Although these two cameras are far a part one from another, both price wise and market share wise, it’s the first time in a long time that there is a possibility to compare between Nikon and Canon under the same resolution.

Canon EOS 400D: Jpeg Fine, PS: Standard, AutoWB, ISO1600, 1/100,
Canon 50mm@f9
Nikon D80: Jpeg Fine, Optimize Image: Normal, AutoWB, ISO1600, 1/125,
Nikkor 50mm@f9

Canon EOS 400D	Nikon D80

Sharpening

As you can see, the sharpening level in the Canon EOS 400D is a little bit higher, this might also be due to the strength level of the edges after the noise reduction.

Details

Nikon D80’s noise reduction system leaves less detail compared to the Canon’s.

demosaicing, false colors

Nikon D80’s output is smoother and has less false color and demosaicing problems, as can be expected from the most advanced noise reduction system.

Contrast and color

Nikon’s noise reduction system removes some saturation from the dark zones. Correspondingly we can see that the EOS 400D leaves more color and details in the dark zones.

Noise reduction

Nikon D80’s noise reduction system is more advanced than the one implemented in the EOS 400D. The Nikon D80 removes color noise almost absolutely and leaves very little edge problems. On the other hand, the Canon EOS 400D leaves more color noise bit delivers more details. We would choose less details and less color noise than the opposite under high ISO, but that is a matter of personal taste.

Notes

Canon is definitely stretching the DIGIC II’s limits with the 10MP resolution. We hope to see cleaner and better results in Canon’s future cameras. In the mean while we are happier with Nikon D80’s results in high ISO.

Although these two cameras are far a part one from another, both price wise and market share wise, it’s the first time in a long time that there is a possibility to compare between Nikon and Canon under the same resolution.

Canon EOS 400D: Jpeg Fine, PS: Standard, AutoWB, ISO100, 1/6,
Canon 50mm@f9
Nikon D80: Jpeg Fine, Optimize Image: Normal, AutoWB, ISO100, 1/8,
Nikkor 50mm@f9

Canon EOS 400D	Nikon D80

Sharpening

As always, the default sharpening mode of the Nikon is lower than Canon’s. The Nikon D80, considered more professional, shows lower sharpening levels than the Canon 400D at this ISO. More over, there are significant differences in these two sharpening systems. We showed on different tests that our images are optically sharp from top to bottom. The reason these images have uneven sharpness in different zones is due to the sharpening mechanism on both cameras that work differently on the regions of the image. The systems don’t work the same on different contrast zones.

We tend to prefer the Canon’s sharpening system (despite it’s halos), it has a crisp and vivid feeling to it (as in all cameras with Picture Style). Similar sharpening levels can be achieved with the Nikon D80, but even high sharpening doesn’t reach the same crispiness, as this camera is aimed at the more professional consumers. (In contrast to the Nikon D50 that shows crisp and aggressive sharpening.

Details

Both cameras show a very similar amount of details. Even though it might seem that the Canon 400D had a little bit more details, these details exist in the Nikon D80 but need a stronger level of sharpening to make them emphasized.

demosaicing, false colors

The Nikon D80 doesn’t show any severe false colors problems and the demosaicing patterns are hidden pretty well with a cubic pattern. We assume that this pattern comes to give an illusion of a response to the high frequencies. You can see some color in the pattern, but in a reasonable amount. With DIGIC II in the Canon 400D there is a good false color level bit the hiding of the demosaicing problems isn’t so elegant and can be improved. We hope to see this improvment in the DIGIC III.

Contrast and color

The different approaches of the two companies can really be seen here. The Nikon D80 is softer with less contrast in it, while the Canon 400D has more details in the dark zones, stronger and more vivid colors. Notice cut 6, where the detail in the girl’s face are almost unseen. Under the Nikon D80, her face is a bit too saturated. You should remember that in both cameras everything can be changed via the menus and according to the shooting scene.

Noise reduction

It is hard to discuss the noise reduction subject under 100 ISO, we will check it in our 1600 ISO comparison.

Notes

It will be hard to say that one of these cameras is better than the other. Both companies have things to improve. It seems that no matter what camera you will choose you will be able to get a similar result.

The Canon EOS 30D and the Canon EOS 400D are both equipped with the DIGIC II image processing pipeline. However, the EOS 400D has a 10 MP CMOS sensor oppose to 8 MP CMOS sensor in the Canon EOS 30D. It will be interesting to see if the two more mega pixels of the Canon EOS 400D provide any disadvantage on the 8MP sensor at 100ISO.

Canon EOS 400D: Jpeg Fine, PS: Standard, AutoWB, ISO100, 1/6,
Canon 50mm@f9
Canon EOS 30D: Jpeg Fine, PS: Standard, AutoWB, ISO100, 1/8,
Canon 50mm@f9

Canon EOS 400D	Canon EOS 30D

Sharpening

Due to the picture style system, the sharpening levels are equal in both cameras, that’s the idea behind this system and it seems to work.

Details

Although the 10MP sensor of the EOS 400D has a small advantage, these differences does put the MP war in proportion. The differences appear in cut 11 where you can see the fabric texture better detailed with the EOS 400D. Also note cut 2 in between the sketch lines.

demosaicing, false colors

These problems are not new with the DIGIC II. Both camera don’t deal ideally with demosaicing problems, and in the EOS 30D there is are a bit more false colors. It seems that the EOS 400D’s sensor is coping better with problematic frequencies, but not much better than the EOS 30D.

Contrast and color

Again, due to the picture style system the shadows and contrast are pretty similar. Because the Canon EOS 30D overexposes in about +0.4/+0.5EV, we had to set its exposure down by -0.3EV. There are still minor contrast differences between the two cameras despite that.

Noise reduction

It is hard to discuss the noise reduction subject in 100 ISO, check the 1600 ISO comparison.

Notes

After evaluating these results, 10 MP don’t seem to create a big advantage. With DIGIC II and the picture style system we get quite similar results. 10 mega pixels can get the enthusiast printer the extra push needed for big prints, and can resolve some false color issues DIGIC II should have handled.

The pixel size of the Canon EOS 400D is 5.7µm, small as all other 10 MP DSLRs. The Canon EOS 30D has a 8MP sensor so its pixel size is bigger, 6.4µm. Keeping in mind those two cameras are using the same DIGIC II image pipeline, an high ISO scene should be really interesting. Can the old DIGIC II cope with the extra pixel-size weight?

Canon EOS 400D: Jpeg Fine, PS: Standard, AutoWB, ISO1600, 1/100,
Canon 50mm@f9
Canon EOS 30D: Jpeg Fine, PS: Standard, AutoWB, ISO1600, 1/125,
Canon 50mm@f9

Canon EOS 400D	Canon EOS 30D

Sharpening

Due to the picture style system, the sharpening levels are equal in both cameras. If we compare it to 100 ISO, that sharpening levels were somewhat lowered.

Details

The 10MP sensor of the Canon EOS 400D has a small advantage. If we watch carefully we can find a few details that are softer in the Canon EOS 30D.

demosaicing, false colors

These symptoms are reduced when shooting in high ISO. Although the Canon EOS 30D has a little bit more problems at cut 13.

Contrast and color

Again, due to the picture style system the shadows and contrast are pretty similar.

Noise reduction

We didn’t expect to see much difference in the noise reduction area considering that these are the same algorithms of the DIGIC II that are doing the job. There is little differences in the dark areas of the image, where signal to noise ratio is low. In these areas we can see a tiny bit of an advantage to the EOS 30D due to it’s lower MP, having lower pixel density. As all Canon cameras based on the DIGIC II there is a small amount of chroma noise.

Notes

It seems that Canon has stretched the limits of the DIGIC II with the EOS 400D. We would say that 8MP is the acceptable limit of the DIGIC II. The EOS 30D has less noise and an almost similar amount of detail. It’s hard to say if the price of some noise is worth the addition of some detail.

Welcome to our color transformation database. Here you can compare, explore and understand how color is transformed by the cameras we test. To understand more about this database please read this help file.

Lab Plot

Canon EOS 1D Mark III Standard Canon EOS 1D Mark III Portrait

Delta C

Visual Differences

Canon EOS 1D Mark III Standard Canon EOS 1D Mark III Portrait ColorChecker 24 reference

Gamut (out of Gretagmacbeth DC chart)

Gamma (Luma)

Our Noise analysis contains a database of Noise measurements we have made in our lab. The readings below are the average of standard division values taken from the 6 gray patches in the Gretagmacbeth 24 patch chart. You can read more about our lab noise tests here.

Please choose one or more cameras to compare noise standard division statistics.