Canon EOS Digital
Rebel
 vs
Nikon
D3100

Updated (April, 2012): Compare the Canon EOS Digital Rebel vs Nikon D3200

Nikon D3100

54
Winner

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 format
 Full HD
1080p @ 24fps
Color depth
 Great color depth
22.5 bits
Screen size
 Large screen
3.0"
Live view
 Has live view
Preview your photos
Movie continuous focus
 Movie continuous focus
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
Badge
 Autofocuses shooting video
Contrast detection
Placeholder

16

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS Digital Rebel

Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses

differences

Advantages of the Canon Rebel
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor Yes vs No
Help
 Autofocuses with all autofocus lenses
Thickness Slightly thinner 2.8" vs 2.9"
Help
 Almost the same
Placeholder Learn more about
the Canon Rebel

Advantages of the Nikon D3100
Screen size Much larger screen 3.0" vs 1.8"
Help
 Around 70% larger screen
Color depth Better color depth 22.5 bits vs 21 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 1.5 more bits of color
Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO 919 ISO vs 544 ISO
Help
 The D3100 has a slight edge (0.8 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Movie format Shoots movies 1080p @ 24fps vs None
Help
 Shoots Full HD (1080p) video as well as still pictures
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 67.0 vs 55.0
Help
 More than 20% better image quality
Live view Has live view Yes vs No
Help
 Preview your photos on the camera's screen before taking them
True resolution Much higher true resolution 14.2 MP vs 6.3 MP
Help
 Capture around 2.5x more detail in your photos
Dynamic range More dynamic range 11.3 EV vs 10.8 EV
Help
 0.5 f-stops more dynamic range
Autofocus Video autofocus Contrast detection vs None
Help
 Automatically focuses shooting video
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen 230k dots vs 118k dots
Help
 More than 90% higher resolution screen
Light sensitivity (boost) Has boost ISO 12,800 ISO vs None
Help
 Allows taking photos in darker situations, often at the cost of additional noise in the image
Size Smaller 124x96x73 mm vs 142x99x72 mm
Help
 More than 10% smaller
Sensor size Larger sensor APS-C 23.1x15.4mm vs APS-C 22.7x15.1mm
Help
 Almost the same
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 3,200 ISO vs 1,600 ISO
Help
 The D3100's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Weight Significantly lighter 505 g vs 645 g
Help
 More than 20% lighter
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster 3 fps vs 2.5 fps
Help
 20% faster continuous shooting
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available 169 lenses vs 162 lenses
Help
 Almost the same
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder 0.51x vs 0.50x
Help
 Almost the same
Nikon D3100 Learn more about
the Nikon D3100
vs

recommendations

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

Placeholder Canon EOS Digital Rebel
16 vs 54
Explain scores
Nikon D3100 Nikon D3100
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D3100.

similarities

Compared to recent entry-level DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Lens availability Many lenses available Help
Rebel:162 lenses
D3100:169 lenses
Thickness Thin Help
Rebel:2.8"
D3100:2.9"
Fastest shutter speed Slow max shutter speed Help
1/4000 of a second
Storage slots Fewer storage slots Help
1
Viewfinder coverage Below average viewfinder coverage Help
95%
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
Rebel:1,600 ISO
D3100:3,200 ISO
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
Rebel:2.5 fps
D3100:3 fps
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Screen resolution Low resolution screens Help
Rebel:118k dots
D3100:230k dots
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
Rebel:6.3 MP
D3100:14.2 MP
Viewfinder size Below average viewfinder size Help
Rebel:0.50x
D3100:0.51x
Weather sealed Neither is weather sealed Help
Need to shelter it from weather
Dynamic range Poor dynamic range Help
Rebel:10.8 EV
D3100:11.3 EV

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$330 body only

$489 - $500 with 18-55mm lens
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Battery life Has a slightly longer battery life
Thickness Is thicker
Sensor cleaning Lacks a self cleaning sensor
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the EOS Digital Rebel
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the D3100
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 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
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the D5100 vs the EOS Digital Rebel
Compare the D5100 vs the D3100
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$544 - $949 body only

$649 - $867 with 18-55mm lens
Screen resolution Has a much higher resolution screen
True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the EOS Digital Rebel
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
Screen resolution Has a much higher resolution screen
True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the EOS Digital Rebel
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
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D90 vs the EOS Digital Rebel
Compare the D90 vs the D3100
Nikon D3000

Nikon D3000

Entry-level DSLR

$487 with 18-55mm lens
Sensor size Has a marginally larger sensor
Size Is slightly smaller
Sensor type Has a CCD-family sensor
Startup delay Has slightly more startup delay
Compare the D3000 vs the EOS Digital Rebel
Compare the D3000 vs the D3100
Canon EOS Rebel T1i

Canon Rebel T1i

Entry-level DSLR

$471 - $629 body only

$549 - $575 with 18-55mm lens
Screen resolution Has a much higher resolution screen
Shutter lag Has significantly less shutter lag
Battery life Has a slightly shorter battery life
Supports 24p Doesn't record movies in 24p
Compare the Rebel T1i vs the EOS Digital Rebel
Compare the Rebel T1i vs the D3100

Canon EOS Digital Rebel Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Placeholder

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT

Entry-level DSLR

$420 with 18-55mm lens
Color depth Better color depth
Overall image quality Better image quality
Sensor size Smaller sensor
Viewfinder size Slightly smaller viewfinder
Compare the EOS Digital Rebel XT vs the EOS Digital Rebel
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi

Entry-level DSLR

$749 with 18-55mm lens
Screen size Much larger screen
Color depth Better color depth
Sensor size Smaller sensor
Viewfinder size Slightly smaller viewfinder
Compare the EOS Digital Rebel XTi vs the EOS Digital Rebel
Canon EOS 20D

Canon EOS 20D

Entry-level DSLR
Color depth Better color depth
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO
Size Larger
Weight Heavier
Compare the EOS 20D vs the EOS Digital Rebel

Nikon D3100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$699 - $700 with 18-55mm lens
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
True resolution Much higher true resolution
Viewfinder size Slightly smaller viewfinder
Size Slightly larger
Compare the D3200 vs the D3100

appearance

Placeholder Nikon D3100
Nikon D3100
Nikon D3100

discussion

Showing 0 comments