With Canon and Nikon both competing to dominate the beginner level category, they have both released video friendly digital SLRs to tempt enthusiast and professional videographers. Despite the two DSLRs coming from different companies, 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 see as potential areas for expansion. It is clear that Nikon and Canon are treating the beginner level market as a major battleground, particularly in the States. 
The Canon T4i doesn't feel quite as tough 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 normal sized hands to grip. The scroll-wheel clicks reassuringly as it spins and the rear buttons are responsive. The modelling on the back of the Canon T4i is well considered and has more buttons, making delving into the menu options a lot quicker and easier. Some are multi-functional, which can take a little thought. For example, the same button that commences 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 too close together. However, the Canon T4i offers a dedicated ISO button, and immediate access to white balance, drive mode, and AF settings (the D5200 doesn't have any of these). There is an IR sensor on the front of the camera, but no Fn button as there isn't really any requirement for it.
Both cameras have an articulating liquid crystal display view screen. The Canon T4i has a recognizable larger resolution than that of the D5200. The Canon's LCD backscreen has 1040 thousand dots, while the D5200 has 921 thousand. One of the the Canon T4i's best selling points is that the LCD 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 take your photograph by tapping on the point where you want the DSLR to focus. These are very innovative and useful options, taken from the Compact System Camera (CSC) categories that are out now. It is splendid to see this technology being picked up by the Canon T4i as it makes it far more accessible than any other camera in its category.
The Canon's phase detect AutoFocus system is exceptionally fast. Whilst it has only 9-point AF system, as opposed to the 39-points of the D5200, it is both responsive and accurate for general-purpose shooting. The Canon T4i lacks a dedicated AF assist light, but it can use its built-in flash in these circumstances. The T4i supports full-time AutoFocus in video mode, which competes with 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 fair to say that the Canon Rebel T4i is possibly the better digital camera for shooting video. The liquid crystal display viewingscreen, full-time AutoFocus, and external Mic make it ideal for your everyday video needs.
The Nikon D5200 is a solidly built camera and smaller than it's fore runner, the D5100. This might cause issues for those of us with big (average!) hands. It sometimes doesn't have the feel of a regular DSLR, especially when carrying a larger lens. Although it fails to match the build specifications of the magnesium alloy D7000, the tough plastic casing feels reasonably solid and sturdy. The design at the rear is easy to navigate with an array of buttons to make access to the various options simple to follow. Live view is easily accessible and video recording can be started with a press of a single button. It has just a single control wheel which is snappy and responsive. There is an IR spot on the front of the body and also a dedicated AF assist light, which the Canon T4i fails to have. On the right side there is a customizable Fn function which can be used to control 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 pop up on its own if the camera thinks it is required.
The liquid crystal display screen is taken from the D5100, where it was enormously popular. Like with the Canon T4i, it is very handy for shooting at strange angles and is exceptionally useful when shooting video. The help features are excellent and make the Nikon D5200 quite novice friendly. The display rotates with the camera, meaning that information on the status screen won't appear sideways when you're taking uprights. The playback mode is quick and efficient you won't have to wait for photos to load. And there is a wide-ranging info screen which lets you manage just about every shooting parameter that the camera has t choose from. However the four way selector is not as easy 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 hard 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 increased the choices 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 matches the Nikon, though the D5200 is a little better at maximum (non-expanded) ISO. Overall, the Nikon delivers 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, combined with the increased resolution, puts the Nikon D5200 on top. For more information on the sensors, take a look at the sensor scores published by DxO labs.
In summary, the Canon Rebel T4i has superb AutoFocus, a great articulating 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 average conditions and the Canon certainly equals the D5200 on the video front. Whilst both DSLRs 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 tough 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 normal sized hands to grip. The scroll-wheel clicks reassuringly as it spins and the rear buttons are responsive. The modelling on the back of the Canon T4i is well considered and has more buttons, making delving into the menu options a lot quicker and easier. Some are multi-functional, which can take a little thought. For example, the same button that commences 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 too close together. However, the Canon T4i offers a dedicated ISO button, and immediate access to white balance, drive mode, and AF settings (the D5200 doesn't have any of these). There is an IR sensor on the front of the camera, but no Fn button as there isn't really any requirement for it.
Both cameras have an articulating liquid crystal display view screen. The Canon T4i has a recognizable larger resolution than that of the D5200. The Canon's LCD backscreen has 1040 thousand dots, while the D5200 has 921 thousand. One of the the Canon T4i's best selling points is that the LCD 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 take your photograph by tapping on the point where you want the DSLR to focus. These are very innovative and useful options, taken from the Compact System Camera (CSC) categories that are out now. It is splendid to see this technology being picked up by the Canon T4i as it makes it far more accessible than any other camera in its category.
The Canon's phase detect AutoFocus system is exceptionally fast. Whilst it has only 9-point AF system, as opposed to the 39-points of the D5200, it is both responsive and accurate for general-purpose shooting. The Canon T4i lacks a dedicated AF assist light, but it can use its built-in flash in these circumstances. The T4i supports full-time AutoFocus in video mode, which competes with 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 fair to say that the Canon Rebel T4i is possibly the better digital camera for shooting video. The liquid crystal display viewingscreen, full-time AutoFocus, and external Mic make it ideal for your everyday video needs.
The Nikon D5200 is a solidly built camera and smaller than it's fore runner, the D5100. This might cause issues for those of us with big (average!) hands. It sometimes doesn't have the feel of a regular DSLR, especially when carrying a larger lens. Although it fails to match the build specifications of the magnesium alloy D7000, the tough plastic casing feels reasonably solid and sturdy. The design at the rear is easy to navigate with an array of buttons to make access to the various options simple to follow. Live view is easily accessible and video recording can be started with a press of a single button. It has just a single control wheel which is snappy and responsive. There is an IR spot on the front of the body and also a dedicated AF assist light, which the Canon T4i fails to have. On the right side there is a customizable Fn function which can be used to control 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 pop up on its own if the camera thinks it is required.
The liquid crystal display screen is taken from the D5100, where it was enormously popular. Like with the Canon T4i, it is very handy for shooting at strange angles and is exceptionally useful when shooting video. The help features are excellent and make the Nikon D5200 quite novice friendly. The display rotates with the camera, meaning that information on the status screen won't appear sideways when you're taking uprights. The playback mode is quick and efficient you won't have to wait for photos to load. And there is a wide-ranging info screen which lets you manage just about every shooting parameter that the camera has t choose from. However the four way selector is not as easy 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 hard 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 increased the choices 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 matches the Nikon, though the D5200 is a little better at maximum (non-expanded) ISO. Overall, the Nikon delivers 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, combined with the increased resolution, puts the Nikon D5200 on top. For more information on the sensors, take a look at the sensor scores published by DxO labs.
In summary, the Canon Rebel T4i has superb AutoFocus, a great articulating 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 average conditions and the Canon certainly equals the D5200 on the video front. Whilst both DSLRs 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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