Let's begin with an introduction to the cameras that get a lot of attention: those geared toward beginning digital SLR photographers.
These cameras are simple: they aren't cluttered with a lot of buttons and features that can be overwhelming for novices. Instead, they are optimized to produce clear, bright, colorful images whether you use them in full AUTO mode or leverage some of the manual settings.
The two cameras from each company that are designed for beginners are the Canon Rebel XS 1000D and the Nikon D3100. Let's see how the two compare:
| CANON XS (1000D) | NIKON D3100 |
Release Date | August 2008 | September 2010 |
Megapixels | 10.1 | 14.2 |
Stabilization | In Lens | In Lens |
Memory Card | SD / SDHC | SD / SDHC / SDXC |
Max. Shutter Speed | 1/4000 | 1/4000 |
Max. Photo Capture | 3 per second | 3 per second |
ISO Range | 100 to 1600 | 100 to 12800 |
Movie Modes | No Movie Mode | H.264 |
LCD | Static 2.5in (230,000 dots) | Static 3in (230,000 dots) |
Viewfinder | Pentamirror (95% coverage) | Pentamirror (95% coverage) |
Autofocus | 7 point | 11 point |
Face Detect AF | No | Yes |
Sensor Dimensions | 22.2 x 14.8 (1.6x crop factor) | 23.6 x 15.7 (1.5x crop factor) |
HDMI Port | No | Yes |
Live View | Yes | Yes |
Built-in Flash | Yes (Sync: 1/200) | Yes (Sync: 1/200) |
Compatible Lenses | All Canon EF and EF-S | Nikon AF-I and AF-S |
Dimensions | 5.0 x 3.9 x 2.6in | 4.9 x 3.8 x 3.0in |
Weight | 17.7oz (502g) | 17.8oz (505g) |
These cameras have a lot in common, and for me it's a bit of a tie in terms of features and performance.
While you are certainly welcome to try to determine which one has better "image quality" (an imprecise term that is the result of a variety of camera settings), experience using and reviewing photos from a wide range of both Canon and Nikon cameras has demonstrated to me that the photos captured by SLRs from both manufacturers are exceptional.
Since the cameras themselves are so similar I'm going to talk about something completely different: lenses.
One big difference between the Rebel XS and the Nikon D3100 is that the Nikon D3100 is NOT 100% backwards-compatible with older Nikon lenses — while the Rebel XS works just fine with a large number of Canon and third-party lenses.
If you try to use a lens on the Nikon D3100 that does not include AF-I or AF-S (internal focusing motors) autofocus won't work - you'll have to focus manually.
So what does this mean for you - the consumer photographer?
It impacts both the flexibility and price of owning a camera like this for the long term:
- Flexibility - if at some point in the future you decide you'd like a nice specialty lens (for wildlife or closeups or architecture), your choices with the D3100 will be limited (if you'd also like the lens to autofocus)
- Cost - with the Rebel XS, you can purchase any Canon lens you like, or you can also choose from a wide range of compatible third-party lenses that are often much cheaper - with the Nikon D3100, your potential for finding a good deal on a lens is reduced, snce there are less third-party lenses that have focusing motors
So a lot of your decision about which of these two cameras to get comes down to how you intend to use the camera in the future and how you plan to upgrade.
If you think that you'll replace BOTH camera and lens when you upgrade, then either the Rebel XS or the Nikon D3100 will work fine. If you'd like to build up a collection of lenses (without spending a fortune) that you can continue to use on future cameras, then the Rebel XS is the better choice.
Source from http://www.digital-slr-guide.com/canon-vs-nikon.html
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