Canon EOS
500D
 vs
Nikon
D3000

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

Canon EOS 500D

54

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
Startup delay
 Almost no delay when powering up
300 ms startup delay
Shutter lag
 Barely any delay taking photos
159 ms shutter lag
Size
 Really small
Prosumer size 129x98x62 mm
Nikon D3000

32
Runner-up

Nikon D3000
"User-friendly ergonomics, without sacrificing control"
dpreview.com | talking about the D3000's button-layout
"The Nikon D40 was a groundbreaking camera, not only for Nikon, but for the entire entry-level sector of the DSLR market"
dpreview.com | talking about the D3000's overall-performance

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
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen 920k dots vs 230k dots
Help
 4x higher resolution screen
Live view Has live view Yes vs No
Help
 Preview your photos on the camera's screen before taking them
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
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
Dynamic range More dynamic range 11.5 EV vs 11.1 EV
Help
 0.4 f-stops more dynamic range
Startup delay Significantly less startup delay 300 ms vs 700 ms
Help
 2.3x less delay when turning on
Sensor cleaning Has a self cleaning sensor Yes vs No
Help
 Removes dust from the sensor automatically, avoiding spots in photos
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor Yes vs No
Help
 Autofocuses with all autofocus lenses
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor CMOS vs CCD
Help
 CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
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
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 12,800 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
 The 500D's boost ISO is 2 f-stops better
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster 3.4 fps vs 3 fps
Help
 More than 10% faster continuous shooting
Thickness Slightly 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
Color depth Better color depth 22.3 bits vs 21.7 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.6 more bits of color
Sensor size Larger sensor APS-C 23.6x15.8mm vs APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
Help
 More than 10% larger sensor
Battery life Longer battery life 550 shots vs 400 shots
Help
 Around 40% more shots per battery charge
Focus points More focus points 11 vs 9
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available 169 lenses vs 162 lenses
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 500D Canon EOS 500D
54 vs 32
Explain scores
Nikon D3000 Nikon D3000
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon EOS 500D.

performance Which camera has better performance? Cast your vote!

CanonEOS 500D
 Canon EOS 500D vs Nikon D3000
NikonD3000
Uses Travel score Travel
On holiday or vacation
16
21
Vote Vote
Sports score Sports
Fast action, sometimes indoors
17
19
Vote Vote
Features Color accuracy Color accuracy
White balance in varied lighting
16
19
Vote Vote
Autofocus peformance Still image focusing
Speed and accuracy
15
19
Vote Vote
Manual controls Manual settings
How quickly and easily you can change settings
16
19
Vote Vote
Build quality Build quality
Is it sturdy, well made, plastic or metal
15
21
Vote Vote
Green arrow Join in the discussion below!

similarities

Compared to recent entry-level DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Lens availability Many lenses available Help
500D:162 lenses
D3000:169 lenses
Screen size Larger than average screens Help
3.0"
Size Fairly small Help
500D:129x98x62 mm
D3000:126x97x64 mm
Thickness Very thin Help
500D:2.4"
D3000:2.5"
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
500D:3,200 ISO
D3000:1,600 ISO
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
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
500D:3.4 fps
D3000:3 fps
Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
1
Autofocus No video autofocus Help
Manual focus only
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Overall image quality Low image quality Help
500D:63.0
D3000:62.0
Dynamic range Poor dynamic range Help
500D:11.5 EV
D3000:11.1 EV
Low light performance Above average noise at high ISO Help
500D:663 ISO
D3000:563 ISO

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EOS 550D

Canon EOS 550D

Entry-level DSLR

$652 - $888 body only

$778 - $932 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Shutter lag Has significantly more shutter lag
Compare the EOS 550D vs the EOS 500D
Compare the EOS 550D vs the D3000
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $984 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is significantly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
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

$484 - $648 body only

$570 - $659 with 18-55mm lens
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Battery life Has a slightly longer battery life
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is significantly larger
Compare the EOS 1100D vs the EOS 500D
Compare the EOS 1100D vs the D3000
Canon EOS 600D

Canon EOS 600D

Entry-level DSLR

$860 - $1,035 body only

$922 - $1,099 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 significantly larger
Compare the EOS 600D vs the EOS 500D
Compare the EOS 600D vs the D3000
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$650 - $749 body only

$600 - $750 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 slightly larger
Compare the D5100 vs the EOS 500D
Compare the D5100 vs the D3000
Canon EOS 1000D

Canon EOS 1000D

Entry-level DSLR

$474 body only

$561 with 18-55mm lens
Screen size Has a much smaller screen
Compare the EOS 1000D vs the EOS 500D
Compare the EOS 1000D vs the D3000
Canon EOS 450D

Canon EOS 450D

Entry-level DSLR

$803 body only
Compare the EOS 450D vs the EOS 500D
Compare the EOS 450D vs the D3000

Canon EOS 500D Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Canon EOS 500D.

Nikon D3000 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon Coolpix P500

Nikon Coolpix P500

Super zoom

$339 - $350
Movie format Shoots movies
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen
Sensor size Much smaller sensor
Autofocus Slower autofocus
Compare the Coolpix P500 vs the D3000

appearance

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

Find similar cameras

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discussion Which do you think is better?

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