Canon Rebel
T3i
 vs
Nikon
D800

Updated (May, 2012): Compare the Canon 650D / T4i vs Nikon D800

Nikon D800

86

  
Canon Rebel T3i

49

  
Winner

Nikon D800

Reasons to buy the Nikon D800

Low light performance
 Low noise at high ISO
2,853 ISO
Overall image quality
 Great image quality
95.0
Color depth
 Great color depth
25.3 bits
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
14.4 EV
Screen size
 Large screen
3.2"
Screen resolution
 High resolution screen
1,040k dots
 
Runner-up

Canon Rebel T3i

Reasons to buy the Canon Rebel T3i

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
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available 162 lenses vs 121 lenses
Help
 More than 30% more lenses available
Size Smaller 133x99x79 mm vs 146x123x82 mm
Help
 Around 30% smaller
Weight Significantly lighter 570 g vs 1,000 g
Help
 More than 40% lighter
Lowest price Cheaper $549.00 vs $2,796.95
Help
 The best price we've seen is $2,248 cheaper (5.1x less)
Thickness Thinner 3.1" vs 3.2"
Help
 Almost the same
Canon Rebel T3i Learn more about
the Canon T3i

Advantages of the Nikon D800
Low light performance Much lower noise at high ISO 2,853 ISO vs 793 ISO
Help
 The D800 has excellent image quality 1.8 f-stops higher ISO than the T3i
Overall image quality Much better image quality 95.0 vs 65.0
Help
 Around 50% better image quality
Dynamic range More dynamic range 14.4 EV vs 11.5 EV
Help
 2.9 f-stops more dynamic range
Color depth Better color depth 25.3 bits vs 22.1 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 3.2 more bits of color
True resolution Much higher true resolution 36.2 MP vs 17.9 MP
Help
 Capture more than 2x more detail in your photos
Viewfinder size Much larger viewfinder 0.72x vs 0.53x
Help
 Around 90% larger viewfinder
Screen size Significantly larger screen 3.2" vs 3.0"
Help
 Around 10% larger screen
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Sensor size Much larger sensor Full frame 35.9x24.0mm vs APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
Help
 More than 2.5x larger sensor
Weather sealed Weather sealed Yes vs No
Help
 Sealed to shoot in the rain
Focus points Many more focus points 51 vs 9
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Autofocus Video autofocus Contrast detection vs None
Help
 Automatically focuses shooting video
Startup delay Significantly less startup delay 200 ms vs 1500 ms
Help
 7.5x less delay when turning on
Cross type focus points More cross-type focus points 15 vs 1
Help
 Grab focus in difficult situations
Viewfinder coverage Much better viewfinder coverage 100% vs 95%
Help
 Around 10% better viewfinder coverage
Battery life Longer battery life 900 shots vs 440 shots
Help
 More than 2x more shots per battery charge
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 209 ms vs 283 ms
Help
 Around 30% less delay when taking photos
Viewfinder Has a pentaprism viewfinder Pentaprism vs Pentamirror
Help
 Pentaprism viewfinders are typically brighter
Storage slots Has more storage slots 2 vs 1
Help
 More slots allows storing more images without switching memory cards
Fastest shutter speed Much faster max shutter speed 1/8000s vs 1/4000s
Help
 2x faster max shutter speed
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 25,600 ISO vs 12,800 ISO
Help
 The D800's boost ISO is 1 f-stop better
Nikon D800 Learn more about
the Nikon D800
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent DSLRs, and ignoring price

Canon Rebel T3i Canon Rebel T3i
49 vs 86
Explain scores
Nikon D800 Nikon D800
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D800. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a entry-level DSLR with a pro DSLR.

similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Screen resolution High resolution screens Help
1,040k dots
Built-in flash Each has a built-in flash Help
External flash not needed
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
T3i:3.7 fps
D800:4 fps
Autofocus Lacks video autofocus Help
T3i:None
D800:Contrast detection
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
6,400 ISO
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$497 body only

$597 - $805 with 18-55mm lens
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Compare the D5100 vs the Rebel T3i
Compare the D5100 vs the D800
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$547 with 18-55mm lens
Thickness Is thinner
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Compare the D3200 vs the Rebel T3i
Compare the D3200 vs the D800
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$699 - $899 body only

$999 - $1,279 with 18-135mm lens
Weight Is slightly heavier
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Compare the EOS 60D vs the Rebel T3i
Compare the EOS 60D vs the D800
Nikon D7100

Nikon D7100

Entry-level DSLR

$1,197 body only

$1,497 with 18-105mm lens
Screen resolution Has a slightly higher resolution screen
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Compare the D7100 vs the Rebel T3i
Compare the D7100 vs the D800
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$997 with 18-105mm lens
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Thickness Is thinner
Weight Is slightly heavier
Screen resolution Has a slightly lower resolution screen
Compare the D7000 vs the Rebel T3i
Compare the D7000 vs the D800
Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,499 body only

$1,699 with 28-135mm lens
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Shutter lag Has slightly less shutter lag
Weight Is slightly heavier
Screen resolution Has a slightly lower resolution screen
Compare the EOS 7D vs the Rebel T3i
Compare the EOS 7D vs the D800
Nikon D5200

Nikon D5200

Entry-level DSLR

$697 body only

$797 with 18-55mm lens
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Compare the D5200 vs the Rebel T3i
Compare the D5200 vs the D800

Canon Rebel T3i Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon 650D / T4i

Canon Rebel T4i

Entry-level DSLR

$649 - $800 body only

$719 - $749 with 18-55mm lens
Autofocus Video autofocus
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Color depth Worse color depth
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Compare the Rebel T4i vs the Rebel T3i
Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$332 body only

$449 - $499 with 18-55mm lens
Startup delay Significantly less startup delay
Battery life Longer battery life
Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the Rebel T3i
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$550 body only

$609 with 18-55mm lens
Startup delay Significantly less startup delay
Thickness Much thinner
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the Rebel T3i
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$447 - $740 with 18-55mm lens
Autofocus Video autofocus
Startup delay Significantly less startup delay
Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Compare the D3100 vs the Rebel T3i

Nikon D800 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D600

Nikon D600

Pro DSLR

$1,997 body only

$2,397 with 24-85mm lens
Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO
Continuous shooting Shoots faster
True resolution Much lower true resolution
Screen resolution Lower resolution screen
Compare the D600 vs the D800
Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Pro DSLR

$3,250 - $3,499 body only

$3,800 - $4,099 with 24-105mm lens
Cross type focus points Many more cross-type focus points
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity
Overall image quality Significantly worse image quality
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Compare the EOS 5D Mark III vs the D800
Nikon D4

Nikon D4

Pro DSLR

$5,997 body only
Battery life Much longer battery life
Continuous shooting Shoots much faster
True resolution Much lower true resolution
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Compare the D4 vs the D800
Nikon D700

Nikon D700

Pro DSLR

$3,400 body only
Continuous shooting Shoots faster
Battery life Slightly longer battery life
True resolution Much lower true resolution
Overall image quality Significantly worse image quality
Compare the D700 vs the D800

appearance

Canon Rebel T3i Nikon D800
Canon Rebel T3i Nikon D800
Canon Rebel T3i Nikon D800

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