Digital SLR Duel: Canon EOS 1000D vs Nikon D3000

They might not be five-star products, but since Pentax did away with its K-m, the Canon EOS 1000D and Nikon D3000 have been bitter rivals.  These are the entry-level digital SLRs from two heavyweights of the photography world.  Despite costing almost exactly the same, they're actually very different cameras: the EOS 1000D, for instance, is almost two years old, while the D3000 has barely been available for six months.

Both are aimed at photographers who are used to the ease of compact point-and-shoot cameras: they're designed to be simple to use, but powerful enough to produce photos that match what you'd expect from an SLR.  It's not enough to forget about the basics just because you're producing an entry-level option, after all.  To do that--and to save costs--they reuse components and systems developed for more advanced cameras. 

But can they really unite power and simplicity?  We'll compare them step by step.

Canon EOS 1000D Prices unavailable Recommended alternatives Editor's Choice Sony Alpha 77 Entry-Level SLR Nikon D3100 All-Rounder Pentax K-5	| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |	Nikon D3000 Prices unavailable Recommended alternatives Editor's Choice Sony Alpha 77 Entry-Level SLR Nikon D3100 All-Rounder Pentax K-5
10 Megapixel CMOS sensor • 14.8 x 22.2 mm	|	10 Megapixel CCD sensor • 15.8 x 23.6 mm
2.5'', 230 000 pixel screen • Live View	|	3'', 230 000 pixel screen
95% viewfinder • enlarged 0.81	|	95% viewfinder • enlarged 0.8
7 point autofocus, 35 zones	|	11 point autofocus, 420 zones
Canon EF and EF-S lenses	|	Nikon AF-I and AF-S lenses

> Entry-level Digital SLR Duel: Canon EOS 1000D vs Nikon D3000

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