DSLR camera comparisons/suggestions?
I'm currently looking into buying a DSLR camera i've got plenty of accessories like a bag tripod, ect ect. But i haven't actually bought a camera yet simply cause i can't decide which one to buy. I'm going for either a nikon or a canon and i know there's alot of fanboyism out there so please before answer keep that to a minimum if possible. Now due to price restraints i'm going for more of a entry-mid level range and i'm kinda gotten myself to these two cameras but i just can't pick either one with 100% certainty. I'm stuck between the nikon d5100 and the canon t3i. If one of you experts out there could tell me what are the main differences or the main drawbacks to each camera. Also will be taking classes so user friendly is nice but i suppose not a deal breaker.
Added (1). Oh, also i've gone in and held both and neither one screamed at me as i must have "This" over "This".
At the risk of adding to your confusion I'm going to suggest thinking outside the Canon/Nikon box.
There are, you know a couple of other major brands such as Sony and Pentax.
If you are really into shooting video then the Sony SLT a57 would be a good choice. Sony's Translucent Mirror Technology allows for full-time continuous phase-detect auto focus whether you're shooting still images or full 1080HD video. The Nikon D5100 and the Canon T3i don't have this feature.
Additionally, Sony puts a focusing motor in the camera body so any auto focus lens used will auto focus as it should. The D5100 doesn't have a focusing motor in the camera body so you must use the more expensive Nikon AF-S lenses if you want auto focus. Canon started with the focusing motor built into their lenses. Sony also uses the legacy Minolta Maxxum "A" lens mount introduced in 1985. This means that you have access to a large selection of previously owned Minolta Maxxum AF lenses which will auto focus and meter on the a57 as they should.
Sony also has their version of Image Stabilization in their camera bodies so any lens used, even a Minolta Maxxum AF 70-210mm f4 zoom made in 1985 becomes an IS lens. Nikon and Canon have their respective versions of IS in some but not all of their lenses.
The Pentax K-30 is, to the best of my knowledge, the lowest-priced weather-sealed DSLR that comes with a weather-sealed 18-55mm zoom lens currently available. This means that if you'd like to be out shooting on a rainy day you won't need to worry about your camera and lens getting wet. Weather-sealing also makes the K-30 all but impervious to dust as well. However, the camera and lens are NOT water proof so don't take them swimming.
Pentax also has a focusing motor in the camera body and their version of IS is also in the camera body. This gives Pentax the same advantages previously listed for the Sony a57. The K-30 uses the Pentax "K" lens mount that dates back to 1975 so even the older manual focus lenses made back then can be used as long as you don't mind manually focusing them. Of course and Pentax AF lens can also be used and will auto focus on the K-30.
I sincerely hope I haven't added too much to your confusion but there are other brands with excellent features in the same price range as the Nikon and Canon models you've looked at.
>>Oh, also i've gone in and held both and neither one screamed at me as i must have "This" over "This".>>
That means you need to go along and handle a Sony A57… Huge electronic viewfinder and better video capability may impress you. There's even Focus Peaking in the electronic viewfinder (you watch the highlighted colour moving through the areas of micro-contrast almost like 3D) making manual focusing as simple and predictive as it used to be with the old rangefinders. Also all the old Minolta AF lenses will fit the Sony.
If I HAD to have Canon or Nikon camera then I'd opt for a Canon 60D as it is where the nicer optical viewfinders start. Pentax have better optical viewfinders too.
Nikon and Cannon both produce some of the best equipment in the world.
When I went digital, I already had mostly Pentax lenses for LX 35mm film system I've shot for decades. Thought about selling, and going with one of the big two. But, hung in there and bought a K20D. Was impressed with the weather sealing, and in body stabilization. Since, I've added K5 II. Its sitting a few feet away with a sigma 500mm F/4.5 tele currently. Its raining and Ill be outside shorty, and it won't bother me a bit. It would take another $5000 to do the same with one of the big two. They might do it better, but I'm not willing to pay for it. Very confident in my old, decrepit, manual pentax * glass too. My LX's are bullet proof to this day.