Updated (March, 2012): Compare the Canon EOS 1100D vs Nikon D3200

Nikon D3100
Winner
Nikon D3100

56

vs
Canon EOS 500D

53

Canon EOS 500D
Runner-up
 
 
 
 

Reasons to buy the Nikon D3100

Movie format
 Full HD
1080p @ 24fps
Live view
 Has live view
Preview your photos
Movie continuous focus
 Movie continuous focus
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
Badge
 Autofocuses shooting video
Contrast detection
 

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 500D

Movie format
 Full HD
1080p @ 20fps
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
 
Differences | Recommendations | Similarities | Competitors | Appearance | Discussion

differences

Advantages of the Canon 500D
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 920k dots vs 230k dots
Help
 4x higher resolution screen
Shutter lag Significantly less shutter lag 159 ms vs 279 ms
Help
 More than 40% less delay when taking photos
Dynamic range More dynamic range 11.5 EV vs 11.3 EV
Help
 0.2 f-stops more dynamic range
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor Yes vs No
Help
 Autofocuses with all autofocus lenses
Size Smaller 129x98x62 mm vs 124x96x73 mm
Help
 More than 10% smaller
Thickness Much thinner 2.4" vs 2.9"
Help
 Around 20% thinner
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder 0.54x vs 0.51x
Help
 More than 10% larger viewfinder
True resolution Slightly higher true resolution 15.1 MP vs 14.2 MP
Help
 Capture around 10% more detail in your photos
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster 3.4 fps vs 3 fps
Help
 More than 10% faster continuous shooting
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay 300 ms vs 400 ms
Help
 Around 30% less delay when turning on
Canon EOS 500D Learn more about
the Canon 500D

Advantages of the Nikon D3100
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 919 ISO vs 663 ISO
Help
 The D3100 has a slight edge (0.5 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Color depth Better color depth 22.5 bits vs 21.7 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.8 more bits of color
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
 Get that real film feel
Overall image quality Better image quality 67.0 vs 63.0
Help
 Around 10% better image quality
Autofocus Video autofocus Contrast detection vs None
Help
 Automatically focuses shooting video
Sensor size Significantly larger sensor APS-C 23.1x15.4mm vs APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
Help
 Around 10% larger sensor
Battery life Longer battery life 550 shots vs 400 shots
Help
 Around 40% more shots per battery charge
Lowest price Much cheaper $372.99 vs $924.34
Help
 The best price we've seen is $551 cheaper (2.5x 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
Weight Slightly lighter 505 g vs 520 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 500D Canon EOS 500D
53 vs 56
Explain scores
Nikon D3100 Nikon D3100
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D3100.

similarities

Compared to recent entry-level DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Lens availability Many lenses available Help
500D:162 lenses
D3100:169 lenses
Startup delay Minimal startup delay Help
500D:300 ms
D3100:400 ms
Size Fairly small Help
500D:129x98x62 mm
D3100:124x96x73 mm
Thickness Thin Help
500D:2.4"
D3100:2.9"
Weight Light weight Help
500D:520 g
D3100:505 g
Fastest shutter speed Slow max shutter speed Help
1/4000 of a second
Light sensitivity (boost) Poor boost ISO Help
12,800 ISO
External mic jack Neither has an external mic jack Help
Limited to the in-camera mic
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
500D:3.4 fps
D3100:3 fps
Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
1
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
3,200 ISO
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
500D:15.1 MP
D3100:14.2 MP
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
Autofocus Lacks video autofocus Help
500D:None
D3100:Contrast detection
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
Viewfinder size Below average viewfinder size Help
500D:0.54x
D3100:0.51x
Dynamic range Poor dynamic range Help
500D:11.5 EV
D3100:11.3 EV
Overall image quality Low image quality Help
500D:63.0
D3100:67.0

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EOS 1100D

Canon EOS 1100D

Entry-level DSLR

$421 - $512 body only

$420 - $818 with 18-55mm lens
Shutter lag Has slightly less shutter lag
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 500D
Compare the EOS 1100D vs the D3100
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$547 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D3200 vs the EOS 500D
Compare the D3200 vs the D3100
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$497 body only

$585 - $805 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D5100 vs the EOS 500D
Compare the D5100 vs the D3100
Canon EOS 600D

Canon EOS 600D

Entry-level DSLR

$470 - $689 body only

$536 - $927 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the EOS 600D vs the EOS 500D
Compare the EOS 600D vs the D3100
Canon EOS 550D

Canon EOS 550D

Entry-level DSLR

$625 body only

$696 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Shutter lag Has significantly more shutter lag
Compare the EOS 550D vs the EOS 500D
Compare the EOS 550D vs the D3100
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$600 - $899 body only

$739 - $1,099 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 500D
Compare the D90 vs the D3100
Nikon D3000

Nikon D3000

Entry-level DSLR

$436 - $456 with 18-55mm lens
Sensor size Has a slightly larger sensor
Sensor type Has a CCD-family sensor
Light sensitivity (boost) Slightly lower boost light sensitivity
Compare the D3000 vs the EOS 500D
Compare the D3000 vs the D3100

Canon EOS 500D Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

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

Nikon D3100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Nikon D3100.

appearance

Canon EOS 500D Nikon D3100
Canon EOS 500D Nikon D3100
Canon EOS 500D Nikon D3100

discussion

Showing 5 comments

Avatar for Mark Stanley-Adams Mark Stanley-Adams (9:56 AM, November 22, 2012)
Two very good cameras which are so similar in so many ways as to be virtually indistinguishable from each other. I've fiddled with both and found the differences between them are not at all significant, so choosing between them comes right down to a matter of your personal preference.
 
An2ar (9:35 AM, April 27, 2012)
i use both, d3100 too sharp for colorful image, and at low light...its look too much noise at high iso.500d image looks more bright, less noise at high iso but blur the details of the image. Using daylight nikon the winner, but don't use flash with red eye reduction, it cause slow response for the shutter. The entire body i feel more comfort with canon and also the design.Nikon lens kit 18-55 looks  fragile especially when you turn the zoom fast. For video feature nikon is better, easy live view, and you can capture video in any mode with shortcut button.
 
Yanuarpooh (2:30 PM, January 11, 2012)
i had nikon D3100 and it's rock
 
Mike (8:20 PM, March 31, 2011)
Rumour has it Nikons are easier to use. Best thing to do is hold both in your hands and you should know which you want
 
Piyush_bond007 (5:55 PM, March 06, 2011)
what according to you wil be a right choice for a beginner?