Updated (May, 2012): Compare the Canon 650D / T4i vs Nikon D3100

Canon Rebel T3i

60

 
Nikon D3000

35

 

Reasons to buy the Canon Rebel T3i

Movie format
Full HD
1080p @ 30fps
Screen resolution
High resolution screen
1,040k dots
Live view
Has live view
Preview your photos
Screen flips out
Flip-out screen
Great for movies
External mic jack
External mic jack
Record higher quality audio with a microphone
Sensor type
CMOS Sensor
Better in low light
 
Runner-up

Nikon D3000

Reasons to buy the Nikon D3000

Sensor size
Large sensor
APS-C 23.6x15.8mm
Size
Really small
Prosumer size 126x97x64 mm
Thickness
Thin
2.5"
 

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 resolution Much higher resolution screen 1,040k dots vs 230k dots
Help
More than 4.5x higher resolution screen
Live view Has live view Yes vs No
Help
Preview your photos on the camera's screen before taking them
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 793 ISO vs 563 ISO
Help
The T3i has a slight edge (0.5 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
True resolution Much higher true resolution 17.9 MP vs 10 MP
Help
Capture around 80% more detail in your photos
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
Dynamic range More dynamic range 11.5 EV vs 11.1 EV
Help
0.4 f-stops more dynamic range
Overall image quality Better image quality 65.0 vs 62.0
Help
Almost the same
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor CMOS vs CCD
Help
CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 1,600 ISO
Help
The T3i's maximum light sensitivity is 2 f-stops better
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor Yes vs No
Help
Autofocuses with all autofocus lenses
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 12,800 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
The T3i's boost ISO is 2 f-stops better
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 3.7 fps vs 3 fps
Help
More than 20% faster continuous shooting
Canon Rebel T3i Learn more about
the Canon T3i

Advantages of the Nikon D3000

Sensor size Much larger sensor APS-C 23.6x15.8mm vs APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
Help
More than 10% larger sensor
Size Much smaller 126x97x64 mm vs 133x99x79 mm
Help
Around 30% smaller
Startup delay Less startup delay 700 ms vs 1500 ms
Help
2.1x less delay when turning on
Thickness Much thinner 2.5" vs 3.1"
Help
Around 20% thinner
Color depth Better color depth 22.3 bits vs 22.1 bits
Help
Distinguishes 0.2 more bits of color
Battery life Longer battery life 550 shots vs 440 shots
Help
Around 30% more shots per battery charge
Shutter lag Slightly less shutter lag 262 ms vs 283 ms
Help
Around 10% less delay when taking photos
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
Lowest price Cheaper $435.54 vs $549.00
Help
The best price we've seen is $113 cheaper (more than 20% less)
Weight Lighter 536 g vs 570 g
Help
Around 10% lighter
Nikon D3000 Learn more about
the Nikon D3000
vs

recommendations

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

Canon Rebel T3i Canon Rebel T3i
60 vs 35
Explain scores
Nikon D3000 Nikon D3000
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon Rebel T3i.

similarities

Compared to recent entry-level DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Lens availability Many lenses available Help
T3i:162 lenses
D3000:169 lenses
Fastest shutter speed Slow max shutter speed Help
1/4000 of a second
Light sensitivity (boost) Poor boost ISO Help
T3i:12,800 ISO
D3000:3,200 ISO
Autofocus No video autofocus Help
Manual focus only
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
T3i:6,400 ISO
D3000:1,600 ISO
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
T3i:3.7 fps
D3000:3 fps
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Shutter lag Significant shutter lag Help
T3i:283 ms
D3000:262 ms
Viewfinder size Below average viewfinder size Help
T3i:0.53x
D3000:0.52x
Weather sealed Neither is weather sealed Help
Need to shelter it from weather
Dynamic range Poor dynamic range Help
T3i:11.5 EV
D3000:11.1 EV
Overall image quality Low image quality Help
T3i:65.0
D3000:62.0
Low light performance Above average noise at high ISO Help
T3i:793 ISO
D3000:563 ISO

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$497 body only

$597 - $805 with 18-55mm lens

Low light performance Is significantly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is much larger
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$547 with 18-55mm lens

Low light performance Is significantly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
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
Weight Is slightly lighter
Thickness Is thicker
Sensor cleaning Lacks a self cleaning sensor
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
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$535 body only

$609 with 18-55mm lens

Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$447 - $740 with 18-55mm lens

Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Movie continuous focus Can focus continuously while recording movies
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is slightly larger
Nikon D5200

Nikon D5200

Entry-level DSLR

$697 body only

$797 with 18-55mm lens

Low light performance Is significantly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has much better image quality
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker

Canon Rebel T3i Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon 650D / T4i

Canon Rebel T4i

Entry-level DSLR

$699 - $800 body only

$749 with 18-55mm lens

Autofocus Video autofocus
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Color depth Worse color depth
Low light performance Slightly more noise at high ISO

Nikon D3000 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D60

Nikon D60

Entry-level DSLR

Overall image quality Better image quality
Dynamic range More dynamic range
Screen size Much smaller screen
Autofocus Slower autofocus

appearance

Canon Rebel T3i Nikon D3000
Canon Rebel T3i Nikon D3000
Canon Rebel T3i Nikon D3000

discussion

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