Updated (August 2010): Compare the Canon EOS 500D vs Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100 vs Canon EOS 500D

Tie
Nikon D3100

100
Canon EOS 500D

99

Tie

Reasons to buy the Nikon D3100

24p movies
Supports 24p
For that film look
Movie continuous focus
Movie continuous focus
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
Full HD
Movie format
1080p @ 24fps
Large screen
Screen size
3"
 

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 500D

Screen resolution
 High resolution screen
920k dots
Shutter lag
 Barely any delay taking photos
159 ms shutter lag
Size
 Really small
Prosumer size (129×98×62 mm)
Thickness
 Thin
2.4"
More detailed differences and similarities →

galleries

Explore our gallery of 50 sample photos taken by the Canon EOS 500D.
Explore our gallery of 48 sample photos taken by the Nikon D3100.

competitors

Nikon D3100 Competitors

Placeholder

Canon EOS M100

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$379 body only

$449 with 15-45mm lens

True resolution Much higher true resolution
Size Much smaller
Viewfinder No viewfinder
Compare the EOS M100 vs the D3100
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$550 body only

True resolution Much higher true resolution
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Size Larger
Compare the D3200 vs the D3100
Nikon D3300

Nikon D3300

Entry-level DSLR

$473 body only

$399 with 18-55mm lens

True resolution Much higher true resolution
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Size Larger
Compare the D3300 vs the D3100

Canon EOS 500D Competitors

Canon EOS 1200D

Canon EOS 1200D

Entry-level DSLR

$385 with 18-55mm lens

True resolution Much higher true resolution
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen
Compare the EOS 1200D vs the EOS 500D
Canon EOS 1100D

Canon EOS 1100D

Entry-level DSLR

$332 body only

Startup delay Much less startup delay
Shutter lag Much less shutter lag
True resolution Much lower true resolution
Compare the EOS 1100D vs the EOS 500D
Canon EOS 700D

Canon EOS 700D

Entry-level DSLR

$532 body only

$598 with 18-55mm lens

True resolution Much higher true resolution
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Size Much larger
Compare the EOS 700D vs the EOS 500D
More detailed differences and similarities →

discussion

Nikon D3100
D3100
Nikon

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Canon EOS 500D
EOS 500D
Canon

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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?
 
More detailed differences and similarities →