Canon 10D vs Contax N Digital
The Canon EOS 10D and the Contax N Digital are two digital cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively, in February 2003 and February 2002. Both are DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) cameras that are based on an APS-C (10D) and a full frame (N Digital) sensor. The Canon has a resolution of 6.3 megapixels, whereas the Contax provides 6.1 MP.
Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.
Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Canon EOS 10D and the Contax N Digital? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.
Body comparison
An illustration of the physical size and weight of the Canon 10D and the Contax N Digital is provided in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three successive views from the front, the top, and the rear are shown. All width, height and depth measures are rounded to the nearest millimeter.
If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Contax N Digital is notably larger (31 percent) than the Canon 10D. Moreover, the N Digital is markedly heavier (16 percent) than the 10D. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the 10D nor the N Digital are weather-sealed.
The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses that both of these cameras require. Hence, you might want to study and compare the specifications of available lenses in order to get the full picture of the size and weight of the two camera systems.
As can be seen in the images above, the N Digital has a battery grip built in. This facilitates image-taking in portrait orientation and gives it additional battery power. In order to provide similar functionality for the 10D, Canon provides the BG-ED3 vertical grip as an optional accessory (see here on ebay).
The following table provides a synthesis of the main physical specifications of the two cameras and other similar ones. If you want to switch the focus of the display and review another camera pair, you can move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible camera comparisons there.
Camera Model |
Camera Width |
Camera Height |
Camera Depth |
Camera Weight |
Battery Life |
Weather Sealing |
Camera Launch |
Launch Price (USD) |
Street Price |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Canon 10D | 150 mm | 107 mm | 75 mm | 850 g | 500 | n | Feb 2003 | 1,999 | ebay.com | |
2. | Contax N Digital | 152 mm | 138 mm | 80 mm | 990 g | 100 | n | Feb 2002 | 7,399 | ebay.com | |
3. | Canon 7D | 148 mm | 111 mm | 74 mm | 860 g | 800 | Y | Sep 2009 | 1,699 | ebay.com | |
4. | Canon 20D | 144 mm | 106 mm | 72 mm | 770 g | 700 | n | Aug 2004 | 1,499 | ebay.com | |
5. | Canon 30D | 144 mm | 106 mm | 74 mm | 785 g | 750 | n | Feb 2006 | 1,399 | ebay.com | |
6. | Canon 40D | 146 mm | 108 mm | 74 mm | 822 g | 750 | n | Aug 2007 | 1,299 | ebay.com | |
7. | Canon D60 | 150 mm | 107 mm | 75 mm | 855 g | 620 | n | Feb 2002 | 2,999 | ebay.com | |
8. | Canon SL1 | 117 mm | 91 mm | 69 mm | 407 g | 380 | n | Mar 2013 | 549 | ebay.com | |
9. | Canon Rebel | 142 mm | 99 mm | 72 mm | 649 g | 400 | n | Aug 2003 | 899 | ebay.com | |
10. | Canon T4i | 133 mm | 100 mm | 79 mm | 575 g | 440 | n | Jun 2012 | 849 | ebay.com | |
11. | Canon T5 | 130 mm | 100 mm | 78 mm | 480 g | 500 | n | Feb 2014 | 449 | ebay.com | |
12. | Leica M9 | 139 mm | 80 mm | 37 mm | 585 g | 550 | n | Sep 2009 | 7,999 | ebay.com | |
13. | Leica M10 | 139 mm | 80 mm | 39 mm | 660 g | 210 | Y | Jan 2017 | 6,595 | ebay.com | |
14. | Leica SL | 147 mm | 104 mm | 39 mm | 847 g | 400 | Y | Oct 2015 | 7,450 | ebay.com | |
15. | Nikon D100 | 144 mm | 116 mm | 81 mm | 780 g | 370 | n | Feb 2002 | 1,999 | ebay.com | |
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders. | |||||||||||
Any camera decision will naturally be influenced heavily by the price. The manufacturer’s suggested retail prices give an idea on the placement of the camera in the maker’s lineup and the broader market. The 10D was launched at a markedly lower price (by 73 percent) than the N Digital, which puts it into a different market segment. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.
Sensor comparison
The size of the sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants of image quality. A large sensor will generally have larger individual pixels that offer better low-light sensitivity, provide wider dynamic range, and have richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Further, a large sensor camera will give the photographer additional creative options when using shallow depth-of-field to isolate a subject from its background. On the downside, larger sensors are more costly to manufacture and tend to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.
Of the two cameras under consideration, the Canon 10D features an APS-C sensor and the Contax N Digital a full frame sensor. The sensor area in the N Digital is 152 percent bigger. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 1.6 and 1.0. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.
Despite having a smaller sensor, the Canon 10D offers a higher resolution of 6.3 megapixels, compared with 6.1 MP of the Contax N Digital. This megapixels advantage comes at the cost of a higher pixel density and a smaller size of the individual pixel (with a pixel pitch of 7.38μm versus 11.90μm for the N Digital). However, it should be noted that the 10D is a somewhat more recent model (by 11 months) than the N Digital, and its sensor might have benefitted from technological advances during this time that partly offset its pixel-size disadvantage.
The Canon EOS 10D has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 3200. The corresponding ISO settings for the Contax N Digital are ISO 50 to ISO 1600 (no boost).
In terms of underlying technology, the 10D is build around a CMOS sensor, while the N Digital uses a CCD imager. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.
Since 2007, DXO Mark has published sensor performance measurements that have been derived using a consistent methodology. This service assesses and scores the color depth ("DXO Portrait"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports") of camera sensors, and also publishes an overall camera score. The adjacent table reports on the physical sensor characteristics and the outcomes of the DXO sensor quality tests for a sample of comparator-cameras.
Camera Model |
Sensor Class |
Resolution (MP) |
Horiz. Pixels |
Vert. Pixels |
Video Format |
DXO Portrait |
DXO Landscape |
DXO Sports |
DXO Overall |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Canon 10D | APS-C | 6.3 | 3072 | 2048 | none | 21.1 | 10.9 | 571 | 57 | |
2. | Contax N Digital | Full Frame | 6.1 | 3040 | 2008 | none | 21.5 | 10.5 | 1283 | 59 | |
3. | Canon 7D | APS-C | 17.9 | 5184 | 3456 | 1080/30p | 22.0 | 11.7 | 854 | 66 | |
4. | Canon 20D | APS-C | 8.2 | 3504 | 2336 | none | 21.9 | 11.0 | 721 | 62 | |
5. | Canon 30D | APS-C | 8.2 | 3504 | 2336 | none | 21.5 | 10.8 | 736 | 59 | |
6. | Canon 40D | APS-C | 10.1 | 3888 | 2592 | none | 22.1 | 11.3 | 703 | 64 | |
7. | Canon D60 | APS-C | 6.3 | 3072 | 2048 | none | 20.3 | 9.8 | 301 | 47 | |
8. | Canon SL1 | APS-C | 17.9 | 5184 | 3456 | 1080/30p | 21.8 | 11.3 | 843 | 63 | |
9. | Canon Rebel | APS-C | 6.3 | 3072 | 2048 | none | 21.0 | 10.8 | 544 | 55 | |
10. | Canon T4i | APS-C | 17.9 | 5184 | 3456 | 1080/30p | 21.7 | 11.2 | 722 | 62 | |
11. | Canon T5 | APS-C | 17.9 | 5184 | 3456 | 1080/30p | 21.9 | 11.3 | 724 | 63 | |
12. | Leica M9 | Full Frame | 18.1 | 5212 | 3472 | none | 22.5 | 11.7 | 884 | 69 | |
13. | Leica M10 | Full Frame | 23.8 | 5952 | 3992 | none | 24.4 | 13.2 | 2133 | 86 | |
14. | Leica SL | Full Frame | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 4K/30p | 25.0 | 13.4 | 1821 | 88 | |
15. | Nikon D100 | APS-C | 6.0 | 3008 | 2000 | none | 20.4 | 9.9 | 394 | 48 | |
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age. |
Feature comparison
Beyond body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. The 10D and the N Digital are similar in the sense that both have an optical viewfinder. The latter is useful for getting a clear image for framing even in brightly lit environments. The viewfinders of both cameras offer the same field of view (95%), but the viewfinder of the N Digital has a higher magnification than the one of the 10D (0.73x vs 0.55x), so that the size of the image transmitted appears closer to the size seen with the naked human eye. The table below summarizes some of the other core capabilities of the Canon 10D and Contax N Digital in connection with corresponding information for a sample of similar cameras.
Camera Model |
Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots) |
Control Panel (yes/no) |
LCD Specifications (inch/000 dots) |
LCD Attach- ment |
Touch Screen (yes/no) |
Max Shutter Speed * |
Max Shutter Flaps * |
Built-in Flash (yes/no) |
Built-in Image Stab |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Canon 10D | optical | Y | 1.8 / 118 | fixed | n | 1/4000s | 3.0/s | Y | n | |
2. | Contax N Digital | optical | Y | 2.0 / 200 | fixed | n | 1/8000s | 4.0/s | n | n | |
3. | Canon 7D | optical | Y | 3.0 / 920 | fixed | n | 1/8000s | 8.0/s | Y | n | |
4. | Canon 20D | optical | Y | 1.8 / 118 | fixed | n | 1/8000s | 5.0/s | Y | n | |
5. | Canon 30D | optical | Y | 2.5 / 230 | fixed | n | 1/8000s | 5.0/s | Y | n | |
6. | Canon 40D | optical | Y | 3.0 / 230 | fixed | n | 1/8000s | 6.5/s | Y | n | |
7. | Canon D60 | optical | Y | 1.8 / 114 | fixed | n | 1/4000s | 3.0/s | Y | n | |
8. | Canon SL1 | optical | n | 3.0 / 1040 | fixed | Y | 1/4000s | 4.9/s | Y | n | |
9. | Canon Rebel | optical | n | 1.8 / 118 | fixed | n | 1/4000s | 2.5/s | Y | n | |
10. | Canon T4i | optical | n | 3.0 / 1040 | swivel | Y | 1/4000s | 5.0/s | Y | n | |
11. | Canon T5 | optical | n | 3.0 / 460 | fixed | n | 1/4000s | 3.0/s | Y | n | |
12. | Leica M9 | optical | n | 2.5 / 230 | fixed | n | 1/4000s | 2.0/s | n | n | |
13. | Leica M10 | optical | n | 3.0 / 1037 | fixed | n | 1/4000s | 5.0/s | n | n | |
14. | Leica SL | 4400 | Y | 3.0 / 1040 | fixed | Y | 1/8000s | 11.0/s | n | n | |
15. | Nikon D100 | optical | Y | 1.8 / 118 | fixed | n | 1/4000s | 3.0/s | Y | n | |
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one. |
One difference between the cameras concerns the presence of an on-board flash. The 10D has one, while the N Digital does not. While the built-in flash of the 10D is not very powerful, it can at times be useful as a fill-in light.
Concerning the storage of imaging data, both the 10D and the N Digital write their files to Compact Flash cards.
Connectivity comparison
For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Canon EOS 10D and Contax N Digital and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.
Camera Model |
Hotshoe Port |
Internal Mic / Speaker |
Microphone Port |
Headphone Port |
HDMI Port |
USB Port |
WiFi Support |
NFC Support |
Bluetooth Support |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Canon 10D | Y | - / - | - | - | - | 1.1 | - | - | - | |
2. | Contax N Digital | Y | - / - | - | - | - | FW | - | - | - | |
3. | Canon 7D | Y | mono / - | Y | - | mini | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
4. | Canon 20D | Y | - / - | - | - | - | 1.1 | - | - | - | |
5. | Canon 30D | Y | - / - | - | - | - | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
6. | Canon 40D | Y | - / - | - | - | - | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
7. | Canon D60 | Y | - / - | - | - | - | 1.1 | - | - | - | |
8. | Canon SL1 | Y | mono / mono | Y | - | mini | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
9. | Canon Rebel | Y | - / - | - | - | - | 1.1 | - | - | - | |
10. | Canon T4i | Y | stereo / mono | Y | - | mini | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
11. | Canon T5 | Y | mono / mono | - | - | mini | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
12. | Leica M9 | Y | - / - | - | - | - | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
13. | Leica M10 | Y | - / - | - | - | - | - | Y | - | - | |
14. | Leica SL | Y | stereo / mono | Y | Y | full | 3.0 | Y | - | - | |
15. | Nikon D100 | Y | - / - | - | - | - | 1.1 | - | - | - |
Both cameras feature a PC Sync terminal to control professional strobe lights, which will be appreciated by studio photographers.
Both the 10D and the N Digital have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The 10D was replaced by the Canon 20D, while the N Digital does not have a direct successor. Further information on the two cameras (e.g. user guides, manuals), as well as related accessories, can be found on the official Canon and Contax websites.
Review summary
So how do things add up? Is there a clear favorite between the Canon 10D and the Contax N Digital? Which camera is better? A synthesis of the relative strong points of each of the models is listed below.
Advantages of the Canon EOS 10D:
- More compact: Is smaller (150x107mm vs 152x138mm) and thus needs less room in the bag.
- Less heavy: Is lighter (by 140g or 14 percent) and hence easier to carry around.
- Longer lasting: Can take more shots (500 versus 100) on a single battery charge.
- Easier fill-in: Is equipped with a small onboard flash to brighten deep shadow areas.
- More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (73 percent cheaper at launch).
- More modern: Is somewhat more recent (announced 11 months after the N Digital).
Reasons to prefer the Contax N Digital:
- Better image quality: Features bigger pixels on a larger sensor for higher quality imaging.
- Richer colors: The pixel size advantage translates into images with better, more accurate colors.
- More dynamic range: Larger pixels capture a wider spectrum of light and dark details.
- Better low-light sensitivity: Larger pixels means good image quality even under poor lighting.
- Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.73x vs 0.55x).
- Larger screen: Has a bigger rear LCD (2.0" vs 1.8") for image review and settings control.
- More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (200k vs 118k dots).
- Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/8000s vs 1/4000s) to freeze action.
- Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (4 vs 3 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
- More portrait friendly: Features an integrated vertical grip for easier portrait shooting.
- More heavily discounted: Has been on the market for longer (launched in February 2002).
If the count of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a measure, the N Digital is the clear winner of the contest (11 : 6 points). However, the relative importance of the various individual camera aspects will vary according to personal preferences and needs, so that you might like to apply corresponding weights to the particular features before making a decision on a new camera. A professional wildlife photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a family photog, and a person interested in architecture has distinct needs from a sports shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.
How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Canon 10D and the Contax N Digital place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best DSLR Camera listing whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.
In any case, while the comparison of technical specifications can provide a useful overview of the capabilities of different cameras, it says little about, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance of the 10D and the N Digital in practical situations. User reviews, such as those found at amazon, can sometimes inform about these issues, but such feedback is often incomplete, inconsistent, and biased.
Expert reviews
This is where reviews by experts come in. The following table reports the overall ratings of the cameras as published by some of the major camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.
Camera Model |
AP score |
CL score |
DCW score |
DPR score |
EPZ score |
PB score |
Camera Launch |
Launch Price (USD) |
Street Price |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Canon 10D | .. | .. | .. | + + | .. | .. | Feb 2003 | 1,999 | ebay.com | |
2. | Contax N Digital | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | Feb 2002 | 7,399 | ebay.com | |
3. | Canon 7D | 5/5 | + + | .. | 84/100 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Sep 2009 | 1,699 | ebay.com | |
4. | Canon 20D | .. | .. | .. | + + | .. | .. | Aug 2004 | 1,499 | ebay.com | |
5. | Canon 30D | .. | + + | .. | + + | o | .. | Feb 2006 | 1,399 | ebay.com | |
6. | Canon 40D | .. | + + | .. | + + | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Aug 2007 | 1,299 | ebay.com | |
7. | Canon D60 | .. | .. | .. | + + | o | .. | Feb 2002 | 2,999 | ebay.com | |
8. | Canon SL1 | 4/5 | + | .. | 78/100 | 4/5 | 4/5 | Mar 2013 | 549 | ebay.com | |
9. | Canon Rebel | .. | .. | .. | + + | .. | .. | Aug 2003 | 899 | ebay.com | |
10. | Canon T4i | 4/5 | + + | .. | 77/100 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Jun 2012 | 849 | ebay.com | |
11. | Canon T5 | 3/5 | + | .. | .. | 4/5 | 4.5/5 | Feb 2014 | 449 | ebay.com | |
12. | Leica M9 | .. | .. | .. | .. | 4.5/5 | .. | Sep 2009 | 7,999 | ebay.com | |
13. | Leica M10 | 4.5/5 | .. | .. | .. | 4/5 | 4.5/5 | Jan 2017 | 6,595 | ebay.com | |
14. | Leica SL | 4/5 | .. | 4/5 | 84/100 | 4.5/5 | 4/5 | Oct 2015 | 7,450 | ebay.com | |
15. | Nikon D100 | .. | .. | .. | + + | o | .. | Feb 2002 | 1,999 | ebay.com | |
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available. |
The above review scores should be interpreted with care, though. The assessments were made in relation to similar cameras of the same technological generation. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and comparisons of ratings among very different cameras or across long time periods have little meaning. Also, kindly note that some of the listed sites have over time developped their review approaches and their reporting style.
Other camera comparisons
Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you would like to check on the differences and similarities of other camera models, just make your choice using the following search menu. There is also a set of direct links to comparison reviews that other users of the CAM-parator app explored.
- Canon 10D vs Fujifilm X-A10
- Canon 10D vs Fujifilm X100V
- Canon 10D vs Leica TL2
- Canon 10D vs Leica V-LUX Typ 114
- Canon 10D vs Panasonic GX1
- Canon 10D vs Panasonic GX8
- Canon G15 vs Contax N Digital
- Canon M6 Mark II vs Contax N Digital
- Canon SX510 vs Contax N Digital
- Canon SX540 vs Contax N Digital
- Contax N Digital vs Olympus E-510
- Contax N Digital vs Olympus E-M10 III
Specifications: Canon 10D vs Contax N Digital
Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.
Camera Model | Canon 10D | Contax N Digital |
---|---|---|
Camera Type | Digital single lens reflex | Digital single lens reflex |
Camera Lens | Canon EF mount lenses | Contax N mount lenses |
Launch Date | February 2003 | February 2002 |
Launch Price | USD 1,999 | USD 7,399 |
Sensor Specs | Canon 10D | Contax N Digital |
Sensor Technology | CMOS | CCD |
Sensor Format | APS-C Sensor | Full Frame Sensor |
Sensor Size | 22.7 x 15.1 mm | 36.0 x 24.0 mm |
Sensor Area | 342.77 mm2 | 864 mm2 |
Sensor Diagonal | 27.3 mm | 43.3 mm |
Crop Factor | 1.6x | 1.0x |
Sensor Resolution | 6.3 Megapixels | 6.1 Megapixels |
Image Resolution | 3072 x 2048 pixels | 3040 x 2008 pixels |
Pixel Pitch | 7.38 μm | 11.90 μm |
Pixel Density | 1.84 MP/cm2 | 0.71 MP/cm2 |
Moiré control | Anti-Alias filter | Anti-Alias filter |
Movie Capability | no Video | no Video |
ISO Setting | 100 - 3,200 ISO | 50 - 1,600 ISO |
DXO Sensor Quality (score) | 57 | .. |
DXO Color Depth (bits) | 21.1 | .. |
DXO Dynamic Range (EV) | 10.9 | .. |
DXO Low Light (ISO) | 571 | .. |
Screen Specs | Canon 10D | Contax N Digital |
Viewfinder Type | Optical viewfinder | Optical viewfinder |
Viewfinder Field of View | 95% | 95% |
Viewfinder Magnification | 0.55x | 0.73x |
Top-Level Screen | Control Panel | Control Panel |
Rear LCD Size | 1.8inch | 2.0inch |
LCD Resolution | 118k dots | 200k dots |
LCD Attachment | Fixed screen | Fixed screen |
Shooting Specs | Canon 10D | Contax N Digital |
Focus System | Phase-detect AF | Phase-detect AF |
Continuous Shooting | 3 shutter flaps/s | 4 shutter flaps/s |
Fill Flash | Built-in Flash | no On-Board Flash |
Storage Medium | CF cards | CF cards |
Single or Dual Card Slots | Single card slot | Single card slot |
Connectivity Specs | Canon 10D | Contax N Digital |
External Flash | Hotshoe | Hotshoe |
Studio Flash | PC Sync socket | PC Sync socket |
USB Connector | USB 1.1 | Firewire |
HDMI Port | no HDMI | no HDMI |
Wifi Support | no Wifi | no Wifi |
Body Specs | Canon 10D | Contax N Digital |
Battery Type | Canon BP-511 | Contax 4xAA |
Battery Life (CIPA) | 500 shots per charge | 100 shots per charge |
Body Dimensions |
150 x 107 x 75 mm (5.9 x 4.2 x 3.0 in) |
152 x 138 x 80 mm (6.0 x 5.4 x 3.1 in) |
Camera Weight | 850 g (30.0 oz) | 990 g (34.9 oz) |
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