Robbie7 Loc: Northampton. England

If the top ten prosumer DSLRs each took the same photo under identifiable conditions and the resulting photographs were produced under the same conditions. How many of us could state which photo belonged to which camera. I think it would be fun to see the results.

photoninja1 Loc: Tampa Florida

Nobody woul be able to ID them. The differences are small.

Robbie7 Loc: Northampton. England

That's what I think, so it begs the question. Why are so many people obsessed with comparing Nikon to Canon to Sony etc etc

Acountry330 Loc: Dothan,Ala USA

Because it it so much fun to say your brand of camera is better, sharper faster; etc.

lighthouse Loc: No Fixed Abode

Just musing myself but .....
I think with some photos there are some people who could tell if they had the raw file to push and pull around a bit.
Maybe not model specific but definitely brand specific.
Certain sensors have certain properties that can become evident. eg Canons crosshatch noise
But if you are talking about inspecting glossy 6x4 prints taken on a sunny day - then I doubt it.
Would be very dependant on what lenses were used too.
Do you do it with model specific lenses or do you use a lens that comes in all mounts?
Some lenses have characteristics that a very knowledgeable person might spot. eg a particular shaped distortion.

DavidT Loc: Maryland

My thoughts...When someone buys Canon or Nikon or Sony or whatever, often they are buying the system; not necessarily the image quality. Image quality can come from either the lens or the sensor. But, one cannot easily distinguish image quality between camera brands without detailed laboratory tests (e.g., color accuracy, resolution, etc.). However, if one doesn't need all the lenses, flashes, and other compatible accessories that come with a particular system, then any of the top brands should be adequate.

Robbie7 Loc: Northampton. England

Yes I agree again. I have also thought the same its just the fun aspect of winding each other up...lol thanks for replying

Robbie7 Loc: Northampton. England

Thanks for replying, at the end of the day i think that any of the top cameras in capable hands can produce stunning images, so all the sayings e.g. the best camera is the one you have with you at the time etc etc. are true. I suppose to be honest I am trying to bring everything round to people learning about photography and the creative possibilities available to them rather than being obsessed with the cost of their gear as I think this is just a means of extortion by the manufacturers on the gullible amongst us, I just love to see creativity and beautiful images produced by ordinary people like me..I hope this makes sense..

perpoto

you have to consider lens.

Digne Loc: MIchigan

I don't think it would matter. You could give a great photographer a lousy camera and still get phenomenal results. So I agree with you...it doesn't matter what camera you use, Just use one!!

Morkstar Loc: Newcastle United Kingdom

I was someone who loved Nikon cameras and lenses for their sheer quality when I was using an F3 back in the day; The Nikon brand was (and is) synonymous with quality (at a price). I jumped ship to Canon due to one thing and that was the truly dreadful user interface of the prosumer digital body I experimented with prior to buying the EOS20d. If I remember correctly it had a digital live-view where the TTL screen should have been (I may be wrong). I was so disappointed with the Nikon and the EOS interface just made perfect sense. My lenses are all Canon fit now so wouldn't change due in part to that but in all I am happy with Canon gear now. I definitely perceive (only a perception) that there is a a touch of snobbery (both inverted and normal) between Nikon and Canon users.

Perhaps (not to start a fight) our choice of camera aligns to the class system in many respects, a bit like one's choice of supermarket, from Aldi & Lidl through to Fortnum & Mason. At the medium-value level of Sainsburys and looking up the "quality" ladder, Sainsbury's shoppers may think that M&S or Waitrose shoppers (and upwards) are spendthrift and perhaps a bit snobbish. High quality shoppers may feel comfortably superior with their F&M bags and badged goods and the whole experience of being in that camp.

There has be be reason why there are 2 distinct SLR camps between Nikon and Canon (to focus on just the 2 biggest players) and it must be more than image or camera quality. As stated earlier, for the most part they're pretty indistinguishable at a 6x4 or 10x8 print size and even if they are, a good photographer would be able to get fabulous images from either a Nikon or Canon (at the same price-point).

Some people love Nikon, others Canon (and Sony etc.); vive la difference I say - Gives us something to squabble about I suppose.

joanef

I notice the greatest difference is in what lense I use.

Tango Kilo Loc: Summerfield, North Carolina

Ford vs Chevy. Then there's that other foreign job called a Toyota.
Oh yeah, lets not forget a Dodge and I think Nissan is still around. They are all trucks by design and you buy the one you trust and depend on. It's a baby boomer thing.

Robbie7 Loc: Northampton. England

All the comments made are valid in my opinion and I am the biggest critic going, but I have to be honest sometimes I look at comparison images in magazines etc and the only time I can distinquish between some of them is at 100% crop and even then the verdict given at the end probably chooses a different conclusion to mine as to which is the best..Perhaps I need to go to SpecSavers..lol

Robbie7 Loc: Northampton. England

Hi Jonef, I too know their is a big difference in lenses. I have 3 main lenses that I use at the moment, a sigma 10-20 a Canon 50mm f1.4 and a Canon 100mm L macro. There is a noticeable difference between the 3. The Canon 100mm L is by far the sharpest, then the Canon 50mm, followed by the Sigma. But sometimes I visit the galleries of some the people espousing the virtues of this or that gear and wonder at the poor standard of their photographs.