Updated (August, 2010): Compare the Canon EOS 400D vs Nikon D3100

Canon EOS 400D

36

vs
Nikon D3000

35
 
 
 
 

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 400D

Size
 Really small
Prosumer size 127x94x65 mm
Sensor type
 CMOS Sensor
Better in low light
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Thickness
 Thin
2.6"
 

Reasons to buy the Nikon D3000

Screen size
 Large screen
3.0"
Sensor size
 Large sensor
APS-C 23.6x15.8mm
Badge
 Phase detection autofocus
fast and accurate
Size
 Really small
Prosumer size 126x97x64 mm
 
Differences | Recommendations | Similarities | Competitors | Appearance | Discussion

differences

Advantages of the Canon 400D
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 664 ISO vs 563 ISO
Help
 The 400D has a slight edge (0.2 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor CMOS vs CCD
Help
 CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 200 ms vs 262 ms
Help
 More than 20% less delay when taking photos
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor Yes vs No
Help
 Autofocuses with all autofocus lenses
Canon EOS 400D Learn more about
the Canon 400D

Advantages of the Nikon D3000
Screen size Much larger screen 3.0" vs 2.5"
Help
 More than 20% larger screen
Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
 Catch candid moments easily
Startup delay Much less startup delay 700 ms vs 2500 ms
Help
 3.6x less delay when turning on
Sensor size Much larger sensor APS-C 23.6x15.8mm vs APS-C 22.2x14.8mm
Help
 More than 10% larger sensor
Battery life Longer battery life 550 shots vs 370 shots
Help
 Around 50% more shots per battery charge
Color depth Better color depth 22.3 bits vs 22.1 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.2 more bits of color
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder 0.52x vs 0.49x
Help
 More than 10% larger viewfinder
Dynamic range More dynamic range 11.1 EV vs 11 EV
Help
 0.1 f-stops more dynamic range
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available 169 lenses vs 162 lenses
Help
 Almost the same
Light sensitivity (boost) Has boost ISO 3,200 ISO vs None
Help
 Allows taking photos in darker situations, often at the cost of additional noise in the image
Thickness Slightly thinner 2.5" vs 2.6"
Help
 Almost the same
Weight Slightly lighter 536 g vs 556 g
Help
 Almost the same
Nikon D3000 Learn more about
the Nikon D3000
vs

recommendations

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

Canon EOS 400D Canon EOS 400D
36 vs 35
Explain scores
Nikon D3000 Nikon D3000
Green arrow Too close to call! Snapsort considers these cameras too competitive to make a clear recommendation.

similarities

Compared to recent entry-level DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Size Very small Help
400D:127x94x65 mm
D3000:126x97x64 mm
Lens availability Many lenses available Help
400D:162 lenses
D3000:169 lenses
Thickness Very thin Help
400D:2.6"
D3000:2.5"
Fastest shutter speed Slow max shutter speed Help
1/4000 of a second
Live view No live view Help
Preview with viewfinder
Light sensitivity (boost) One has boost ISO Help
400D:None
D3000:3,200 ISO
Movie format Do not shoot movies Help
No movies
Autofocus No video autofocus Help
Manual focus only
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
400D:10.1 MP
D3000:10 MP
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
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
1,600 ISO
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
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
400D:11 EV
D3000:11.1 EV
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Viewfinder size Below average viewfinder size Help
400D:0.49x
D3000:0.52x
Weather sealed Neither is weather sealed Help
Need to shelter it from weather
Overall image quality Low image quality Help
62.0
Low light performance Above average noise at high ISO Help
400D:664 ISO
D3000:563 ISO

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$447 - $740 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is significantly larger
Compare the D3100 vs the EOS 400D
Compare the D3100 vs the D3000
Canon EOS 1100D

Canon EOS 1100D

Entry-level DSLR

$421 - $512 body only

$420 - $818 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Records lower quality movies
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Thickness Is thicker
Sensor cleaning Lacks a self cleaning sensor
Compare the EOS 1100D vs the EOS 400D
Compare the EOS 1100D vs the D3000
Canon EOS 600D

Canon EOS 600D

Entry-level DSLR

$470 - $689 body only

$536 - $927 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is much larger
Compare the EOS 600D vs the EOS 400D
Compare the EOS 600D vs the D3000
Canon EOS 1000D

Canon EOS 1000D

Entry-level DSLR

$619 with 18-55mm lens
Live view Lets you preview your photos on the screen
Startup delay Has slightly less startup delay
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Compare the EOS 1000D vs the EOS 400D
Compare the EOS 1000D vs the D3000
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$547 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is significantly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has much better image quality
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D3200 vs the EOS 400D
Compare the D3200 vs the D3000
Canon EOS 450D

Canon EOS 450D

Entry-level DSLR

$844 body only
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Live view Lets you preview your photos on the screen
Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
Color depth Has slightly less color depth
Compare the EOS 450D vs the EOS 400D
Compare the EOS 450D vs the D3000
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$497 body only

$585 - $805 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is much less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has much better image quality
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is much larger
Compare the D5100 vs the EOS 400D
Compare the D5100 vs the D3000

Canon EOS 400D Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EOS 40D

Canon EOS 40D

Pro DSLR
Screen size Much larger screen
Live view Has live view
Size Much larger
Weight Much heavier
Compare the EOS 40D vs the EOS 400D

Nikon D3000 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Nikon D3000.

appearance

Canon EOS 400D Nikon D3000
Canon EOS 400D Nikon D3000
Canon EOS 400D Nikon D3000

discussion

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