLI=2&API=4&LensComp=650&CameraComp=614&SampleComp=0&FLIComp=3&APIComp=4

Again, the canon sharper and less ca?

*****--- People with more money in their pocket might want a 500 f4
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/ISO-12233-Sample-Crops.aspx?Lens=745&Camera=453&Sample=0&FLI=0&API=0&LensComp=653&CameraComp=0&FLIComp=0&APIComp=0

1.4 converter
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/ISO-12233-Sample-Crops.aspx?Lens=745&Camera=453&Sample=0&FLI=1&API=0&LensComp=653&CameraComp=614&SampleComp=0&FLIComp=1&APIComp=1

etcetc

******--- People that love little birdies ( and are body builders in nikon's case) 600mm f4
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/ISO-12233-Sample-Crops.aspx?Lens=748&Camera=453&Sample=0&FLI=0&API=0&LensComp=654&CameraComp=0&FLIComp=0&APIComp=0

1.4 converter
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/ISO-12233-Sample-Crops.aspx?Lens=748&Camera=453&Sample=0&FLI=1&API=1&LensComp=654&CameraComp=614&SampleComp=0&FLIComp=1&APIComp=0

etcetc

Also to take into consideration is the weight.
nikon 600 f4 : 5.1kg
nikon 500 f4 :3.88kg
nikon3002.8: 2.92kg
Canon 600 f4: 3.92kg
canon 500 f4: 3.19kg
canon 3002.8:2.35kg

Nikon users might say Tele lens sharpness is close and the differences aren't big.
Unless TDP cheated on the crops, it looks like quite a reasonable difference , ESPECIALLY with TC's

Nikon users might say it doesn't matter , but thats like canon users saying more DR isn't useful.
Nikon users might argue they are strong , and don't care about the extra weight, but it means you can carry other things....!

I am unaware about AF speed on the different lenses, It is probably close as well....



Feel free to add some more comparisons!, if you look carefully (to the nikon users) you might be able to find a Nikon lens that is actually sharper than the Canon equivalent !

 

[xvnm]

Very interesting idea. Let me add a few samples:

Canon 85mm f/1.2 II (@1.4) vs Nikon 85mm 1.4

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/ISO-12233-Sample-Crops.aspx?Lens=397&Camera=453&Sample=0&FLI=0&API=1&LensComp=641&CameraComp=0&FLIComp=0&APIComp=0

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/ISO-12233-Sample-Crops.aspx?Lens=397&Camera=453&Sample=0&FLI=0&API=1&LensComp=732&CameraComp=614&SampleComp=0&FLIComp=0&APIComp=0

85mm 1.8

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/ISO-12233-Sample-Crops.aspx?Lens=106&Camera=453&Sample=0&FLI=0&API=0&LensComp=791&CameraComp=0&FLIComp=0&APIComp=0

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/ISO-12233-Sample-Crops.aspx?Lens=106&Camera=453&Sample=0&FLI=0&API=0&LensComp=642&CameraComp=0&FLIComp=0&APIComp=0

135mm f2

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/ISO-12233-Sample-Crops.aspx?Lens=108&Camera=453&Sample=0&FLI=0&API=0&LensComp=646&CameraComp=0&FLIComp=0&APIComp=0

 

[sdsr]

Lately there might be a few canon users that feel sad because of being confronted with owning inferior sensors.

I suppose there might be. But in similar vein, even DxO has this:

http://www.dxomark.com/index.php/Publications/DxOMark-Reviews/Which-lenses-should-you-choose-for-your-Canon-EOS-5D-Mark-III/Canon-EOS-5D-Mark-III-vs.-Nikon-D800-Competition-is-closer-than-expected

"When comparing the huge volume of data accumulated over measuring 147 lenses, one very surprising result was revealed. The average sharpness scores of the Canon EOS 5D Mark III matched the Nikon D800 and if the results were based solely on the mean average, the Canon actually out-performed the Nikon.

When using specific lenses (such as the new Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM A) the Nikon can out resolve the Canon. However, taken as a whole, the statistics reveal the EOS 5D MK III is capable of similar sharpness and of achieving a close DxOMark camera/lens score to the Nikon D800. Moreover, that’s despite the latter camera’s 60% extra pixel count."

I'm sure this has been quoted around here before, but I guess it doesn't hurt to repeat it.

 

[tcmatthews]

Lens are why I bough Canon. So this in not much of a surprise. Not to mention in many cases the Canon Lens is also Cheaper than the Nikon lens it out performs.

 

[vlim]

Lens are why I bough Canon. So this in not much of a surprise. Not to mention in many cases the Canon Lens is also Cheaper than the Nikon lens it out performs.

+1 ! both companies raise dramatically their price on their last lenses these past two years...

 

[mackguyver]

Lens are why I bough Canon. So this in not much of a surprise. Not to mention in many cases the Canon Lens is also Cheaper than the Nikon lens it out performs.

+2 and nice to see the OP starting a Canon love thread

 

[Apop]

Lens are why I bough Canon. So this in not much of a surprise. Not to mention in many cases the Canon Lens is also Cheaper than the Nikon lens it out performs.

+2 and nice to see the OP starting a Canon love thread

A lot of people seem only fixated on sensor performance.
Individual skill is hard to discuss, but there are other components responsible for a picture , like a lens

People usually focus on what they are missing in their gear( or on nikon/canon side)
And sometimes forget there are a lot of really good things already there.

If canon gets better sensors the coming years , I can see some trolls switch brands to make fun of nikons outdated lens designs and lack of sharpness.

Either way two competitive brands ensures we keep getting better gear at a fast pace ! , whether it is sensor performance, overall functionalities ( think wifi , gps , maybe 4k/raw video will be standard within a considerate amount of time) , lenses , or other related stuff (flashes / tc's )

 

[mackguyver]

Lens are why I bough Canon. So this in not much of a surprise. Not to mention in many cases the Canon Lens is also Cheaper than the Nikon lens it out performs.

+2 and nice to see the OP starting a Canon love thread

A lot of people seem only fixated on sensor performance.
Individual skill is hard to discuss, but there are other components responsible for a picture , like a lens

People usually focus on what they are missing in their gear( or on nikon/canon side)
And sometimes forget there are a lot of really good things already there.

If canon gets better sensors the coming years , I can see some trolls switch brands to make fun of nikons outdated lens designs and lack of sharpness.

Either way two competitive brands ensures we keep getting better gear at a fast pace ! , whether it is sensor performance, overall functionalities ( think wifi , gps , maybe 4k/raw video will be standard within a considerate amount of time) , lenses , or other related stuff (flashes / tc's )

I agree and competition is a great thing!