Canon EOS
550D
 vs
Nikon
D3000

Updated (February, 2011): Compare the Canon EOS 600D vs Nikon D3100

Canon EOS 550D

58

  
Nikon D3000

33

  

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 550D

Movie format
 Full HD
1080p @ 30fps
Screen resolution
 High resolution screen
1,040k dots
True resolution
 High true resolution
17.9 MP
Live view
 Has live view
Preview your photos
External mic jack
 External mic jack
Record higher quality audio with a microphone
Size
 Really small
Prosumer size 129x98x62 mm
 
Runner-up

Nikon D3000

Reasons to buy the Nikon D3000

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 550D
Movie format Shoots movies 1080p @ 30fps vs None
Help
 Shoots Full HD (1080p) video as well as still pictures
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 1,040k dots vs 230k dots
Help
 More than 4.5x 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 784 ISO vs 563 ISO
Help
 The 550D has a slight edge (0.5 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
True resolution Much higher true resolution 17.9 MP vs 10 MP
Help
 Capture around 80% more detail in your photos
Overall image quality Better image quality 66.0 vs 62.0
Help
 Around 10% better image quality
Dynamic range More dynamic range 11.5 EV vs 11.1 EV
Help
 0.4 f-stops more dynamic range
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor CMOS vs CCD
Help
 CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 1,600 ISO
Help
 The 550D's maximum light sensitivity is 2 f-stops better
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor Yes vs No
Help
 Autofocuses with all autofocus lenses
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 12,800 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
 The 550D's boost ISO is 2 f-stops better
Startup delay Less startup delay 400 ms vs 700 ms
Help
 More than 40% less delay when turning on
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 3.7 fps vs 3 fps
Help
 More than 20% faster continuous shooting
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder 0.54x vs 0.52x
Help
 Around 10% larger viewfinder
Shutter lag Slightly less shutter lag 252 ms vs 262 ms
Help
 Almost the same
Thickness Thinner 2.4" vs 2.5"
Help
 Almost the same
Canon EOS 550D Learn more about
the Canon 550D

Advantages of the Nikon D3000
Sensor size Much 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 440 shots
Help
 Around 30% more shots per battery charge
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
Lowest price Cheaper $435.54 vs $612.58
Help
 The best price we've seen is $177 cheaper (around 30% less)
Nikon D3000 Learn more about
the Nikon D3000
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent entry-level DSLRs, and ignoring price

Canon EOS 550D Canon EOS 550D
58 vs 33
Explain scores
Nikon D3000 Nikon D3000
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon EOS 550D.

similarities

Compared to recent entry-level DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Size Very small Help
550D:129x98x62 mm
D3000:126x97x64 mm
Lens availability Many lenses available Help
550D:162 lenses
D3000:169 lenses
Thickness Very thin Help
550D:2.4"
D3000:2.5"
Fastest shutter speed Slow max shutter speed Help
1/4000 of a second
Light sensitivity (boost) Poor boost ISO Help
550D:12,800 ISO
D3000:3,200 ISO
Autofocus No video autofocus Help
Manual focus only
Viewfinder coverage Below average viewfinder coverage Help
95%
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
1
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
550D:6,400 ISO
D3000:1,600 ISO
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
550D:3.7 fps
D3000:3 fps
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
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
Dynamic range Poor dynamic range Help
550D:11.5 EV
D3000:11.1 EV
Viewfinder size Below average viewfinder size Help
550D:0.54x
D3000:0.52x
Overall image quality Low image quality Help
550D:66.0
D3000:62.0
Low light performance Above average noise at high ISO Help
550D:784 ISO
D3000:563 ISO

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EOS 600D

Canon EOS 600D

Entry-level DSLR

$470 - $689 body only

$548 - $927 with 18-55mm lens
Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is much larger
Compare the EOS 600D vs the EOS 550D
Compare the EOS 600D vs the D3000
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$447 - $740 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Movie continuous focus Can focus continuously while recording movies
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is slightly larger
Compare the D3100 vs the EOS 550D
Compare the D3100 vs the D3000
Canon EOS 1100D

Canon EOS 1100D

Entry-level DSLR

$436 - $445 body only

$448 - $818 with 18-55mm lens
Shutter lag Has significantly 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 550D
Compare the EOS 1100D vs the D3000
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$497 body only

$597 - $805 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is significantly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is much larger
Compare the D5100 vs the EOS 550D
Compare the D5100 vs the D3000
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$547 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is significantly 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 550D
Compare the D3200 vs the D3000
Canon EOS 500D

Canon EOS 500D

Entry-level DSLR

$924 with 18-55mm lens
Shutter lag Has slightly less shutter lag
Lowest price Is much more expensive
External mic jack Lacks and external mic jack
Compare the EOS 500D vs the EOS 550D
Compare the EOS 500D vs the D3000
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$675 - $899 body only

$799 - $1,099 with 18-105mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D90 vs the EOS 550D
Compare the D90 vs the D3000

Canon EOS 550D Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EOS 650D

Canon EOS 650D

Entry-level DSLR

$580 - $797 body only

$650 - $1,144 with 18-55mm lens
Autofocus Video autofocus
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Size Much larger
Compare the EOS 650D vs the EOS 550D
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$699 - $899 body only

$999 - $1,279 with 18-135mm lens
Battery life Much longer battery life
Weather sealed Weather sealed
Size Much larger
Thickness Much thicker
Compare the EOS 60D vs the EOS 550D

Nikon D3000 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Nikon D3000.

appearance

Canon EOS 550D Nikon D3000
Canon EOS 550D Nikon D3000
Canon EOS 550D Nikon D3000

discussion

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