Canon Rebel
T3
 vs
Nikon
D3000

Updated (February, 2011): Compare the Canon Rebel T3 vs Nikon D3100

Canon Rebel T3

40

  
Nikon D3000

33

  

Reasons to buy the Canon Rebel T3

Live view
 Has live view
Preview your photos
Battery life
 Great battery life
700 shots
Sensor type
 CMOS Sensor
Better in low light
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Weight
 Light-weight
459 g
 
Runner-up

Nikon D3000

Reasons to buy the Nikon D3000

Screen size
 Large screen
3.0"
Sensor size
 Large sensor
APS-C 23.6x15.8mm
Size
 Really small
Prosumer size 126x97x64 mm
Sensor cleaning
 Self cleaning sensor
Avoids dust in your photos
Thickness
 Thin
2.5"
 

differences

Advantages of the Canon T3
Movie format Shoots movies 720p @ 30fps vs None
Help
 Shoots HD (720p) video as well as still pictures
Live view Has live view Yes vs No
Help
 Preview your photos on the camera's screen before taking them
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 755 ISO vs 563 ISO
Help
 The T3 has a slight edge (0.4 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor CMOS vs CCD
Help
 CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 1,600 ISO
Help
 The T3's maximum light sensitivity is 2 f-stops better
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor Yes vs No
Help
 Autofocuses with all autofocus lenses
Battery life Longer battery life 700 shots vs 550 shots
Help
 Around 30% more shots per battery charge
True resolution Higher true resolution 12.2 MP vs 10 MP
Help
 Capture more than 20% more detail in your photos
Startup delay Less startup delay 300 ms vs 700 ms
Help
 2.3x less delay when turning on
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder 0.54x vs 0.52x
Help
 Almost the same
Weight Lighter 459 g vs 536 g
Help
 More than 10% lighter
Lowest price Cheaper $331.59 vs $435.54
Help
 The best price we've seen is $104 cheaper (more than 20% less)
Canon Rebel T3 Learn more about
the Canon T3

Advantages of the Nikon D3000
Screen size Significantly larger screen 3.0" vs 2.7"
Help
 More than 10% larger screen
Sensor size Much larger sensor APS-C 23.6x15.8mm vs APS-C 22.2x14.7mm
Help
 More than 10% larger sensor
Size Much smaller 126x97x64 mm vs 130x100x78 mm
Help
 More than 20% smaller
Sensor cleaning Has a self cleaning sensor Yes vs No
Help
 Removes dust from the sensor automatically, avoiding spots in photos
Color depth Better color depth 22.3 bits vs 21.9 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.4 more bits of color
Thickness Much thinner 2.5" vs 3.1"
Help
 Around 20% thinner
Dynamic range More dynamic range 11.1 EV vs 11 EV
Help
 0.1 f-stops more dynamic range
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 D3000 Learn more about
the Nikon D3000
vs

recommendations

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

Canon Rebel T3 Canon Rebel T3
40 vs 33
Explain scores
Nikon D3000 Nikon D3000
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon Rebel T3.

similarities

Compared to recent entry-level DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Lens availability Many lenses available Help
T3:162 lenses
D3000:169 lenses
Lowest price Inexpensive Help
T3:$331.59
D3000:$435.54
Fastest shutter speed Slow max shutter speed Help
1/4000 of a second
Autofocus No video autofocus Help
Manual focus only
Viewfinder coverage Below average viewfinder coverage Help
95%
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
T3:12.2 MP
D3000:10 MP
Movie format One shoots movies Help
T3:720p @ 30fps
D3000:None
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
3 fps
Screen resolution Low resolution screens Help
230k dots
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
1
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
T3:6,400 ISO
D3000:1,600 ISO
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
Dynamic range Poor dynamic range Help
T3:11 EV
D3000:11.1 EV
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Weather sealed Neither is weather sealed Help
Need to shelter it from weather
Viewfinder size Below average viewfinder size Help
T3:0.54x
D3000:0.52x
Overall image quality Low image quality Help
62.0
Low light performance Above average noise at high ISO Help
T3:755 ISO
D3000:563 ISO

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$447 - $740 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is slightly larger
Compare the D3100 vs the Rebel T3
Compare the D3100 vs the D3000
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$549 body only

$599 - $649 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Dynamic range Has slightly wider dynamic range
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the Rebel T3
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D3000
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$550 body only

$609 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Dynamic range Has slightly wider dynamic range
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the Rebel T3
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the D3000
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$547 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is significantly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has much better image quality
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D3200 vs the Rebel T3
Compare the D3200 vs the D3000
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$497 body only

$597 - $805 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is significantly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has much better image quality
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D5100 vs the Rebel T3
Compare the D5100 vs the D3000
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS

Entry-level DSLR

$430 with 18-55mm lens
Autofocus Users slower contrast detection autofocus
Screen size Has a significantly smaller screen
Compare the EOS Digital Rebel XS vs the Rebel T3
Compare the EOS Digital Rebel XS vs the D3000
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi

Entry-level DSLR

$680 with 18-55mm lens
Shutter lag Has significantly less shutter lag
Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the EOS Digital Rebel XSi vs the Rebel T3
Compare the EOS Digital Rebel XSi vs the D3000

Canon Rebel T3 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Canon Rebel T3.

Nikon D3000 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Nikon D3000.

appearance

Canon Rebel T3 Nikon D3000
Canon Rebel T3 Nikon D3000
Canon Rebel T3 Nikon D3000

discussion

Showing 1 comments

copestersteph (4:44 PM, March 02, 2013)
From what I can tell the "cheaper price" is not comparing apples to apples. The Canon price at $329 is body only & the Nikon price includes a lens....