Updated (March, 2012): Compare the Canon Rebel T3 vs Nikon D3200

Nikon D3100
Winner
Nikon D3100

56

vs
Canon Rebel T3

42

Canon Rebel T3
Runner-up
 
 
 
 

Reasons to buy the Nikon D3100

Movie format
 Full HD
1080p @ 24fps
Live view
 Has live view
Preview your photos
Supports 24p
 24p movies
For that film look
Sensor size
 Large sensor
APS-C 23.1x15.4mm
 

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
 
Differences | Recommendations | Similarities | Competitors | Appearance | Discussion

differences

Advantages of the Canon T3
Battery life Longer battery life 700 shots vs 550 shots
Help
 Around 30% more shots per battery charge
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
 Around 10% larger viewfinder
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
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay 300 ms vs 400 ms
Help
 Around 30% less delay when turning on
Weight Lighter 459 g vs 505 g
Help
 Around 10% lighter
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $327.69 vs $372.99
Help
 The best price we've seen is $45 cheaper (more than 10% less)
Canon Rebel T3 Learn more about
the Canon T3

Advantages of the Nikon D3100
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 24fps vs 720p @ 30fps
Help
 Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video but at a lower frame rate
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
Color depth Better color depth 22.5 bits vs 21.9 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.6 more bits of color
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
 Get that real film feel
Overall image quality Better image quality 67.0 vs 62.0
Help
 Around 10% better image quality
Sensor size Significantly larger sensor APS-C 23.1x15.4mm vs APS-C 22.2x14.7mm
Help
 Around 10% larger sensor
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
Size Significantly smaller 124x96x73 mm vs 130x100x78 mm
Help
 More than 10% smaller
True resolution Higher true resolution 14.2 MP vs 12.2 MP
Help
 Capture around 20% more detail in your photos
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 279 ms vs 309 ms
Help
 Around 10% less delay when taking photos
Thickness Thinner 2.9" vs 3.1"
Help
 Around 10% thinner
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 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
42 vs 56
Explain scores
Nikon D3100 Nikon D3100
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D3100.

similarities

Compared to recent entry-level DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Lens availability Many lenses available Help
T3:162 lenses
D3100:169 lenses
Startup delay Minimal startup delay Help
T3:300 ms
D3100:400 ms
Lowest price Inexpensive Help
T3:$327.69
D3100:$372.99
Weight Light weight Help
T3:459 g
D3100:505 g
Fastest shutter speed Slow max shutter speed Help
1/4000 of a second
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 resolution Low resolution screens Help
230k dots
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
T3:12.2 MP
D3100:14.2 MP
Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
1
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Shutter lag Significant shutter lag Help
T3:309 ms
D3100:279 ms
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
Autofocus Lacks video autofocus Help
T3:None
D3100:Contrast detection
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
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
Weather sealed Neither is weather sealed Help
Need to shelter it from weather
Viewfinder size Below average viewfinder size Help
T3:0.54x
D3100:0.51x
Overall image quality Low image quality Help
T3:62.0
D3100:67.0

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$549 body only

$595 - $599 with 18-55mm lens
Screen resolution Has a much higher resolution screen
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the Rebel T3
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D3100
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$547 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D3200 vs the Rebel T3
Compare the D3200 vs the D3100
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$497 body only

$585 - $805 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D5100 vs the Rebel T3
Compare the D5100 vs the D3100
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$540 body only

$609 with 18-55mm lens
Screen resolution Has a much higher resolution screen
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the Rebel T3
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the D3100
Nikon D3000

Nikon D3000

Entry-level DSLR

$436 - $456 with 18-55mm lens
Sensor size Has a slightly larger sensor
Size Is slightly smaller
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the D3000 vs the Rebel T3
Compare the D3000 vs the D3100
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$600 - $899 body only

$739 - $1,099 with 18-105mm lens
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Dynamic range Has significantly wider dynamic range
Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D90 vs the Rebel T3
Compare the D90 vs the D3100
Canon Rebel T4i

Canon Rebel T4i

Entry-level DSLR

$580 - $799 body only

$731 - $899 with 18-55mm lens
Screen resolution Has a much higher resolution screen
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Rebel T4i vs the Rebel T3
Compare the Rebel T4i 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

discussion

Showing 7 comments

Roberta (1:56 PM, April 15, 2013)
Can I ask a question? I am preparing to buy a digital camera as it is becoming more difficult to develop film. :) I have a Nikon film camera and several lenses. Would my lenses work on a Nikon digital camera? Thanks.
 
Raoulalcantara (9:09 AM, April 25, 2012)
I am from the Philippines..between the two
cameras i'll go for Canon 1100d for these reasons:1. Built-in AF motor -
can use older lenses2. Bracketing - for HDR photograpy3. Price - need to
say more?4. If you want 1080p video...get an HD video cam, SLR's are for
still phography not intended for video5. 12 mp is as good as 14 mp not
unless you are planning to print a poster size photo. Megapixels refer to the
size of the photograph not the quality.6. There are 7 Canon Service centers
here in the Philippines compare to Nikon which only has one.I hope this
help...happy shooting
 
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??