Canon EOS
1000D
 vs
Nikon
D3100

Updated (April, 2012): Compare the Canon EOS 1000D vs Nikon D3200

Nikon D3100

54
Winner

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 format
 Full HD
1080p @ 24fps
Screen size
 Large screen
3.0"
Movie continuous focus
 Movie continuous focus
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
Badge
 Autofocuses shooting video
Contrast detection
Canon EOS 1000D

32
Runner-up

Canon EOS 1000D

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 1000D

Size
 Really small
Prosumer size 126x98x65 mm
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Thickness
 Thin
2.6"
Weight
 Light-weight
502 g

differences

Advantages of the Canon 1000D
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor Yes vs No
Help
 Autofocuses with all autofocus lenses
Size Smaller 126x98x65 mm vs 124x96x73 mm
Help
 Around 10% smaller
Thickness Significantly thinner 2.6" vs 2.9"
Help
 More than 10% thinner
Canon EOS 1000D Learn more about
the Canon 1000D

Advantages of the Nikon D3100
Screen size Much larger screen 3.0" vs 2.5"
Help
 More than 20% larger screen
Movie format Shoots movies 1080p @ 24fps vs None
Help
 Shoots Full HD (1080p) video as well as still pictures
Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
 Catch candid moments easily
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 919 ISO vs 719 ISO
Help
 The D3100 has a slight edge (0.4 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 22 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.5 more bits of color
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 14.2 MP vs 10.1 MP
Help
 Capture more than 40% more detail in your photos
Dynamic range More dynamic range 11.3 EV vs 10.9 EV
Help
 0.4 f-stops more dynamic range
Autofocus Video autofocus Contrast detection vs None
Help
 Automatically focuses shooting video
Sensor size Larger sensor APS-C 23.1x15.4mm vs APS-C 22.2x14.8mm
Help
 Around 10% larger sensor
Light sensitivity (boost) Has boost ISO 12,800 ISO vs None
Help
 Allows taking photos in darker situations, often at the cost of additional noise in the image
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 3,200 ISO vs 1,600 ISO
Help
 The D3100's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder 0.51x vs 0.50x
Help
 Around 10% larger viewfinder
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available 169 lenses vs 162 lenses
Help
 Almost the same
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $499.99 vs $562.37
Help
 The best price we've seen is $62 cheaper (more than 10% less)
Nikon D3100 Learn more about
the Nikon D3100
vs

recommendations

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

Canon EOS 1000D Canon EOS 1000D
32 vs 54
Explain scores
Nikon D3100 Nikon D3100
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D3100.

advice

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similarities

Compared to recent entry-level DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Lens availability Many lenses available Help
1000D:162 lenses
D3100:169 lenses
Size Fairly small Help
1000D:126x98x65 mm
D3100:124x96x73 mm
Thickness Thin Help
1000D:2.6"
D3100:2.9"
Weight Light weight Help
1000D:502 g
D3100:505 g
Lowest price Inexpensive Help
1000D:$562.37
D3100:$499.99
Fastest shutter speed Slow max shutter speed Help
1/4000 of a second
Storage slots Fewer storage slots Help
1
Viewfinder coverage Below average viewfinder coverage Help
95%
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
1000D:1,600 ISO
D3100:3,200 ISO
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
3 fps
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Screen resolution Low resolution screens Help
230k dots
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
1000D:10.1 MP
D3100:14.2 MP
Viewfinder size Below average viewfinder size Help
1000D:0.50x
D3100:0.51x
Weather sealed Neither is weather sealed Help
Need to shelter it from weather
Dynamic range Poor dynamic range Help
1000D:10.9 EV
D3100:11.3 EV

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EOS 1100D

Canon EOS 1100D

Entry-level DSLR

$489 - $559 body only

$587 - $643 with 18-55mm lens
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Battery life Has a slightly longer battery life
Thickness Is thicker
Sensor cleaning Lacks a self cleaning sensor
Compare the EOS 1100D vs the EOS 1000D
Compare the EOS 1100D vs the D3100
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is significantly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the D5100 vs the EOS 1000D
Compare the D5100 vs the D3100
Canon EOS 550D

Canon EOS 550D

Entry-level DSLR

$691 - $916 body only

$731 - $874 with 18-55mm lens
Screen resolution Has a much higher resolution screen
True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Compare the EOS 550D vs the EOS 1000D
Compare the EOS 550D vs the D3100
Canon EOS 600D

Canon EOS 600D

Entry-level DSLR

$863 with 18-55mm lens
Screen resolution Has a much higher resolution screen
True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the EOS 600D vs the EOS 1000D
Compare the EOS 600D vs the D3100
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$830 - $897 body only

$1,199 - $1,200 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 1000D
Compare the D90 vs the D3100
Nikon D3000

Nikon D3000

Entry-level DSLR

$487 with 18-55mm lens
Sensor size Has a marginally larger sensor
Sensor type Has a CCD-family sensor
Live view Doesn't let you preview your photos on the screen
Compare the D3000 vs the EOS 1000D
Compare the D3000 vs the D3100
Canon EOS 500D

Canon EOS 500D

Entry-level DSLR

$539 with 18-55mm lens
Screen resolution Has a much higher resolution screen
Shutter lag Has significantly less shutter lag
Battery life Has a slightly shorter battery life
Supports 24p Doesn't record movies in 24p
Compare the EOS 500D vs the EOS 1000D
Compare the EOS 500D vs the D3100

Canon EOS 1000D Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EOS 400D

Canon EOS 400D

Entry-level DSLR
Color depth Better color depth
Dynamic range More dynamic range
Live view No live view
Low light performance Slightly more noise at high ISO
Compare the EOS 400D vs the EOS 1000D

Nikon D3100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$699 - $700 with 18-55mm lens
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
True resolution Much higher true resolution
Viewfinder size Slightly smaller viewfinder
Size Slightly larger
Compare the D3200 vs the D3100

appearance

Canon EOS 1000D Nikon D3100
Canon EOS 1000D Nikon D3100
Canon EOS 1000D Nikon D3100

discussion

Showing 1 comments

Mahbool66 (5:01 PM, January 21, 2012)
I have the Nikon D3100.. but which one is the best ?