Canon Rebel
T1i
 vs
Nikon
D3100

Updated (March, 2012): Compare the Canon Rebel T3 vs Nikon D3200

Nikon D3100

56

  
Canon EOS Rebel T1i

55

  

Reasons to buy the Nikon D3100

Movie format
 Full HD
1080p @ 24fps
Live view
 Has live view
Preview your photos
Movie continuous focus
 Movie continuous focus
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
Badge
 Autofocuses shooting video
Contrast detection
Size
 Really small
Prosumer size 124x96x73 mm
Sensor type
 CMOS Sensor
Better in low light
 

Reasons to buy the Canon Rebel T1i

Movie format
 Full HD
1080p @ 20fps
Screen resolution
 High resolution screen
920k dots
Live view
 Has live view
Preview your photos
Shutter lag
 Barely any delay taking photos
159 ms shutter lag
Size
 Really small
Prosumer size 129x98x62 mm
Sensor type
 CMOS Sensor
Better in low light
 

differences

Advantages of the Canon T1i
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 920k dots vs 230k dots
Help
 4x higher resolution screen
Shutter lag Significantly less shutter lag 159 ms vs 279 ms
Help
 More than 40% less delay when taking photos
Dynamic range More dynamic range 11.5 EV vs 11.3 EV
Help
 0.2 f-stops more dynamic range
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor Yes vs No
Help
 Autofocuses with all autofocus lenses
Size Smaller 129x98x62 mm vs 124x96x73 mm
Help
 More than 10% smaller
Thickness Much thinner 2.4" vs 2.9"
Help
 Around 20% thinner
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder 0.54x vs 0.51x
Help
 More than 10% larger viewfinder
True resolution Slightly higher true resolution 15.1 MP vs 14.2 MP
Help
 Capture around 10% more detail in your photos
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster 3.4 fps vs 3 fps
Help
 More than 10% faster continuous shooting
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay 300 ms vs 400 ms
Help
 Around 30% less delay when turning on
Canon EOS Rebel T1i Learn more about
the Canon T1i

Advantages of the Nikon D3100
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 919 ISO vs 663 ISO
Help
 The D3100 has a slight edge (0.5 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Color depth Better color depth 22.5 bits vs 21.7 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.8 more bits of color
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
 Get that real film feel
Overall image quality Better image quality 67.0 vs 63.0
Help
 Around 10% better image quality
Autofocus Video autofocus Contrast detection vs None
Help
 Automatically focuses shooting video
Sensor size Significantly larger sensor APS-C 23.1x15.4mm vs APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
Help
 Around 10% larger sensor
Battery life Longer battery life 550 shots vs 400 shots
Help
 Around 40% more shots per battery charge
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
Weight Slightly lighter 505 g vs 520 g
Help
 Almost the same
Nikon D3100 Learn more about
the Nikon D3100
vs

recommendations

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

Canon EOS Rebel T1i Canon Rebel T1i
55 vs 56
Explain scores
Nikon D3100 Nikon D3100
Green arrow Too close to call! Snapsort considers these cameras too competitive to make a clear recommendation.

similarities

Compared to recent entry-level DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Lens availability Many lenses available Help
T1i:162 lenses
D3100:169 lenses
Startup delay Minimal startup delay Help
T1i:300 ms
D3100:400 ms
Size Fairly small Help
T1i:129x98x62 mm
D3100:124x96x73 mm
Thickness Thin Help
T1i:2.4"
D3100:2.9"
Fastest shutter speed Slow max shutter speed Help
1/4000 of a second
External mic jack Neither has an external mic jack Help
Limited to the in-camera mic
Light sensitivity (boost) Poor boost ISO Help
12,800 ISO
Viewfinder coverage Below average viewfinder coverage Help
95%
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
3,200 ISO
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
T1i:3.4 fps
D3100:3 fps
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
1
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
T1i:15.1 MP
D3100:14.2 MP
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
Autofocus Lacks video autofocus Help
T1i:None
D3100:Contrast detection
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
Dynamic range Poor dynamic range Help
T1i:11.5 EV
D3100:11.3 EV
Viewfinder size Below average viewfinder size Help
T1i:0.54x
D3100:0.51x
Overall image quality Low image quality Help
T1i:63.0
D3100:67.0

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$332 body only

$449 - $499 with 18-55mm lens
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Battery life Has a slightly longer battery life
Thickness Is thicker
Sensor cleaning Lacks a self cleaning sensor
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the Rebel T1i
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the D3100
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 significantly better image quality
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D3200 vs the Rebel T1i
Compare the D3200 vs the D3100
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$497 body only

$597 - $805 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the D5100 vs the Rebel T1i
Compare the D5100 vs the D3100
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$549 body only

$599 - $649 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the Rebel T1i
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D3100
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$535 body only

$609 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the Rebel T1i
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the D3100
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$599 - $899 body only

$799 - $1,099 with 18-105mm lens
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Dynamic range Has significantly wider dynamic range
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D90 vs the Rebel T1i
Compare the D90 vs the D3100
Nikon D3000

Nikon D3000

Entry-level DSLR

$436 with 18-55mm lens
Sensor size Has a slightly larger sensor
Sensor type Has a CCD-family sensor
Light sensitivity (boost) Slightly lower boost light sensitivity
Compare the D3000 vs the Rebel T1i
Compare the D3000 vs the D3100

Canon EOS Rebel T1i Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Canon EOS Rebel T1i.

Nikon D3100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Nikon D3100.

appearance

Canon EOS Rebel T1i Nikon D3100
Canon EOS Rebel T1i Nikon D3100
Canon EOS Rebel T1i Nikon D3100

discussion

Showing 3 comments

Anastasia (5:54 AM, April 01, 2011)
Yes, the Nikon has a smaller variety of lenses, but it is more user friendly and easier to get a hang of. I think over all the nikon is an easier camera to operate, but they are both great cameras .
 
Avatar for Snapsort Snapsort (7:23 PM, February 03, 2011)
Hi Jen, yes they're both great choices. The Nikon D3100 won't autofocus with some autofocus lenses, but there are still many lenses available to choose from. Check out our sister site LensHero.com, for example you can browse all Nikon D3100 lenses that will autofocus or browse all lenses for the Canon T1i.
 
Jen (11:31 PM, February 02, 2011)
Looking to purchase an entry level DSLR. I have read a lot of discussions regarding Canon's T1i vs the Nikon d3100. I am not very concerned with video quality, more interested in ease of use and future lens options. I like the sound of Nikon's guide mode, but it seems Canon might be the winner as far as lens varieties. I'm guessing they are both lovely choices!