Updated (August, 2010): Compare the Canon EOS 60D vs Nikon D3100

Canon EOS 60D

59

Winner

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 resolution
High resolution screen
1,040k dots
Screen flips out
Flip-out screen
Great for movies
External mic jack
External mic jack
Record higher quality audio with a microphone
Badge
Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Fastest shutter speed
Fast shutter speed
1/8000 of a second
Nikon D3000

36

Runner-up

Nikon D3000

"The Nikon D40 was a groundbreaking camera, not only for Nikon, but for the entire entry-level sector of the DSLR market"
dpreview.com | talking about the D3000's overall-performance
"Very capable AF system, including 3D AF tracking, on a par with much more expensive DSLRs"
dpreview.com | talking about the D3000's auto-focus

Reasons to buy the Nikon D3000

Size
Really small
Prosumer size 126x97x64 mm
Thickness
Thin
2.5"

differences

Advantages of the Canon 60D

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
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
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 17.9 MP vs 10 MP
Help
Capture around 80% more detail in your photos
Dynamic range More dynamic range 11.5 EV vs 11.1 EV
Help
0.4 f-stops more dynamic range
Overall image quality Better image quality 66.0 vs 62.0
Help
Around 10% better image quality
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 813 ISO vs 563 ISO
Help
The 60D has a slight edge (0.5 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor CMOS vs CCD
Help
CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder 0.59x vs 0.52x
Help
Around 30% larger viewfinder
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor Yes vs No
Help
Autofocuses with all autofocus lenses
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 5.3 fps vs 3 fps
Help
Around 80% faster continuous shooting
Battery life Longer battery life 1100 shots vs 550 shots
Help
2x more shots per battery charge
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
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 1,600 ISO
Help
The 60D's maximum light sensitivity is 2 f-stops better
Viewfinder coverage Better viewfinder coverage 96% vs 95%
Help
Almost the same
Fastest shutter speed Much faster max shutter speed 1/8000s vs 1/4000s
Help
2x faster max shutter speed
Shutter lag Slightly less shutter lag 253 ms vs 262 ms
Help
Almost the same
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 12,800 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
The 60D's boost ISO is 2 f-stops better
Canon EOS 60D Learn more about
the Canon 60D

Advantages of the Nikon D3000

Size Smaller 126x97x64 mm vs 145x106x79 mm
Help
Around 40% smaller
Thickness Much thinner 2.5" vs 3.1"
Help
Around 20% thinner
Color depth Better color depth 22.3 bits vs 22.2 bits
Help
Distinguishes 0.1 more bits of color
Sensor size Slightly larger sensor APS-C 23.6x15.8mm vs APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
Help
More than 10% larger sensor
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available 169 lenses vs 162 lenses
Help
Almost the same
Weight Lighter 536 g vs 755 g
Help
Around 30% lighter
Focus points Slightly more focus points 11 vs 9
Help
Set focus accurately within the frame
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $486.96 vs $848.00
Help
The best price we've seen is $361 cheaper (more than 40% less)
Nikon D3000 Learn more about
the Nikon D3000
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent DSLRs, and ignoring price

Canon EOS 60D Canon EOS 60D
59 vs 36
Explain scores
Nikon D3000 Nikon D3000
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon EOS 60D. 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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similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Lens availability Many lenses available Help
60D:162 lenses
D3000:169 lenses
Storage slots Fewer storage slots Help
1
Viewfinder coverage Below average viewfinder coverage Help
60D:96%
D3000:95%
Light sensitivity (boost) Poor boost ISO Help
60D:12,800 ISO
D3000:3,200 ISO
Autofocus No video autofocus Help
Manual focus only
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Weather sealed Neither is weather sealed Help
Need to shelter it from weather
Shutter lag Significant shutter lag Help
60D:253 ms
D3000:262 ms
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Focus points Few focus points Help
60D:9
D3000:11
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
60D:6,400 ISO
D3000:1,600 ISO
Dynamic range Poor dynamic range Help
60D:11.5 EV
D3000:11.1 EV
Overall image quality Low image quality Help
60D:66.0
D3000:62.0

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

Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
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
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,000 - $1,197 body only

$1,100 with 55-200mm lens

Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Color depth Has slightly more color depth
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
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
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$544 - $949 body only

$649 - $867 with 18-55mm lens

Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens

Movie continuous focus Can focus continuously while recording movies
Autofocus Focuses automatically while shootting video
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
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

Canon EOS 60D Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,549 - $1,821 body only

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

Weather sealed Weather sealed
Shutter lag Significantly less shutter lag
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Screen resolution Lower resolution screen
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 D3000 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS

Entry-level DSLR

$348 - $595 body only

$439 with 18-55mm lens

Live view Has live view
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor
Screen size Much smaller screen
Autofocus Slower autofocus
Nikon D60

Nikon D60

Entry-level DSLR

Dynamic range More dynamic range
Overall image quality Better image quality
Screen size Much smaller screen
Autofocus Slower autofocus

appearance

Canon EOS 60D Nikon D3000
Canon EOS 60D Nikon D3000
Canon EOS 60D Nikon D3000

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