Can't decide between the Nikon D3100 and T3i for photos and video?

So I'm going crazy! I could hardley afford the T3i so I would get the kit lens and the 50mm 1.8 but with the money I would save if I get the Nikon I could get the kit lens, 50mm 1.4 and 35mm 1.8 and the image quality of the Nikon is better and more autofocus points and quiet shutter mode that I like but there are many reasons to get the Canon. It is a better camera with the Flippy screen and musch higher resolution screen which is huge for me and the video is a billion times better. I was looking on youtube and the D3100 looks decent but the T3i blows it away with the higher compression rates and H.284 or something and I could do slow motion and me and my friends want to get into doing some great video. Honestly the Canon seems better built and its kind of cute

Cute nice camera and gets done what I want it to but everyones going to make fun of me spending all of my money on it! I could get the body for 700$. I really need the improvements over the T2i but now I'm stuck. That picture really temps me to get it. Its light and pretty small with the 50mm 1.4 but so is the D5100 but I can't make up my mind. Please help. I also feel like in the future I'm going to be a Nikon person when I upgrade my stuff that thats a long way away. I could get the D3100 body for 450$.

That's a bit of a ramble, is it not, m8?

If you are looking into video, then balance the video abilities carefully.

By the way, you SHOULD spend as much on your primary lens as you do on the cam' body if you yearn for quality, most kit lenses are built for $30, so do not expect much.

Canon "L" lenses and Nikon "ED" lenses can go to thousands (any currency) - those have quality.

It's the same as hi-fi; cheap sound is tinny sound, rich deep expensive sound is realistic and impressive.

I have a D3100 and my photo buddy that I snap with has a T3I. The pictures on the Canon are remarkable. But… It's canon. They tend to be very hard to edit and the picture becomes very grainy. I would get the D5100 if I were you. Everything the 3100 has but a higher MP censor, HDR, and effects. Nikon is the best camera brand and I'm not being close-minded. I love my 3100 but I wish I had the 5100.

More focus points don't really make a difference (unless you actually use them)

both nikon and canon are good brands (one is not better than the other).

If your main interest is shooting videos (instead of pictures) then i recommend getting a camcorder.

a cute camera has nothing to do with the quality of the photos (if that is your main concern then get a pink camera)