I started using a Nikon D100 a couple weeks ago. I had it for one week, then the built-in flash broke (more specifically, the sensor indicating if the flash was up or down broke, so the camera would always fire the flash even if it were down - among other issues with this, it also then screwed up the metering, since it assumed the flash would be involved).
I then returned the D100 and got a Canon D60. I never had both at the same time, so I couldn't do a real side-by-side comparison - this is not a thorough, scientific, side-by-side comparison between the two cameras! But here are a few differences/issues that I happened to notice/remember.
My comparison may be a little biased towards Nikon, since before the D100 I had an F100 for a few years, and until now I'd never used a Canon camera.
See here for a few sample pictures taken with the Nikon D100 (converted to JPG for easier downloading/viewing); see here for a few sample pictures taken with the Canon D60 (same conversion). Note that the purpose of these pictures wasn't for content, but to try to find things that would test sharpness and color.
| Nikon D100 | Canon D60 |
|---|---|
| extremely difficult to get CF cards out (well, a microdrive anyway), coupled with a flimsy CF door | much easier access, and a somewhat sturdier-seeming door |
| Flash broke after one week of very unstrenuous activity (wasn't knocked around at all, only took about 75 pictures in that time). Of course, this is probably a fluke - any piece of complicated electronic equipment is going to occasionally get one off the production line with an issue. | No problems so far |
| built-in flash is spring-loaded | built-in flash pop-up mechanism is smooth, motorized |
| I think the D100 flash is slightly stronger, but not sure | really pretty much just a fill-flash, though it can be used for relatively close-up indoor pictures in a pinch |
| built-in flash never pops up automatically | built-in flash will pop up automatically when necessary in when in PHD modes |
| convert NEF via a Photoshop plug-in | convert RAW via either a TWAIN driver or an ImageConverter application (both very awkward to use, IMO). However, Adobe has released a plug-in for Photoshop that handles this conversion without using Canon's software, and is supposed to be very good (although I have not tried it yet myself). |
| NEF files about 10Mb | RAW files about 5-6Mb |
| each picture taken in NEF mode results in one file on the memory card | each picture taken in RAW mode results in two files on the memory card, plus there are two "image control" files per folder that seem to be updated/involved |
| spot-metering option | partial-metering option (not the same thing) |
| firmware upgrade requires mailing in the camera to Nikon for an unspecified amount of time | firmware upgrade downloadable via the web and can be installed at home |
| hard plastic cover included for rear screen | no rear screen cover provided |
| no direct experience with VR lenses | only slight experience with IS lenses, but I've read IS is generally considered superior to VR |
| no PHD modes | PHD modes |
| I think only the main battery is replaceable/rechargable. Not sure if there was a separate clock battery. | Rechargable main battery, replacable clock battery |
| Nikon is very specific about what memory card brands/models are supported in the D100 | the D60 user's manual has one small statement about recommending Canon brand CF cards, but nothing about not supporting other cards or which other brands/models are allowed |
| minimum ISO 200 | minimum ISO 100 |
| metering seems to have a tendency to underexpose, I've heard rumours this helps preserve detail in shadow areas | if the D60 does this, I haven't noticed |
| allows choice of colorspace | only sRGB is used |
| I don't think the D100 had a custom white-balance option, but I don't remember for sure | offers custom white-balance options |
| I don't think the Nikon NEF plug-in offered the ability to set white-balance based on specified sections of the photo | Canon PC software allows you to set the white-balance based on a specific section of the photo when converting from RAW mode (post-processing) |
| I don't think the Nikon NEF plug-in would/could tell you which white-balance option the camera would have chosen for that picture - you have to choose a white-balance option based on your best guess | D60 PC software offers the option of using the white-balance the camera wanted to use when doing RAW conversions |
| I'm not sure if Nikon's IF lens feature means that the lens doesn't rotate during focusing (I've never used one) | some Canon lenses offer "rear focusing," meaning the barrel does not turn when focusing (particularly useful for polarizer filters) |
| I never tried any Nikon lenses with the "Silent Wave" feature | Canon USM lenses are really remarkably quiet |
| cannot use manual focus while in autofocus mode (need to switch camera to manual focus mode) | allows manual focus without changing modes |
| I never used the D100 in JPG mode, only in NEF mode, but I heard rumours that its JPG algorithm tended to make the images a little soft | I haven't used the D60 in JPG mode, only in RAW mode, but I haven't heard of any JPG issues |
| some NEF pictures taken with an ED lens were still a little soft, though using Photoshop's unsharp mask did tend to help | so far RAW D60 pictures using a non-L lens seem slightly sharper |
| always shows the # frames remaining on the card, even when the camera is off | when the camera is off, all displays are blank |
| extremely fast wake-up time from being completely turned off | wake-up time from being completely turned off a little slower |
| autofocus time a little slow using a Nikkor 70-300mm f/4-5.6D ED lens (admittedly, this lens does not have Nikon's "Silent Wave" feature which is supposed to be faster autofocus) | extremely fast autofocus using a Canon 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM lens |
| not sure if the rear screen could be used as a viewfinder | rear screen definitely cannot be used as a viewfinder |
| no color bias I could detect | maybe a slight red bias, not sure |
| I sent an email to Nikon technical support with a question about the firmware upgrade. After two weeks, still no response at all. | I sent an email to Canon technical support with a question about the built-in flash and got a response two days later |
| no issues with flash metering, but I'm also used to Nikon cameras | metering when in shutter or aperture priority mode and the built-in flash is up seems a little strange to me, though apparently this is how all Canon EOS cameras work. This article helped explain it. |
| general feeling of being somewhat cheaply put together - nowhere near as solid-feeling as the F100 | seems somewhat better constructed than the D100 (see earlier note about the CF door), but still not as solid as the Nikon F100 |