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

Nikon D90
Winner
Nikon D90

74

vs
Canon Rebel T3i

64

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
Sensor size
 Large sensor
APS-C 23.6x15.8mm
Shutter lag
 Barely any delay taking photos
208 ms shutter lag
 

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
Badge
 Autofocuses shooting video
Contrast detection
 
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
Autofocus Video autofocus Contrast detection vs None
Help
 Automatically focuses shooting video
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
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
Lowest price Cheaper $449.95 vs $550.00
Help
 The best price we've seen is $100 cheaper (around 20% less)
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
Battery life Much longer battery life 850 shots vs 440 shots
Help
 More than 90% more shots per battery charge
Viewfinder size Significantly larger viewfinder 0.63x vs 0.53x
Help
 More than 40% larger viewfinder
Startup delay Significantly less startup delay 300 ms vs 1500 ms
Help
 5x 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
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
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
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 64
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        74 Nikon D90 Nikon D90
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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
              Lowest price Inexpensive Help
              T3i:$449.95
              D90:$550.00
              Fastest shutter speed Slow max shutter speed Help
              1/4000 of a second
              HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
              You could do HDR manually
              Light sensitivity (boost) Poor boost ISO Help
              T3i:12,800 ISO
              D90:6,400 ISO
              Size Large Help
              T3i:133x99x79 mm
              D90:132x103x77 mm
              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
              Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
              Risk of blur
              Autofocus Lacks video autofocus Help
              T3i:Contrast detection
              D90:None
              Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
              T3i:6,400 ISO
              D90:3,200 ISO
              Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
              You could stitch photos in post
              Weather sealed Neither is weather sealed Help
              Need to shelter it from weather
              3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
              No 3d support
              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

              $410 - $429 body only

              $497 - $517 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 D3200 vs the Rebel T3i
              Compare the D3200 vs the D90
              Nikon D5100

              Nikon D5100

              Entry-level DSLR

              $546 - $597 body only

              $429 - $547 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 Rebel T3

              Canon Rebel T3

              Entry-level DSLR

              $275 - $276 body only

              $385 - $400 with 18-55mm lens
              Lowest price Is slightly less expensive
              Weight Is slightly lighter
              Sensor cleaning Lacks a self cleaning sensor
              Shutter lag Has significantly more shutter lag
              Compare the Rebel T3 vs the Rebel T3i
              Compare the Rebel T3 vs the D90
              Canon Rebel T5i

              Canon Rebel T5i

              Entry-level DSLR

              $649 - $1,267 body only

              $999 - $1,017 with 18-135mm lens
              Touch screen Has a touch screen
              HDR Has in-camera HDR
              Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
              Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
              Compare the Rebel T5i vs the Rebel T3i
              Compare the Rebel T5i vs the D90
              Canon EOS 60D

              Canon EOS 60D

              Pro DSLR

              $599 - $887 body only

              $888 - $1,150 with 18-135mm lens
              Weather sealed Has a weather sealed body
              Battery life Has a significantly longer battery life
              Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
              Weight Is significantly heavier
              Compare the EOS 60D vs the Rebel T3i
              Compare the EOS 60D vs the D90
              Nikon D5200

              Nikon D5200

              Entry-level DSLR

              $647 body only

              $728 - $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 slightly more expensive
              Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
              Compare the D5200 vs the Rebel T3i
              Compare the D5200 vs the D90
              Canon Rebel T4i

              Canon Rebel T4i

              Entry-level DSLR

              $629 - $749 body only

              $715 - $800 with 18-55mm lens
              Touch screen Has a touch screen
              HDR Has in-camera HDR
              Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
              Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
              Compare the Rebel T4i vs the Rebel T3i
              Compare the Rebel T4i vs the D90

              Canon Rebel T3i Competitors

              Advantages

              Disadvantages
              Canon Rebel SL1

              Canon Rebel SL1

              Entry-level DSLR

              $449 - $549 body only

              $599 - $743 with 18-55mm lens
              HDR Has in-camera HDR
              Touch screen Has a touch screen
              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

              $1,010 - $1,097 body only

              $1,275 - $1,400 with 18-140mm lens
              Movie format Higher resolution movies
              Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO
              Shutter lag More shutter lag
              Sensor size Smaller sensor
              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

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              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?