Updated (April, 2011): Compare the Canon Rebel T3 vs Nikon D5100

Nikon D5000

48

Winner

Nikon D5000

"Excellent degree of customization (reversible dial and meter ease transition from other systems)"
dpreview.com | talking about the D5000's button-layout
"The image quality is undeniably impressive."
dpreview.com | talking about the D5000's image-quality

Reasons to buy the Nikon D5000

Overall image quality
Great image quality
72.0
Color depth
Great color depth
22.7 bits
Dynamic range
Wide dynamic range
12.5 EV
Screen flips out
Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Sensor size
Large sensor
APS-C 23.6x15.8mm
Canon Rebel T3

40

Runner-up

Canon Rebel T3

Reasons to buy the Canon Rebel T3

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 Significantly longer battery life 800 shots vs 510 shots
Help
Around 60% more shots per battery charge
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor Yes vs No
Help
Autofocuses with all autofocus lenses
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
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder 0.54x vs 0.51x
Help
More than 10% larger viewfinder
Weight Lighter 459 g vs 590 g
Help
More than 20% lighter
Lowest price Cheaper $329.96 vs $879.95
Help
The best price we've seen is $550 cheaper (2.7x less)
Size Smaller 130x100x78 mm vs 127x104x80 mm
Help
Almost the same
Thickness Thinner 3.1" vs 3.1"
Help
Almost the same
Canon Rebel T3 Learn more about
the Canon T3

Advantages of the Nikon D5000

Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.5 EV vs 11 EV
Help
1.5 f-stops more dynamic range
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 72.0 vs 62.0
Help
Around 20% better image quality
Color depth Better color depth 22.7 bits vs 21.9 bits
Help
Distinguishes 0.8 more bits of color
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 868 ISO vs 755 ISO
Help
The D5000 has a slight edge (0.2 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
Get that real film feel
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
Sensor size Significantly larger sensor APS-C 23.6x15.8mm vs APS-C 22.2x14.7mm
Help
More than 10% larger sensor
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
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
Nikon D5000 Learn more about
the Nikon D5000
vs

recommendations

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

Canon Rebel T3 Canon Rebel T3
40 vs 48
Explain scores
Nikon D5000 Nikon D5000
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D5000.

advice

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by Hannah-Brett last week
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1
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by Marisa-S-Bisping last month
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beginner...getting into light painting, so want a shutter that can stay open longer, plus lots o...

One person recommends the Canon T3:

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by Mary-Reynolds 4 hours ago
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This will be my 1st DSLR camera purchase. I love photography and I am a fast learner. I can affo...

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similarities

Compared to recent entry-level DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Lens availability Many lenses available Help
T3:162 lenses
D5000:169 lenses
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%
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
12.2 MP
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Screen size Very small screens Help
2.7"
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
1
Screen resolution Low resolution screens Help
230k dots
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
T3:6,400 ISO
D5000:3,200 ISO
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
T3:3 fps
D5000:4 fps
Weather sealed Neither is weather sealed Help
Need to shelter it from weather
Movie format HD (720p) video Help
T3:720p @ 30fps
D5000:720p @ 24fps

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Screen size Has a much larger screen
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$544 - $949 body only

$649 - $867 with 18-55mm lens

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Screen size Has a much larger screen
Weight Is slightly heavier
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$619 - $700 body only

$745 - $1,000 with 18-55mm lens

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Screen size Has a much larger screen
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Weight Is slightly heavier
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens

Low light performance Is significantly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Weight Is slightly heavier
Canon EOS Rebel T1i

Canon Rebel T1i

Entry-level DSLR

$471 - $629 body only

$549 - $575 with 18-55mm lens

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Screen size Has a much larger screen
Weight Is slightly heavier
Color depth Has slightly less color depth
Nikon D3000

Nikon D3000

Entry-level DSLR

$487 with 18-55mm lens

Screen size Has a much larger screen
Size Is significantly smaller
Weight Is slightly heavier
Sensor type Has a CCD-family sensor
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS

Entry-level DSLR

$348 - $595 body only

$439 with 18-55mm lens

Size Is significantly smaller
Thickness Is thinner
Light sensitivity (boost) Lacks boost light sensitivity
Autofocus Users slower contrast detection autofocus

Canon Rebel T3 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

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

Nikon D5000 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,000 - $1,197 body only

$1,100 with 55-200mm lens

Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO
Focus points Many more focus points
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Weight Significantly heavier

appearance

Canon Rebel T3 Nikon D5000
Canon Rebel T3 Nikon D5000
Canon Rebel T3 Nikon D5000

discussion

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