Canon EOS
50D
 vs
Nikon
D3100

Updated (April, 2012): Compare the Canon EOS 50D vs Nikon D3200

Canon EOS 50D

57
Winner

Canon EOS 50D
"Nine point auto focus system accurate, even in low light"
dpreview.com | talking about the 50D's auto-focus
"The EOS 50D has to stand its ground in a highly competitive bracket of the DSLR market."
dpreview.com | talking about the 50D's overall-performance

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 50D

Screen resolution
 High resolution screen
920k dots
Continuous shooting
 Rapid fire
6.3 fps
Shutter lag
 Barely any delay taking photos
131 ms shutter lag
Cross type focus points
 Many cross-type focus points
9
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Fastest shutter speed
 Fast shutter speed
1/8000 of a second
Nikon D3100

45
Runner-up

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 continuous focus
 Movie continuous focus
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
Badge
 Autofocuses shooting video
Contrast detection

differences

Advantages of the Canon 50D
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 920k dots vs 230k dots
Help
 4x higher resolution screen
Shutter lag Significantly less shutter lag 131 ms vs 279 ms
Help
 2.1x less delay when taking photos
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder 0.59x vs 0.51x
Help
 More than 30% larger viewfinder
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 6.3 fps vs 3 fps
Help
 More than 2x faster continuous shooting
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor Yes vs No
Help
 Autofocuses with all autofocus lenses
Viewfinder Has a pentaprism viewfinder Pentaprism vs Pentamirror
Help
 Pentaprism viewfinders are typically brighter
Cross type focus points More cross-type focus points 9 vs 1
Help
 Grab focus in difficult situations
Dynamic range More dynamic range 11.4 EV vs 11.3 EV
Help
 0.1 f-stops more dynamic range
True resolution Slightly higher true resolution 15.1 MP vs 14.2 MP
Help
 Capture around 10% more detail in your photos
Fastest shutter speed Much faster max shutter speed 1/8000s vs 1/4000s
Help
 2x faster max shutter speed
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay 300 ms vs 400 ms
Help
 Around 30% less delay when turning on
Battery life Slightly longer battery life 640 shots vs 550 shots
Help
 Around 20% more shots per battery charge
Canon EOS 50D Learn more about
the Canon 50D

Advantages of the Nikon D3100
Color depth Better color depth 22.5 bits vs 21.8 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.7 more bits of color
Movie format Shoots movies 1080p @ 24fps vs None
Help
 Shoots Full HD (1080p) video as well as still pictures
Overall image quality Better image quality 67.0 vs 63.0
Help
 Around 10% better image quality
Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO 919 ISO vs 696 ISO
Help
 The D3100 has a slight edge (0.4 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Autofocus Video autofocus Contrast detection vs None
Help
 Automatically focuses shooting video
Size Smaller 124x96x73 mm vs 146x108x74 mm
Help
 More than 20% smaller
Weight Lighter 505 g vs 822 g
Help
 Around 40% lighter
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available 169 lenses vs 162 lenses
Help
 Almost the same
Sensor size Slightly larger sensor APS-C 23.1x15.4mm vs APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
Help
 Around 10% larger sensor
Focus points Slightly more focus points 11 vs 9
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $499.99 vs $1,281.99
Help
 The best price we've seen is $782 cheaper (2.6x less)
Nikon D3100 Learn more about
the Nikon D3100
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent DSLRs, and ignoring price

Canon EOS 50D Canon EOS 50D
57 vs 45
Explain scores
Nikon D3100 Nikon D3100
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon EOS 50D. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a pro DSLR with a entry-level DSLR.

advice

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Are you a camera expert? Share your knowledge!
6
votes
by dinsky this month
Canon T3i vs Nikon D3100

My daughter wants to start taking photo classes, which camera is better for a beginning student....

26 people recommend the Canon T3i:

" i think it´s too much to start, i don´t know if the girl has got a camera already... but since t..."

" it is the best entry level camera and even most professionals use this. better get this camera f..."

" Very good for beginners. And keeping that in mind, the D3100 has more expensive lenses than cano..."
26 people recommend the Nikon D3100:

" I would say that from what I know, nikon has a better beginner friendly interface which will hel..."

" * More comfortable * Easy to use * More Auto modes * Smaller and lighter * Cheaper too"

" They are both as good as one another, neither is particularly better than the other. If you real..."
1
votes
by Ameera-Khan1 last month
Canon T3i vs Nikon D3100

This will be my first purchase of a dslr. I want to buy the best available camera that I can use...

6 people recommend the Canon T3i:

" Since Ameera wants a camera that she expects to use for many years to come, the Canon T3i is ide..."

" Thy are easy to use. I have used Canon's for many many years. I have tried Nikon they are not ea..."

" If filmography is your calling, then go with the T3i. Trust me. "
One person recommends the Nikon D3100:

" Nikon have better cheaper lenses and some of them even don't have a Canon version, for example t..."
0
votes
by Scott-Harmon last week
Canon T3i vs Canon 50D

i am taking my wife on an Alaskan cruise.  I keep thinking just take my 50D and not my video, bu...

2 people recommend the Canon T3i:

" I get a chuckle when Adorama in NYC lists Canon 50D as "vintage" but in a way that seems fitting..."

" Canon is the leader in the DSLR video market, and the Canon T3i is one of the best entry level D..."
0
votes
by Bucketsss last month
Canon T3i vs Nikon D3100

Tell us more! Are you a beginner or expert? What types of photos do you like to take? What featu...

One person recommends the Canon T3i:

" http://snapsort.com/compare/Canon-600d-vs-Nikon_D3100 Wildlife with the 600mm L lens from Canon..."
0
votes
by Faye-Takai last month
Canon T3i vs Nikon D3100

I am a beginner! Never used a DSLR before. I do take alot of pictues indoors of my dogs and fami...

similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Lens availability Many lenses available Help
50D:162 lenses
D3100:169 lenses
Thickness Thin Help
2.9"
Storage slots Fewer storage slots Help
1
Viewfinder coverage Below average viewfinder coverage Help
95%
Light sensitivity (boost) Poor boost ISO Help
12,800 ISO
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
3,200 ISO
Weather sealed Neither is weather sealed Help
Need to shelter it from weather
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Focus points Few focus points Help
50D:9
D3100:11
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Dynamic range Poor dynamic range Help
50D:11.4 EV
D3100:11.3 EV
Overall image quality Low image quality Help
50D:63.0
D3100:67.0

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Color depth Has slightly more color depth
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D5100 vs the EOS 50D
Compare the D5100 vs the D3100
Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$330 body only

$489 - $500 with 18-55mm lens
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the EOS 50D
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the D3100
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$544 - $949 body only

$649 - $867 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Shutter lag Has significantly more shutter lag
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the EOS 50D
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the D3100
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$619 - $700 body only

$745 - $1,000 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the EOS 50D
Compare the Rebel T3i 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
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D90 vs the EOS 50D
Compare the D90 vs the D3100
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$848 - $1,304 body only

$1,177 - $1,342 with 18-135mm 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 60D vs the EOS 50D
Compare the EOS 60D vs the D3100
Canon EOS Rebel T1i

Canon Rebel T1i

Entry-level DSLR

$471 - $629 body only

$549 - $575 with 18-55mm lens
Thickness Is thinner
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Supports 24p Doesn't record movies in 24p
Compare the Rebel T1i vs the EOS 50D
Compare the Rebel T1i vs the D3100

Canon EOS 50D Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EOS 40D

Canon EOS 40D

Pro DSLR

$650 body only
Color depth Better color depth
Overall image quality Slightly better image quality
Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen
Autofocus Slower autofocus
Compare the EOS 40D vs the EOS 50D
Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,549 - $1,821 body only

$1,500 - $1,849 with 18-135mm lens
Movie format Shoots movies
Color depth Better color depth
Size Slightly larger
Weight Slightly heavier
Compare the EOS 7D vs the EOS 50D
Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Pro DSLR

$2,198 body only

$2,898 - $2,999 with 24-105mm lens
Color depth Better color depth
Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO
Lens availability Fewer lenses available
Shutter lag More shutter lag
Compare the EOS 5D Mark II vs the EOS 50D

Nikon D3100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$699 - $700 with 18-55mm lens
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Thickness Thicker
Compare the D3200 vs the D3100
Nikon D3000

Nikon D3000

Entry-level DSLR

$487 with 18-55mm lens
Thickness Significantly thinner
Shutter lag Slightly less shutter lag
Live view No live view
Movie format Does not take movies
Compare the D3000 vs the D3100

appearance

Canon EOS 50D Nikon D3100
Canon EOS 50D Nikon D3100
Canon EOS 50D Nikon D3100

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