Canon EOS
500D
 vs
Nikon
D3000

Updated (February, 2011): Compare the Canon EOS 1100D vs Nikon D3100

Canon EOS 500D

56

  
Nikon D3000

33

  

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 500D

Movie format
 Full HD
1080p @ 20fps
Screen size
 Large screen
3.0"
Screen resolution
 High resolution screen
920k dots
Live view
 Has live view
Preview your photos
Shutter lag
 Barely any delay taking photos
159 ms shutter lag
Size
 Really small
Prosumer size 129x98x62 mm
 
Runner-up

Nikon D3000

Reasons to buy the Nikon D3000

Screen size
 Large screen
3.0"
Sensor size
 Large sensor
APS-C 23.6x15.8mm
Size
 Really small
Prosumer size 126x97x64 mm
Thickness
 Thin
2.5"
 

differences

Advantages of the Canon 500D
Movie format Shoots movies 1080p @ 20fps vs None
Help
 Shoots Full HD (1080p) video as well as still pictures
Live view Has live view Yes vs No
Help
 Preview your photos on the camera's screen before taking them
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 920k dots vs 230k dots
Help
 4x higher resolution screen
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 663 ISO vs 563 ISO
Help
 The 500D has a slight edge (0.2 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Dynamic range More dynamic range 11.5 EV vs 11.1 EV
Help
 0.4 f-stops more dynamic range
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 15.1 MP vs 10 MP
Help
 Capture 50% more detail in your photos
Shutter lag Significantly less shutter lag 159 ms vs 262 ms
Help
 Around 40% less delay when taking photos
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor CMOS vs CCD
Help
 CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor Yes vs No
Help
 Autofocuses with all autofocus lenses
Startup delay Less startup delay 300 ms vs 700 ms
Help
 2.3x less delay when turning on
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 12,800 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
 The 500D's boost ISO is 2 f-stops better
Overall image quality Slightly better image quality 63.0 vs 62.0
Help
 Almost the same
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 3,200 ISO vs 1,600 ISO
Help
 The 500D's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder 0.54x vs 0.52x
Help
 Around 10% larger viewfinder
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster 3.4 fps vs 3 fps
Help
 More than 10% faster continuous shooting
Thickness Thinner 2.4" vs 2.5"
Help
 Almost the same
Weight Slightly lighter 520 g vs 536 g
Help
 Almost the same
Canon EOS 500D Learn more about
the Canon 500D

Advantages of the Nikon D3000
Sensor size Much larger sensor APS-C 23.6x15.8mm vs APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
Help
 More than 10% larger sensor
Color depth Better color depth 22.3 bits vs 21.7 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.6 more bits of color
Battery life Longer battery life 550 shots vs 400 shots
Help
 Around 40% more shots per battery charge
Lowest price Much cheaper $435.54 vs $900.84
Help
 The best price we've seen is $465 cheaper (2.1x less)
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
Nikon D3000 Learn more about
the Nikon D3000
vs

recommendations

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

Canon EOS 500D Canon EOS 500D
56 vs 33
Explain scores
Nikon D3000 Nikon D3000
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon EOS 500D.

similarities

Compared to recent entry-level DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Size Very small Help
500D:129x98x62 mm
D3000:126x97x64 mm
Lens availability Many lenses available Help
500D:162 lenses
D3000:169 lenses
Thickness Very thin Help
500D:2.4"
D3000:2.5"
Fastest shutter speed Slow max shutter speed Help
1/4000 of a second
Light sensitivity (boost) Poor boost ISO Help
500D:12,800 ISO
D3000:3,200 ISO
Autofocus No video autofocus Help
Manual focus only
Viewfinder coverage Below average viewfinder coverage Help
95%
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
500D:3,200 ISO
D3000:1,600 ISO
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
500D:3.4 fps
D3000:3 fps
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
1
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
500D:15.1 MP
D3000:10 MP
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Weather sealed Neither is weather sealed Help
Need to shelter it from weather
Dynamic range Poor dynamic range Help
500D:11.5 EV
D3000:11.1 EV
Viewfinder size Below average viewfinder size Help
500D:0.54x
D3000:0.52x
Overall image quality Low image quality Help
500D:63.0
D3000:62.0
Low light performance Above average noise at high ISO Help
500D:663 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
Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is slightly larger
Compare the D3100 vs the EOS 500D
Compare the D3100 vs the D3000
Canon EOS 1100D

Canon EOS 1100D

Entry-level DSLR

$436 - $445 body only

$448 - $818 with 18-55mm lens
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Shutter lag Has slightly less shutter lag
Thickness Is thicker
Sensor cleaning Lacks a self cleaning sensor
Compare the EOS 1100D vs the EOS 500D
Compare the EOS 1100D vs the D3000
Canon EOS 550D

Canon EOS 550D

Entry-level DSLR

$613 body only

$705 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Compare the EOS 550D vs the EOS 500D
Compare the EOS 550D vs the D3000
Canon EOS 600D

Canon EOS 600D

Entry-level DSLR

$470 - $689 body only

$542 - $927 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is much larger
Compare the EOS 600D vs the EOS 500D
Compare the EOS 600D vs the D3000
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$497 body only

$597 - $805 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is much less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is much larger
Compare the D5100 vs the EOS 500D
Compare the D5100 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 500D
Compare the D3200 vs the D3000
Canon EOS 1000D

Canon EOS 1000D

Entry-level DSLR

$619 with 18-55mm lens
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the EOS 1000D vs the EOS 500D
Compare the EOS 1000D vs the D3000

Canon EOS 500D Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$699 - $899 body only

$999 - $1,279 with 18-135mm lens
Battery life Much longer battery life
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Size Much larger
Shutter lag Significantly more shutter lag
Compare the EOS 60D vs the EOS 500D

Nikon D3000 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

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

appearance

Canon EOS 500D Nikon D3000
Canon EOS 500D Nikon D3000
Canon EOS 500D Nikon D3000

discussion

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