Canon T3i and Nikon D5100 question!

This is in no way meant to have people bashing or flaming, just what you think if you had experience with the 2 cameras, cause I'm still not sure about choosing a Nikon.

I recently purchased the T3i, but I would like to know you opinion on this matter!
A camera store in Montréal told me if I want better pictures go for Nikon, and for Video the Canon wins!

So:

Since I was looking at different pictures on the web about the T3i and the D5100, I found a site that has tested both cameras, side by side, and the result is that Nikon has a better lens (better image quality.I'm not sure if the sensor is slightly better quality over the Canon.

http://www.digitalrevi​ew.ca …ared-to-Nikon-D5100.shtml

After reading I went to other sites and found the opposite conclusion.

http://www.digitalphot​ographywriter.com …canon-rebel-t3i-600d.html

http://techcrunch.com …canon-t3i-vs-nikon-d5100/


If I was going to have a camera kit with a lens at the same price, would you pick Canon or Nikon for image only, not video!
I like sharp images!

At the entry level, I'd go on the record to say that differences between the cameras are minute. I really don't think there is one camera that's clearly "better" than the other as far as IQ goes.

The only two differences you're probably going to notice are that the D5100 lacks an in-body AF motor (which isn't really a problem if you're building up your lens library and don't have legacy glass) and the ergonomics of the two cameras.

If the AF motor doesn't bother you, go back to the camera store and try both cameras out in your hands, and choose the one that you feel comfortable holding the most. I can say you won't be disappointed with your choice, regardless of what body it might be.

I spent a good amount of time deciding between the two...... and went with the canon. I thought they were both nice, but I liked the way the canon felt better than the nikon. I also found canon's menu easier to navigate and liked the location of the scroll wheel on it better than the nikon.

As for image quality, I looked at tons of stuff and really couldn't find differences that mattered in the grand scheme of things. I don't plan on needing to print poster sized stuff at 3200 ISO. They both will give you very sharp pics with the right lens.

If I was (and I was) looking at Canon Rebel T3, T2i, or T3i v. Nikon 3100 or 5100, I would once again choose Canon (I have a T2i). The kit lens is quite good, but there are a couple of things that decided the issue for me:

1. The UI. The Canon Rebel UI was better (for me) than the Nikon UI, and as a rather experienced photography hobbyist (film), I found the built-in "tutor" (or whatever they call it) on Nikon to be annoying, useless, and too shallow to be of any real use to anyone (JMO, of course, YMMV).

2. The low-end Nikon cameras do not have a built in focus motor, which means the low-end Nikon cameras cannot autofocus with the full range of Nikon AF lenses. The Canon Rebel line always has been fully compatible with all EOS lenses.

3. Canon lenses are generally more affordable than Nikon when it is time to add something to your kit lens.

dpr review rates the T3i at 77% and the 5100 at 76%, giving the Canon better marks on build quality, ergonomics, video, and a slight advantage on JPEG image. They give the Nikon better marks on RAW image and low light. If you follow the link, scroll to the bottom, then turn "compare" on, and select the 5100, you can compare the bar-graph reviews between the two.

Since you already own the Rebel T3i, the differences between the T3i and the 5100 certainly do not justify changing.

They are really, really close. One other thing to consider is the system you will be getting into. Which one has the lenses and accessories you want? Do you have friends or family that use one or the other? If you do, that might count as a positive point for one vs the other as you can share gear and compare notes. For me it just paid off going Canon when a friend loaned me a 100-400L lens for a day - it was amazing and a lot of fun to use, but since this is a hobby I can't justify that kind of cash outlay for a lens right now (it's $1700 new). My neighbor and several co-works all use Canons too.

For me, really, it was the price point of the 60D - it had what I wanted, and I couldn't justify spending more to get into say a Nikon D7000 or a Canon 7D - and the next step for Nikon was the 5000 line (5100s weren't out yet), which didn't appeal to me either.

Keyan wrote in post #13075903
Do you have friends or family that use one or the other?

No, or I would have do the test myself, it really bug's me to have different test that tell one better than the other, when it should be clear just by loking at the picture in terms of sharpeness.

I might go and rent one for a few hours!

RTPVid wrote in post #13075892
dpr review rates the T3i at 77% and the 5100 at 76%, giving the Canon better marks on build quality, ergonomics, video, and a slight advantage on JPEG image. They give the Nikon better marks on RAW image and low light. If you follow the link, scroll to the bottom, then turn "compare" on, and select the 5100, you can compare the bar-graph reviews between the two.

Since you already own the Rebel T3i, the differences between the T3i and the 5100 certainly do not justify changing.

Yeah. I've been there on Dpreview , that's why I bought a T3i

I think you're fretting over minor differences that will have little/no practical impact on your pictures.

RTPVid wrote in post #13076223
I think you're fretting over minor differences that will have little/no practical impact on your pictures.

Well maybe, but after looking at the first website and notice a difference in the picture, about the colour and the sharpness, It drove me to write this thread.

I'm happy about the camera, maybe not the lens!!!! Since I know there is so many good lens out there.
Canon should offer 3 different camera kit with cheap, a mid and high price lens, that way you end up a happy customer!

sega62 wrote in post #13076324
Well maybe, but after looking at the first website and notice a difference in the picture, about the colour and the sharpness, It drove me to write this thread.

I'm happy about the camera, maybe not the lens!!!! Since I know there is so many good lens out there.
Canon should offer 3 different camera kit with cheap, a mid and high price lens, that way you end up a happy customer!

There are a million things that can affect that. The specific test, the settings, even just the copy of the camera, or if they did something dumb like leave the IS on when they had it on a tripod. In general the 18-55 is regarded as a decent lens in it's own right. ONE review source isn't something to go on, particularly when you have 2 and DPReview is a third that contradict their findings.

You can fret and spend hours and hours fretting over gear..but at the end of the day, it's the photographer, not the camera, that makes the picture great.

sega62 wrote in post #13076324
Well maybe, but after looking at the first website and notice a difference in the picture, about the colour and the sharpness, It drove me to write this thread.

I'm happy about the camera, maybe not the lens!!!! Since I know there is so many good lens out there.
Canon should offer 3 different camera kit with cheap, a mid and high price lens, that way you end up a happy customer!

They do that..... it's called buying the body only instead of the bundle and the lens you want. Most stores will even ship them both in the same box

Keyan wrote in post #13076807
or if they did something dumb like leave the IS on when they had it on a tripod.

Sorry about the question, but why would the IS ''on'' would affect the picture with the camera on a tripod????

sega62 wrote in post #13077181
Sorry about the question, but why would the IS ''on'' would affect the picture with the camera on a tripod????

Older Canon IS designs would actually generate a small vibration when tripod mounted, due to the IS lens elements not being locked down (as they would be if IS was off), and the electronics "ringing" when there was no actual vibration to correct. I believe this has been corrected and should not be an issue with any of the newer Canon lenses. But, I don't know when, exactly, this was corrected or how old a lens design would have to be to exhibit the problem.

Keyan wrote in post #13076807
There are a million things that can affect that. The specific test, the settings, even just the copy of the camera, or if they did something dumb like leave the IS on when they had it on a tripod. In general the 18-55 is regarded as a decent lens in it's own right. ONE review source isn't something to go on, particularly when you have 2 and DPReview is a third that contradict their findings.

You can fret and spend hours and hours fretting over gear..but at the end of the day, it's the photographer, not the camera, that makes the picture great.

What he said. Put that 18-55mm in the hands of a seasoned photographer and you'll get excellent images still. Put a 35L in the hands of a newbie and I still wouldn't be betting on him.

In the end, photographic technique and experience is worth more than gear. Better gear provides better tools for the photographer to work with, but unless you actually know how to use that gear very well in the first place, there's no point in fretting over it.

So to tl;dr: Don't worry about your equipment and just go out and shoot!

Judge image quality yourself at http://www.imaging-resource.com/IMCOMP/CO​MPS01.HTM

Example: Compare the colors and degree of detail visible in the house landscape photo at http://www.imaging-resource.com/IMCOMP/CO​MPS01.HTM between the T3i, 5100 and the small, inexpensive $349 Olympus PEN E-Pl1. Surprise! The Olympus beats them both by delivering more detail and life like colors. http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …E_PL1_Digital_C​amera.html

And the PL1 makes video in mpeg format so it uploads directly to Youtube and looks good without having to first edit using a complicated and expensive video editing program like the T3i and 5100 need.