Compared to...

A glance at the feature comparison table below, and the 'in favor' points and it's pretty clear that Nikon has stolen a lead over Canon feature for feature. The D200's $300 premium looks perfectly acceptable when you consider the advantages it offers, superior build and ergonomics, a better user interface with advanced features like text comments, user memories, multiple WB memories and the interesting and often overlooked parameter driven automatic ISO (almost an 'ISO priority' mode).

Canon however aren't completely defenseless, as we've already seen in our high ISO noise comparison the EOS 30D can deliver considerably cleaner and more detailed images at ISO 1600 and 3200. We also know from our D200 review that it didn't offer a huge resolution advantage over the EOS 20D, so now lets see how the EOS 30D stacks up.

In favor of the Canon EOS 30D (vs. the Nikon D200)

• Better image parameter control
• Rear dial is easier to use in the field than a multi-selector
• Canon CMOS sensor delivers better high ISO performance
• Slightly smaller and lighter
• Value for money ($300 saving)

In favor of the Nikon D200 (vs. the Canon EOS 30D)

• 2 megapixel advantage (368 horiz., 256 vert. pixels more)
• Nicer menu system user interface (inc. help)
• Built-in AF assist lamp
• Parameter controllable Auto ISO
• User memories
• Four manual white balance memories
• Text comment set in camera
• GPS device data support
• Faster USB 2.0 (5 MB/sec)
• Detailed battery status
• Additional features (Multiple exposures, Interval shooting, etc.)

	Canon EOS 30D	Nikon D200	Canon EOS 5D
Price (body only)	US: $1,399	US: $1,699	US: $3,299
Body material	Magnesium alloy	Magnesium alloy (rubber seals)	Magnesium alloy
Sensor	22.5 x 15.0 mm CMOS 8.2 million effective pixels	• 23.6 x 15.8 mm CCD (DX format) • 10.2 million effective pixels	• 35.8 x 23.9 mm CMOS (full frame) • 12.8 million effective pixels
Image sizes	3504 x 2336 [L] 2544 x 1696 [M] 1728 x 1152 [S]	• 3872 x 2592 [L] • 2896 x 1944 [M] • 1936 x 1296 [S]	• 4368 x 2912 [L] • 3168 x 2112 [M] • 2496 x 1664 [S]
FOV crop	1.6x	1.5x	None (1.0x)
Lens support	• Canon EF mount • Includes EF-S lenses	• Nikon F-mount • Includes DX lenses • Older lenses via AI connector	• Canon EF mount • Excluding EF-S lenses
File formats	• RAW (comp. lossless) • JPEG (3 levels)	• RAW (comp, uncomp) • JPEG (3 levels)	• RAW (comp. lossless) • JPEG (3 levels)
Auto focus	• 9 area TTL • Range: -0.5 to +18 EV	• 11/7 area TTL • Range: -1 to +19 EV	• 9 area TTL + 6 'invisible' • Range: -0.5 to +18 EV
AF illuminator	Yes, flash strobe, must be up	Yes, built-in lamp	No, external flash only
Color space	• sRGB • Adobe RGB	• sRGB (2 modes) • Adobe RGB	• sRGB • Adobe RGB
Metering sensor	• 35 area sensor • 1 - 20 EV working range	• 1005 pixel CCD sensor • 0 - 20 EV working range	• 35 area sensor • 1 - 20 EV working range
Metering	• Evaluative (35 area) • Partial • Spot • Center-weighted average	• 3D Color Matrix Metering II • Center-weighted average • Spot	• Evaluative (35 area) • Partial • Spot • Center-weighted average
Exp. comp.	+/- 2.0 EV	+/- 5.0 EV	+/- 2.0 EV
EV steps	0.3 or 0.5 EV	0.3, 0.5 or 1.0 EV	0.3 or 0.5 EV
Sensitivity	• ISO 100 - 1600 • ISO 3200 with boost	• ISO 100 - 1600 • Up to ISO 3200 with boost	• ISO 100 - 1600 • ISO 50 & 3200 with boost
Auto ISO	Automatic, parameters fixed	User controlled maximum ISO and slowest shutter speed	Automatic, parameters fixed
Shutter speed	• 30 - 1/8000 sec • 1/250 sec X-Sync speed	• 30 - 1/8000 sec • 1/250 sec X-Sync speed	• 30 - 1/8000 sec • 1/200 sec X-Sync speed
Continuous speed	• 5 fps (H) • 3 fps	• 5 fps (CH) • 4 - 1 fps (CL)	3 fps
Continuous buffer	• 39 JPEG frames • 11 RAW frames	• 37 JPEG frames • 22 RAW frames	• 60 JPEG frames • 17 RAW frames
White balance	• Auto • Six presets • Manual preset • Kelvin temperature • Fine tunable	• Auto • Six presets • Manual presets (four) • Kelvin temperature • Fine tunable	• Auto • Six presets • Manual preset • Kelvin temperature • Fine tunable
Image params	• Six preset picture styles • Three user sets • Sharpening: 8 levels • Contrast: 9 levels • Saturation: 9 levels • Color tone: 9 levels • B&W filter/tone: 5 of each	• Six preset looks • Sharpening: Auto, 6 levels • Tone: Auto, 3 levels, Custom • Color: 3 modes • Saturation: Auto, 3 levels • Hue: -9° to +9°	• Six preset picture styles • Three user sets • Sharpening: 8 levels • Contrast: 9 levels • Saturation: 9 levels • Color tone: 9 levels • B&W filter/tone: 5 of each
Built-in flash	Yes	Yes	No
Custom button	No	Yes	No
User memories	No	• 4 Shooting menu • 4 Custom functions menu	1 additional via 'C' mode
Embed comment	Owner name set via software	Comment set in-camera	Owner name set via software
Viewfinder	• Eyepoint 20 mm • Frame coverage 95% • Magnification approx 0.9x • Precision matte screen	• Eyepoint 19.5 mm • Frame coverage 95% • Magnification approx. 0.94x • B-type Bright View Clear Matte II • Optional grid lines	• Eyepoint 20 mm • Frame coverage 96% • Magnification approx 0.71x • Precision matte screen (removable)
Other features	• Mirror-lockup (opt. 2 sec) • Auto depth of field • Scene modes	• Image Overlay • Multiple Exposure • Interval Timer Shooting	• Mirror-lockup (opt. 2 sec)
LCD monitor	• 2.5 " TFT LCD • 230,000 pixels	• 2.5 " TFT LCD • 230,000 pixels • Removable protective cover	• 2.5 " TFT LCD • 230,000 pixels
Wi-Fi	WFT-E1 802.11 b/g (option)	WT-3 802.11 b/g (option)	WFT-E1 802.11 b/g (option)
GPS	No	Yes, via MC-35 cable (option)	No
USB	USB 2.0 Hi-Speed (approx. 3.6 MB/sec)	USB 2.0 Hi-Speed (approx. 5 MB/sec)	USB 2.0 Hi-Speed (approx. 2.5 MB/sec)
Battery	BP-511A (7.4 V, 1390 mAh)	EN-EL3e (7.4 V, 1500 mAh)	BP-511A (7.4 V, 1390 mAh)
Battery status	Battery life (4 stages)	• Remaining charge (%) • No. of shots since last charge • Battery life (5 stage)	Battery life (3 stage)
Vertical grip	BG-E2 (option)	MB-D200 (option)	BG-E4 (option)
Software bundle	Canon DPP Canon ZoomBrowser EX	PictureProject	Canon DPP Canon ZoomBrowser EX
Dimensions	144 x 106 x 74 mm (5.6 x 4.2 x 2.9 in)	147 x 113 x 74 mm (5.8 x 4.4 x 2.9 in)	152 x 113 x 75 mm (6.0 x 4.4 x 2.9 in)
Weight (no batt)	706 g (1.6 lb)	830 g (1.8 lb)	810 g (1.8 lb)