Canon Rebel
T3
 vs
Nikon
D3100

Nikon D3100

54
Winner

Nikon D3100
"There's no doubt that the D3100 is one of the best entry-level SLRs available, offering very good image quality coupled with speedy operation and straightforward handling - at least for conventional eye-level use."
dpreview.com | talking about the D3100's overall-performance
"High ISO performance is substantially improved over the D3000, to the extent that images shot at sensitivities as high as 3200 are eminently useable"
dpreview.com | talking about the D3100's iso-noise

Reasons to buy the Nikon D3100

Movie format
 Full HD
1080p @ 24fps
Screen size
 Large screen
3.0"
Supports 24p
 24p movies
For that film look
Movie continuous focus
 Movie continuous focus
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
Badge
 Autofocuses shooting video
Contrast detection
Sensor cleaning
 Self cleaning sensor
Avoids dust in your photos
Canon Rebel T3

40
Runner-up

Canon Rebel T3

Reasons to buy the Canon Rebel T3

Light sensitivity
 High ISO
6,400 ISO
Battery life
 Great battery life
800 shots
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Weight
 Light-weight
459 g

differences

Advantages of the Canon T3
Battery life Longer battery life 800 shots vs 550 shots
Help
 Around 50% more shots per battery charge
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
 The T3's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor Yes vs No
Help
 Autofocuses with all autofocus lenses
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder 0.54x vs 0.51x
Help
 Around 10% larger viewfinder
Weight Lighter 459 g vs 505 g
Help
 Around 10% lighter
Canon Rebel T3 Learn more about
the Canon T3

Advantages of the Nikon D3100
Screen size Much larger screen 3.0" vs 2.7"
Help
 More than 10% larger screen
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 919 ISO vs 755 ISO
Help
 The D3100 has a slight edge (0.3 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 24fps vs 720p @ 30fps
Help
 Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video but at a lower frame rate
Color depth Better color depth 22.5 bits vs 21.9 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.6 more bits of color
Overall image quality Better image quality 67.0 vs 62.0
Help
 Around 10% better image quality
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
 Get that real film feel
Autofocus Video autofocus Contrast detection vs None
Help
 Automatically focuses shooting video
Dynamic range More dynamic range 11.3 EV vs 11 EV
Help
 0.3 f-stops more dynamic range
Sensor cleaning Has a self cleaning sensor Yes vs No
Help
 Removes dust from the sensor automatically, avoiding spots in photos
Sensor size Larger sensor APS-C 23.1x15.4mm vs APS-C 22.2x14.7mm
Help
 Around 10% larger sensor
True resolution Higher true resolution 14.2 MP vs 12.2 MP
Help
 Capture around 20% more detail in your photos
Size Smaller 124x96x73 mm vs 130x100x78 mm
Help
 More than 10% smaller
Focus points More focus points 11 vs 9
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available 169 lenses vs 162 lenses
Help
 Almost the same
Thickness Thinner 2.9" vs 3.1"
Help
 Around 10% thinner
Nikon D3100 Learn more about
the Nikon D3100
vs

recommendations

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

Canon Rebel T3 Canon Rebel T3
40 vs 54
Explain scores
Nikon D3100 Nikon D3100
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D3100.

performance Which camera has better performance? Cast your vote!

CanonRebel T3
 Canon Rebel T3 vs Nikon D3100
NikonD3100
Uses Travel score Travel
On holiday or vacation
64
61
Vote Vote
Sports score Sports
Fast action, sometimes indoors
58
65
Vote Vote
Features Color accuracy Color accuracy
White balance in varied lighting
65
61
Vote Vote
Autofocus peformance Still image focusing
Speed and accuracy
64
62
Vote Vote
Autofocus performance Video focusing
Speed and accuracy
56
64
Vote Vote
Manual controls Manual settings
How quickly and easily you can change settings
69
60
Vote Vote
Build quality Build quality
Is it sturdy, well made, plastic or metal
62
64
Vote Vote
Green arrow Join in the discussion below!

similarities

Compared to recent entry-level DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Lens availability Many lenses available Help
T3:162 lenses
D3100:169 lenses
Weight Light weight Help
T3:459 g
D3100:505 g
Fastest shutter speed Slow max shutter speed Help
1/4000 of a second
Storage slots Fewer storage slots Help
1
External mic jack Neither has an external mic jack Help
Limited to the in-camera mic
Viewfinder coverage Below average viewfinder coverage Help
95%
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
3 fps
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
1
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Screen resolution Low resolution screens Help
230k dots
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
T3:6,400 ISO
D3100:3,200 ISO
Dynamic range Poor dynamic range Help
T3:11 EV
D3100:11.3 EV

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$499 - $949 body only

$579 - $867 with 18-55mm lens
Screen resolution Has a much higher resolution screen
True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the Rebel T3
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the D3100
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$749 body only

$600 - $747 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is significantly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the D5100 vs the Rebel T3
Compare the D5100 vs the D3100
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$609 - $800 body only

$709 - $850 with 18-55mm lens
Screen resolution Has a much higher resolution screen
True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the Rebel T3
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D3100
Canon EOS Rebel T1i

Canon Rebel T1i

Entry-level DSLR

$450 - $629 body only

$500 - $609 with 18-55mm lens
Screen resolution Has a significantly higher resolution screen
Shutter lag Has significantly less shutter lag
Weight Is slightly heavier
Battery life Has a slightly shorter battery life
Compare the Rebel T1i vs the Rebel T3
Compare the Rebel T1i vs the D3100
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$869 - $897 body only

$1,099 - $1,200 with 18-105mm lens
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Dynamic range Has significantly wider dynamic range
Weight Is much heavier
Size Is slightly larger
Compare the D90 vs the Rebel T3
Compare the D90 vs the D3100
Nikon D3000

Nikon D3000

Entry-level DSLR

$529 body only

$611 with 18-55mm lens
Size Is slightly smaller
Thickness Is thinner
Weight Is slightly heavier
Sensor type Has a CCD-family sensor
Compare the D3000 vs the Rebel T3
Compare the D3000 vs the D3100
Nikon D5000

Nikon D5000

Entry-level DSLR

$997 with 18-55mm lens
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Dynamic range Has significantly wider dynamic range
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the D5000 vs the Rebel T3
Compare the D5000 vs the D3100

Canon Rebel T3 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

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

Nikon D3100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Nikon D3100.

appearance

Canon Rebel T3 Nikon D3100
Canon Rebel T3 Nikon D3100
Canon Rebel T3 Nikon D3100

Find similar cameras

Here are some links to help you find other cameras with similar features to both of these:

discussion Which do you think is better?

Speech is free, but discussion at Snapsort is moderated! Please discuss your opinion of these cameras here, and discuss feedback for Snapsort at our support community.

Showing 5 comments

Kizzy (4:43 PM, January 28, 2012)
I like the Nikon better I though, Canon was great but my Uncle has Nikon, and I'm pretty inspired by him. Plus he can sell me his lenses,  I got a Nikon D3100 on Christmas.
 
SidBP (1:49 PM, December 29, 2011)
The 1100D is Better Than the D3100 :)
Also The D3100's Grip IS not good at all :/
Better Image Quality on 1100D
Larger Viewfinder
Even That Snapsort Recommends the D3100 experience Will Show You that the 1100D is better :)
 
Mojopower (3:46 AM, November 30, 2011)
The pictures on the T3 are better, check out any other website to see side-by-side comparisons.
 
Shane Schweizer (4:19 AM, November 19, 2011)
I think that spec wise the D3100 seems to be the winner.
 
Sonam Tshering (9:02 AM, November 16, 2011)
So what's the final verdict? Canon T3 or Nikon D3100??