Nikon D90 vs Canon 550D Durability Test

[p0ss3s3d]

Long video of entry level cameras being murdered.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1tTBncIsm8

The 400D is especially impressive, the screen still works, AF still works and it still takes sharp photos.



Pretty cool.

But TBH I still like the reassuring feeling the when I'm using the 1D's they aren't going to die no matter what I throw at it (or drop it from, or clunk it into, or use it in (rain/snow/cold/hot) or most recently, drop it (technically kick-it) into seawater!). [EDIT: It was an accident]

Heres the "oh no does it still work" photo, anyone care to share their most recent near camera death experiences.

 

[Stuff]

If that's your camera in your sig, I really feel sorry for the poor thing!

 

[p0ss3s3d]

If that's your camera in your sig, I really feel sorry for the poor thing!

 

[Mr Jones]

I think the right word is, well used.
I won't go to the extreme of dipping it in sea water, but I haven't gone back to the days of OCD spotless, shiny shiny camera out of the box look.

The latest near death experience for my camera was for this shot;

Almost got milk all over the camera, thank god for having the hindsight of putting a simple teatowel over my camera body and lens. The final few shot had WAY too much milk splash back over my set up of 40D + Sigma 18-50mm. Both of which are not weather-sealed!

 

[D.P.]

Long video of entry level cameras being murdered.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1tTBncIsm8

The 400D is especially impressive, the screen still works, AF still works and it still takes sharp photos.



Pretty cool.

But TBH I still like the reassuring feeling the when I'm using the 1D's they aren't going to die no matter what I throw at it (or drop it from, or clunk it into, or use it in (rain/snow/cold/hot) or most recently, drop it (technically kick-it) into seawater!). [EDIT: It was an accident]

Heres the "oh no does it still work" photo, anyone care to share their most recent near camera death experiences.

There is a nice article on Luminous landscapes where a lot of camera were tested in Antarctica:

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/essays/antarctica-2009-worked.shtml

The top LCD on a 5D MKII spontaneously cracked; Another 5D MKII had a jambed on lens caused by a loose screw, a 1Ds MKIII reported intermittent problems; a 1D MKIII kept reporting Error 99; one Hasselblad reported electronic lens connection problems; two Canon G9's failed (no G10s had any reported problems), and a Nikon 80-400mm lens came apart. No Nikon bodies (mostly D700s) failed in any way.

The largest group of failures through were among the Canon 5D MKIIs. Of the 26 samples of this camera onboard, one quarter (six) failed at one time or another, and while three recovered, the other three never did. In all cases it appeared to be water or humidity damage

25% of 5DMK2's died, some were even in rain protective covers. A 1D MKIII had the infamous Error 99. No Nikon or Sony body suffered any problems.

Anecdotal evidence I know but 6 out of 26 camera bodies fail in fairly benign conditions for Antarctica (pretty much could be Scotland in summer) that is quite worry

 

[Shadowness]

This was me a bit too close to the incoming tide!

Luckily my GND filter took the brunt of it!

 

[p0ss3s3d]

There is a nice article on Luminous landscapes where a lot of camera were tested in Antarctica:


25% of 5DMK2's died, some were even in rain protective covers. A 1D MKIII had the infamous Error 99. No Nikon or Sony body suffered any problems.

Anecdotal evidence I know but 6 out of 26 camera bodies fail in fairly benign conditions for Antarctica (pretty much could be Scotland in summer) that is quite worry

Yep erm, 70 odd percent of the cameras taken where Canon, half of those 5DII's. Doesn't take a genius to figure theres going to be a higher proportion (1/8th) of canon's dying when they are shooting 26 unsealed 5DII's and just four D700's.

No canon lens died. But a Nikkor did.

 

[D.P.]

Yep erm, 70 odd percent of the cameras taken where Canon, half of those 5DII's. Doesn't take a genius to figure theres going to be a higher proportion (1/8th) of canon's dying when they are shooting 26 unsealed 5DII's and just four D700's.

No canon lens died. But a Nikkor did.

Makes no difference what the absolute numbers are, the important thing is the relative rate of failure. Either way 25% of the 5DMK2s died, irrespective of Nikon Sony numbers.

 

[p0ss3s3d]

Very true, but they never said a 5DII is protected against the elements.

With all due respect though, if your going to the antarctic they ought to use sealed gear...

In 2006 while trying to help one of my photo tour guests get off an elephant in Jaipur India my Canon Mark II with my Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 IS lens attached, slipped off my shoulder and dropped about 9 feet down onto the cobblestone road. I watched it fall in a surreal slow motion dreamlike sequence. It seemed like an eternity and when it hit the ground I was sure it would be a total loss. To my surprise it hit, flipped over and landed with a thud. Almost immediately the inquisitive elephant began examining it with his trunk. I leaped off the platform to retrieve the rig. Standing at the elephant's feet, I put the camera up to my eye and snapped a few frames...to my amazement, an image appeared on the camera back ! For the next half hour I examined the camera and lens, took photos and determined that it seemed to be acting normal. Boy was I lucky, I used the camera for the next 4 weeks, shooting assignments in Bihar and Calcutta before returning home to San Diego.



Upon my return from India, I again asked my friend Ken Rockwell if he was interested in testing it to see if there were any problems. Ken did an incredibly thorough job of testing and posted his finding here on his website.

His stuff makes my kit look like it's brand new!