Canon 1000D vs Nikon B600

The Canon EOS 1000D (called Canon XS in some regions) and the Nikon Coolpix B600 are two digital cameras that were announced, respectively, in June 2008 and January 2019. The 1000D is a DSLR, while the B600 is a fixed lens compact. The cameras are based on an APS-C (1000D) and a 1/2.3-inch (B600) sensor. The Canon has a resolution of 10.1 megapixels, whereas the Nikon provides 15.9 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications

Canon 1000D		Nikon B600
Digital single lens reflex		Fixed lens compact camera
Canon EF mount lenses		24-1440mm f/3.3-6.5
10.1 MP, APS-C Sensor		15.9 MP, 1/2.3" Sensor
no Video		1080/30p Video
ISO 100-800 (100-1600)		ISO 125-6400
Optical viewfinder		No viewfinder, LCD framing
2.5" LCD, 230k dots		3.0" LCD, 921k dots
Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)		Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)
3 shutter flaps per second		7.4 shutter flaps per second
500 shots per battery charge		280 shots per battery charge
126 x 98 x 65 mm, 502 g		122 x 82 x 99 mm, 500 g

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Canon EOS 1000D and the Nikon Coolpix B600? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

Body comparison

The side-by-side display below illustrates the physical size and weight of the Canon 1000D and the Nikon B600. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three successive views from the front, the top, and the rear are shown. All size dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The B600 can be obtained in two different colors (black, red), while the 1000D is only available in black.

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Nikon B600 is notably smaller (19 percent) than the Canon 1000D. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the 1000D nor the B600 are weather-sealed.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete and possibly misleading, as the B600 has a lens built in, whereas the 1000D is an interchangeable lens camera that requires a separate lens. Attaching the latter will add extra weight and bulk to the setup. You can compare the optics available for the 1000D and their specifications in the Canon EF Lens Catalog.

Concerning battery life, the 1000D gets 500 shots out of its LP-E5 battery, while the B600 can take 280 images on a single charge of its EN-EL12 power pack.

The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the two cameras alongside a broader set of comparators. If you would like to visualize and compare a different camera combination, just use the right or left arrows in the table to switch to the respective camera. Alternatively, you can also navigate to the CAM-parator app and make your selection from the full list of cameras there.

Camera Body Specifications

	Camera Model	Camera Width	Camera Height	Camera Depth	Camera Weight	Battery Life (CIPA)	Weather Sealing (yes/no)	Camera Launch (announced)	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price (USD)	Used Price (USD)	Camera Model
	Canon 1000D»	5.0 in	3.9 in	2.6 in	17.7 oz	500	n	Jun 2008	449	-		Canon 1000D
	Nikon B600«	4.8 in	3.2 in	3.9 in	17.6 oz	280	n	Jan 2019	349			Nikon B600
	Canon 2000D« »	5.1 in	4.0 in	3.1 in	16.8 oz	500	n	Feb 2018	449			Canon 2000D
	Canon 4000D« »	5.1 in	4.0 in	3.0 in	15.4 oz	500	n	Feb 2018	399			Canon 4000D
	Canon 1300D« »	5.1 in	4.0 in	3.1 in	17.1 oz	500	n	Mar 2016	449	-		Canon 1300D
	Canon 1200D« »	5.1 in	3.9 in	3.1 in	16.9 oz	500	n	Feb 2014	449	-		Canon 1200D
	Canon SX50« »	4.8 in	3.4 in	4.2 in	21.0 oz	315	n	Sep 2012	429	-		Canon SX50
	Canon 1100D« »	5.1 in	3.9 in	3.1 in	17.5 oz	700	n	Feb 2011	449	-		Canon 1100D
	Canon 500D« »	5.1 in	3.9 in	2.4 in	18.3 oz	400	n	Mar 2009	799	-		Canon 500D
	Canon 450D« »	5.1 in	3.9 in	2.4 in	18.5 oz	500	n	Jan 2008	799	-		Canon 450D
	Canon 40D« »	5.7 in	4.3 in	2.9 in	29.0 oz	750	n	Aug 2007	1,299	-		Canon 40D
	Nikon A1000« »	4.5 in	2.8 in	1.6 in	11.6 oz	250	n	Jan 2019	429			Nikon A1000
	Nikon P1000« »	5.7 in	4.7 in	7.1 in	49.9 oz	250	n	Jul 2018	999			Nikon P1000
	Nikon B500« »	4.5 in	3.1 in	3.7 in	19.1 oz	600	n	Jan 2016	299	-		Nikon B500
	Nikon L840« »	4.4 in	3.1 in	3.8 in	19.0 oz	590	n	Feb 2015	299	-		Nikon L840
	Olympus E-450« »	5.1 in	3.6 in	2.1 in	15.5 oz	500	n	Mar 2009	499	-		Olympus E-450
	Sony WX800« »	4.0 in	2.3 in	1.4 in	8.2 oz	370	n	Oct 2018	399			Sony WX800
Convert to Metric
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.

The price is, of course, an important factor in any camera decision. The manufacturer’s suggested retail prices give an idea on the placement of the camera in the maker’s lineup and the broader market. The B600 was launched at a lower price than the 1000D, despite having a lens built in. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down.

Sensor comparison

The size of the sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants of image quality. A large sensor will tend to have larger individual pixels that provide better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixel-units in a sensor of the same technological generation. Moreover, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more control over depth-of-field in the image and, thus, the ability to better isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be associated with larger, more expensive camera bodies and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Canon 1000D features an APS-C sensor and the Nikon B600 a 1/2.3-inch sensor. The sensor area in the B600 is 91 percent smaller. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 1.6 and 5.6. The sensor in the 1000D has a native 3:2 aspect ratio, while the one in the B600 offers a 4:3 aspect.

Despite having a smaller sensor, the B600 offers a higher resolution of 15.9 megapixels, compared with 10.1 MP of the 1000D. This megapixels advantage comes at the cost of a higher pixel density and a smaller size of the individual pixel (with a pixel pitch of 1.33μm versus 5.71μm for the 1000D). However, it should be noted that the B600 is much more recent (by 10 years and 7 months) than the 1000D, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that make it possible to gather light more efficiently. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that the B600 has no anti-alias filter installed, so that it can capture all the detail its sensor resolves.

The resolution advantage of the Nikon B600 implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the B600 for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 23 x 17.3 inch or 58.5 x 43.9 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 18.4 x 13.8 inch or 46.8 x 35.1 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 15.4 x 11.5 inch or 39 x 29.3 cm. The corresponding values for the Canon 1000D are 19.4 x 13 inch or 49.4 x 32.9 cm for good quality, 15.6 x 10.4 inch or 39.5 x 26.3 cm for very good quality, and 13 x 8.6 inch or 32.9 x 21.9 cm for excellent quality prints.

The Canon EOS 1000D has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 800, which can be extended to ISO 100-1600. The corresponding ISO settings for the Nikon Coolpix B600 are ISO 125 to ISO 6400 (no boost).

For many cameras, data on sensor performance has been reported by DXO Mark. This service assesses and scores the color depth ("DXO Portrait"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports") of camera sensors, and also publishes an overall camera score. The following table provides an overview of the physical sensor characteristics, as well as the sensor quality measurements for a selection of comparators.

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but also of capturing video footage. The B600 indeed provides for movie recording, while the 1000D does not. The highest resolution format that the B600 can use is 1080/30p.

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the 1000D has an optical viewfinder, which can be very useful when shooting in bright sunlight. In contrast, the B600 relies on live view and the rear LCD for framing. The table below summarizes some of the other core capabilities of the Canon 1000D and Nikon B600 in connection with corresponding information for a sample of similar cameras.

The 1000D writes its imaging data to SDHC cards, while the B600 uses SDXC cards. The B600 supports UHS-I cards (Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 104 MB/s), while the 1000D cannot take advantage of Ultra High Speed SD cards.

Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Canon EOS 1000D and Nikon Coolpix B600 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

It is notable that the 1000D has a hotshoe, while the B600 does not. This socket makes it possible to easily attach optional accessories, such as an external flash gun.

The B600 is a recent model that features in the current product line-up of Nikon. In contrast, the 1000D has been discontinued (but it can be found pre-owned on eBay). As a replacement in the same line of cameras, the 1000D was succeeded by the Canon 1100D. Further information on the two cameras (e.g. user guides, manuals), as well as related accessories, can be found on the official Canon and Nikon websites.

Review summary

So how do things add up? Is there a clear favorite between the Canon 1000D and the Nikon B600? Which camera is better? Below is a summary of the relative strengths of each of the two contestants.

Reasons to prefer the Canon EOS 1000D:

• Better moiré control: Has an anti-alias filter to avoid artificial patterns to appear in images.
• Better image quality: Features bigger pixels on a larger sensor for higher quality imaging.
• Richer colors: The pixel size advantage translates into images with better, more accurate colors.
• More dynamic range: Larger pixels capture a wider spectrum of light and dark details.
• Better low-light sensitivity: Larger pixels means good image quality even under poor lighting.
• Easier framing: Has an optical viewfinder for image composition and settings control.
• More flexible: Can take a variety of interchangeable lenses, including specialty optics.
• Longer lasting: Can take more shots (500 versus 280) on a single battery charge.
• Better lighting: Features a hotshoe and can thus hold and trigger an external flash gun.
• More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in June 2008).

Advantages of the Nikon Coolpix B600:

• More detail: Has more megapixels (15.9 vs 10.1MP), which boosts linear resolution by 23%.
• Maximized detail: Lacks an anti-alias filter to exploit the sensor's full resolution potential.
• Broader imaging potential: Can capture not only stills but also 1080/30p video.
• Larger screen: Has a bigger rear LCD (3.0" vs 2.5") for image review and settings control.
• More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (921k vs 230k dots).
• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (7.4 vs 3 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
• Ready to shoot: Comes with an integrated lens, while the 1000D requires a separate lens.
• More compact: Is smaller (122x82mm vs 126x98mm) and will fit more readily into a bag.
• Sharper images: Has stabilization technology built-in to reduce the impact of hand-shake.
• Easier file upload: Has wifi built in for automatic backup or image transfer to the web.
• Easier wireless transfer: Supports Bluetooth for image sharing without cables.
• Faster buffer clearing: Has an SD card interface that supports the UHS-I standard.
• More affordable: Was introduced at a lower price, despite coming with a built-in lens.
• More modern: Reflects 10 years and 7 months of technical progress since the 1000D launch.

If the count of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a measure, the B600 is the clear winner of the contest (14 : 10 points). However, the pertinence of the various camera strengths will differ across photographers, so that you might want to weigh individual camera traits according to their importance for your own imaging needs before making a camera decision. A professional wedding photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a travel photog, and a person interested in cityscapes has distinct needs from a macro shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Canon 1000D and the Nikon B600 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best DSLR Camera and Best Superzoom Camera listings whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the specs-based evaluation of cameras can be instructive in revealing their potential as photographic tools, it remains partial and cannot reveal, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance when actually working with the 1000D or the B600. At times, user reviews, such as those published at amazon, address these issues in a useful manner, but such feedback is on many occasions incomplete, inconsistent, and unreliable.

Expert reviews

This is where reviews by experts come in. The adjacent summary-table relays the overall verdicts of several of the most popular camera review sites (cameralabs, dpreview, ephotozine, imaging-resource, and photographyblog). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

Review Scores

	Camera Model						Camera Launch (announced)	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price (USD)	Used Price (USD)	Camera Model
	Canon 1000D»	82/100	+ +	3.5/5	4/5	4.5/5	Jun 2008	449	-		Canon 1000D
	Nikon B600«	-	-	3.5/5	-	3/5	Jan 2019	349			Nikon B600
	Canon 2000D« »	o	-	3.5/5	-	3.5/5	Feb 2018	449			Canon 2000D
	Canon 4000D« »	o	-	3.5/5	-	3.5/5	Feb 2018	399			Canon 4000D
	Canon 1300D« »	o	73/100	4/5	3.5/5	4/5	Mar 2016	449	-		Canon 1300D
	Canon 1200D« »	+	-	4/5	4/5	4.5/5	Feb 2014	449	-		Canon 1200D
	Canon SX50« »	+ +	72/100	4.5/5	-	4.5/5	Sep 2012	429	-		Canon SX50
	Canon 1100D« »	80/100	69/100	4/5	4/5	4.5/5	Feb 2011	449	-		Canon 1100D
	Canon 500D« »	+ +	74/100	4.5/5	5/5	4.5/5	Mar 2009	799	-		Canon 500D
	Canon 450D« »	+ +	+ +	4/5	5/5	4.5/5	Jan 2008	799	-		Canon 450D
	Canon 40D« »	+ +	+ +	4.5/5	o	4.5/5	Aug 2007	1,299	-		Canon 40D
	Nikon A1000« »	-	-	3.5/5	-	3/5	Jan 2019	429			Nikon A1000
	Nikon P1000« »	+	73/100	3.5/5	4.5/5	3.5/5	Jul 2018	999			Nikon P1000
	Nikon B500« »	+	-	4/5	-	3.5/5	Jan 2016	299	-		Nikon B500
	Nikon L840« »	+ +	-	3.5/5	-	4/5	Feb 2015	299	-		Nikon L840
	Olympus E-450« »	-	-	4/5	-	4/5	Mar 2009	499	-		Olympus E-450
	Sony WX800« »	-	-	-	-	-	Oct 2018	399			Sony WX800
Notes: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (-) not available.

The review scores listed above should be treated with care, though. The assessments were made in relation to similar cameras of the same technological generation. Hence, a score should always be seen in the context of the camera's market launch date and its price, and comparing ratings of very distinct cameras or ones that are far apart in terms of their release date have little meaning. Also, please note that some of the review sites have changed their methodology and reporting over time.

Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? If you would like to see a different side-by-side camera review, just use the search menu below. There is also a set of direct links to comparison reviews that other users of the CAM-parator app explored.

Specifications: Canon 1000D vs Nikon B600

Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.

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