Canon EOS
450D
 vs
Nikon
D3100

Updated (April, 2012): Compare the Canon EOS 450D 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
Movie continuous focus
 Movie continuous focus
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
Badge
 Autofocuses shooting video
Contrast detection
Weight
 Light-weight
505 g
Canon EOS 450D

41
Runner-up

Canon EOS 450D

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 450D

Shutter lag
 Barely any delay taking photos
160 ms shutter lag
Size
 Really small
Prosumer size 129x98x62 mm
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Thickness
 Thin
2.4"

differences

Advantages of the Canon 450D
Shutter lag Significantly less shutter lag 160 ms vs 279 ms
Help
 More than 40% less delay when taking photos
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor Yes vs No
Help
 Autofocuses with all autofocus lenses
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder 0.54x vs 0.51x
Help
 Around 10% larger viewfinder
Size Smaller 129x98x62 mm vs 124x96x73 mm
Help
 More than 10% smaller
Thickness Significantly thinner 2.4" vs 2.9"
Help
 Around 20% thinner
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster 3.5 fps vs 3 fps
Help
 Around 20% faster continuous shooting
Canon EOS 450D Learn more about
the Canon 450D

Advantages of the Nikon D3100
Movie format Shoots movies 1080p @ 24fps vs None
Help
 Shoots Full HD (1080p) video as well as still pictures
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 919 ISO vs 692 ISO
Help
 The D3100 has a slight edge (0.4 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Color depth Better color depth 22.5 bits vs 21.9 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.6 more bits of color
Overall image quality Better image quality 67.0 vs 61.0
Help
 Around 10% better image quality
Dynamic range More dynamic range 11.3 EV vs 10.8 EV
Help
 0.5 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
True resolution Higher true resolution 14.2 MP vs 12.2 MP
Help
 Capture around 20% more detail in your photos
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 3,200 ISO vs 800 ISO
Help
 The D3100's maximum light sensitivity is 2 f-stops better
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 12,800 ISO vs 1,600 ISO
Help
 The D3100's boost ISO is 3 f-stops better
Focus points More focus points 11 vs 9
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Battery life Slightly longer battery life 550 shots vs 500 shots
Help
 10% more shots per battery charge
Lowest price Cheaper $499.99 vs $1,110.36
Help
 The best price we've seen is $610 cheaper (2.2x less)
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available 169 lenses vs 162 lenses
Help
 Almost the same
Weight Slightly lighter 505 g vs 524 g
Help
 Almost the same
Nikon D3100 Learn more about
the Nikon D3100
vs

recommendations

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

Canon EOS 450D Canon EOS 450D
41 vs 54
Explain scores
Nikon D3100 Nikon D3100
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D3100.

advice

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1
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2 people recommend the Nikon D3100:

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similarities

Compared to recent entry-level DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Lens availability Many lenses available Help
450D:162 lenses
D3100:169 lenses
Startup delay Minimal startup delay Help
400 ms startup delay
Size Fairly small Help
450D:129x98x62 mm
D3100:124x96x73 mm
Thickness Thin Help
450D:2.4"
D3100:2.9"
Weight Light weight Help
450D:524 g
D3100:505 g
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
450D:800 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
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
1
Screen resolution Low resolution screens Help
230k dots
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
450D:3.5 fps
D3100:3 fps
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
450D:12.2 MP
D3100:14.2 MP
Weather sealed Neither is weather sealed Help
Need to shelter it from weather
Dynamic range Poor dynamic range Help
450D:10.8 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 450D
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 450D
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
Shutter lag Has significantly more shutter lag
Compare the EOS 550D vs the EOS 450D
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 450D
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 450D
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
Shutter lag Has significantly more shutter lag
Compare the D3000 vs the EOS 450D
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
Supports 24p Doesn't record movies in 24p
Color depth Has slightly less color depth
Compare the EOS 500D vs the EOS 450D
Compare the EOS 500D vs the D3100

Canon EOS 450D Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Canon EOS 450D.

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 450D Nikon D3100
Canon EOS 450D Nikon D3100
Canon EOS 450D Nikon D3100

discussion

Showing 1 comments

Joseph_abiraad (11:20 AM, January 12, 2011)
The D3100 is more recent than the EOS 450D so it really must have many more advantages than the older one (in ex. the video 1080p). I got both cameras and they're both splendid i must say, equally happy with both of them except of course at night where the Nikon is much better. Great page by the way. Cheers