Canon Rebel
T3i
 vs
Nikon
D90

Updated (February, 2011): Compare the Canon Rebel T3i vs Nikon D7000

Nikon D90

71
Winner

Nikon D90
"Although the buttons have been redesigned and are a lot easier to press the layout is identical to the D80."
dpreview.com | talking about the D90's button-layout
"Fast Autofocus with useful control options"
dpreview.com | talking about the D90's auto-focus

Reasons to buy the Nikon D90

Overall image quality
 Great image quality
73.0
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
12.5 EV
Viewfinder size
 Large viewfinder
0.63x
Startup delay
 Almost no delay when powering up
300 ms startup delay
Sensor size
 Large sensor
APS-C 23.6x15.8mm
Shutter lag
 Barely any delay taking photos
208 ms shutter lag
Canon Rebel T3i

57
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
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

differences

Advantages of the Canon T3i
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
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 930k dots
Help
 More than 10% higher resolution screen
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
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 12,800 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
Help
 The T3i's boost ISO is 1 f-stop better
Weight Significantly lighter 570 g vs 703 g
Help
 Around 20% lighter
Lowest price Cheaper $618.94 vs $829.88
Help
 The best price we've seen is $211 cheaper (around 30% less)
Canon Rebel T3i Learn more about
the Canon T3i

Advantages of the Nikon D90
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 977 ISO vs 793 ISO
Help
 The D90 has a slight edge (0.3 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Overall image quality Better image quality 73.0 vs 65.0
Help
 More than 10% better image quality
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.5 EV vs 11.5 EV
Help
 1 f-stop more dynamic range
Startup delay Much less startup delay 300 ms vs 1500 ms
Help
 5x less delay when turning on
Viewfinder size Significantly larger viewfinder 0.63x vs 0.53x
Help
 More than 40% larger viewfinder
Color depth Better color depth 22.7 bits vs 22.1 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.6 more bits of color
Battery life Significantly longer battery life 850 shots vs 440 shots
Help
 More than 90% more shots per battery charge
Sensor size Significantly larger sensor APS-C 23.6x15.8mm vs APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
Help
 More than 10% larger sensor
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 208 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
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 4.5 fps vs 3.7 fps
Help
 More than 20% faster continuous shooting
Focus points More focus points 11 vs 9
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Viewfinder coverage Better viewfinder coverage 96% vs 95%
Help
 Almost the same
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available 169 lenses vs 162 lenses
Help
 Almost the same
Thickness Thinner 3" vs 3.1"
Help
 Almost the same
Nikon D90 Learn more about
the Nikon D90
vs

recommendations

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

Canon Rebel T3i Canon Rebel T3i
57 vs 71
Explain scores
Nikon D90 Nikon D90
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D90.

advice

Need help deciding?

Ask the community!
I am considering either the Canon T3i or the Nikon D90,
For example: Taking photos in low light or great family photos or ability to take great photos underwater

Select aspects that are most important to you: (max 3)

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Are you a camera expert? Share your knowledge!
0
votes
by Deanna-Strieb last week
Canon T3i vs Nikon D90

I'm mainly taking pictures of my children but am super picky!  I don't want to do manual setting...
0
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by Lisa-Bunn last month
Canon T3i vs Nikon D90

been stealing my dad's d-slr for quite some time for mini photo shoots with my dogs and friends ...
0
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by jynielsen 4 days ago
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We need a camera for product photos (to be used in marketing materials, such as trade show banne...
0
votes
by Ehsan-Sharif1 last month
Nikon D90 vs Sony NEX-5N

I feel like d90 is a little old to use for the next 2-3 years.

0
votes
by Jaimenez last month
Canon T3i vs Sony NEX-5N

I really want the ability to control exposure/aperture on the fly

similarities

Compared to recent entry-level DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Lens availability Many lenses available Help
T3i:162 lenses
D90:169 lenses
Screen resolution High resolution screens Help
T3i:1,040k dots
D90:930k dots
Supports 24p 24p support Help
For that film look
Fastest shutter speed Slow max shutter speed Help
1/4000 of a second
Storage slots Fewer storage slots Help
1
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Autofocus No video autofocus Help
Manual focus only
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
1
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
D90:3,200 ISO
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

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Compare the D5100 vs the Rebel T3i
Compare the D5100 vs the D90
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
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the Rebel T3i
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the D90
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$848 - $1,304 body only

$1,177 - $1,342 with 18-135mm lens
Battery life Has a slightly longer battery life
Cross type focus points Has much more cross-type focus points
Weight Is significantly heavier
Size Is significantly larger
Compare the EOS 60D vs the Rebel T3i
Compare the EOS 60D vs the D90
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,000 - $1,197 body only

$1,100 with 55-200mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Weight Is significantly heavier
Compare the D7000 vs the Rebel T3i
Compare the D7000 vs the D90
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
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Compare the D3100 vs the Rebel T3i
Compare the D3100 vs the D90
Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$330 body only

$489 - $500 with 18-55mm lens
Lowest price Is slightly less expensive
Weight Is slightly lighter
Sensor cleaning Lacks a self cleaning sensor
Supports 24p Doesn't record movies in 24p
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the Rebel T3i
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the D90
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
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Compare the D3200 vs the Rebel T3i
Compare the D3200 vs the D90

Canon Rebel T3i Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

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

Nikon D90 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Nikon D90.

appearance

Canon Rebel T3i Nikon D90
Canon Rebel T3i Nikon D90
Canon Rebel T3i Nikon D90

discussion

Showing 2 comments

Ibrahimayikai (2:26 PM, April 05, 2012)
I have use the T2i. And that is very amazing. If this machine is so amazing, what about the T3i? Oh my God I think I will die.
 
lucastherez (5:09 AM, November 16, 2011)
what is the difference in the image processor in the nikon d90  and the canon t3i?  and does that affect the overall performance of the image quality and camera performance?