Canon EOS
650D
 vs
Nikon
D3100

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

Canon EOS 650D

65

  
Nikon D3100

55

  

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 650D

Movie format
 Full HD
1080p @ 30fps
Screen resolution
 High resolution screen
1,040k dots
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
 
Runner-up

Nikon D3100

Reasons to buy the Nikon D3100

Movie format
 Full HD
1080p @ 24fps
Movie continuous focus
 Movie continuous focus
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
Size
 Really small
Prosumer size 124x96x73 mm
Thickness
 Thin
2.9"
Weight
 Light-weight
505 g
 

differences

Advantages of the Canon 650D
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 1,040k dots vs 230k dots
Help
 More than 4.5x higher resolution screen
External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
 Record high quality audio with an external microphone
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
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 12,800 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
 The 650D's maximum light sensitivity is 2 f-stops better
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
True resolution Higher true resolution 17.9 MP vs 14.2 MP
Help
 Capture around 30% more detail in your photos
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 5 fps vs 3 fps
Help
 Around 70% faster continuous shooting
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
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder 0.53x vs 0.51x
Help
 Around 10% larger viewfinder
Shutter lag Slightly less shutter lag 269 ms vs 279 ms
Help
 Almost the same
Canon EOS 650D Learn more about
the Canon 650D

Advantages of the Nikon D3100
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 919 ISO vs 722 ISO
Help
 The D3100 has a slight edge (0.3 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Overall image quality Better image quality 67.0 vs 62.0
Help
 Around 10% better image quality
Color depth Better color depth 22.5 bits vs 21.7 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.8 more bits of color
Sensor size Significantly larger sensor APS-C 23.1x15.4mm vs APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
Help
 Around 10% larger sensor
Size Significantly smaller 124x96x73 mm vs 133x99x78 mm
Help
 Around 20% smaller
Battery life Longer battery life 550 shots vs 440 shots
Help
 Around 30% more shots per battery charge
Startup delay Less startup delay 400 ms vs 700 ms
Help
 More than 40% less delay when turning on
Dynamic range More dynamic range 11.3 EV vs 11.2 EV
Help
 0.1 f-stops more dynamic range
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
Lowest price Cheaper $446.95 vs $579.66
Help
 The best price we've seen is $133 cheaper (more than 20% less)
Weight Lighter 505 g vs 575 g
Help
 More than 10% lighter
Nikon D3100 Learn more about
the Nikon D3100
vs

recommendations

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

Canon EOS 650D Canon EOS 650D
65 vs 55
Explain scores
Nikon D3100 Nikon D3100
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon EOS 650D.

similarities

Compared to recent entry-level DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Lens availability Many lenses available Help
650D:162 lenses
D3100:169 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%
Shutter lag Significant shutter lag Help
650D:269 ms
D3100:279 ms
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Dynamic range Poor dynamic range Help
650D:11.2 EV
D3100:11.3 EV
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Viewfinder size Below average viewfinder size Help
650D:0.53x
D3100:0.51x
Weather sealed Neither is weather sealed Help
Need to shelter it from weather
Overall image quality Low image quality Help
650D: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

$542 - $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 D3100
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$497 body only

$597 - $805 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is slightly larger
Compare the D5100 vs the EOS 650D
Compare the D5100 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 650D
Compare the D3200 vs the D3100
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 significantly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the EOS 60D vs the EOS 650D
Compare the EOS 60D vs the D3100
Canon EOS 1100D

Canon EOS 1100D

Entry-level DSLR

$436 - $445 body only

$439 - $818 with 18-55mm lens
Shutter lag Has significantly less shutter lag
Battery life Has a significantly longer battery life
Thickness Is thicker
Sensor cleaning Lacks a self cleaning sensor
Compare the EOS 1100D vs the EOS 650D
Compare the EOS 1100D vs the D3100
Nikon D5200

Nikon D5200

Entry-level DSLR

$697 body only

$797 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is significantly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D5200 vs the EOS 650D
Compare the D5200 vs the D3100
Canon EOS 550D

Canon EOS 550D

Entry-level DSLR

$613 body only

$705 with 18-55mm lens
Size Is slightly smaller
Thickness Is thinner
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Autofocus Lacks autofocus
Compare the EOS 550D vs the EOS 650D
Compare the EOS 550D vs the D3100

Canon EOS 650D Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EOS 700D

Canon EOS 700D

Entry-level DSLR

$848 - $860 body only

$1,017 with 18-55mm lens
Battery life Longer battery life
Low light performance Slightly more noise at high ISO
Overall image quality Slightly worse image quality
Compare the EOS 700D vs the EOS 650D

Nikon D3100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D3000

Nikon D3000

Entry-level DSLR

$436 with 18-55mm lens
Sensor size Larger sensor
Size Significantly smaller
Movie format Does not take movies
Low light performance Significantly more noise at high ISO
Compare the D3000 vs the D3100

appearance

Canon EOS 650D Nikon D3100
Canon EOS 650D Nikon D3100
Canon EOS 650D Nikon D3100

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