With Canon and Nikon both fighting for the entry-level market, they have both unveiled video friendly digital SLRs to tempt enthusiast and professional videographers. Despite the two digital SLRs coming from different producers, they have a lot in common. They are both useful upgrades to current digital cameras (the Canon T3i and the D5100), and are designed to consolidate their markets by extending into video making, which both Canon and Nikon recognize as potential areas for growth. It is clear that Nikon and Canon are regarding the beginner level market as a major battleground, particularly in the USA. 
The Canon T4i doesn't feel quite as sturdy as the D5200, but it is solid enough for everyday use. It is a slightly larger than the D5200 though, and so much easier for someone with average sized hands to hold. The scroll-wheel clicks comfortingly as it spins and the rear buttons are tactile. The modelling on the back of the Canon T4i is well considered and has more buttons, making searching into the menu settings a lot more speedy and easier. Some are multi-functional, which can need some thought. For example, the same button that begins recording video in movie mode also starts Live View in still shooting mode. The small downside of this is that some of the buttons are quite close together. However, the Canon T4i offers a dedicated ISO function, and immediate access to white balance, drive mode, and AF settings (the D5200 lacks all of these). There is an IR sensor on the front of the camera, but no Fn button as there isn't really a need for it.
Both cameras have an articulating LCD backscreen. The Canon T4i has a noticeably larger resolution than that of the D5200. The Canon's liquid crystal display view screen has 1040 thousand dots, while the D5200 has 921 thousand. One of the the Canon T4i's unique selling points is that the liquid crystal display viewingscreen is a touchscreen. This makes it much easier to configure settings and, more importantly, it lets you choose a focus point through Live View. You can also shoot your photograph by tapping on the area where you want the camera to focus. These are very clever and useful features, taken from the Compact System Camera (CSC) ranges that are out now. It is excellent to see this technology being utilized by the Canon T4i as it makes it far more useable than any other DSLR in its range.
The Canon's phase detect AF system is tremendously fast. Although it has only 9-point Auto Focus system, as opposed to the 39-points of the D5200, it is both fast and accurate for normal photography. The Canon T4i doesn't have a dedicated AF assist light, but it can use its built-in flash in these instances. The T4i offers full-time AutoFocus in video mode, which matches the D5200 and, with Canon's STM lenses, the focussing is silent enough for shooting video. It also has an external Mic socket. It is reasonable to say that the Canon Rebel T4i is possibly the better digital camera for shooting video. The LCD view screen, full-time AutoFocus, and external Mic make it appropriate for your everyday video requirements.
The Nikon D5200 is a very compact camera and smaller than it's predecessor, the D5100. This might create issues for those of us with big (average!) hands. It doesn't always have the feel of a regular DSLR, especially when fitted to a larger lens. Although it doesn't equal the build specifications of the magnesium alloy D7000, the toughened plastic body feels fairly solid and sturdy. The design at the rear is easy to navigate with a good selection of buttons to make access to the multiple functions straightforward. Live view is easily accessible and film recording can be started with a press of a single button. It has just one control wheel which is snappy and responsive. There is an IR spot on the front of the camera and also a dedicated AF assist light, which the Canon T4i lacks. On the right side there is a customizable Fn button which can be used to manage image quality, ISO, active-D lighting, or white balance (there are no dedicated single buttons for these functions). The pop-up flash automatic in green mode, meaning that the flash will open on its own if the camera thinks it is needed.
The liquid crystal display screen is inherited from the D5100, where it was very popular. As with with the Canon T4i, it is very useful for shooting at strange angles and is particularly useful when shooting films. The help features are excellent and make the Nikon D5200 quite beginner friendly. The display rotates with the camera, meaning that text on the status screen won't appear sideways when you're photographing portraits. The playback mode is quick and efficient you won't need to wait for images to load. And there is a comprehensive info screen which lets you control just about every shooting parameter that the camera has t choose from. However the four way selector is not as simple to use as the one on the Canon. The Nikon D5200 doesn't have as many buttons on the back as the Canon T4i, making some of the menu options difficult to locate. The new(ish) Expeed 3 processor makes the Nikon fast and decisive in phase detect AF and extremely fast in Live View. The D5200's articulated screen comes in handy for shooting video, and Nikon have raised the number of frame rate options, introducing 60i and 50i. Like the Canon T4i, it will accept an external microphone and has full-time video AutoFocus.
At low very ISO, the Canon T4i equals the Nikon, though the D5200 is slightly better at maximum (non-expanded) ISO. Overall, the Nikon provides slightly better image quality than the Canon. Remember, the Canon T4i also has a physically smaller sensor than the D5200. It may not seem like much, but 1.6x rather than 1.5x, along with the increased resolution, puts the Nikon D5200 in the lead. For more information on the sensors, take a look at the sensor scores published by DxO labs.
In summary, the Canon Rebel T4i has great AutoFocus, a great articulated touchscreen and is a really superb video camera. The Nikon D5200 has remarkable, fast AutoFocus, a good articulating screen, a great buffer/processor and very useful in-camera guides.
I think if you had no lens loyalty either way, the Canon T4i would be the better camera to purchase. The difference in image quality is not really noticeable under usual conditions and the Canon certainly equals the D5200 on the video front. Whilst both digital cameras are superb in their own ways, the Nikon D5200 is more expensive than the small improvements over the Canon T4i would warrant.
The Canon T4i doesn't feel quite as sturdy as the D5200, but it is solid enough for everyday use. It is a slightly larger than the D5200 though, and so much easier for someone with average sized hands to hold. The scroll-wheel clicks comfortingly as it spins and the rear buttons are tactile. The modelling on the back of the Canon T4i is well considered and has more buttons, making searching into the menu settings a lot more speedy and easier. Some are multi-functional, which can need some thought. For example, the same button that begins recording video in movie mode also starts Live View in still shooting mode. The small downside of this is that some of the buttons are quite close together. However, the Canon T4i offers a dedicated ISO function, and immediate access to white balance, drive mode, and AF settings (the D5200 lacks all of these). There is an IR sensor on the front of the camera, but no Fn button as there isn't really a need for it.
Both cameras have an articulating LCD backscreen. The Canon T4i has a noticeably larger resolution than that of the D5200. The Canon's liquid crystal display view screen has 1040 thousand dots, while the D5200 has 921 thousand. One of the the Canon T4i's unique selling points is that the liquid crystal display viewingscreen is a touchscreen. This makes it much easier to configure settings and, more importantly, it lets you choose a focus point through Live View. You can also shoot your photograph by tapping on the area where you want the camera to focus. These are very clever and useful features, taken from the Compact System Camera (CSC) ranges that are out now. It is excellent to see this technology being utilized by the Canon T4i as it makes it far more useable than any other DSLR in its range.
The Canon's phase detect AF system is tremendously fast. Although it has only 9-point Auto Focus system, as opposed to the 39-points of the D5200, it is both fast and accurate for normal photography. The Canon T4i doesn't have a dedicated AF assist light, but it can use its built-in flash in these instances. The T4i offers full-time AutoFocus in video mode, which matches the D5200 and, with Canon's STM lenses, the focussing is silent enough for shooting video. It also has an external Mic socket. It is reasonable to say that the Canon Rebel T4i is possibly the better digital camera for shooting video. The LCD view screen, full-time AutoFocus, and external Mic make it appropriate for your everyday video requirements.
The Nikon D5200 is a very compact camera and smaller than it's predecessor, the D5100. This might create issues for those of us with big (average!) hands. It doesn't always have the feel of a regular DSLR, especially when fitted to a larger lens. Although it doesn't equal the build specifications of the magnesium alloy D7000, the toughened plastic body feels fairly solid and sturdy. The design at the rear is easy to navigate with a good selection of buttons to make access to the multiple functions straightforward. Live view is easily accessible and film recording can be started with a press of a single button. It has just one control wheel which is snappy and responsive. There is an IR spot on the front of the camera and also a dedicated AF assist light, which the Canon T4i lacks. On the right side there is a customizable Fn button which can be used to manage image quality, ISO, active-D lighting, or white balance (there are no dedicated single buttons for these functions). The pop-up flash automatic in green mode, meaning that the flash will open on its own if the camera thinks it is needed.
The liquid crystal display screen is inherited from the D5100, where it was very popular. As with with the Canon T4i, it is very useful for shooting at strange angles and is particularly useful when shooting films. The help features are excellent and make the Nikon D5200 quite beginner friendly. The display rotates with the camera, meaning that text on the status screen won't appear sideways when you're photographing portraits. The playback mode is quick and efficient you won't need to wait for images to load. And there is a comprehensive info screen which lets you control just about every shooting parameter that the camera has t choose from. However the four way selector is not as simple to use as the one on the Canon. The Nikon D5200 doesn't have as many buttons on the back as the Canon T4i, making some of the menu options difficult to locate. The new(ish) Expeed 3 processor makes the Nikon fast and decisive in phase detect AF and extremely fast in Live View. The D5200's articulated screen comes in handy for shooting video, and Nikon have raised the number of frame rate options, introducing 60i and 50i. Like the Canon T4i, it will accept an external microphone and has full-time video AutoFocus.
At low very ISO, the Canon T4i equals the Nikon, though the D5200 is slightly better at maximum (non-expanded) ISO. Overall, the Nikon provides slightly better image quality than the Canon. Remember, the Canon T4i also has a physically smaller sensor than the D5200. It may not seem like much, but 1.6x rather than 1.5x, along with the increased resolution, puts the Nikon D5200 in the lead. For more information on the sensors, take a look at the sensor scores published by DxO labs.
In summary, the Canon Rebel T4i has great AutoFocus, a great articulated touchscreen and is a really superb video camera. The Nikon D5200 has remarkable, fast AutoFocus, a good articulating screen, a great buffer/processor and very useful in-camera guides.
I think if you had no lens loyalty either way, the Canon T4i would be the better camera to purchase. The difference in image quality is not really noticeable under usual conditions and the Canon certainly equals the D5200 on the video front. Whilst both digital cameras are superb in their own ways, the Nikon D5200 is more expensive than the small improvements over the Canon T4i would warrant.
About the Author:
Jeremy Bayston has worked in the photography industry for two decades. He has a particular interest in digital imagery. Learn more about the new Nikon D5200 on his website www.d5200.org and even download a free 25 page guide on the new camera. Discover more about the Canon rebel T4i on his website www.rebel-T4i.com. Both sites offer expert advice and reviews of Nikon and Canon products.
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