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

Nikon D3100

54

Winner

Nikon D3100

"It's almost impossible to pick up without your hand falling into a sensible position with the key controls at your fingertips."
dpreview.com | talking about the D3100's button-layout
"Thanks to its lineage the D3100 remains one of the most pleasant to hold cameras in its class."
dpreview.com | talking about the D3100's feel

Reasons to buy the Nikon D3100

Movie format
Full HD
1080p @ 24fps
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
Weight
Light-weight
505 g
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi

31

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi

Size
Really small
Prosumer size 127x94x65 mm
Badge
Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Thickness
Thin
2.6"

differences

Advantages of the Canon Rebel XTi

Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor Yes vs No
Help
Autofocuses with all autofocus lenses
Size Smaller 127x94x65 mm vs 124x96x73 mm
Help
More than 10% smaller
Thickness Significantly thinner 2.6" vs 2.9"
Help
More than 10% thinner
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi Learn more about
the Canon Rebel XTi

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
Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO 919 ISO vs 664 ISO
Help
The D3100 has a slight edge (0.5 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
Catch candid moments easily
Live view Has live view Yes vs No
Help
Preview your photos on the camera's screen before taking them
Overall image quality Better image quality 67.0 vs 62.0
Help
Around 10% better image quality
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 14.2 MP vs 10.1 MP
Help
Capture more than 40% more detail in your photos
Color depth Better color depth 22.5 bits vs 22.1 bits
Help
Distinguishes 0.4 more bits of color
Autofocus Video autofocus Contrast detection vs None
Help
Automatically focuses shooting video
Dynamic range More dynamic range 11.3 EV vs 11 EV
Help
0.3 f-stops more dynamic range
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
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder 0.51x vs 0.49x
Help
Around 10% larger viewfinder
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
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available 169 lenses vs 162 lenses
Help
Almost the same
Weight Lighter 505 g vs 556 g
Help
Around 10% lighter
Lowest price Cheaper $499.99 vs $749.00
Help
The best price we've seen is $249 cheaper (more than 30% less)
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 XTi Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
31 vs 54
Explain scores
Nikon D3100 Nikon D3100
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D3100.

advice

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1
votes
by Danielle-Scott last month
Nikon D3100 vs Sony DSC-HX100v

The low light performance is the main factor in choosing a camera. The zoom also is a plus, but ...

One person recommends the Nikon D3100:

" If the low light performance is priority, then definitely d3100 (with 18-105mm VR lens if u can ..."

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..."

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...

0
votes
by Sooraj-Nair this month
Canon 500D vs Nikon D3100

Which one should I buy canon 550d or nikon 3100?

One person recommends the Nikon D3100:

" The Nikon D3100 has better low light image quality, it takes excellent quality photos up to 919 ..."

1
votes
by Kelly-Charpie 6 days ago
Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D7000

I am not a beginner nor am I am expert.. in between I suppose. I've worked for professional phot...

similarities

Compared to recent entry-level DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Lens availability Many lenses available Help
Rebel XTi:162 lenses
D3100:169 lenses
Size Fairly small Help
Rebel XTi:127x94x65 mm
D3100:124x96x73 mm
Thickness Thin Help
Rebel XTi:2.6"
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 XTi:1,600 ISO
D3100:3,200 ISO
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
3 fps
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
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 XTi:10.1 MP
D3100:14.2 MP
Viewfinder size Below average viewfinder size Help
Rebel XTi:0.49x
D3100:0.51x
Weather sealed Neither is weather sealed Help
Need to shelter it from weather
Dynamic range Poor dynamic range Help
Rebel XTi:11 EV
D3100:11.3 EV

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$333 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
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
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
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
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$1,047 with 55-200mm 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
Nikon D3000

Nikon D3000

Entry-level DSLR

$481 with 18-55mm lens

Sensor size Has a marginally larger sensor
Sensor type Has a CCD-family sensor
Startup delay Has slightly more startup delay
Canon EOS Rebel T1i

Canon Rebel T1i

Entry-level DSLR

$471 - $629 body only

$549 - $580 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

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi.

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

appearance

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi Nikon D3100
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi Nikon D3100
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi Nikon D3100

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