Canon EOS Digital
Rebel XSi
 vs
Nikon
D3100

Nikon D3100

54
Winner

Nikon D3100
"The D3100 offers little to complain about in terms of image quality, and its new 14Mp sensor delivers very good results."
dpreview.com | talking about the D3100's image-quality
"Unusually fast Live View AF for an SLR"
dpreview.com | talking about the D3100's auto-focus

Reasons to buy the Nikon D3100

Movie format
 Full HD
1080p @ 24fps
Supports 24p
 24p movies
For that film look
Movie continuous focus
 Movie continuous focus
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
Badge
 Autofocuses shooting video
Contrast detection
Sensor cleaning
 Self cleaning sensor
Avoids dust in your photos
Weight
 Light-weight
505 g
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi

40
"Superb resolution, good per-pixel sharpness"
dpreview.com | talking about the Rebel XSi's image-quality
"Just like the EOS 400D the 450D 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. Construction is very good with no creaks or rattles."
dpreview.com | talking about the Rebel XSi's build-quality

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi

Shutter lag
 Barely any delay taking photos
160 ms shutter lag
Size
 Really small
Prosumer size 129x98x62 mm
Sensor cleaning
 Self cleaning sensor
Avoids dust in your photos
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Thickness
 Thin
2.4"

differences

Advantages of the Canon Rebel XSi
Shutter lag Significantly less shutter lag 160 ms vs 279 ms
Help
 More than 40% less delay when taking photos
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor Yes vs No
Help
 Autofocuses with all autofocus lenses
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder 0.54x vs 0.51x
Help
 Around 10% larger viewfinder
Size Smaller 129x98x62 mm vs 124x96x73 mm
Help
 More than 10% smaller
Thickness Significantly thinner 2.4" vs 2.9"
Help
 Around 20% thinner
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster 3.5 fps vs 3 fps
Help
 Around 20% faster continuous shooting
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi Learn more about
the Canon Rebel XSi

Advantages of the Nikon D3100
Movie format Shoots movies 1080p @ 24fps vs None
Help
 Shoots Full HD (1080p) video as well as still pictures
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 919 ISO vs 692 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 61.0
Help
 Around 10% better image quality
Color depth Better color depth 22.5 bits vs 21.9 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.6 more bits of color
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
True resolution Higher true resolution 14.2 MP vs 12.2 MP
Help
 Capture around 20% more detail in your photos
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
Focus points More focus points 11 vs 9
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Battery life Slightly longer battery life 550 shots vs 500 shots
Help
 10% more shots per battery charge
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available 169 lenses vs 162 lenses
Help
 Almost the same
Weight Slightly lighter 505 g vs 524 g
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 XSi Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi
40 vs 54
Explain scores
Nikon D3100 Nikon D3100
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D3100.

performance Which camera has better performance? Cast your vote!

CanonEOS Digital Rebel XSi
 Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi vs Nikon D3100
NikonD3100
Uses Travel score Travel
On holiday or vacation
5
17
Vote Vote
Sports score Sports
Fast action, sometimes indoors
7
15
Vote Vote
Features Color accuracy Color accuracy
White balance in varied lighting
5
17
Vote Vote
Autofocus peformance Still image focusing
Speed and accuracy
5
17
Vote Vote
Manual controls Manual settings
How quickly and easily you can change settings
5
17
Vote Vote
Build quality Build quality
Is it sturdy, well made, plastic or metal
5
17
Vote Vote
Green arrow Join in the discussion below!

similarities

Compared to recent entry-level DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Lens availability Many lenses available Help
Rebel XSi:162 lenses
D3100:169 lenses
Screen size Larger than average screens Help
3.0"
Startup delay Minimal startup delay Help
400 ms startup delay
Size Fairly small Help
Rebel XSi:129x98x62 mm
D3100:124x96x73 mm
Weight Light weight Help
Rebel XSi:524 g
D3100:505 g
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 XSi:1,600 ISO
D3100:3,200 ISO
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
1
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
Rebel XSi:3.5 fps
D3100:3 fps
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Screen resolution Low resolution screens Help
230k dots
Dynamic range Poor dynamic range Help
Rebel XSi:10.8 EV
D3100:11.3 EV

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$379 body only

$460 - $550 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 XSi
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the D3100
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$650 - $749 body only

$600 - $750 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 XSi
Compare the D5100 vs the D3100
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$499 - $949 body only

$579 - $867 with 18-55mm lens
Screen resolution Has a much higher resolution screen
True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Shutter lag Has significantly more shutter lag
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the EOS Digital Rebel XSi
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the D3100
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$609 - $800 body only

$709 - $1,180 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 XSi
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D3100
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$869 - $897 body only

$1,099 - $1,200 with 18-105mm lens
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Dynamic range Has significantly wider dynamic range
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Compare the D90 vs the EOS Digital Rebel XSi
Compare the D90 vs the D3100
Canon EOS Rebel T1i

Canon Rebel T1i

Entry-level DSLR

$445 - $629 body only

$504 - $609 with 18-55mm lens
Screen resolution Has a significantly higher resolution screen
Supports 24p Doesn't record movies in 24p
Color depth Has slightly less color depth
Compare the Rebel T1i vs the EOS Digital Rebel XSi
Compare the Rebel T1i vs the D3100
Nikon D5000

Nikon D5000

Entry-level DSLR

$997 with 18-55mm lens
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Dynamic range Has significantly wider dynamic range
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the D5000 vs the EOS Digital Rebel XSi
Compare the D5000 vs the D3100

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi

Entry-level DSLR

$625 with 18-55mm lens
Color depth Better color depth
Dynamic range More dynamic range
Screen size Much smaller screen
Live view No live view
Compare the EOS Digital Rebel XTi vs the EOS Digital Rebel XSi

Nikon D3100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Nikon D3100.

appearance

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi Nikon D3100
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi Nikon D3100
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi Nikon D3100

Find similar cameras

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discussion Which do you think is better?

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