Canon Rebel
T3i
 vs
Nikon
D300

Nikon D300

59
Winner

Nikon D300
"There's simply no better semi-professional digital SLR on the market."
dpreview.com | talking about the D300's overall-performance
"You really have to pick up the D300 to appreciate how nicely it fits into your hand, the ergonomics are great and the soft rubber used on the grip ensures holding the camera steady is an easy task."
dpreview.com | talking about the D300's feel

Reasons to buy the Nikon D300

Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
12 EV
Viewfinder size
 Large viewfinder
0.62x
Weather sealed
 Weather sealed
Shoot in extreme weather
Focus points
 Many focus points
51
Cross type focus points
 Many cross-type focus points
15
Viewfinder coverage
 Great viewfinder coverage
100%
Canon Rebel T3i

53
Runner-up

Canon Rebel T3i
"Excellent image quality even at high ISO settings"
dpreview.com | talking about the T3i's image-quality
"Good quality 1080/720p video output with a range of frame rates and control over exposure"
dpreview.com | talking about the T3i's video-quality

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
Movie format Shoots movies 1080p @ 30fps vs None
Help
 Shoots Full HD (1080p) video as well as still pictures
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
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 17.9 MP vs 12.2 MP
Help
 Capture around 50% more detail in your photos
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen 1,040k dots vs 922k dots
Help
 More than 10% higher resolution screen
Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO 793 ISO vs 679 ISO
Help
 The T3i has a slight edge (0.2 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
 The T3i's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Weight Significantly lighter 570 g vs 925 g
Help
 Around 40% lighter
Size Smaller 133x99x79 mm vs 147x114x74 mm
Help
 More than 10% smaller
Lowest price Cheaper $618.94 vs $1,999.99
Help
 The best price we've seen is $1,381 cheaper (3.2x less)
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 12,800 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
Help
 The T3i's boost ISO is 1 f-stop better
Canon Rebel T3i Learn more about
the Canon T3i

Advantages of the Nikon D300
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12 EV vs 11.5 EV
Help
 0.5 f-stops more dynamic range
Focus points Many more focus points 51 vs 9
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Weather sealed Weather sealed Yes vs No
Help
 Sealed to shoot in the rain
Startup delay Significantly less startup delay 300 ms vs 1500 ms
Help
 5x less delay when turning on
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder 0.62x vs 0.53x
Help
 Around 40% larger viewfinder
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
Overall image quality Slightly better image quality 67.0 vs 65.0
Help
 Almost the same
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 6 fps vs 3.7 fps
Help
 More than 60% faster continuous shooting
Battery life Longer battery life 1000 shots vs 440 shots
Help
 Around 2.5x more shots per battery charge
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 227 ms vs 283 ms
Help
 Around 20% less delay when taking photos
Viewfinder Has a pentaprism viewfinder Pentaprism vs Pentamirror
Help
 Pentaprism viewfinders are typically brighter
Sensor size Slightly larger sensor APS-C 23.6x15.8mm vs APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
Help
 More than 10% larger sensor
Fastest shutter speed Much faster max shutter speed 1/8000s vs 1/4000s
Help
 2x faster max shutter speed
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
Nikon D300 Learn more about
the Nikon D300
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent DSLRs, and ignoring price

Canon Rebel T3i Canon Rebel T3i
53 vs 59
Explain scores
Nikon D300 Nikon D300
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D300. 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.

advice

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0
votes
by Heather-and-Bree-Johnson this month
Canon T3i vs Pentax K-r

for sporting events, landscape, portraits

One person recommends the Pentax K-r:

" amazing image + microphone + video quality. never ending options in camera menus ===== i'm a k-x..."
One person recommends the Canon T3i:

" with canon t3i you get 720p x 60frames (slow it down to 30 frames to get smooth effect of slow m..."
0
votes
by jynielsen 4 days ago
Canon T3i vs Sony NEX-5N

We need a camera for product photos (to be used in marketing materials, such as trade show banne...
0
votes
by Jaimenez last month
Canon T3i vs Sony NEX-5N

I really want the ability to control exposure/aperture on the fly
6
votes
by dinsky this month
Canon T3i vs Nikon D3100

My daughter wants to start taking photo classes, which camera is better for a beginning student....

26 people recommend the Canon T3i:

" i think it´s too much to start, i don´t know if the girl has got a camera already... but since t..."

" it is the best entry level camera and even most professionals use this. better get this camera f..."

" Very good for beginners. And keeping that in mind, the D3100 has more expensive lenses than cano..."
26 people recommend the Nikon D3100:

" I would say that from what I know, nikon has a better beginner friendly interface which will hel..."

" * More comfortable * Easy to use * More Auto modes * Smaller and lighter * Cheaper too"

" They are both as good as one another, neither is particularly better than the other. If you real..."
1
votes
by Ameera-Khan1 last month
Canon T3i vs Nikon D3100

This will be my first purchase of a dslr. I want to buy the best available camera that I can use...

6 people recommend the Canon T3i:

" Since Ameera wants a camera that she expects to use for many years to come, the Canon T3i is ide..."

" Thy are easy to use. I have used Canon's for many many years. I have tried Nikon they are not ea..."

" If filmography is your calling, then go with the T3i. Trust me. "
One person recommends the Nikon D3100:

" Nikon have better cheaper lenses and some of them even don't have a Canon version, for example t..."

similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Lens availability Many lenses available Help
T3i:162 lenses
D300:169 lenses
Storage slots Fewer storage slots Help
1
Light sensitivity (boost) Poor boost ISO Help
T3i:12,800 ISO
D300:6,400 ISO
Autofocus No video autofocus Help
Manual focus only
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
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
T3i:6,400 ISO
D300:3,200 ISO
Color depth Poor color depth Help
22.1 bits
Overall image quality Low image quality Help
T3i:65.0
D300:67.0

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D5100 vs the Rebel T3i
Compare the D5100 vs the D300
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$544 - $949 body only

$649 - $867 with 18-55mm lens
Size Is slightly smaller
Thickness Is thinner
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the Rebel T3i
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the D300
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$848 - $1,304 body only

$1,177 - $1,342 with 18-135mm lens
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the EOS 60D vs the Rebel T3i
Compare the EOS 60D vs the D300
Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$330 body only

$489 - $500 with 18-55mm lens
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the Rebel T3i
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the D300
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens
Color depth Has slightly more color depth
Movie continuous focus Can focus continuously while recording movies
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Compare the D3100 vs the Rebel T3i
Compare the D3100 vs the D300
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,000 - $1,197 body only

$1,100 with 55-200mm lens
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Color depth Has significantly more color depth
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the D7000 vs the Rebel T3i
Compare the D7000 vs the D300
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$699 - $700 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Movie continuous focus Can focus continuously while recording movies
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 D300

Canon Rebel T3i Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

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

Nikon D300 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D300S

Nikon D300S

Pro DSLR

$1,690 - $1,700 body only

$2,547 - $4,295 with 18-200mm lens
Movie format Shoots movies
Color depth Better color depth
Compare the D300S vs the D300

appearance

Canon Rebel T3i Nikon D300
Canon Rebel T3i Nikon D300
Canon Rebel T3i Nikon D300

discussion

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