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Canon 550D vs Nikon D3100

Portability
70
Imaging
58
Features
63
Overall
60
Canon EOS 550D front
 
Nikon D3100 front
Portability
68
Imaging
54
Features
59
Overall
56

Canon 550D vs Nikon D3100 Key Specs

Canon 550D
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400 (Expand to 12800)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Canon EF/EF-S Mount
  • 530g - 129 x 98 x 62mm
  • Released April 2010
  • Also Known as EOS Rebel T2i / EOS Kiss X4
  • Older Model is Canon 500D
  • New Model is Canon 600D
Nikon D3100
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Bump to 12800)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 505g - 124 x 96 x 75mm
  • Revealed December 2010
  • Previous Model is Nikon D3000
  • Later Model is Nikon D3200
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Canon 550D vs Nikon D3100 Overview

The following is a in-depth analysis of the Canon 550D vs Nikon D3100, both Entry-Level DSLR cameras by manufacturers Canon and Nikon. There is a huge difference among the resolutions of the 550D (18MP) and D3100 (14MP) but both cameras boast the identical sensor size (APS-C).

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The 550D was announced 8 months before the D3100 and they are of a similar generation. Each of the cameras feature the same body design (Compact SLR).

Before getting straight to a full comparison, here is a short view of how the 550D matches up versus the D3100 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon 550D over the Nikon D3100

 550D D3100 
Screen resolution1040k230kCrisper screen (+810k dot)

Reasons to pick Nikon D3100 over the Canon 550D

 D3100 550D 
RevealedDecember 2010April 2010Newer by 8 months

Common features in the Canon 550D and Nikon D3100

 550D D3100 
Focus manually Very precise focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen size
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither provides Touch friendly screen

Canon 550D vs Nikon D3100 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to travel with your camera, you are going to need to factor in its weight and measurements. The Canon 550D provides external measurements of 129mm x 98mm x 62mm (5.1" x 3.9" x 2.4") having a weight of 530 grams (1.17 lbs) and the Nikon D3100 has proportions of 124mm x 96mm x 75mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 3.0") with a weight of 505 grams (1.11 lbs).

Compare the Canon 550D vs Nikon D3100 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you have at that time. The following is a front view measurement comparison of the 550D vs the D3100.

Canon 550D vs Nikon D3100 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the 550D and D3100 is 70 and 68 respectively.

Canon 550D vs Nikon D3100 top view buttons comparison

Canon 550D vs Nikon D3100 Sensor Comparison

Often, it can be tough to envision the difference in sensor dimensions just by going through specs. The picture underneath might provide you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the 550D and D3100.

As you can plainly see, both of the cameras feature the identical sensor size albeit not the same megapixels. You should count on the Canon 550D to provide extra detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop shots way more aggressively. The more aged 550D will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Canon 550D vs Nikon D3100 sensor size comparison

Canon 550D vs Nikon D3100 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon 550D vs Nikon D3100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon 550D Portrait photography information
Nikon D3100 Portrait photography information
74
has manual focus
resolution is good (18 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
comes with face detect autofocus
saves RAW files
72
has manual focus
megapixel count good (14MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
includes face detect focusing
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Canon 550D Street photography info
Nikon D3100 Street photography info
60
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
screen is fixed
does not have image stabilization
58
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Canon 550D as a Sports photography camera
Nikon D3100 as a Sports photography camera
54
resolution is good (18 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports phase detect autofocus
continuous shooting slow (4.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
not so great battery (470 per charge)
60
megapixel count good (14MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
includes tracking focus
comes with phase detect AF
slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
no image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Canon 550D Travel photography information
Nikon D3100 Travel photography information
55
resolution is good (18MP)
built-in flash
no Time Lapse function
not so great battery (470 per charge)
display isn't selfie friendly
58
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
no Timelapse mode
does not contain selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Canon 550D Landscape photography info
Nikon D3100 Landscape photography info
63
has manual focus
switch lenses (Canon EF/EF-S mount)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
resolution is good (18 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
does not have image stabilization
not so great battery (470 shots)
no Time Lapse function
65
has manual focus
switch lenses (Nikon F mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
no image stabilization
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon 550D as a Vlogging camera
Nikon D3100 as a Vlogging camera
31
comes with face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
comes with mic socket
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
27
includes face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not contain selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
no microphone port
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Canon 550D vs Nikon D3100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon 550D and Nikon D3100
 Canon EOS 550DNikon D3100
General Information
Company Canon Nikon
Model type Canon EOS 550D Nikon D3100
Otherwise known as EOS Rebel T2i / EOS Kiss X4 -
Class Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2010-04-01 2010-12-21
Body design Compact SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Digic 4 Expeed 2
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 22.3 x 14.9mm 23.1 x 15.4mm
Sensor area 332.3mm² 355.7mm²
Sensor resolution 18 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2
Max resolution 5184 x 3456 4608 x 3072
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Max enhanced ISO 12800 12800
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 9 11
Cross type focus points - 1
Lens
Lens support Canon EF/EF-S Nikon F
Total lenses 326 309
Focal length multiplier 1.6 1.6
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3" 3"
Display resolution 1,040k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech TFT color liquid-crystal LCD TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.55x 0.53x
Features
Min shutter speed 30s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 4.0 frames per second 3.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 13.00 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye Auto, Red-Eye, Slow, Red-Eye Slow, Rear curtain
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max 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) 1920 x 1080 (24 fps), 1280 x 720 (30, 25, 24 fps), 640 x 424 (24 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format H.264 MPEG-4
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 Optional
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 530 gr (1.17 lb) 505 gr (1.11 lb)
Physical dimensions 129 x 98 x 62mm (5.1" x 3.9" x 2.4") 124 x 96 x 75mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 66 67
DXO Color Depth rating 22.0 22.5
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.6 11.3
DXO Low light rating 807 919
Other
Battery life 470 photographs 550 photographs
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LP-E8 EN-EL14
Self timer Yes (2 sec or 10 sec) Yes
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Retail cost $599 $565