Canon
EOS-1D Mark IV
 vs
Nikon
D3100

Updated (April, 2012): Compare the Canon EOS 1D X vs Nikon D3200

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

79
"Excellent AF performance during our testing"
dpreview.com | talking about the EOS-1D Mark IV's auto-focus
"Good, Full-HD video with a wide range of shooting options"
dpreview.com | talking about the EOS-1D Mark IV's video-quality

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

Low light performance
 Low noise at high ISO
1,320 ISO
Overall image quality
 Great image quality
74.0
Color depth
 Great color depth
22.8 bits
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
12 EV
Screen resolution
 High resolution screen
920k dots
Light sensitivity
 High ISO
12,800 ISO
Nikon D3100

45
Runner-up

Nikon D3100
"High ISO performance is substantially improved over the D3000, to the extent that images shot at sensitivities as high as 3200 are eminently useable"
dpreview.com | talking about the D3100's iso-noise
"There's no doubt that the D3100 is one of the best entry-level SLRs available, offering very good image quality coupled with speedy operation and straightforward handling - at least for conventional eye-level use."
dpreview.com | talking about the D3100's overall-performance

Reasons to buy the Nikon D3100

Movie continuous focus
 Movie continuous focus
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
Badge
 Autofocuses shooting video
Contrast detection

differences

Advantages of the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 920k dots vs 230k dots
Help
 4x higher resolution screen
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12 EV vs 11.3 EV
Help
 0.7 f-stops more dynamic range
Cross type focus points Many more cross-type focus points 39 vs 1
Help
 Grab focus in difficult situations
Overall image quality Better image quality 74.0 vs 67.0
Help
 More than 10% better image quality
Continuous shooting Shoots much faster 10 fps vs 3 fps
Help
 Around 3.5x faster continuous shooting
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 1,320 ISO vs 919 ISO
Help
 The EOS-1D Mark IV has a slight edge (0.5 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Weather sealed Weather sealed Yes vs No
Help
 Sealed to shoot in the rain
Shutter lag Much less shutter lag 104 ms vs 279 ms
Help
 2.7x less delay when taking photos
Focus points Significantly more focus points 45 vs 11
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Battery life Longer battery life 1500 shots vs 550 shots
Help
 More than 2.5x more shots per battery charge
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder 0.59x vs 0.51x
Help
 More than 30% larger viewfinder
Viewfinder coverage Much better viewfinder coverage 100% vs 95%
Help
 Around 10% better viewfinder coverage
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 12,800 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
 The EOS-1D Mark IV's maximum light sensitivity is 2 f-stops better
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor Yes vs No
Help
 Autofocuses with all autofocus lenses
Sensor size Larger sensor APS-H 27.9x18.6mm vs APS-C 23.1x15.4mm
Help
 Around 50% larger sensor
Color depth Better color depth 22.8 bits vs 22.5 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.3 more bits of color
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 102,400 ISO vs 12,800 ISO
Help
 The EOS-1D Mark IV's boost ISO is 3 f-stops better
Viewfinder Has a pentaprism viewfinder Pentaprism vs Pentamirror
Help
 Pentaprism viewfinders are typically brighter
Storage slots Has more storage slots 2 vs 1
Help
 More slots allows storing more images without switching memory cards
True resolution Higher true resolution 16 MP vs 14.2 MP
Help
 Capture more than 10% more detail in your photos
Fastest shutter speed Much faster max shutter speed 1/8000s vs 1/4000s
Help
 2x faster max shutter speed
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Learn more about
the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

Advantages of the Nikon D3100
Size Much smaller 124x96x73 mm vs 156x157x80 mm
Help
 2.2x smaller
Lens availability More lenses available 169 lenses vs 125 lenses
Help
 Around 40% more lenses available
Weight Much lighter 505 g vs 1,230 g
Help
 2.4x lighter
Lowest price Significantly cheaper $499.99 vs $4,999.99
Help
 The best price we've seen is $4,500 cheaper (10x less)
Built-in flash Built-in flash Yes vs No
Help
 A built-in flash is useful for taking indoor shots where there is little light
Thickness Thinner 2.9" vs 3.1"
Help
 Around 10% thinner
Nikon D3100 Learn more about
the Nikon D3100
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent DSLRs, and ignoring price

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Canon EOS-1D Mark IV
79 vs 45
Explain scores
Nikon D3100 Nikon D3100
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a pro DSLR with a entry-level DSLR.

advice

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6
votes
by dinsky this month
Canon T3i vs Nikon D3100

My daughter wants to start taking photo classes, which camera is better for a beginning student....

26 people recommend the Canon T3i:

" i think it´s too much to start, i don´t know if the girl has got a camera already... but since t..."

" it is the best entry level camera and even most professionals use this. better get this camera f..."

" Very good for beginners. And keeping that in mind, the D3100 has more expensive lenses than cano..."
26 people recommend the Nikon D3100:

" I would say that from what I know, nikon has a better beginner friendly interface which will hel..."

" * More comfortable * Easy to use * More Auto modes * Smaller and lighter * Cheaper too"

" They are both as good as one another, neither is particularly better than the other. If you real..."
1
votes
by Ameera-Khan1 last month
Canon T3i vs Nikon D3100

This will be my first purchase of a dslr. I want to buy the best available camera that I can use...

6 people recommend the Canon T3i:

" Since Ameera wants a camera that she expects to use for many years to come, the Canon T3i is ide..."

" Thy are easy to use. I have used Canon's for many many years. I have tried Nikon they are not ea..."

" If filmography is your calling, then go with the T3i. Trust me. "
One person recommends the Nikon D3100:

" Nikon have better cheaper lenses and some of them even don't have a Canon version, for example t..."
0
votes
by Bucketsss last month
Canon T3i vs Nikon D3100

Tell us more! Are you a beginner or expert? What types of photos do you like to take? What featu...

One person recommends the Canon T3i:

" http://snapsort.com/compare/Canon-600d-vs-Nikon_D3100 Wildlife with the 600mm L lens from Canon..."
0
votes
by Faye-Takai last month
Canon T3i vs Nikon D3100

I am a beginner! Never used a DSLR before. I do take alot of pictues indoors of my dogs and fami...
-1
votes
by Sagar-Rayate last month
Canon T3i vs Nikon D3100

Slr...micro zoom. hd recording,

One person recommends the Canon T3i:

" Simple 1 answer possible, the Canon 5D Mk III, but the 600D is also nice. http://snapsort.com/c..."

similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Supports 24p 24p support Help
For that film look
External mic jack Neither has an external mic jack Help
Limited to the in-camera mic
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Color depth Has slightly more color depth
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D5100 vs the EOS-1D Mark IV
Compare the D5100 vs the D3100
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$544 - $949 body only

$649 - $867 with 18-55mm lens
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Thickness Is thinner
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Autofocus Lacks autofocus
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the EOS-1D Mark IV
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the D3100
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$619 - $700 body only

$745 - $1,000 with 18-55mm lens
Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the EOS-1D Mark IV
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D3100
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$830 - $897 body only

$1,199 - $1,200 with 18-105mm lens
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D90 vs the EOS-1D Mark IV
Compare the D90 vs the D3100
Canon EOS Rebel T1i

Canon Rebel T1i

Entry-level DSLR

$471 - $629 body only

$549 - $575 with 18-55mm lens
Thickness Is thinner
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Autofocus Lacks autofocus
Compare the Rebel T1i vs the EOS-1D Mark IV
Compare the Rebel T1i vs the D3100
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,000 - $1,197 body only

$1,100 with 55-200mm lens
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Color depth Has slightly more color depth
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the D7000 vs the EOS-1D Mark IV
Compare the D7000 vs the D3100
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$848 - $1,304 body only

$1,177 - $1,342 with 18-135mm lens
Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the EOS 60D vs the EOS-1D Mark IV
Compare the EOS 60D vs the D3100

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Pro DSLR

$2,198 body only

$2,898 - $2,999 with 24-105mm lens
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Cross type focus points Many fewer cross-type focus points
Continuous shooting Shoots significantly slower
Compare the EOS 5D Mark II vs the EOS-1D Mark IV
Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Pro DSLR

$3,499 - $3,500 body only

$4,299 - $4,300 with 24-105mm lens
Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO
Overall image quality Better image quality
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Continuous shooting Shoots significantly slower
Compare the EOS 5D Mark III vs the EOS-1D Mark IV
Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,549 - $1,821 body only

$1,500 - $1,849 with 18-135mm lens
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Lens availability More lenses available
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Low light performance More noise at high ISO
Compare the EOS 7D vs the EOS-1D Mark IV
Nikon D4

Nikon D4

Pro DSLR

$5,999 - $6,000 body only
Low light performance Much lower noise at high ISO
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality
Cross type focus points Significantly fewer cross-type focus points
Shutter lag Significantly more shutter lag
Compare the D4 vs the EOS-1D Mark IV
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III

Canon EOS-1Ds

Pro DSLR

$9,137 - $9,321 body only
Viewfinder size Much larger viewfinder
Overall image quality Better image quality
Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen
Autofocus Slower autofocus
Compare the EOS-1Ds vs the EOS-1D Mark IV

Nikon D3100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$330 body only

$489 - $500 with 18-55mm lens
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder
Screen size Much smaller screen
Color depth Worse color depth
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the D3100
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$699 - $700 with 18-55mm lens
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Thickness Thicker
Compare the D3200 vs the D3100
Nikon D3000

Nikon D3000

Entry-level DSLR

$487 with 18-55mm lens
Thickness Significantly thinner
Shutter lag Slightly less shutter lag
Live view No live view
Movie format Does not take movies
Compare the D3000 vs the D3100

appearance

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Nikon D3100
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Nikon D3100
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Nikon D3100

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