Canon 250D vs Nikon D610

The Canon EOS 250D (called Canon SL3 in some regions) and the Nikon D610 are two digital cameras that were officially introduced, respectively, in April 2019 and October 2013. Both are DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) cameras that are based on an APS-C (250D) and a full frame (D610) sensor. The Canon has a resolution of 24 megapixels, whereas the Nikon provides 24.2 MP.

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

Headline Specifications

Canon 250D		Nikon D610
Digital single lens reflex		Digital single lens reflex
Canon EF mount lenses		Nikon F mount lenses
24 MP, APS-C Sensor		24.2 MP, Full Frame Sensor
4K/25p Video		1080/30p Video
ISO 100-25,600 (100 - 51,200)		ISO 100-6,400 (50 - 25,600)
Optical viewfinder		Optical viewfinder
3.0 LCD, 1040k dots		3.2 LCD, 921k dots
Swivel touchscreen		Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)
5 shutter flaps per second		6 shutter flaps per second
not weather sealed		Weathersealed body
1070 shots per battery charge		900 shots per battery charge
122 x 93 x 70 mm, 449 g		141 x 113 x 82 mm, 850 g

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Canon EOS 250D and the Nikon D610? 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 250D and the Nikon D610. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive perspectives from the front, the top, and the back are available. All width, height and depth measures are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The 250D can be obtained in two different colors (black, white), while the D610 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 D610 is notably larger (40 percent) than the Canon 250D. Moreover, the D610 is substantially heavier (89 percent) than the 250D. It is noteworthy in this context that the D610 is splash and dust-proof, while the 250D does not feature any corresponding weather-sealing.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses that both of these cameras require. A larger imaging sensor will tend to go along with bigger and heavier lenses, although exceptions exist. You can compare the optics available for the two cameras in the Canon EF Lens Catalog (250D) and the Nikon Lens Catalog (D610).

Concerning battery life, the 250D gets 1070 shots out of its LP-E17 battery, while the D610 can take 900 images on a single charge of its EN-EL15 power pack.

The following table provides a synthesis of the main physical specifications of the two cameras and other similar ones. If you would like to visualize and compare a different camera combination, you can navigate to the CAM-parator app and make your selection from a broad list of cameras there.

Body Specifications

	Camera Model	Camera Width	Camera Height	Camera Depth	Camera Weight	Battery Life	Weather Sealing	Camera Launch	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price
	Canon 250D	4.8 in	3.7 in	2.8 in	15.8 oz	1070	n	Apr 2019	599
	Nikon D610	5.6 in	4.4 in	3.2 in	30.0 oz	900	Y	Oct 2013	1,999
	Canon 850D	5.2 in	4.1 in	3.0 in	18.2 oz	800	n	Feb 2020	749
	Canon M50 Mark II	4.6 in	3.5 in	2.3 in	13.7 oz	305	n	Oct 2020	599
	Canon 2000D	5.1 in	4.0 in	3.1 in	16.8 oz	500	n	Feb 2018	449
	Canon 4000D	5.1 in	4.0 in	3.0 in	15.4 oz	500	n	Feb 2018	399
	Canon M50	4.6 in	3.5 in	2.3 in	13.8 oz	235	n	Feb 2018	779
	Canon 77D	5.2 in	3.9 in	3.0 in	19.0 oz	600	n	Feb 2017	899
	Canon 200D	4.8 in	3.7 in	2.8 in	16.0 oz	650	n	Jun 2017	549
	Canon 800D	5.2 in	3.9 in	3.0 in	18.8 oz	600	n	Feb 2017	749
	Canon 760D	5.2 in	4.0 in	3.1 in	19.9 oz	440	n	Feb 2015	649
	Canon 6D	5.7 in	4.4 in	2.8 in	27.2 oz	1090	Y	Sep 2012	2,099
	Fujifilm X-T100	4.8 in	3.3 in	1.9 in	15.8 oz	430	n	May 2018	599
	Nikon D750	5.6 in	4.4 in	3.1 in	26.5 oz	1230	Y	Sep 2014	2,299
	Nikon D810	5.7 in	4.8 in	3.2 in	34.6 oz	1200	Y	Jun 2014	3,299
	Nikon Df	5.7 in	4.3 in	2.6 in	26.8 oz	1400	Y	Nov 2013	2,749
	Nikon D600	5.6 in	4.4 in	3.2 in	30.0 oz	900	Y	Sep 2012	2,099
Notes: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
Convert to Metric

Any camera decision will obviously take relative prices into account. 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 250D was launched at a markedly lower price (by 70 percent) than the D610, which puts it into a different market segment. Normally, street prices remain initially close to the MSRP, but after a couple of months, the first discounts appear. 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. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

Sensor comparison

The size of the sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants of image quality. All other things equal, a large sensor will have larger individual pixel-units that offer better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Furthermore, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more possibilities to use shallow depth-of-field in order to isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors are more costly to manufacture and tend to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Canon 250D features an APS-C sensor and the Nikon D610 a full frame sensor. The sensor area in the D610 is 160 percent bigger. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 1.6 and 1.0. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

With 24.2MP, the D610 offers a higher resolution than the 250D (24MP), but the D610 nevertheless has larger individual pixels (pixel pitch of 5.97μm versus 3.72μm for the 250D) due to its larger sensor. However, the 250D is a much more recent model (by 5 years and 6 months) than the D610, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixel-units.

The 250D has on-sensor phase detect pixels, which results in fast and reliable autofocus acquisition even during live view operation.

The Canon EOS 250D has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 25600, which can be extended to ISO 100-51200. The corresponding ISO settings for the Nikon D610 are ISO 100 to ISO 6400, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 50-25600.

For many cameras, data on sensor performance has been reported by DXO Mark. This service is based on lab testing and assigns an overall score to each camera sensor, as well as ratings for dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), color depth ("DXO Portrait"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"). The adjacent table reports on the physical sensor characteristics and the outcomes of the DXO sensor quality tests for a sample of comparator-cameras.

Sensor Characteristics

	Camera Model	Sensor Class	Resolution (MP)	Horiz. Pixels	Vert. Pixels	Video Format	DXO Portrait	DXO Landscape	DXO Sports	DXO Overall
	Canon 250D	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	4K/25p	..	..	..	..
	Nikon D610	Full Frame	24.2	6016	4016	1080/30p	25.1	14.4	2925	94
	Canon 850D	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	4K/24p	..	..	..	..
	Canon M50 Mark II	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	4K/24p	..	..	..	..
	Canon 2000D	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/30p	22.6	11.9	1009	71
	Canon 4000D	APS-C	17.9	5184	3456	1080/30p	21.9	11.4	695	63
	Canon M50	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	4K/24p	..	..	..	..
	Canon 77D	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	23.6	13.3	971	78
	Canon 200D	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	23.6	13.4	1041	79
	Canon 800D	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	..	..	..	..
	Canon 760D	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/30p	22.6	12.0	915	70
	Canon 6D	Full Frame	20.0	5472	3648	1080/30p	23.8	12.1	2340	82
	Fujifilm X-T100	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	4K/15p	..	..	..	..
	Nikon D750	Full Frame	24.2	6016	4016	1080/60p	24.8	14.5	2956	93
	Nikon D810	Full Frame	36.2	7360	4912	1080/60p	25.7	14.8	2853	97
	Nikon Df	Full Frame	16.2	4928	3280	none	24.6	13.1	3279	89
	Nikon D600	Full Frame	24.2	6016	4016	1080/30p	25.1	14.2	2980	94

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but can also record movies. Both cameras under consideration are equipped with sensors that have a sufficiently high read-out speed for moving images, but the 250D provides a higher video resolution than the D610. It can shoot video footage at 4K/25p, while the Nikon is limited to 1080/30p.

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. The 250D and the D610 are similar in the sense that both have an optical viewfinder. The latter is useful for getting a clear image for framing even in brightly lit environments. The viewfinder in the D610 offers a wider field of view (100%) than the one in the 250D (95%), so that a larger proportion of the captured image is visible in the finder. In addition, the viewfinder of the D610 has a higher magnification (0.70x vs 0.54x), so that the size of the image transmitted appears closer to the size seen with the naked human eye. The following table reports on some other key feature differences and similarities of the Canon 250D, the Nikon D610, and comparable cameras.

Core Features

	Camera Model	Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots)	Control Panel (yes/no)	LCD Size (inch)	LCD Resolution (000 dots)	LCD Attach- ment	Touch Screen (yes/no)	Mech Shutter Speed	Shutter Flaps (1/sec)	Built-in Flash (yes/no)	Built-in Image Stab
	Canon 250D	optical	n	3.0	1040	swivel	Y	1/4000s	5.0	Y	n
	Nikon D610	optical	Y	3.2	921	fixed	n	1/4000s	6.0	Y	n
	Canon 850D	optical	n	3.0	1040	swivel	Y	1/4000s	7.5	Y	n
	Canon M50 Mark II	2360	n	3.0	1040	swivel	Y	1/4000s	10.0	Y	n
	Canon 2000D	optical	n	3.0	920	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0	Y	n
	Canon 4000D	optical	n	2.7	230	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0	Y	n
	Canon M50	2360	n	3.0	1040	swivel	Y	1/4000s	10.0	Y	n
	Canon 77D	optical	Y	3.0	1040	swivel	Y	1/4000s	6.0	Y	n
	Canon 200D	optical	n	3.0	1040	swivel	Y	1/4000s	5.0	Y	n
	Canon 800D	optical	n	3.0	1040	swivel	Y	1/4000s	6.0	Y	n
	Canon 760D	optical	Y	3.0	1040	swivel	Y	1/4000s	5.0	Y	n
	Canon 6D	optical	Y	3.0	1040	fixed	n	1/4000s	4.5	n	n
	Fujifilm X-T100	2360	n	3.0	1040	full-flex	Y	1/4000s	6.0	Y	n
	Nikon D750	optical	Y	3.2	1229	tilting	n	1/4000s	6.0	Y	n
	Nikon D810	optical	Y	3.2	1229	fixed	n	1/8000s	5.0	Y	n
	Nikon Df	optical	Y	3.2	921	fixed	n	1/4000s	5.5	n	n
	Nikon D600	optical	Y	3.0	921	fixed	n	1/4000s	5.5	Y	n

One differentiating feature between the two cameras concerns the touch sensitivity of the rear screen. The 250D has a touchscreen, while the D610 has a conventional panel. Touch control can be particularly helpful, for example, for setting the focus point.

The Canon 250D and the Nikon D610 both have an intervalometer built-in. This enables the photographer to capture time lapse sequences, such as flower blooming, a sunset or moon rise, without purchasing an external camera trigger and related software.

Concerning the storage of imaging data, both the 250D and the D610 write their files to SDXC cards. The D610 features dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails. In contrast, the 250D only has one slot. Both cameras can use UHS-I cards, which provide for Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 104 MB/s.

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 250D and Nikon D610 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

Input-Output Connections

	Camera Model	Hotshoe Port	Internal Microphone	Internal Speaker	Microphone Port	Headphone Port	HDMI Port	USB Port	WiFi Support	NFC Support	Bluetooth Support
	Canon 250D	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	-	Y
	Nikon D610	Y	mono	mono	Y	Y	mini	2.0	-	-	-
	Canon 850D	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	-	Y
	Canon M50 Mark II	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
	Canon 2000D	Y	mono	mono	-	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-
	Canon 4000D	Y	mono	mono	-	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-
	Canon M50	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
	Canon 77D	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	Y
	Canon 200D	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	Y
	Canon 800D	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	Y
	Canon 760D	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-
	Canon 6D	Y	mono	mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	-	-
	Fujifilm X-T100	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
	Nikon D750	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	mini	2.0	Y	-	-
	Nikon D810	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	mini	3.0	Y	-	-
	Nikon Df	Y	-	-	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
	Nikon D600	Y	mono	mono	Y	Y	mini	2.0	-	-	-

It is notable that the 250D offers wifi support, while the D610 does not. Wifi can be a very convenient means to transfer image data to an off-camera location.

Studio photographers will appreciate that the Nikon D610 (unlike the 250D) features a PC Sync socket, so that professional strobe lights can be controlled by the camera.

Both the 250D and the D610 are recent models that are part of the current product line-up. The D610 replaced the earlier Nikon D600, while the 250D followed on from the Canon 200D. 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 what conclusions can be drawn? Is there a clear favorite between the Canon 250D and the Nikon D610? Which camera is better? The listing below highlights the relative strengths of the two models.

Arguments in favor of the Canon EOS 250D:

• Better video: Provides higher definition movie capture (4K/25p vs 1080/30p).
• Better live-view autofocus: Features on-sensor phase-detection for more confident autofocus.
• More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (1040k vs 921k dots).
• More flexible LCD: Has a swivel screen for odd-angle shots in portrait or landscape orientation.
• Fewer buttons to press: Is equipped with a touch-sensitive rear screen to facilitate handling.
• More selfie-friendly: Has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing.
• More compact: Is smaller (122x93mm vs 141x113mm) and thus needs less room in the bag.
• Less heavy: Is lighter (by 401g or 47 percent) and hence easier to carry around.
• Longer lasting: Can take more shots (1070 versus 900) on a single battery charge.
• 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.
• More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (70 percent cheaper at launch).
• More modern: Reflects 5 years and 6 months of technical progress since the D610 launch.

Reasons to prefer the Nikon D610:

• Better sound control: Has a headphone port that enables audio monitoring while recording.
• More complete view: Has a viewfinder with a larger field of view (100% vs 95%).
• Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.70x vs 0.54x).
• Easier setting verification: Features a control panel on top to check shooting parameters.
• Larger screen: Has a bigger rear LCD (3.2" vs 3.0") for image review and settings control.
• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (6 vs 5 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
• Better sealing: Is splash and dust sealed for shooting in inclement weather conditions.
• Better studio light control: Has a PC Sync socket to connect to professional strobe lights.
• Greater peace of mind: Features a second card slot as a backup in case of memory card failure.
• More heavily discounted: Has been around for much longer (launched in October 2013).

If the count of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a measure, the 250D emerges as the winner of the contest (13 : 10 points). However, the relevance of individual strengths will vary across photographers, so that you might want to apply your own weighing scheme to the summary points when reflecting and deciding on a new camera. 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 250D and the Nikon D610 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best DSLR Camera listing 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 says little about, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance of the 250D and the D610 in practical situations. 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 why hands-on reviews by experts are important. 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   labs	dp review	ephoto   zine	imaging resource	photography   blog	Camera Launch	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price
	Canon 250D	o	79/100	4/5	..	4/5	Apr 2019	599
	Nikon D610	+ +	87/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	4.5/5	Oct 2013	1,999
	Canon 850D	+	80/100	4/5	..	3.5/5	Feb 2020	749
	Canon M50 Mark II	..	..	..	..	..	Oct 2020	599
	Canon 2000D	o	..	3.5/5	..	3.5/5	Feb 2018	449
	Canon 4000D	o	..	3.5/5	..	3.5/5	Feb 2018	399
	Canon M50	+	79/100	..	4/5	3.5/5	Feb 2018	779
	Canon 77D	..	82/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	4/5	Feb 2017	899
	Canon 200D	+ +	78/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jun 2017	549
	Canon 800D	..	80/100	4.5/5	4/5	4/5	Feb 2017	749
	Canon 760D	+	77/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2015	649
	Canon 6D	+ +	83/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2012	2,099
	Fujifilm X-T100	+	79/100	4/5	..	4.5/5	May 2018	599
	Nikon D750	+ +	90/100	4.5/5	5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2014	2,299
	Nikon D810	..	86/100	5/5	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jun 2014	3,299
	Nikon Df	..	81/100	4/5	4/5	4/5	Nov 2013	2,749
	Nikon D600	+ +	87/100	5/5	4.5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2012	2,099
Notes: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

Care should be taken when interpreting the review scores above, though. The assessments were made in relation to similar cameras of the same technological generation. A score, therefore, has to be seen in close connection to the price and market introduction time of the camera, and rating-comparisons among cameras that span long time periods or concern very differently equipped models make little sense. Also, kindly note that some of the listed sites have over time developped their review approaches and their reporting style.

Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you would like to check on the differences and similarities of other camera models, just use the search menu below. As an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool.

~

Specifications: Canon 250D vs Nikon D610

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.

Did you notice an error on this page? If so, please get in touch, so that we can correct the information.