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

Nikon D90
Winner
Nikon D90

70

vs
Canon Rebel T3i

60

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
External mic jack
 External mic jack
Record higher quality audio with a microphone
 
Differences | Recommendations | Similarities | Competitors | Appearance | Discussion

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
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 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 Slightly cheaper $549.00 vs $600.00
Help
 The best price we've seen is $51 cheaper (around 10% 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
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
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 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
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

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

Canon Rebel T3i Canon Rebel T3i
60 vs 70
Explain scores
Nikon D90 Nikon D90
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D90.

similarities

Compared to recent entry-level DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Lens availability Many lenses available Help
T3i:162 lenses
D90:169 lenses
Supports 24p 24p support Help
For that film look
Fastest shutter speed Slow max shutter speed Help
1/4000 of a second
Light sensitivity (boost) Poor boost ISO Help
T3i:12,800 ISO
D90:6,400 ISO
Autofocus No video autofocus Help
Manual focus only
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
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
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
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
T3i:6,400 ISO
D90:3,200 ISO
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
T3i:3.7 fps
D90:4.5 fps
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

$497 body only

$585 - $805 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
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$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 D3200 vs the Rebel T3i
Compare the D3200 vs the D90
Canon Rebel T4i

Canon Rebel T4i

Entry-level DSLR

$580 - $799 body only

$731 - $899 with 18-55mm lens
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Touch screen Has a touch screen
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
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$649 - $968 body only

$949 - $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
Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$328 body only

$449 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
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 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
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$447 - $740 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 T3i Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon Rebel T5i

Canon Rebel T5i

Entry-level DSLR

$749 - $871 body only

$899 with 18-55mm lens
Autofocus Video autofocus
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Color depth Worse color depth
Low light performance More noise at high ISO
Compare the Rebel T5i vs the 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?