Canon Rebel
T3i
 vs
Nikon
D3200

Updated (May, 2012): Compare the Canon 650D / T4i vs Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

75

  
Canon Rebel T3i

60

  
Winner

Nikon D3200

Reasons to buy the Nikon D3200

Low light performance
 Low noise at high ISO
1,131 ISO
Overall image quality
 Great image quality
81.0
Movie format
 Full HD
1080p @ 30fps
Color depth
 Great color depth
24.1 bits
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
13.2 EV
True resolution
 High true resolution
24.1 MP
 
Runner-up

Canon Rebel T3i

Reasons to buy the Canon Rebel T3i

Movie format
 Full HD
1080p @ 30fps
Screen resolution
 High resolution screen
1,040k dots
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
External mic jack
 External mic jack
Record higher quality audio with a microphone
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
 

differences

Advantages of the Canon T3i
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
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen 1,040k dots vs 921k dots
Help
 More than 10% higher resolution screen
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor Yes vs No
Help
 Autofocuses with all autofocus lenses
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder 0.53x vs 0.50x
Help
 Around 10% larger viewfinder
Canon Rebel T3i Learn more about
the Canon T3i

Advantages of the Nikon D3200
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 81.0 vs 65.0
Help
 More than 20% better image quality
Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO 1,131 ISO vs 793 ISO
Help
 The D3200 has a slight edge (0.5 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Dynamic range More dynamic range 13.2 EV vs 11.5 EV
Help
 1.7 f-stops more dynamic range
Color depth Better color depth 24.1 bits vs 22.1 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 2 more bits of color
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 24.1 MP vs 17.9 MP
Help
 Capture more than 30% more detail in your photos
Startup delay Significantly less startup delay 400 ms vs 1500 ms
Help
 3.7x less delay when turning on
Autofocus Video autofocus Contrast detection vs None
Help
 Automatically focuses shooting video
Sensor size Significantly larger sensor APS-C 23.2x15.4mm vs APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
Help
 Around 10% larger sensor
Size Significantly smaller 125x96x76 mm vs 133x99x79 mm
Help
 More than 10% smaller
Battery life Longer battery life 540 shots vs 440 shots
Help
 More than 20% more shots per battery charge
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
Thickness Thinner 3" vs 3.1"
Help
 Almost the same
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster 4 fps vs 3.7 fps
Help
 Around 10% faster continuous shooting
Weight Lighter 505 g vs 570 g
Help
 More than 10% lighter
Nikon D3200 Learn more about
the Nikon D3200
vs

recommendations

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

Canon Rebel T3i Canon Rebel T3i
60 vs 75
Explain scores
Nikon D3200 Nikon D3200
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D3200.

similarities

Compared to recent entry-level DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Lens availability Many lenses available Help
T3i:162 lenses
D3200:169 lenses
Supports 24p 24p support Help
For that film look
Fastest shutter speed Slow max shutter speed Help
1/4000 of a second
Light sensitivity (boost) Poor boost ISO Help
12,800 ISO
Viewfinder coverage Below average viewfinder coverage Help
95%
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
1
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
6,400 ISO
Shutter lag Significant shutter lag Help
T3i:283 ms
D3200:276 ms
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
T3i:3.7 fps
D3200:4 fps
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
Autofocus Lacks video autofocus Help
T3i:None
D3200:Contrast detection
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Viewfinder size Below average viewfinder size Help
T3i:0.53x
D3200:0.50x
Weather sealed Neither is weather sealed Help
Need to shelter it from weather

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$497 body only

$597 - $805 with 18-55mm lens
Sensor size Has a marginally larger sensor
HDR Has in-camera HDR
Weight Is slightly heavier
Size Is slightly larger
Compare the D5100 vs the Rebel T3i
Compare the D5100 vs the D3200
Canon 650D / T4i

Canon Rebel T4i

Entry-level DSLR

$649 - $800 body only

$719 - $749 with 18-55mm lens
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the Rebel T4i vs the Rebel T3i
Compare the Rebel T4i vs the D3200
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$447 - $740 with 18-55mm lens
Lowest price Is slightly less expensive
Thickness Is thinner
External mic jack Lacks and external mic jack
True resolution Takes slightly lower resolution photos
Compare the D3100 vs the Rebel T3i
Compare the D3100 vs the D3200
Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$332 body only

$449 - $499 with 18-55mm lens
Battery life Has a slightly longer battery life
Lowest price Is slightly less expensive
Sensor cleaning Lacks a self cleaning sensor
Size Is slightly larger
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the Rebel T3i
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the D3200
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$699 - $899 body only

$999 - $1,279 with 18-135mm lens
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder
Weather sealed Has a weather sealed body
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the EOS 60D vs the Rebel T3i
Compare the EOS 60D vs the D3200
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$550 body only

$609 with 18-55mm lens
Size Is significantly smaller
Thickness Is thinner
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the Rebel T3i
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the D3200
Nikon D5200

Nikon D5200

Entry-level DSLR

$697 body only

$797 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Sensor size Has a marginally larger sensor
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Size Is slightly larger
Compare the D5200 vs the Rebel T3i
Compare the D5200 vs the D3200

Canon Rebel T3i Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Canon Rebel T3i.

Nikon D3200 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Nikon D3200.

appearance

Canon Rebel T3i Nikon D3200
Canon Rebel T3i Nikon D3200
Canon Rebel T3i Nikon D3200

discussion

Showing 1 comments

me (3:27 PM, June 15, 2012)
just as I guessed it, the D3200 wins..