Canon 500D vs Nikon D3200
70 Imaging
53 Features
59 Overall
55


67 Imaging
63 Features
63 Overall
63
Canon 500D vs Nikon D3200 Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 15MP - APS-C Sensor
- 3" Fixed Screen
- ISO 100 - 3200 (Bump to 12800)
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Canon EF/EF-S Mount
- 520g - 129 x 98 x 62mm
- Announced June 2009
- Also referred to as EOS Rebel T1i / EOS Kiss X3
- Superseded the Canon 450D
- Refreshed by Canon 550D
(Full Review)
- 24MP - APS-C Sensor
- 3" Fixed Display
- ISO 100 - 6400 (Boost to 12800)
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Nikon F Mount
- 505g - 125 x 96 x 77mm
- Launched July 2012
- Older Model is Nikon D3100
- Replacement is Nikon D3300

Canon 500D vs Nikon D3200 Overview
On this page, we are evaluating the Canon 500D versus Nikon D3200, both Entry-Level DSLR digital cameras by brands Canon and Nikon. There exists a sizable gap between the sensor resolutions of the 500D (15MP) and D3200 (24MP) but both cameras posses the same sensor dimensions (APS-C).

The 500D was manufactured 4 years before the D3200 and that is quite a significant difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras have the same body design (Compact SLR).
Before getting into a in-depth comparison, here is a quick summary of how the 500D grades against the D3200 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Canon 500D vs Nikon D3200 Gallery
Below is a sample of the gallery pics for Canon EOS 500D & Nikon D3200. The entire galleries are available at Canon 500D Gallery & Nikon D3200 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Canon 500D over the Nikon D3200
500D | D3200 |
---|
Reasons to pick Nikon D3200 over the Canon 500D
D3200 | 500D | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Launched | July 2012 | ![]() | June 2009 | Fresher by 38 months |
Display resolution | 921k | ![]() | 920k | Crisper display (+1k dot) |
Common features in the Canon 500D and Nikon D3200
500D | D3200 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Manual focus | ![]() | Dial accurate focusing | ||
Display type | Fixed | ![]() | Fixed | Fixed display |
Display dimensions | 3" | ![]() | 3" | Equal display sizing |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Lacking selfie screen | ||
Touch display | ![]() | Lacking Touch display |
Canon 500D vs Nikon D3200 Physical Comparison
For those who are going to carry your camera regularly, you're going to have to consider its weight and size. The Canon 500D features exterior measurements of 129mm x 98mm x 62mm (5.1" x 3.9" x 2.4") with a weight of 520 grams (1.15 lbs) while the Nikon D3200 has specifications of 125mm x 96mm x 77mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 3.0") having a weight of 505 grams (1.11 lbs).
Examine the Canon 500D versus Nikon D3200 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have at that moment. Below is a front view overall size comparison of the 500D versus the D3200.

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the 500D and D3200 is 70 and 67 respectively.

Canon 500D vs Nikon D3200 Sensor Comparison
More often than not, it is tough to visualise the contrast between sensor sizing simply by looking at specifications. The graphic below will offer you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the 500D and D3200.
Plainly, both cameras have the same sensor dimensions but not the same MP. You can expect to see the Nikon D3200 to give you more detail due to its extra 9 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop photos a bit more aggressively. The older 500D is going to be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Canon 500D vs Nikon D3200 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Canon 500D vs Nikon D3200 Specifications
Canon EOS 500D | Nikon D3200 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Make | Canon | Nikon |
Model | Canon EOS 500D | Nikon D3200 |
Otherwise known as | EOS Rebel T1i / EOS Kiss X3 | - |
Type | Entry-Level DSLR | Entry-Level DSLR |
Announced | 2009-06-08 | 2012-07-25 |
Body design | Compact SLR | Compact SLR |
Sensor Information | ||
Chip | Digic 4 | Expeed 3 |
Sensor type | CMOS | CMOS |
Sensor size | APS-C | APS-C |
Sensor measurements | 22.3 x 14.9mm | 23.2 x 15.4mm |
Sensor area | 332.3mm² | 357.3mm² |
Sensor resolution | 15 megapixel | 24 megapixel |
Anti aliasing filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 3:2 | 3:2 |
Highest Possible resolution | 4752 x 3168 | 6016 x 4000 |
Maximum native ISO | 3200 | 6400 |
Maximum enhanced ISO | 12800 | 12800 |
Minimum native ISO | 100 | 100 |
RAW files | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Manual focus | ||
Touch to focus | ||
Autofocus continuous | ||
Single autofocus | ||
Autofocus tracking | ||
Autofocus selectice | ||
Center weighted autofocus | ||
Multi area autofocus | ||
Live view autofocus | ||
Face detection autofocus | ||
Contract detection autofocus | ||
Phase detection autofocus | ||
Number of focus points | 9 | 11 |
Cross focus points | - | 1 |
Lens | ||
Lens mounting type | Canon EF/EF-S | Nikon F |
Amount of lenses | 326 | 309 |
Crop factor | 1.6 | 1.6 |
Screen | ||
Screen type | Fixed Type | Fixed Type |
Screen diagonal | 3 inch | 3 inch |
Resolution of screen | 920k dot | 921k dot |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch capability | ||
Screen tech | TFT color LCD | TFT LCD with 160� viewing angle |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder type | Optical (pentamirror) | Optical (pentamirror) |
Viewfinder coverage | 95 percent | 95 percent |
Viewfinder magnification | 0.55x | 0.53x |
Features | ||
Min shutter speed | 30 secs | 30 secs |
Max shutter speed | 1/4000 secs | 1/4000 secs |
Continuous shutter speed | 3.0 frames per sec | 4.0 frames per sec |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Manually set exposure | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
Custom white balance | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Built-in flash | ||
Flash range | 13.00 m | 12.00 m (at ISO 100) |
Flash options | Auto, On, Off, Red-eye | Auto, Red-Eye, Slow, Red-Eye Slow, Rear curtain |
External flash | ||
AE bracketing | ||
White balance bracketing | ||
Max flash sync | 1/200 secs | 1/200 secs |
Exposure | ||
Multisegment metering | ||
Average metering | ||
Spot metering | ||
Partial metering | ||
AF area metering | ||
Center weighted metering | ||
Video features | ||
Video resolutions | 1920 x 1080 (20 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) | 1920 x 1080 (30,25, 24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 50 fps), 640 x 424 (30, 25 fps) |
Maximum video resolution | 1920x1080 | 1920x1080 |
Video format | H.264 | MPEG-4, H.264 |
Microphone input | ||
Headphone input | ||
Connectivity | ||
Wireless | Eye-Fi Connected | Optional |
Bluetooth | ||
NFC | ||
HDMI | ||
USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
GPS | None | Optional |
Physical | ||
Environment seal | ||
Water proof | ||
Dust proof | ||
Shock proof | ||
Crush proof | ||
Freeze proof | ||
Weight | 520 gr (1.15 lb) | 505 gr (1.11 lb) |
Physical dimensions | 129 x 98 x 62mm (5.1" x 3.9" x 2.4") | 125 x 96 x 77mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 3.0") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO Overall score | 63 | 81 |
DXO Color Depth score | 21.7 | 24.1 |
DXO Dynamic range score | 11.5 | 13.2 |
DXO Low light score | 663 | 1131 |
Other | ||
Battery life | 440 photographs | 540 photographs |
Type of battery | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
Battery model | LP-E5 | EN-EL14 |
Self timer | Yes (2 sec or 10 sec) | Yes |
Time lapse recording | ||
Type of storage | SD/SDHC | SD/SDHC/SDXC UHS-I compliant |
Storage slots | 1 | 1 |
Launch price | $650 | $530 |