Updated (January, 2012): Compare the Canon EOS 60D vs Nikon D4

Nikon D3

87

Winner

Nikon D3

Reasons to buy the Nikon D3

Low light performance
Low noise at high ISO
2,290 ISO
Overall image quality
Great image quality
81.0
Color depth
Great color depth
23.5 bits
Viewfinder size
Large viewfinder
0.70x
Weather sealed
Weather sealed
Shoot in extreme weather
Continuous shooting
Rapid fire
9 fps
Canon EOS 60D

71

Runner-up

Canon EOS 60D

"Excellent image quality up to ISO settings unthinkable just one camera generation ago"
dpreview.com | talking about the 60D's image-quality
"It may have turned its back on the semi-pro, but the 60D is still a camera that should enthuse the enthusiasts."
dpreview.com | talking about the 60D's overall-performance

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 60D

Screen flips out
Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Fastest shutter speed
Fast shutter speed
1/8000 of a second

differences

Advantages of the Canon 60D

Movie format Shoots movies 1080p @ 30fps vs None
Help
Shoots Full HD (1080p) video as well as still pictures
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen Yes vs No
Help
Flip-out screens can be helpful when composing tricky shots or taking movies
Sensor cleaning Has a self cleaning sensor Yes vs No
Help
Removes dust from the sensor automatically, avoiding spots in photos
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 17.9 MP vs 12.1 MP
Help
Capture around 50% more detail in your photos
Size Much smaller 145x106x79 mm vs 160x157x88 mm
Help
Around 50% smaller
Lens availability More lenses available 162 lenses vs 121 lenses
Help
More than 30% more lenses available
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen 1,040k dots vs 922k dots
Help
More than 10% higher resolution screen
Weight Much lighter 755 g vs 1,300 g
Help
More than 40% lighter
Thickness Significantly thinner 3.1" vs 3.5"
Help
More than 10% thinner
Built-in flash Built-in flash Yes vs No
Help
A built-in flash is useful for taking indoor shots where there is little light
Canon EOS 60D Learn more about
the Canon 60D

Advantages of the Nikon D3

Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO 2,290 ISO vs 813 ISO
Help
The D3 has excellent image quality 1.5 f-stops higher ISO than the 60D
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 81.0 vs 66.0
Help
More than 20% better image quality
Battery life Much longer battery life 4300 shots vs 1100 shots
Help
Around 4x more shots per battery charge
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.2 EV vs 11.5 EV
Help
0.7 f-stops more dynamic range
Color depth Better color depth 23.5 bits vs 22.2 bits
Help
Distinguishes 1.3 more bits of color
Sensor size Much larger sensor Full frame 36.0x24.0mm vs APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
Help
More than 2.5x larger sensor
Focus points Many more focus points 51 vs 9
Help
Set focus accurately within the frame
Weather sealed Weather sealed Yes vs No
Help
Sealed to shoot in the rain
Shutter lag Much less shutter lag 88 ms vs 253 ms
Help
2.9x less delay when taking photos
Viewfinder size Significantly larger viewfinder 0.70x vs 0.59x
Help
More than 40% larger viewfinder
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 9 fps vs 5.3 fps
Help
Around 70% faster continuous shooting
Viewfinder coverage Significantly better viewfinder coverage 100% vs 96%
Help
Almost the same
Storage slots Has more storage slots 2 vs 1
Help
More slots allows storing more images without switching memory cards
Cross type focus points More cross-type focus points 15 vs 9
Help
Grab focus in difficult situations
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 25,600 ISO vs 12,800 ISO
Help
The D3's boost ISO is 1 f-stop better
Nikon D3 Learn more about
the Nikon D3
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent pro DSLRs, and ignoring price

Canon EOS 60D Canon EOS 60D
71 vs 87
Explain scores
Nikon D3 Nikon D3
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D3.

advice

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1
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Nikon D3 vs Pentax K-5

I'd say the pros on the K-5 are much more important than the pros on the D3. And the fact that t...

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similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Viewfinder Both have pentaprism viewfinders Help
Pentaprism
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
1/8000 of a second
Autofocus No video autofocus Help
Manual focus only
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
6,400 ISO

Compared to recent pro DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Supports RAW Supports RAW Help
Better editing
Light sensitivity (boost) Poor boost ISO Help
60D:12,800 ISO
D3:25,600 ISO
Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
60D:9
D3:15
Screen size Very small screens Help
3.0"

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$619 - $700 body only

$745 - $1,000 with 18-55mm lens

Weight Is slightly lighter
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Viewfinder Has a lower quality type of viewfinder
Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,549 - $1,821 body only

$1,500 - $1,849 with 18-135mm lens

Thickness Is thinner
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,000 - $1,197 body only

$1,100 with 55-200mm lens

Dynamic range Has slightly wider dynamic range
Movie continuous focus Can focus continuously while recording movies
Shutter lag Has significantly more shutter lag
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens

HDR Has in-camera HDR
Movie continuous focus Can focus continuously while recording movies
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$830 - $897 body only

$1,199 - $1,200 with 18-105mm lens

Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
External mic jack Lacks and external mic jack
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$544 - $949 body only

$649 - $867 with 18-55mm lens

Size Is slightly smaller
Thickness Is thinner
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Viewfinder Has a lower quality type of viewfinder
Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Pro DSLR

$2,198 body only

$2,898 - $2,999 with 24-105mm lens

True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Thickness Is thinner
Shutter lag Has significantly more shutter lag
Cross type focus points Has slightly fewer cross-type focus points

Canon EOS 60D Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon EOS 50D

Canon EOS 50D

Pro DSLR

$1,282 - $1,330 body only

Shutter lag Significantly less shutter lag
Continuous shooting Shoots faster
Movie format Does not take movies
Color depth Worse color depth

Nikon D3 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D700

Nikon D700

Pro DSLR

$2,199 body only

Sensor cleaning Has a self cleaning sensor
Size Significantly smaller
Battery life Much shorter battery life
Continuous shooting Shoots significantly slower
Nikon D800

Nikon D800

Pro DSLR

$2,999 - $3,000 body only

True resolution Much higher true resolution
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality
Battery life Much shorter battery life
Continuous shooting Shoots significantly slower
Nikon D3S

Nikon D3S

Pro DSLR

$5,197 body only

Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO
Sensor cleaning Has a self cleaning sensor
Shutter lag Significantly more shutter lag
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Nikon D4

Nikon D4

Pro DSLR

$5,999 - $6,000 body only

Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO
Movie format Shoots movies
Battery life Much shorter battery life
Shutter lag Significantly more shutter lag

appearance

Canon EOS 60D Nikon D3
Canon EOS 60D Nikon D3
Canon EOS 60D Nikon D3

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