Updated (February, 2011): Compare the Canon Rebel T3 vs Nikon D3100

Canon EOS Rebel T1i

53

vs
Nikon D3000

35

Nikon D3000
Runner-up
 
 
 
 

Reasons to buy the Canon Rebel T1i

Movie format
 Full HD
1080p @ 20fps
Screen size
 Large screen
3.0"
Screen resolution
 High resolution screen
920k dots
Live view
 Has live view
Preview your photos
 

Reasons to buy the Nikon D3000

Screen size
 Large screen
3.0"
Sensor size
 Large sensor
APS-C 23.6x15.8mm
Size
 Really small
Prosumer size 126x97x64 mm
Thickness
 Thin
2.5"
 
Differences | Recommendations | Similarities | Competitors | Appearance | Discussion

differences

Advantages of the Canon T1i
Movie format Shoots movies 1080p @ 20fps vs None
Help
 Shoots Full HD (1080p) video as well as still pictures
Live view Has live view Yes vs No
Help
 Preview your photos on the camera's screen before taking them
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 920k dots vs 230k dots
Help
 4x higher resolution screen
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 663 ISO vs 563 ISO
Help
 The T1i has a slight edge (0.2 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 15.1 MP vs 10 MP
Help
 Capture 50% more detail in your photos
Dynamic range More dynamic range 11.5 EV vs 11.1 EV
Help
 0.4 f-stops more dynamic range
Shutter lag Significantly less shutter lag 159 ms vs 262 ms
Help
 Around 40% less delay when taking photos
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor CMOS vs CCD
Help
 CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor Yes vs No
Help
 Autofocuses with all autofocus lenses
Startup delay Less startup delay 300 ms vs 700 ms
Help
 2.3x less delay when turning on
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 12,800 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
 The T1i's boost ISO is 2 f-stops better
Overall image quality Slightly better image quality 63.0 vs 62.0
Help
 Almost the same
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder 0.54x vs 0.52x
Help
 Around 10% larger viewfinder
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster 3.4 fps vs 3 fps
Help
 More than 10% faster continuous shooting
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 3,200 ISO vs 1,600 ISO
Help
 The T1i's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Thickness Thinner 2.4" vs 2.5"
Help
 Almost the same
Weight Slightly lighter 520 g vs 536 g
Help
 Almost the same
Canon EOS Rebel T1i Learn more about
the Canon T1i

Advantages of the Nikon D3000
Color depth Better color depth 22.3 bits vs 21.7 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.6 more bits of color
Sensor size Much larger sensor APS-C 23.6x15.8mm vs APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
Help
 More than 10% larger sensor
Battery life Longer battery life 550 shots vs 400 shots
Help
 Around 40% more shots per battery charge
Lowest price Significantly cheaper $435.54 vs $723.00
Help
 The best price we've seen is $287 cheaper (around 40% less)
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
Nikon D3000 Learn more about
the Nikon D3000
vs

recommendations

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

Canon EOS Rebel T1i Canon Rebel T1i
53 vs 35
Explain scores
Nikon D3000 Nikon D3000
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon EOS Rebel T1i.

similarities

Compared to recent entry-level DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Size Very small Help
T1i:129x98x62 mm
D3000:126x97x64 mm
Lens availability Many lenses available Help
T1i:162 lenses
D3000:169 lenses
Thickness Very thin Help
T1i:2.4"
D3000:2.5"
Fastest shutter speed Slow max shutter speed Help
1/4000 of a second
Light sensitivity (boost) Poor boost ISO Help
T1i:12,800 ISO
D3000:3,200 ISO
Autofocus No video autofocus Help
Manual focus only
Viewfinder coverage Below average viewfinder coverage Help
95%
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
T1i:3.4 fps
D3000:3 fps
Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
1
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
T1i:3,200 ISO
D3000:1,600 ISO
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
T1i:15.1 MP
D3000:10 MP
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
Weather sealed Neither is weather sealed Help
Need to shelter it from weather
Viewfinder size Below average viewfinder size Help
T1i:0.54x
D3000:0.52x
Dynamic range Poor dynamic range Help
T1i:11.5 EV
D3000:11.1 EV
Overall image quality Low image quality Help
T1i:63.0
D3000:62.0
Low light performance Above average noise at high ISO Help
T1i:663 ISO
D3000:563 ISO

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$447 - $740 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is slightly larger
Compare the D3100 vs the Rebel T1i
Compare the D3100 vs the D3000
Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$328 body only

$449 with 18-55mm lens
Battery life Has a slightly longer battery life
Lowest price Is slightly less expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Sensor cleaning Lacks a self cleaning sensor
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the Rebel T1i
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the D3000
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$549 body only

$595 - $599 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the Rebel T1i
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D3000
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$540 body only

$609 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Shutter lag Has significantly more shutter lag
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the Rebel T1i
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the D3000
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$547 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is significantly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has much better image quality
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D3200 vs the Rebel T1i
Compare the D3200 vs the D3000
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$497 body only

$585 - $805 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is much less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is much larger
Compare the D5100 vs the Rebel T1i
Compare the D5100 vs the D3000
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$600 - $899 body only

$739 - $1,099 with 18-105mm lens
Low light performance Is significantly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D90 vs the Rebel T1i
Compare the D90 vs the D3000

Canon EOS Rebel T1i Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$649 - $968 body only

$949 - $1,182 with 18-135mm lens
Color depth Better color depth
Battery life Much longer battery life
Size Much larger
Shutter lag Significantly more shutter lag
Compare the EOS 60D vs the Rebel T1i
Canon Rebel T4i

Canon Rebel T4i

Entry-level DSLR

$580 - $799 body only

$731 - $899 with 18-55mm lens
Autofocus Video autofocus
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Shutter lag Significantly more shutter lag
Size Much larger
Compare the Rebel T4i vs the Rebel T1i

Nikon D3000 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D60

Nikon D60

Entry-level DSLR
Overall image quality Better image quality
Dynamic range More dynamic range
Screen size Much smaller screen
Autofocus Slower autofocus
Compare the D60 vs the D3000

appearance

Canon EOS Rebel T1i Nikon D3000
Canon EOS Rebel T1i Nikon D3000
Canon EOS Rebel T1i Nikon D3000

discussion

Showing 1 comments

John C. (4:07 PM, September 24, 2011)
I have had my t1i for over two years now, and it never ceases to amaze me what this camera can do.  From shooting in low light all the way to a fast action sport event.  This camera has never failed me.  I guess the only thing I wish this camera had (which has now been included in newer models) is the ability to auto focus while shooting video.  Otherwise I'm completely happy.