Canon EOS
650D
 vs
Nikon
D3200

Updated (March, 2013): Compare the Canon 700D/T5i vs Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

75

  
Canon 650D / T4i

63

  
Winner

Nikon D3200

Reasons to buy the Nikon D3200

Low light performance
 Low noise at high ISO
1,131 ISO
Overall image quality
 Great image quality
81.0
Color depth
 Great color depth
24.1 bits
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
13.2 EV
True resolution
 High true resolution
24.1 MP
Sensor size
 Large sensor
APS-C 23.2x15.4mm
 
Runner-up

Canon EOS 650D

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 650D

Light sensitivity
 High ISO
12,800 ISO
Touch screen
 Touch screen
Less buttons
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
HDR
 In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
Movie continuous focus
 Movie continuous focus
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
External mic jack
 External mic jack
Record higher quality audio with a microphone
 

differences

Advantages of the Canon 650D
Touch screen Has a touch screen Yes vs No
Help
 Fewer buttons to worry about and direct interaction with camera menus
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen Yes vs No
Help
 Flip-out screens can be helpful when composing tricky shots or taking movies
Cross type focus points Significantly more cross-type focus points 9 vs 1
Help
 Grab focus in difficult situations
Autofocus Faster video autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
 Shoot videos without worrying about focus
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 12,800 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
Help
 The 650D's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen 1,040k dots vs 921k dots
Help
 More than 10% higher resolution screen
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor Yes vs No
Help
 Autofocuses with all autofocus lenses
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 25,600 ISO vs 12,800 ISO
Help
 The 650D's boost ISO is 1 f-stop better
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 5 fps vs 4 fps
Help
 Around 30% faster continuous shooting
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder 0.53x vs 0.50x
Help
 Around 10% larger viewfinder
Canon 650D / T4i Learn more about
the Canon 650D

Advantages of the Nikon D3200
Overall image quality Much better image quality 81.0 vs 62.0
Help
 More than 30% better image quality
Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO 1,131 ISO vs 722 ISO
Help
 The D3200 has a slight edge (0.6 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Color depth Better color depth 24.1 bits vs 21.7 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 2.4 more bits of color
Dynamic range More dynamic range 13.2 EV vs 11.2 EV
Help
 2 f-stops more dynamic range
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 24.1 MP vs 17.9 MP
Help
 Capture more than 30% more detail in your photos
Sensor size Significantly larger sensor APS-C 23.2x15.4mm vs APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
Help
 Around 10% larger sensor
Size Significantly smaller 125x96x76 mm vs 133x99x78 mm
Help
 More than 10% smaller
Battery life Longer battery life 540 shots vs 440 shots
Help
 More than 20% more shots per battery charge
Startup delay Less startup delay 400 ms vs 700 ms
Help
 More than 40% less delay when turning on
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
Weight Lighter 505 g vs 575 g
Help
 More than 10% lighter
Thickness Thinner 3" vs 3.1"
Help
 Almost the same
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $546.95 vs $579.66
Help
 The best price we've seen is $33 cheaper (around 10% less)
Nikon D3200 Learn more about
the Nikon D3200
vs

recommendations

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

Canon 650D / T4i Canon EOS 650D
63 vs 75
Explain scores
Nikon D3200 Nikon D3200
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D3200.

similarities

Compared to recent entry-level DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Lens availability Many lenses available Help
650D:162 lenses
D3200:169 lenses
Movie continuous focus Focus continuously recording movies Help
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
Supports 24p 24p support Help
For that film look
Fastest shutter speed Slow max shutter speed Help
1/4000 of a second
Viewfinder coverage Below average viewfinder coverage Help
95%
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
Shutter lag Significant shutter lag Help
650D:269 ms
D3200:276 ms
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Viewfinder size Below average viewfinder size Help
650D:0.53x
D3200:0.50x
Weather sealed Neither is weather sealed Help
Need to shelter it from weather

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$497 body only

$597 - $805 with 18-55mm lens
Sensor size Has a marginally larger sensor
Battery life Has a slightly longer battery life
Weight Is slightly heavier
Size Is slightly larger
Compare the D5100 vs the EOS 650D
Compare the D5100 vs the D3200
Canon EOS 600D

Canon EOS 600D

Entry-level DSLR

$470 - $689 body only

$548 - $927 with 18-55mm lens
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the EOS 600D vs the EOS 650D
Compare the EOS 600D vs the D3200
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$699 - $899 body only

$999 - $1,279 with 18-135mm lens
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder
Weather sealed Has a weather sealed body
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the EOS 60D vs the EOS 650D
Compare the EOS 60D vs the D3200
Nikon D5200

Nikon D5200

Entry-level DSLR

$697 body only

$797 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Sensor size Has a marginally larger sensor
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Size Is slightly larger
Compare the D5200 vs the EOS 650D
Compare the D5200 vs the D3200
Canon 700D/T5i

Canon EOS 700D

Entry-level DSLR

$860 body only

$1,017 with 18-55mm lens
Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the EOS 700D vs the EOS 650D
Compare the EOS 700D vs the D3200
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$447 - $740 with 18-55mm lens
Lowest price Is slightly less expensive
Thickness Is thinner
External mic jack Lacks and external mic jack
True resolution Takes slightly lower resolution photos
Compare the D3100 vs the EOS 650D
Compare the D3100 vs the D3200
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$675 - $899 body only

$799 - $1,099 with 18-105mm lens
Viewfinder size Significantly larger viewfinder
Sensor size Has a marginally larger sensor
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Weight Is significantly heavier
Compare the D90 vs the EOS 650D
Compare the D90 vs the D3200

Canon 650D / T4i Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Canon 650D / T4i.

Nikon D3200 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Nikon D3200.

appearance

Canon 650D / T4i Nikon D3200
Canon 650D / T4i Nikon D3200
Canon 650D / T4i Nikon D3200

discussion

Showing 1 comments

NIght (10:42 AM, June 13, 2012)
Witch should i get? 650d or d3200? Iam looking for a all around camera and iam a beginner but still like something witch iam not going to outgrow to fast. I would use it indoor and outdoor. also to take it with me on my travels. so witch of these are recommended? Also would be a big benefit if it takes good videos