Updated (March, 2012): Compare the Canon EOS 1100D vs Nikon D3200

Nikon D3100
Winner
Nikon D3100

56

vs
Canon EOS 1100D

49

Canon EOS 1100D
Runner-up
 
 
 
 

Reasons to buy the Nikon D3100

Movie format
 Full HD
1080p @ 24fps
Live view
 Has live view
Preview your photos
Supports 24p
 24p movies
For that film look
Sensor size
 Large sensor
APS-C 23.1x15.4mm
 

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 1100D

Live view
 Has live view
Preview your photos
Startup delay
 Almost no delay when powering up
100 ms startup delay
Shutter lag
 Barely any delay taking photos
110 ms shutter lag
Battery life
 Great battery life
700 shots
 
Differences | Recommendations | Similarities | Competitors | Appearance | Discussion

differences

Advantages of the Canon 1100D
Shutter lag Much less shutter lag 110 ms vs 279 ms
Help
 2.5x less delay when taking photos
Battery life Longer battery life 700 shots vs 550 shots
Help
 Around 30% more shots per battery charge
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor Yes vs No
Help
 Autofocuses with all autofocus lenses
Startup delay Less startup delay 100 ms vs 400 ms
Help
 4x less delay when turning on
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder 0.54x vs 0.51x
Help
 Around 10% larger viewfinder
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
 The 1100D's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Weight Lighter 459 g vs 505 g
Help
 Around 10% lighter
Canon EOS 1100D Learn more about
the Canon 1100D

Advantages of the Nikon D3100
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 24fps vs 720p @ 30fps
Help
 Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video but at a lower frame rate
Screen size Much larger screen 3.0" vs 2.7"
Help
 More than 10% larger screen
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 919 ISO vs 755 ISO
Help
 The D3100 has a slight edge (0.3 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Color depth Better color depth 22.5 bits vs 21.9 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.6 more bits of color
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
 Get that real film feel
Overall image quality Better image quality 67.0 vs 62.0
Help
 Around 10% better image quality
Sensor size Significantly larger sensor APS-C 23.1x15.4mm vs APS-C 22.2x14.7mm
Help
 Around 10% larger sensor
Autofocus Video autofocus Contrast detection vs None
Help
 Automatically focuses shooting video
Dynamic range More dynamic range 11.3 EV vs 11 EV
Help
 0.3 f-stops more dynamic range
Sensor cleaning Has a self cleaning sensor Yes vs No
Help
 Removes dust from the sensor automatically, avoiding spots in photos
Size Significantly smaller 124x96x73 mm vs 130x100x78 mm
Help
 More than 10% smaller
True resolution Higher true resolution 14.2 MP vs 12.2 MP
Help
 Capture around 20% more detail in your photos
Thickness Thinner 2.9" vs 3.1"
Help
 Around 10% thinner
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available 169 lenses vs 162 lenses
Help
 Almost the same
Focus points Slightly more focus points 11 vs 9
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Nikon D3100 Learn more about
the Nikon D3100
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent entry-level DSLRs, and ignoring price

Canon EOS 1100D Canon EOS 1100D
49 vs 56
Explain scores
Nikon D3100 Nikon D3100
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D3100.

similarities

Compared to recent entry-level DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Lens availability Many lenses available Help
1100D:162 lenses
D3100:169 lenses
Startup delay Minimal startup delay Help
1100D:100 ms
D3100:400 ms
Lowest price Inexpensive Help
1100D:$391.66
D3100:$372.99
Weight Light weight Help
1100D:459 g
D3100:505 g
Fastest shutter speed Slow max shutter speed Help
1/4000 of a second
External mic jack Neither has an external mic jack Help
Limited to the in-camera mic
Viewfinder coverage Below average viewfinder coverage Help
95%
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
3 fps
Screen resolution Low resolution screens Help
230k dots
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
1100D:12.2 MP
D3100:14.2 MP
Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
1
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
Autofocus Lacks video autofocus Help
1100D:None
D3100:Contrast detection
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
1100D:6,400 ISO
D3100:3,200 ISO
Dynamic range Poor dynamic range Help
1100D:11 EV
D3100:11.3 EV
Weather sealed Neither is weather sealed Help
Need to shelter it from weather
Viewfinder size Below average viewfinder size Help
1100D:0.54x
D3100:0.51x
Overall image quality Low image quality Help
1100D:62.0
D3100:67.0

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EOS 600D

Canon EOS 600D

Entry-level DSLR

$470 - $689 body only

$536 - $1,188 with 18-55mm lens
Screen resolution Has a much higher resolution screen
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the EOS 600D vs the EOS 1100D
Compare the EOS 600D vs the D3100
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$547 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D3200 vs the EOS 1100D
Compare the D3200 vs the D3100
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$497 body only

$595 - $805 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D5100 vs the EOS 1100D
Compare the D5100 vs the D3100
Canon EOS 550D

Canon EOS 550D

Entry-level DSLR

$625 body only

$696 with 18-55mm lens
Screen resolution Has a much higher resolution screen
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the EOS 550D vs the EOS 1100D
Compare the EOS 550D vs the D3100
Nikon D3000

Nikon D3000

Entry-level DSLR

$436 - $456 with 18-55mm lens
Sensor size Has a slightly larger sensor
Size Is slightly smaller
Weight Is slightly heavier
Sensor type Has a CCD-family sensor
Compare the D3000 vs the EOS 1100D
Compare the D3000 vs the D3100
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$600 - $899 body only

$740 - $1,099 with 18-105mm lens
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Dynamic range Has significantly wider dynamic range
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D90 vs the EOS 1100D
Compare the D90 vs the D3100
Canon EOS 650D

Canon EOS 650D

Entry-level DSLR

$752 - $871 body only

$628 - $1,144 with 18-55mm lens
Screen resolution Has a much higher resolution screen
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the EOS 650D vs the EOS 1100D
Compare the EOS 650D vs the D3100

Canon EOS 1100D Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Canon EOS 1100D.

Nikon D3100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Nikon D3100.

appearance

Canon EOS 1100D Nikon D3100
Canon EOS 1100D Nikon D3100
Canon EOS 1100D Nikon D3100

discussion

Showing 25 comments

BlackOps (5:13 AM, June 07, 2013)
What of these camera is good for Macro photography Nikon D3100 or Canon 1100D?
 
Goody (10:05 AM, May 02, 2013)
Can anyone tell me how to identify a camera as SLR camera by seeing its specifications.
 
menzie (7:51 PM, February 12, 2013)
Built-in focus motor in CANON??? please get your facts right
 
Lol (3:57 PM, November 23, 2012)
1100D is better image quality but d3100 body quality very Good.to my mind 1100D is kicking nikon lol.!
 
Avatar for Rana Gaber Rana Gaber (10:08 PM, October 31, 2012)
i am just a beginner i want to buy a camera would you recommend nikon d3100 or canon 1100d ??
thanks in advance
 
Enricocabelin (7:32 AM, June 08, 2012)
 which is which? i Am a beginner..i would love to concentrate on photos only..please help which to choose
 
Annecruz912 (2:20 PM, March 23, 2012)
one friend told me "its not about the brand of the cam but its about how you use it"
:)

i shall try the canon even if i hate it...!!..
 
Annecruz912 (2:11 PM, March 23, 2012)
if im a first timer or im a beginner should i choose canon 1100D?

can you email me at annecruz912@yahoo.com


i really need a photographer expert to make comments and suggestions for me
 
Photographer expert ;) (1:53 AM, March 07, 2012)
IF YOU WANT PHOTOGRAPHY I GO FOR CANNON 1100D 
IF U WANT TO BLOG OR DO SOME YOUTUBE GO FOR NIKON D3100
 
Lkjdabfjab (8:24 AM, March 05, 2012)
I wanted to buy a dSLR camera around Rs 20000-30000 any suggestion please help me out.
 
Engl (0:50 PM, February 24, 2012)
Obviously Canon D1100.
 
Avatar for Roshan Bhattarai Roshan Bhattarai (6:41 AM, January 13, 2012)
Yes Roger - I bought Canon 1100D over D3100 as I wanted to learn HDR photography for which AEB is key factor which I got in 100D. You can't find it on the Nikon D3100. See the list here which camera model supports AEB - 
http://hdr-photography.com/aeb.html . 

In 1100D, I can turn on AEB with timer mode then press the shutter and after x seconds you can get maximum of 3 different exposure shots with one shutter click. While in Nikon D3100 you've to take 3 shots manually by changing EV values manually which is quite troublesome. So if you're into HDR photography my suggestion would be 1100D . 
 
Roger (2:35 AM, January 12, 2012)
Hi, Sorry, I am confused - are you sating that Canon is better bet for HDR??
 
Guest (11:35 PM, December 31, 2011)
I'm a first timer and I got the D3100, so for those of you who say it's harder to use, you could be wrong cause i found it pretty easy to use. Not to mention it has a built in guide :-)
 
N Raptored90 (11:10 PM, November 28, 2011)
snapsport .....1 help.....i shot pictures with  my nikon d3100 and canon 600d the image quality in canon seemed to be way far exceedingly good than that of mine .....i tried to change setting in manual and try but not even close....why is that??....i need a review plss!!
 
biz (4:48 PM, November 28, 2011)
which camera is better for begginers?
 
KC (0:32 PM, November 28, 2011)
makes me feel like i bought the wrong one (I got the 1100D)... but after using a Nikon at work and it got defective refusing to autofocus for some reason i was afraid to buy one. And anothe one of the Nikons was too slow when i needed to shoot quickly with autofocus, sometimes ignoring my shutter release. So i went for the Canon. Would love the video shooting advantages but a SLR will never really be a full video camera so rather stick to photo advantages only. 
 
Avatar for Roshan Bhattarai Roshan Bhattarai (5:56 AM, November 27, 2011)
Come on you didn't say that Automatic Exposure Bracketing(AEB) is not supported in D3100 and while EOS 1100D which is very important for HDR photography and you didn't find its important to mention that here because you're Big Nikon fan.

For me Nikon D3100 No way to go if you want to choose between these cameras for HDR photography :) .
 
Avatar for HenRy Lee HenRy Lee (9:21 PM, November 05, 2011)
i personally think that the built in focus motor is the greatest advantages for a DSLR... can mount cheaper lens
 
Qualities (2:27 PM, August 13, 2011)
EOS 1100D is easier to use as its more straight forward than D3100, hence more suitable for DSLR first timers. However, in terms of appearance, D3100 looks more fierce and professional, hence more popular with consumers. I have both but i think D3100 is more stable. Nonetheless both cameras are awesome but ill go with D3100 if i had to choose 1
 
bb (2:27 AM, August 10, 2011)
1100 vs 3100 
 
LOL!!! (3:18 PM, August 07, 2011)
Yes 1100D is better,
But Nikon D3100 is user friendly(From reviews not from experience)
 
LOL!!! (3:17 PM, August 07, 2011)
Its nikon man
 
jojo (7:02 AM, August 06, 2011)
hi there is no built-in focus motor on 1100D
 
Avatar for Snapsort Snapsort (1:32 PM, July 18, 2011)
Hi Haidar, the image quality scores are from www.dxomark.com, you can click the (i) icons beside the image quality comparison to learn more!