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Canon 550D vs Nikon D3500

Portability
70
Imaging
58
Features
63
Overall
60
Canon EOS 550D front
 
Nikon D3500 front
Portability
72
Imaging
69
Features
70
Overall
69

Canon 550D vs Nikon D3500 Key Specs

Canon 550D
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400 (Bump to 12800)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Canon EF/EF-S Mount
  • 530g - 129 x 98 x 62mm
  • Revealed April 2010
  • Alternative Name is EOS Rebel T2i / EOS Kiss X4
  • Previous Model is Canon 500D
  • Newer Model is Canon 600D
Nikon D3500
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 365g - 124 x 97 x 70mm
  • Introduced August 2018
  • Previous Model is Nikon D3400
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Canon 550D vs Nikon D3500 Overview

In this article, we will be reviewing the Canon 550D versus Nikon D3500, both Entry-Level DSLR cameras by competitors Canon and Nikon. There is a huge difference among the sensor resolutions of the 550D (18MP) and D3500 (24MP) but they enjoy the same exact sensor size (APS-C).

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The 550D was introduced 9 years before the D3500 which is a fairly significant gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact SLR).

Before diving in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a simple summary of how the 550D matches up vs the D3500 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon 550D over the Nikon D3500

 550D D3500 
Screen resolution1040k921kSharper screen (+119k dot)

Reasons to pick Nikon D3500 over the Canon 550D

 D3500 550D 
IntroducedAugust 2018April 2010Newer by 102 months

Common features in the Canon 550D and Nikon D3500

 550D D3500 
Manual focus Dial precise focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen size
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch screen Missing Touch screen

Canon 550D vs Nikon D3500 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to travel with your camera regularly, you will want to think about its weight and proportions. The Canon 550D features 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 D3500 has measurements of 124mm x 97mm x 70mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 2.8") with a weight of 365 grams (0.80 lbs).

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Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you choose at that moment. The following is the front view scale comparison of the 550D and the D3500.

Canon 550D vs Nikon D3500 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the 550D and D3500 is 70 and 72 respectively.

Canon 550D vs Nikon D3500 top view buttons comparison

Canon 550D vs Nikon D3500 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is very difficult to see the gap in sensor dimensions simply by looking through specifications. The picture here will help give you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the 550D and D3500.

Plainly, each of these cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same resolution. You should count on the Nikon D3500 to provide you with extra detail using its extra 6MP. Higher resolution will also help you crop pictures a little more aggressively. The more aged 550D will be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Canon 550D vs Nikon D3500 sensor size comparison

Canon 550D vs Nikon D3500 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon 550D vs Nikon D3500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon 550D Portrait photography features
Nikon D3500 Portrait photography features
74
manual focus
good MP (18MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
includes face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
81
manual focus
decent MP (24 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detect focus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon 550D Street photography features
Nikon D3500 Street photography features
60
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW files
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
69
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
lighter than others in class (365g)
great high ISO (25,600)
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Canon 550D Sports photography advice
Nikon D3500 Sports photography advice
54
good MP (18 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
slow continuous shooting (4.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
low battery power (470 per charge)
70
decent MP (24MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
includes tracking focus
good battery power (1,550 CIPA)
has phase detect auto focus
max fps very slow (5.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Canon 550D
Travel photography with Nikon D3500
55
good MP (18MP)
has built in flash
no Time Lapse recording
low battery power (470 CIPA)
display isn't selfie friendly
71
good battery power (1,550 shots)
lighter than others in class (365g)
has bluetooth
decent MP (24 megapixels)
built-in flash
does not have Time Lapse recording
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Canon 550D Landscape photography highlights
Nikon D3500 Landscape photography highlights
63
manual focus
switch lenses (Canon EF/EF-S mount)
good sized screen (3")
good MP (18 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW files
lack of image stabilization
low battery power (470 shots)
no Time Lapse recording
75
manual focus
swap lenses (Nikon F mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
decent MP (24MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
no low pass filter
great high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW files
good battery power (1,550 shots)
does not have image stabilization
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon 550D Vlogging factors
Nikon D3500 Vlogging factors
31
includes face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
includes external mic jack
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
31
includes face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than others in class (365g)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
does not have mic support
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Canon 550D vs Nikon D3500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon 550D and Nikon D3500
 Canon EOS 550DNikon D3500
General Information
Make Canon Nikon
Model Canon EOS 550D Nikon D3500
Also called as EOS Rebel T2i / EOS Kiss X4 -
Type Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2010-04-01 2018-08-29
Physical type Compact SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Digic 4 Expeed 4
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor dimensions 22.3 x 14.9mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 332.3mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 18MP 24MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2
Highest resolution 5184 x 3456 6000 x 4000
Highest native ISO 6400 25600
Highest boosted ISO 12800 -
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 9 11
Lens
Lens mount Canon EF/EF-S Nikon F
Available lenses 326 309
Crop factor 1.6 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 1,040k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology TFT color liquid-crystal LCD TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.55x 0.56x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 4.0fps 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 13.00 m 7.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye Auto, Auto slow sync, Auto slow sync with red-eye reduction, Auto with red-eye reduction, Fill-flash, Off, Rear-curtain sync, Rear-curtain with slow sync, Red-eye reduction, Red-eye reduction with slow sync, Slow sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/200 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30, 25, 24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 50 fps), 640 x 480 (60, 50 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 30, 25, 24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 50 fps), 640 x 424 (30, 25 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 530 gr (1.17 lb) 365 gr (0.80 lb)
Dimensions 129 x 98 x 62mm (5.1" x 3.9" x 2.4") 124 x 97 x 70mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 66 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 22.0 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 11.6 not tested
DXO Low light score 807 not tested
Other
Battery life 470 images 1550 images
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LP-E8 EN-EL14a
Self timer Yes (2 sec or 10 sec) Yes (2, 5, 10, 20 secs (1-9 exposures))
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Pricing at launch $599 $397