Canon Rebel
T3i
 vs
Nikon
D5000

Updated (April, 2011): Compare the Canon Rebel T3i vs Nikon D5100

Canon Rebel T3i

57
"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
True resolution
 High true resolution
17.9 MP
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
Nikon D5000

48
Runner-up

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

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

differences

Advantages of the Canon T3i
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 1,040k dots vs 230k dots
Help
 More than 4.5x higher resolution screen
Screen size Much larger screen 3.0" vs 2.7"
Help
 More than 10% larger screen
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 30fps vs 720p @ 24fps
Help
 Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video at a higher frame rate
External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
 Record high quality audio with an external microphone
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 17.9 MP vs 12.2 MP
Help
 Capture around 50% more detail in your photos
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 T3i's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder 0.53x vs 0.51x
Help
 Around 10% larger viewfinder
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 12,800 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
Help
 The T3i's boost ISO is 1 f-stop better
Lowest price Cheaper $618.94 vs $879.95
Help
 The best price we've seen is $261 cheaper (around 30% less)
Weight Slightly lighter 570 g vs 590 g
Help
 Almost the same
Canon Rebel T3i Learn more about
the Canon T3i

Advantages of the Nikon D5000
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.5 EV vs 11.5 EV
Help
 1 f-stop more dynamic range
Overall image quality Better image quality 72.0 vs 65.0
Help
 More than 10% better image quality
Startup delay Much less startup delay 400 ms vs 1500 ms
Help
 3.7x less delay when turning on
Color depth Better color depth 22.7 bits vs 22.1 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.6 more bits of color
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 868 ISO vs 793 ISO
Help
 The D5000 has a slight edge (0.1 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Sensor size Significantly larger sensor APS-C 23.6x15.8mm vs APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
Help
 More than 10% larger sensor
Focus points More focus points 11 vs 9
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Battery life Longer battery life 510 shots vs 440 shots
Help
 Around 20% more shots per battery charge
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available 169 lenses vs 162 lenses
Help
 Almost the same
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster 4 fps vs 3.7 fps
Help
 Around 10% faster continuous shooting
Shutter lag Slightly less shutter lag 276 ms vs 283 ms
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 T3i Canon Rebel T3i
57 vs 48
Explain scores
Nikon D5000 Nikon D5000
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon Rebel T3i.

advice

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similarities

Compared to recent entry-level DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Lens availability Many lenses available Help
T3i:162 lenses
D5000:169 lenses
Supports 24p 24p support Help
For that film look
Screen flips out Flip-out screens Help
Great for movies
Fastest shutter speed Slow max shutter speed Help
1/4000 of a second
Storage slots Fewer storage slots Help
1
Viewfinder coverage Below average viewfinder coverage Help
95%
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
1
Shutter lag Significant shutter lag Help
T3i:283 ms
D5000:276 ms
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
D5000:3,200 ISO
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
T3i:3.7 fps
D5000:4 fps
Weather sealed Neither is weather sealed Help
Need to shelter it from weather
Viewfinder size Below average viewfinder size Help
T3i:0.53x
D5000:0.51x

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 significantly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Compare the D5100 vs the Rebel T3i
Compare the D5100 vs the D5000
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$544 - $949 body only

$649 - $867 with 18-55mm lens
Size Is significantly smaller
Thickness Is thinner
Screen flips out Doesn't have a screen which flips out
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the Rebel T3i
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the D5000
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$848 - $1,304 body only

$1,177 - $1,342 with 18-135mm lens
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Weight Is significantly heavier
Size Is slightly larger
Compare the EOS 60D vs the Rebel T3i
Compare the EOS 60D vs the D5000
Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$330 body only

$489 - $500 with 18-55mm lens
Battery life Has a significantly longer battery life
Lowest price Is slightly less expensive
Sensor cleaning Lacks a self cleaning sensor
Screen flips out Doesn't have a screen which flips out
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the Rebel T3i
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the D5000
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens
Movie continuous focus Can focus continuously while recording movies
Autofocus Focuses automatically while shootting video
Screen flips out Doesn't have a screen which flips out
Compare the D3100 vs the Rebel T3i
Compare the D3100 vs the D5000
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
Screen flips out Doesn't have a screen which flips out
Compare the D3200 vs the Rebel T3i
Compare the D3200 vs the D5000
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$830 - $897 body only

$1,199 - $1,200 with 18-105mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Viewfinder size Significantly larger viewfinder
Weight Is slightly heavier
Screen flips out Doesn't have a screen which flips out
Compare the D90 vs the Rebel T3i
Compare the D90 vs the D5000

Canon Rebel T3i Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

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

Nikon D5000 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Nikon D5000.

appearance

Canon Rebel T3i Nikon D5000
Canon Rebel T3i Nikon D5000
Canon Rebel T3i Nikon D5000

discussion

Showing 1 comments

nikonguy (3:08 PM, February 19, 2011)
nikon d5000 has one of the besty image quality out of all entry level dslrs!