Canon EOS
50D
 vs
Nikon
D3100

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

Canon EOS 50D

53

  
Nikon D3100

42

  
Winner

Canon EOS 50D

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 50D

Screen resolution
 High resolution screen
920k dots
Live view
 Has live view
Preview your photos
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
Sensor type
 CMOS Sensor
Better in low light
 
Runner-up

Nikon D3100

Reasons to buy the Nikon D3100

Live view
 Has live view
Preview your photos
Supports 24p
 24p movies
For that film look
Movie continuous focus
 Movie continuous focus
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
Badge
 Autofocuses shooting video
Contrast detection
Sensor type
 CMOS Sensor
Better in low light
 

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
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 6.3 fps vs 3 fps
Help
 More than 2x faster continuous shooting
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder 0.59x vs 0.51x
Help
 More than 30% larger viewfinder
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor Yes vs No
Help
 Autofocuses with all autofocus lenses
Cross type focus points More cross-type focus points 9 vs 1
Help
 Grab focus in difficult situations
Viewfinder Has a pentaprism viewfinder Pentaprism vs Pentamirror
Help
 Pentaprism viewfinders are typically brighter
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
Battery life Slightly longer battery life 640 shots vs 550 shots
Help
 Around 20% more shots per battery charge
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay 300 ms vs 400 ms
Help
 Around 30% less delay when turning on
Canon EOS 50D Learn more about
the Canon 50D

Advantages of the Nikon D3100
Movie format Shoots movies 1080p @ 24fps vs None
Help
 Shoots Full HD (1080p) video as well as still pictures
Color depth Better color depth 22.5 bits vs 21.8 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.7 more bits of color
Autofocus Video autofocus Contrast detection vs None
Help
 Automatically focuses shooting video
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
Size Smaller 124x96x73 mm vs 146x108x74 mm
Help
 More than 20% smaller
Weight Significantly 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
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
53 vs 42
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.

similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Lens availability Many lenses available Help
50D:162 lenses
D3100:169 lenses
Startup delay Minimal startup delay Help
50D:300 ms
D3100:400 ms
Thickness Thin Help
2.9"
Built-in flash Each has a built-in flash Help
External flash not needed
Viewfinder coverage Below average viewfinder coverage Help
95%
Storage slots Fewer storage slots Help
1
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Light sensitivity (boost) Poor boost ISO Help
12,800 ISO
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
50D:15.1 MP
D3100:14.2 MP
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
3,200 ISO
Weather sealed Neither is weather sealed Help
Need to shelter it from weather
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Focus points Few focus points Help
50D:9
D3100:11
Autofocus Lacks video autofocus Help
50D:None
D3100:Contrast detection
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
Dynamic range Poor dynamic range Help
50D:11.4 EV
D3100:11.3 EV
Sensor size Very small sensors Help
50D:APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
D3100:APS-C 23.1x15.4mm
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Overall image quality Low image quality Help
50D:63.0
D3100:67.0
Low light performance Above average noise at high ISO Help
50D:696 ISO
D3100:919 ISO

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$332 body only

$429 - $499 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
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$547 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 D3200 vs the EOS 50D
Compare the D3200 vs the D3100
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$497 body only

$597 - $805 with 18-55mm lens
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Dynamic range Has significantly wider dynamic range
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 T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$549 body only

$599 - $649 with 18-55mm lens
Screen resolution Has a slightly higher resolution screen
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
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

$675 - $899 body only

$799 - $1,099 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 Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$500 body only

$600 with 18-55mm lens
Screen resolution Has a slightly higher resolution screen
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
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 EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$699 - $899 body only

$999 - $1,279 with 18-135mm lens
Screen resolution Has a slightly higher resolution screen
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the EOS 60D vs the EOS 50D
Compare the EOS 60D vs the D3100

Canon EOS 50D Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EOS 40D

Canon EOS 40D

Pro DSLR
Color depth Better color depth
Battery life Longer battery life
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

$1,499 body only

$1,699 with 28-135mm lens
Movie format Shoots movies
Weather sealed Weather sealed
Startup delay Slightly more startup delay
Size Slightly larger
Compare the EOS 7D vs the EOS 50D
Canon EOS 5D

Canon EOS 5D

Pro DSLR

$3,461 with 24-105mm lens
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO
Overall image quality Better image quality
Screen size Much smaller screen
Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen
Compare the EOS 5D vs the EOS 50D

Nikon D3100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D3000

Nikon D3000

Entry-level DSLR

$436 with 18-55mm lens
Thickness Much 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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