Updated (May, 2012): Compare the Canon Rebel T4i vs Nikon D7000

Nikon D90
Winner
Nikon D90

68

vs
Canon Rebel T3i

58

Canon Rebel T3i
Runner-up
     
 

Reasons to buy the Nikon D90

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
 

Reasons to buy the Canon Rebel T3i

Movie format
 Full HD
1080p @ 30fps
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
 
Differences | Recommendations | Cast your vote | Similarities | Competitors | Appearance | Discussion

differences

Advantages of the Canon T3i

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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
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 930k dots
Help
 More than 10% higher resolution screen
Lowest price Significantly cheaper $199.95 vs $575.00
Help
 The best price we've seen is $375 cheaper (2.9x 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
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 Lighter 570 g vs 703 g
Help
 Around 20% lighter
Canon Rebel T3i Learn more about
the Canon T3i

Advantages of the Nikon D90

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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 73.0 vs 65.0
Help
 More than 10% better image quality
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
Sensor size Much larger sensor APS-C 23.6x15.8mm vs APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
Help
 More than 10% larger sensor
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
Battery life Much longer battery life 850 shots vs 440 shots
Help
 More than 90% more shots per battery charge
Color depth Better color depth 22.7 bits vs 22.1 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.6 more bits of color
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 208 ms vs 283 ms
Help
 Around 30% less delay when taking photos
Built-in focus motor Has a built-in focus motor Yes vs No
Help
 Autofocuses with all autofocus lenses
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
Viewfinder coverage Better viewfinder coverage 96% vs 95%
Help
 Almost the same
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available 205 lenses vs 197 lenses
Help
 Almost the same
Focus points Slightly more focus points 11 vs 9
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Thickness Thinner 3" vs 3.1"
Help
 Almost the same
Size Slightly smaller 132x103x77 mm vs 133x99x79 mm
Help
 Almost the same
Nikon D90 Learn more about
the Nikon D90
vs

recommendations

Which camera do we recommend? Relative to the best recent entry-level DSLRs, and ignoring price

Snapsort Recommends
Canon Rebel T3i Canon Rebel T3i 58
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        vs
        68 Nikon D90 Nikon D90
        Retailer
          Style
            Color
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              similarities

              Compared to recent entry-level DSLRs

              Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
              Lens availability Many lenses available Help
              T3i:197 lenses
              D90:205 lenses
              Fastest shutter speed Slow max shutter speed Help
              1/4000 of a second
              Autofocus No video autofocus Help
              Manual focus only
              Light sensitivity (boost) Poor boost ISO Help
              T3i:12,800 ISO
              D90:6,400 ISO
              Size Large Help
              T3i:133x99x79 mm
              D90:132x103x77 mm
              HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
              You could do HDR manually
              Viewfinder coverage Below average viewfinder coverage Help
              T3i:95%
              D90:96%
              Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
              1
              Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
              T3i:3.7 fps
              D90:4.5 fps
              Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
              T3i:6,400 ISO
              D90:3,200 ISO
              Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
              Risk of blur
              Weather sealed Neither is weather sealed Help
              Need to shelter it from weather
              Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
              You could stitch photos in post
              Focus points Few focus points Help
              T3i:9
              D90:11
              Movie format Poor movies Help
              T3i:1080p @ 30fps
              D90:720p @ 24fps

              dxomark

              DXOMark

              competitors

              Shared Competitors

              Advantages

              Disadvantages
              Nikon D3200

              Nikon D3200

              Entry-level DSLR

              $597 - $656 body only

              $477 with 18-55mm 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
              Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
              Compare the D3200 vs the Rebel T3i
              Compare the D3200 vs the D90
              Canon Rebel T5i

              Canon Rebel T5i

              Entry-level DSLR

              $599 body only

              $200 - $1,148 with 18-55mm lens
              Touch screen Has a touch screen
              HDR Has in-camera HDR
              Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
              Startup delay Has slightly more startup delay
              Compare the Rebel T5i vs the Rebel T3i
              Compare the Rebel T5i vs the D90
              Nikon D5100

              Nikon D5100

              Entry-level DSLR

              $370 - $400 body only

              $485 - $625 with 18-55mm 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
              Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
              Compare the D5100 vs the Rebel T3i
              Compare the D5100 vs the D90
              Canon EOS 60D

              Canon EOS 60D

              Pro DSLR

              $699 - $893 body only

              $450 - $1,182 with 18-135mm lens
              Weather sealed Has a weather sealed body
              Battery life Has a significantly longer battery life
              Weight Is significantly heavier
              Size Is significantly larger
              Compare the EOS 60D vs the Rebel T3i
              Compare the EOS 60D vs the D90
              Nikon D5200

              Nikon D5200

              Entry-level DSLR

              $597 - $647 body only

              $544 - $747 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 significantly more expensive
              Shutter lag Has significantly more shutter lag
              Compare the D5200 vs the Rebel T3i
              Compare the D5200 vs the D90
              Canon Rebel T4i

              Canon Rebel T4i

              Entry-level DSLR

              $609 body only

              $200 - $699 with 18-55mm lens
              Touch screen Has a touch screen
              HDR Has in-camera HDR
              Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
              Startup delay Has slightly more startup delay
              Compare the Rebel T4i vs the Rebel T3i
              Compare the Rebel T4i vs the D90
              Nikon D3300

              Nikon D3300

              Entry-level DSLR

              $597 with 18-55mm lens
              Low light performance Is significantly less noisy at high ISO
              Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
              Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
              Startup delay Has much more startup delay
              Compare the D3300 vs the Rebel T3i
              Compare the D3300 vs the D90

              Canon Rebel T3i Competitors

              Advantages

              Disadvantages
              Canon Rebel T3

              Canon Rebel T3

              Entry-level DSLR

              $276 - $290 body only

              $299 - $409 with 18-55mm lens
              Startup delay Much less startup delay
              Battery life Significantly longer battery life
              Movie format Lower resolution movies
              Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen
              Compare the Rebel T3 vs the Rebel T3i
              Canon EOS Rebel T5

              Canon EOS Rebel T5

              Entry-level DSLR

              $599 - $715 body only

              $499 - $838 with 18-55mm lens
              Autofocus Video autofocus
              Battery life Longer battery life
              Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen
              External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
              Compare the EOS Rebel T5 vs the Rebel T3i
              Canon Rebel SL1

              Canon Rebel SL1

              Entry-level DSLR

              $499 - $500 body only

              $599 - $650 with 18-55mm lens
              Touch screen Has a touch screen
              HDR Has in-camera HDR
              Color depth Worse color depth
              Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
              Compare the Rebel SL1 vs the Rebel T3i

              Nikon D90 Competitors

              Advantages

              Disadvantages
              Nikon D7100

              Nikon D7100

              Entry-level DSLR

              $1,097 - $1,147 body only

              $1,394 - $1,397 with 18-140mm lens
              Movie format Higher resolution movies
              Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO
              Shutter lag More shutter lag
              Lowest price Much more expensive
              Compare the D7100 vs the D90

              appearance

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

              discussion

              Canon Rebel T3i
              Rebel T3i
              Canon

              Report a correction
              Nikon D90
              D90
              Nikon

              Report a correction

              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?