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Canon 550D vs Nikon D3000

Portability
70
Imaging
58
Features
63
Overall
60
Canon EOS 550D front
 
Nikon D3000 front
Portability
69
Imaging
51
Features
36
Overall
45

Canon 550D vs Nikon D3000 Key Specs

Canon 550D
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400 (Increase to 12800)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Canon EF/EF-S Mount
  • 530g - 129 x 98 x 62mm
  • Announced April 2010
  • Other Name is EOS Rebel T2i / EOS Kiss X4
  • Succeeded the Canon 500D
  • Successor is Canon 600D
Nikon D3000
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Bump to 3200)
  • No Video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 536g - 126 x 97 x 64mm
  • Released December 2009
  • Previous Model is Nikon D40
  • New Model is Nikon D3100
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Canon 550D vs Nikon D3000 Overview

Here, we are comparing the Canon 550D and Nikon D3000, both Entry-Level DSLR cameras by brands Canon and Nikon. There is a sizable difference among the sensor resolutions of the 550D (18MP) and D3000 (10MP) but both cameras boast the identical sensor sizing (APS-C).

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The 550D was released 4 months after the D3000 and they are of a similar age. Each of these cameras feature the same body design (Compact SLR).

Before going right into a in depth comparison, here is a brief introduction of how the 550D matches up versus the D3000 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon 550D over the Nikon D3000

 550D D3000 
Display resolution1040k230kCrisper display (+810k dot)

Reasons to pick Nikon D3000 over the Canon 550D

 D3000 550D 

Common features in the Canon 550D and Nikon D3000

 550D D3000 
ReleasedApril 2010December 2009Same age
Manual focus Very precise focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size3"3"Same display measurement
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch display Lack of Touch display

Canon 550D vs Nikon D3000 Physical Comparison

If you're going to travel with your camera often, you will have to factor in its weight and volume. The Canon 550D provides physical dimensions of 129mm x 98mm x 62mm (5.1" x 3.9" x 2.4") along with a weight of 530 grams (1.17 lbs) and the Nikon D3000 has sizing of 126mm x 97mm x 64mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.5") with a weight of 536 grams (1.18 lbs).

Check the Canon 550D and Nikon D3000 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you choose at the time. Following is a front view proportions comparison of the 550D compared to the D3000.

Canon 550D vs Nikon D3000 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the 550D and D3000 is 70 and 69 respectively.

Canon 550D vs Nikon D3000 top view buttons comparison

Canon 550D vs Nikon D3000 Sensor Comparison

Often, it's tough to visualise the gap in sensor dimensions simply by researching specifications. The picture below may provide you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the 550D and D3000.

To sum up, the two cameras come with the identical sensor size but not the same MP. You can expect to see the Canon 550D to render more detail as a result of its extra 8MP. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop pics a good deal more aggressively.

Canon 550D vs Nikon D3000 sensor size comparison

Canon 550D vs Nikon D3000 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon 550D vs Nikon D3000 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon 550D Portrait photography details
Nikon D3000 Portrait photography details
74
has manual focus
MP count decent (18MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
provides face detection focusing
exports RAW files
54
focusing manually
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
doesn't have liveview
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Canon 550D Street photography advice
Nikon D3000 Street photography advice
60
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW files
screen is fixed
does not have image stabilization
58
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
no moving screen
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Canon 550D Sports photography details
Nikon D3000 Sports photography details
54
MP count decent (18 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
has phase detect AF
slow fps (4.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
not so great battery power (470 CIPA)
39
nice sensor size (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
doesn't have liveview
max frames per second low (3.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
low battery power (500 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Canon 550D Travel photography factors
Nikon D3000 Travel photography factors
55
MP count decent (18 megapixels)
built-in flash
missing Timelapse mode
not so great battery power (470 shots)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
45
has built in flash
doesn't have Timelapse recording
low battery power (500 CIPA)
low megapixels (10MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Canon 550D as a Landscape photography camera
Nikon D3000 as a Landscape photography camera
63
has manual focus
swap lenses (Canon EF/EF-S mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
MP count decent (18 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW files
does not have image stabilization
not so great battery power (470 shots)
missing Timelapse mode
52
focusing manually
change lenses (Nikon F mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
doesn't have liveview
no image stabilization
low megapixels (10MP)
low battery power (500 CIPA)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon 550D
Vlogging with Nikon D3000
31
provides face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has external microphone socket
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
9
can't shoot video
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Canon 550D vs Nikon D3000 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon 550D and Nikon D3000
 Canon EOS 550DNikon D3000
General Information
Brand Name Canon Nikon
Model type Canon EOS 550D Nikon D3000
Otherwise known as EOS Rebel T2i / EOS Kiss X4 -
Class Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2010-04-01 2009-12-11
Body design Compact SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Digic 4 Expeed
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 22.3 x 14.9mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor area 332.3mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 18 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2
Highest resolution 5184 x 3456 3872 x 2592
Highest native ISO 6400 1600
Highest boosted ISO 12800 3200
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 9 11
Lens
Lens support Canon EF/EF-S Nikon F
Total lenses 326 309
Focal length multiplier 1.6 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 1,040k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech TFT color liquid-crystal LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.55x 0.53x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 4.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 13.00 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/200s 1/200s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30, 25, 24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 50 fps), 640 x 480 (60, 50 fps) -
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video file format H.264 -
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 530 grams (1.17 lbs) 536 grams (1.18 lbs)
Physical dimensions 129 x 98 x 62mm (5.1" x 3.9" x 2.4") 126 x 97 x 64mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 66 62
DXO Color Depth rating 22.0 22.3
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.6 11.1
DXO Low light rating 807 563
Other
Battery life 470 images 500 images
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LP-E8 EN-EL9a
Self timer Yes (2 sec or 10 sec) Yes (2, 5, 10 or 20 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC card
Storage slots Single Single
Launch cost $599 $0