The Best Canon and Nikon Full Frame DSLRs Money Can Buy

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Photo by Alif Ngoylung on Unsplash

When I first started out in photography about ten years ago, I did a ton of research on cameras and decided that I liked the Nikon lineup.

I started out with a little crop sensor Nikon D50 then after a couple of years I upgraded to the full frame D3. I rocked that rig for a while, and then upgraded to the D800 in 2012.

Since then, I've invested in the D810 and the D850.


Photo by The Nigmatic on Unsplash

The point in telling you all of this is that when you decide which camera brand you're going to hitch your wagon to, it's a crucially important decision because you aren't just investing in a camera, you're investing in a camera ecosystem.

Now that I have a huge collection of Nikon lenses, it would be stupid (and extremely expensive) for me to switch to Canon.

But that doesn't mean that I can't recognize a good Canon camera when I see it...

If you're a Canon or Nikon shooter and you're ready to make the leap to a full frame camera, give the following options very strong consideration as being the best full frame DSLRs available from both companies.

Table of Contents:

Best Canon Full Frame DSLR: EOS 5D Mark IV

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While others might peg the 1DX as being a better DSLR, I think the 5D Mark IV is the best full frame DSLR Canon has ever made.

The 30.4-megapixel sensor might not be as flashy as the 5DS and 5DS R, but it still packs plenty of punch for photographers of all kinds.

The 61-point dual pixel autofocus system (of which 41 points are cross-type) is fast and accurate, and when paired with the 7fps continuous shooting speed, this camera is a great choice for sports and wildlife photography.

 

The professional specs of this camera mean it offers ultra-sharp performance and highly polished handling.

The 3.2-inch touchscreen LCD is easy to use and see with 1.620-million dots of resolution.

With a shutter speed range of 30 seconds to 1/8000th of a second and an ISO range of 64-102400, there's virtually endless possibilities for capturing action and low-light scenes. The 4K video capabilities are a bonus as well.

If those stats aren't impressive enough, consider this: the 5D Mark IV scored 91 in DxO Mark's testing.

Get more details about the 5D Mark IV in the video above by Tony and Chelsea Northrup.

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Best Nikon Full Frame DSLR: D850

 

If you're a Nikon shooter, it doesn't get any better than the Nikon D850.

The 45.7-megapixel sensor is highly resolute, ultra sharp, is backside illuminated, and is the first sensor to get a score of 100 by DxO Mark.

The 153-point autofocus system offers incredible performance as well. It's is fast and accurate, even in challenging lighting conditions.

The D850 matches the 7fps continuous shooting speed of the 5D Mark IV, though it can be boosted to 9fps with an optional battery grip for added performance.

The video capabilities are excellent as well, with 30fps recording in 4k and 1080p video at 120fps.

The D850's 3.2-inch touchscreen LCD is clear and bright and is easily readable, even when shooting in bright lighting conditions. I enjoy the fact that it tilts as well.

One of the best features of the D850, though, is its ISO performance.

It has an excellent range of 64-102400, but beyond that, you can shoot at ISO 3200 and above with very little noise.

On top of that, the D850's sensor is so good at accommodating wide dynamic ranges that you will likely find you can shoot without an ND filter in situations in which your old camera needed one.

Get more details on the Nikon D850 in the video above by James Brew.

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Concluding Thoughts: Best Canon and Nikon Full Frame DSLRs

Image Credit: kurmyshov via iStock

There's a lot to love about Nikon and Canon full frame DSLRs like the D850 and the 5D Mark IV.

And, really, no matter if you're a Canon shooter or a Nikon shooter, you have excellent options for upgrading your kit to a full frame camera.

But, as I've said before, gear is hugely expensive (especially full frame cameras), so if you want to stretch your budget, try buying used gear to get more bang for your buck.

Getting a high-powered full frame camera and saving money at the same time is the best of both worlds!