Canon EOS Digital
Rebel XS
 vs
Nikon
D3100

Updated (April, 2012): Compare the Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS 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
Screen size
 Large screen
3.0"
Movie continuous focus
 Movie continuous focus
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
Badge
 Autofocuses shooting video
Contrast detection
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS

32
"Typical Canon CMOS noise-free images, remain detailed even at high sensitivities"
dpreview.com | talking about the Rebel XS's iso-noise
"The Rebel XS is primarily made from three materials; a stainless steel chassis, the mirror box which is made of high-strength 'engineering plastic' and the body made of a special lightweight 'engineering plastic' which also provides some electromagnetic shielding."
dpreview.com | talking about the Rebel XS's build-quality

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS

Size
 Really small
Prosumer size 126x98x65 mm
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Thickness
 Thin
2.6"
Weight
 Light-weight
502 g

differences

Advantages of the Canon Rebel XS
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor Yes vs No
Help
 Autofocuses with all autofocus lenses
Size Smaller 126x98x65 mm vs 124x96x73 mm
Help
 Around 10% smaller
Thickness Significantly thinner 2.6" vs 2.9"
Help
 More than 10% thinner
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $347.99 vs $499.99
Help
 The best price we've seen is $152 cheaper (more than 30% less)
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS Learn more about
the Canon Rebel XS

Advantages of the Nikon D3100
Screen size Much larger screen 3.0" vs 2.5"
Help
 More than 20% larger screen
Movie format Shoots movies 1080p @ 24fps vs None
Help
 Shoots Full HD (1080p) video as well as still pictures
Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
 Catch candid moments easily
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 919 ISO vs 719 ISO
Help
 The D3100 has a slight edge (0.4 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Overall image quality Better image quality 67.0 vs 62.0
Help
 Around 10% better image quality
Color depth Better color depth 22.5 bits vs 22 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.5 more bits of color
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 14.2 MP vs 10.1 MP
Help
 Capture more than 40% more detail in your photos
Dynamic range More dynamic range 11.3 EV vs 10.9 EV
Help
 0.4 f-stops more dynamic range
Autofocus Video autofocus Contrast detection vs None
Help
 Automatically focuses shooting video
Sensor size Larger sensor APS-C 23.1x15.4mm vs APS-C 22.2x14.8mm
Help
 Around 10% larger sensor
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
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
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder 0.51x vs 0.50x
Help
 Around 10% larger viewfinder
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available 169 lenses vs 162 lenses
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

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

advice

Need help deciding?

Ask the community!
I am considering either the Canon Rebel XS or the Nikon D3100,
For example: Taking photos in low light or great family photos or ability to take great photos underwater

Select aspects that are most important to you: (max 3)

Popular tags:

Are you a camera expert? Share your knowledge!
1
votes
by Jacqui-Masters-Tessena last month
Canon Rebel XS vs Nikon D3100

Beginner, just learning about dslr and want better quality photos. I want to be able to get the...
1
votes
by Jyl-Smith-Murray last month
Canon Rebel XS vs Canon Rebel XTi

I found both cameras used. The xti is the body and 18-55 lens only for $280. The xs has been used ...

One person recommends the Canon Rebel XS:

"The XS and XTi are nearly identical. If you have found both for the same price but the XS comes wi..."
6
votes
by dinsky this month
Canon T3i vs Nikon D3100

My daughter wants to start taking photo classes, which camera is better for a beginning student....

26 people recommend the Canon T3i:

" i think it´s too much to start, i don´t know if the girl has got a camera already... but since t..."

" it is the best entry level camera and even most professionals use this. better get this camera f..."

" Very good for beginners. And keeping that in mind, the D3100 has more expensive lenses than cano..."
26 people recommend the Nikon D3100:

" I would say that from what I know, nikon has a better beginner friendly interface which will hel..."

" * More comfortable * Easy to use * More Auto modes * Smaller and lighter * Cheaper too"

" They are both as good as one another, neither is particularly better than the other. If you real..."
1
votes
by Ameera-Khan1 last month
Canon T3i vs Nikon D3100

This will be my first purchase of a dslr. I want to buy the best available camera that I can use...

6 people recommend the Canon T3i:

" Since Ameera wants a camera that she expects to use for many years to come, the Canon T3i is ide..."

" Thy are easy to use. I have used Canon's for many many years. I have tried Nikon they are not ea..."

" If filmography is your calling, then go with the T3i. Trust me. "
One person recommends the Nikon D3100:

" Nikon have better cheaper lenses and some of them even don't have a Canon version, for example t..."
0
votes
by Bucketsss last month
Canon T3i vs Nikon D3100

Tell us more! Are you a beginner or expert? What types of photos do you like to take? What featu...

One person recommends the Canon T3i:

" http://snapsort.com/compare/Canon-600d-vs-Nikon_D3100 Wildlife with the 600mm L lens from Canon..."

similarities

Compared to recent entry-level DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Lens availability Many lenses available Help
Rebel XS:162 lenses
D3100:169 lenses
Size Fairly small Help
Rebel XS:126x98x65 mm
D3100:124x96x73 mm
Thickness Thin Help
Rebel XS:2.6"
D3100:2.9"
Weight Light weight Help
Rebel XS:502 g
D3100:505 g
Lowest price Inexpensive Help
Rebel XS:$347.99
D3100:$499.99
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 XS:1,600 ISO
D3100:3,200 ISO
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
3 fps
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Screen resolution Low resolution screens Help
230k dots
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
Rebel XS:10.1 MP
D3100:14.2 MP
Viewfinder size Below average viewfinder size Help
Rebel XS: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 XS:10.9 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 XS
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 XS
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 XS
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 XS
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 XS
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
Sensor type Has a CCD-family sensor
Live view Doesn't let you preview your photos on the screen
Compare the D3000 vs the EOS Digital Rebel XS
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 XS
Compare the Rebel T1i vs the D3100

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi

Entry-level DSLR

$749 with 18-55mm lens
Color depth Better color depth
Dynamic range More dynamic range
Live view No live view
Low light performance Slightly more noise at high ISO
Compare the EOS Digital Rebel XTi vs the EOS Digital Rebel XS

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

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS Nikon D3100
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS Nikon D3100
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS Nikon D3100

discussion

Showing 0 comments