Canon Rebel
T3
 vs
Nikon
D5100

Updated (October, 2012): Compare the Canon Rebel T3 vs Nikon D5200

Nikon D5100

78

  
Canon Rebel T3

41

  
Winner

Nikon D5100

Reasons to buy the Nikon D5100

Low light performance
 Low noise at high ISO
1,183 ISO
Overall image quality
 Great image quality
80.0
Movie format
 Full HD
1080p @ 30fps
Color depth
 Great color depth
23.5 bits
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
13 EV
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
 
Runner-up

Canon Rebel T3

Reasons to buy the Canon Rebel T3

Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Weight
 Light-weight
459 g
 

differences

Advantages of the Canon T3
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor Yes vs No
Help
 Autofocuses with all autofocus lenses
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder 0.54x vs 0.51x
Help
 More than 10% larger viewfinder
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay 300 ms vs 500 ms
Help
 40% less delay when turning on
Battery life Slightly longer battery life 700 shots vs 660 shots
Help
 Around 10% more shots per battery charge
Weight Lighter 459 g vs 560 g
Help
 Around 20% lighter
Lowest price Cheaper $331.59 vs $496.95
Help
 The best price we've seen is $165 cheaper (more than 30% less)
Thickness Slightly thinner 3.1" vs 3.1"
Help
 Almost the same
Canon Rebel T3 Learn more about
the Canon T3

Advantages of the Nikon D5100
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 30fps vs 720p @ 30fps
Help
 Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video
Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO 1,183 ISO vs 755 ISO
Help
 The D5100 has a slight edge (0.6 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Overall image quality Much better image quality 80.0 vs 62.0
Help
 Around 30% better image quality
Dynamic range More dynamic range 13 EV vs 11 EV
Help
 2 f-stops more dynamic range
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 920k dots vs 230k dots
Help
 4x higher resolution screen
Color depth Better color depth 23.5 bits vs 21.9 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 1.6 more bits of color
Screen size Significantly larger screen 3.0" vs 2.7"
Help
 More than 10% larger screen
External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
 Record high quality audio with an external microphone
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
 Get that real film feel
Sensor size Much larger sensor APS-C 23.6x15.6mm vs APS-C 22.2x14.7mm
Help
 More than 10% larger sensor
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen Yes vs No
Help
 Flip-out screens can be helpful when composing tricky shots or taking movies
Autofocus Video autofocus Contrast detection vs None
Help
 Automatically focuses shooting video
True resolution Higher true resolution 16.1 MP vs 12.2 MP
Help
 Capture more than 30% more detail in your photos
Sensor cleaning Has a self cleaning sensor Yes vs No
Help
 Removes dust from the sensor automatically, avoiding spots in photos
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 4 fps vs 3 fps
Help
 More than 30% faster continuous shooting
Size Smaller 127x96x78 mm vs 130x100x78 mm
Help
 Almost the same
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available 169 lenses vs 162 lenses
Help
 Almost the same
Focus points Slightly more focus points 11 vs 9
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Nikon D5100 Learn more about
the Nikon D5100
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent entry-level DSLRs, and ignoring price

Canon Rebel T3 Canon Rebel T3
41 vs 78
Explain scores
Nikon D5100 Nikon D5100
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D5100.

similarities

Compared to recent entry-level DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Lens availability Many lenses available Help
T3:162 lenses
D5100:169 lenses
Startup delay Minimal startup delay Help
T3:300 ms
D5100:500 ms
Lowest price Inexpensive Help
T3:$331.59
D5100:$496.95
Fastest shutter speed Slow max shutter speed Help
1/4000 of a second
Viewfinder coverage Below average viewfinder coverage Help
95%
Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
1
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
6,400 ISO
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
T3:3 fps
D5100:4 fps
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
Autofocus Lacks video autofocus Help
T3:None
D5100:Contrast detection
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
T3:12.2 MP
D5100:16.1 MP
Weather sealed Neither is weather sealed Help
Need to shelter it from weather
Viewfinder size Below average viewfinder size Help
T3:0.54x
D5100:0.51x

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$549 body only

$599 - $649 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the Rebel T3
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D5100
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$547 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Takes much higher resolution photos
Size Is slightly smaller
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Light sensitivity (boost) Slightly lower boost light sensitivity
Compare the D3200 vs the Rebel T3
Compare the D3200 vs the D5100
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$447 - $740 with 18-55mm lens
Size Is slightly smaller
Thickness Is thinner
Light sensitivity (boost) Slightly lower boost light sensitivity
Battery life Has a slightly shorter battery life
Compare the D3100 vs the Rebel T3
Compare the D3100 vs the D5100
Nikon D5200

Nikon D5200

Entry-level DSLR

$697 body only

$797 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Takes much higher resolution photos
Focus points Has much more focus points
Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the D5200 vs the Rebel T3
Compare the D5200 vs the D5100
Canon 650D / T4i

Canon Rebel T4i

Entry-level DSLR

$649 - $800 body only

$719 - $749 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the Rebel T4i vs the Rebel T3
Compare the Rebel T4i vs the D5100
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$675 - $899 body only

$799 - $1,099 with 18-105mm lens
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder
Viewfinder Has higher quality type of viewfinder
Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
Weight Is much heavier
Compare the D90 vs the Rebel T3
Compare the D90 vs the D5100
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$550 body only

$609 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Size Is much smaller
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the Rebel T3
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the D5100

Canon Rebel T3 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D3000

Nikon D3000

Entry-level DSLR

$436 with 18-55mm lens
Screen size Significantly larger screen
Sensor size Much larger sensor
Movie format Does not take movies
Live view No live view
Compare the D3000 vs the Rebel T3

Nikon D5100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$997 with 18-105mm lens
Weather sealed Weather sealed
Focus points Many more focus points
HDR Lacks in-camera HDR
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Compare the D7000 vs the D5100

appearance

Canon Rebel T3 Nikon D5100
Canon Rebel T3 Nikon D5100
Canon Rebel T3 Nikon D5100

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