Canon Rebel
T2i
 vs
Nikon
D5100

Updated (April, 2011): Compare the Canon Rebel T3i vs Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

76
Winner

Nikon D5100
"Sophisticated AF system for the price"
dpreview.com | talking about the D5100's auto-focus
"On the whole the D5100's movies are look great, with smooth motion and impressively low noise in dim light."
dpreview.com | talking about the D5100's video-quality

Reasons to buy the Nikon D5100

Low light performance
 Low noise at high ISO
1,183 ISO
Overall image quality
 Great image quality
80.0
Color depth
 Great color depth
23.5 bits
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
13 EV
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Sensor size
 Large sensor
APS-C 23.6x15.6mm
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

58
Runner-up

Canon Rebel T2i
"Quite simply, taken as a whole, it is the best camera of its class that we've ever seen, and one of those rare cameras that won't look out of date in a couple of years' time."
dpreview.com | talking about the T2i's overall-performance
"High-spec video mode, including external microphone jack"
dpreview.com | talking about the T2i's video-quality

Reasons to buy the Canon Rebel T2i

Screen resolution
 High resolution screen
1,040k dots
External mic jack
 External mic jack
Record higher quality audio with a microphone
Size
 Really small
Prosumer size 129x98x62 mm
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Thickness
 Thin
2.4"

differences

Advantages of the Canon T2i
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen 1,040k dots vs 920k dots
Help
 More than 10% higher resolution screen
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor Yes vs No
Help
 Autofocuses with all autofocus lenses
Size Significantly smaller 129x98x62 mm vs 127x96x78 mm
Help
 Around 20% smaller
True resolution Higher true resolution 17.9 MP vs 16.1 MP
Help
 Capture more than 10% more detail in your photos
Thickness Much thinner 2.4" vs 3.1"
Help
 More than 20% thinner
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder 0.54x vs 0.51x
Help
 More than 10% larger viewfinder
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 252 ms vs 273 ms
Help
 Around 10% less delay when taking photos
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay 400 ms vs 500 ms
Help
 20% less delay when turning on
Weight Slightly lighter 530 g vs 560 g
Help
 Around 10% lighter
Canon EOS Rebel T2i Learn more about
the Canon T2i

Advantages of the Nikon D5100
Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO 1,183 ISO vs 784 ISO
Help
 The D5100 has a slight edge (0.6 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Overall image quality Much better image quality 80.0 vs 66.0
Help
 More than 20% better image quality
Dynamic range More dynamic range 13 EV vs 11.5 EV
Help
 1.5 f-stops more dynamic range
Color depth Better color depth 23.5 bits vs 22.1 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 1.4 more bits of color
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
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Sensor size Significantly larger sensor APS-C 23.6x15.6mm vs APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
Help
 More than 10% larger sensor
Autofocus Video autofocus Contrast detection vs None
Help
 Automatically focuses shooting video
Battery life Longer battery life 660 shots vs 440 shots
Help
 50% more shots per battery charge
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 25,600 ISO vs 12,800 ISO
Help
 The D5100's boost ISO is 1 f-stop better
Focus points More focus points 11 vs 9
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available 169 lenses vs 162 lenses
Help
 Almost the same
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster 4 fps vs 3.7 fps
Help
 Around 10% faster continuous shooting
Nikon D5100 Learn more about
the Nikon D5100
vs

recommendations

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

Canon EOS Rebel T2i Canon Rebel T2i
58 vs 76
Explain scores
Nikon D5100 Nikon D5100
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D5100.

advice

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similarities

Compared to recent entry-level DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Movie format Both shoot high resolution HD movies Help
1080p @ 30fps
Lens availability Many lenses available Help
T2i:162 lenses
D5100:169 lenses
Screen resolution High resolution screens Help
T2i:1,040k dots
D5100:920k dots
Supports 24p 24p support Help
For that film look
Startup delay Minimal startup delay Help
T2i:400 ms
D5100:500 ms
Lowest price Inexpensive Help
T2i:$544.00
D5100:$499.99
Fastest shutter speed Slow max shutter speed Help
1/4000 of a second
Storage slots Fewer storage slots Help
1
Viewfinder coverage Below average viewfinder coverage Help
95%
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
1
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
6,400 ISO
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
T2i:3.7 fps
D5100:4 fps
Weather sealed Neither is weather sealed Help
Need to shelter it from weather

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$619 - $700 body only

$745 - $1,000 with 18-55mm lens
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is significantly larger
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the Rebel T2i
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D5100
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$699 - $700 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Weight Is slightly lighter
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is slightly larger
Compare the D3200 vs the Rebel T2i
Compare the D3200 vs the D5100
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is slightly larger
Compare the D3100 vs the Rebel T2i
Compare the D3100 vs the D5100
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$1,047 with 55-200mm lens
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder
Viewfinder Has higher quality type of viewfinder
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D90 vs the Rebel T2i
Compare the D90 vs the D5100
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,000 - $1,197 body only

$1,100 with 55-200mm lens
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder
Weather sealed Has a weather sealed body
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D7000 vs the Rebel T2i
Compare the D7000 vs the D5100
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$848 - $1,304 body only

$1,177 - $1,342 with 18-135mm lens
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the EOS 60D vs the Rebel T2i
Compare the EOS 60D vs the D5100
Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$333 body only

$489 - $500 with 18-55mm lens
Battery life Has a slightly longer battery life
Weight Is slightly lighter
Thickness Is thicker
Sensor cleaning Lacks a self cleaning sensor
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the Rebel T2i
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the D5100

Canon EOS Rebel T2i Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Canon EOS Rebel T2i.

Nikon D5100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Nikon D5100.

appearance

Canon EOS Rebel T2i Nikon D5100
Canon EOS Rebel T2i Nikon D5100
Canon EOS Rebel T2i Nikon D5100

discussion

Showing 7 comments

Avatar for foxyshadis foxyshadis (9:43 AM, January 13, 2012)
 If all you care about is sensor quality (given that lens quality is about equal), then hands down the Nikon wins. You might want to use both first, though, the Nikon is a bit tricky to get used to and a bit frustrating to quickly switch modes in.
 
Dreww04 (4:32 AM, December 27, 2011)
I would really appreciate it if someone would reply in a non-biased way! All i really care about it the photo quality. I do not shoot a specific type of photos so all i really want to know is which camera has better photo quality and really brings out the colours. If they are the same, then overall, taking into account all the details that make a photo good, which camera would you suggest. Any help please?
 
Avatar for Mobius Coin Mobius Coin (5:21 PM, December 06, 2011)
Despite being a Nikon shooter and owning the D7000 I have to give this battle to the Canon. At least for me, I think modern DSLRs take fine pictures and seeing as how these aren't pro bodies, for the enthusiasts the image quality is more than enough on either camera. What makes the D5100 a deal breaker for me at least is that I was coming from a D80 and the D5100 controls make NO SENSE whatsoever. The T2i may be lacking a second dial but it is a very easy camera to pick up and use. I think the UI changes from the D5000 to the D5100 are actually a step in the wrong direction.
 
KingSalmon (10:48 PM, October 30, 2011)
I'm ging to buy the Nikon because of the picture quality and color depth.
 
Onarom (10:09 PM, August 17, 2011)
I have always been a Canon fan, so it is hard for me not to be biased. I believe that the Nikon has a more sophisticated autofocus system, although I have no complaints with my T2i (besides, I use spot focus 99% of the time). Neither of these cameras are that good with focusing during movie recording, they are slow and noisey- Sony has the best entry level DSLR for that. But for photos, both of these cameras are amazing. You should go with the one that appeals to you the most.

But... here is an INTERESTING note... this site quotes dpreview.com which gave the D5100 a silver award and gave the T2i the gold award.
 
Sp12 07 (6:09 PM, July 30, 2011)
Sure, seems to be a pretty fantastic comparison without any obvious errors. I would go D5100 as it has that killer 16.2MP sony sensor, as well as a slightly better AF system. The T2i has better video, while the D5100 has a tiltyflippy screen.
 
Cris0631 (4:20 AM, July 22, 2011)
Can anyone comment on this comparison?