• APS-C 355.7mm2
  • 14.2 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • APS-C 332.3mm2
  • 24.2 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 25,600

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Differences

Nikon D3100 advantages over Canon EOS M6

  • Lens selection
    Excellent vs Limited
    Better lens selection gives you more options
  • Eye-level viewfinder
    Eye-level vs Rear display only
    You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
  • Bigger pixels
    ~ 5.01 vs 3.72 microns
    Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
  • Fast startup
    ~0.40 vs 1.2 sec
    Faster startup lets you catch the moment
  • Longer stills battery life
    More info 550 vs 295 shots
    Capture more photos
  • More telephoto lens reach
    83 mm vs 72 mm
    Capture objects farther away with the kit lens
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
    100 vs 27 shots
    Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)

Canon EOS M6 advantages over Nikon D3100

  • Focus peaking
    Peaker vs Non-peaker
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • Touchscreen
    Touch vs No touch
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • Tiltable Screen
    Tiltable vs Fixed
    Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Wi-Fi vs None
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • NFC
    Yes vs No
    Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Yes vs No
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Yes vs No
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • Thinner
    44 mm vs 74 mm
    Thinner
  • External Mic Jack
    Jack vs No jack
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • Newer
    8 years vs 14 years old
    Newer cameras often support more advanced features
  • Lighter weight
    520g vs 777g
    Lighter weight
  • More dots on screen
    1040k vs 230k dots
    Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
  • Less shutter lag
    0.13 vs 0.28 sec
    Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
  • More pixels
    24.2 vs 14.2 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos
  • Shoots 60p video
    Yes vs No
    A faster framerate can give you more editing options
  • Wider angle kit lens
    24 mm vs 27 mm
    Capture more of the scene with the included lens
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    9.2 fps vs 2.9 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Higher extended ISO
    25600 vs 12800 ISO
    Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • Internal flash
    Both provide
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • HDMI out
    Both provide
    Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
  • Hot shoe
    Both provide
    Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
  • Bulb shutter
    Both provide
    Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

  • Tilt-swivel screen
    Neither provide
    Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Neither provide
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • In-camera panoramas
    Neither provide
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • Built-in GPS
    Neither provide
    Geotag your photos
  • Top deck display
    Neither provide
    Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
  • Dual card slots
    Neither provide
    Gives you more storage flexibility
  • Headphone jack
    Neither provide
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
  • Slow-motion videos
    Neither provide
    Shoot slow-motion videos

User reviews

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Buy the Nikon D3100

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Buy the Canon EOS M6
Body Only (Black)
  • Body Only (Black)
  • Body Only (Silver)
  • Kit with 15-45mm lens (Black)
  • Kit with 15-45mm lens (Silver)
  • Kit with 18-150mm lens (Black)
  • Kit with 18-150mm lens (Silver)
All EOS M6 Deals

Review Excerpt

  • Enthusiast-oriented compact camera body; Good image quality in most situations; Impressive Dual Pixel CMOS AF; Very good overall performance.

  • Dynamic range and high ISO image quality aren't quite up to par with some of its competition; No 4K video recording; Video features in general are underwhelming; Native EF-M lens selection is limited.

  • Read our Canon EOS M6 Review

The Competition

Compared to Sony DSLR-A380

Nikon D3100
Sony DSLR-A380
  • $700
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Less expensive
  • $849
  • APS-C
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • Tiltable Screen

Compare Nikon D3100 vs Sony DSLR-A380

Canon EOS M6
Sony DSLR-A380
  • $399
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Touchscreen
  • $849
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Larger sensor

Compare Canon EOS M6 vs Sony DSLR-A380

Compared to Sony A33

Nikon D3100
Sony A33
  • $700
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Fast startup
  • $540
  • APS-C
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • In-camera panoramas

Compare Nikon D3100 vs Sony A33

Canon EOS M6
Sony A33
  • $399
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Touchscreen
  • $540
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Larger sensor

Compare Canon EOS M6 vs Sony A33

Compared to Pentax K-r

Nikon D3100
Pentax K-r
  • $700
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Higher effective ISO
  • $850
  • APS-C
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • Fast startup

Compare Nikon D3100 vs Pentax K-r

Canon EOS M6
Pentax K-r
  • $399
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Touchscreen
  • $850
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Larger sensor

Compare Canon EOS M6 vs Pentax K-r

Compared to Fujifilm X-A3

Nikon D3100
Fujifilm X-A3
  • $700
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • $549
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Touchscreen

Compare Nikon D3100 vs Fujifilm X-A3

Canon EOS M6
Fujifilm X-A3
  • $399
  • APS-C
  • Fast startup
  • NFC
  • $549
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Larger sensor

Compare Canon EOS M6 vs Fujifilm X-A3

Compared to Fujifilm X-A5

Nikon D3100
Fujifilm X-A5
  • $700
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • $499
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Shoot 4K video

Compare Nikon D3100 vs Fujifilm X-A5

Canon EOS M6
Fujifilm X-A5
  • $399
  • APS-C
  • Fast startup
  • NFC
  • $499
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Larger sensor

Compare Canon EOS M6 vs Fujifilm X-A5

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