Entry level photography Canon EOS Rebel T3 or Nikon D3100?

While I would like to take pictures with it, I'm primarily going to use the video function.

If you're doing primarily video, I would save up an extra $100 and get a T3i. It's much more capable when it comes to video. If you know how to light and have a good lens, you can get amazing results. I just bought a T3i kit last week for $600 while the T3 kit was going for $500.

You could also look at a used T2i. It's basically the same camera as a T3i and would probably be about the same price as a T3.

As still cameras, the D3100 sensor outperforms the T3

However, for shooting video, you may want to read this first before spending over $650 for a still camera with a video feature.

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/camcorders/cam-cam.shtml

I would say Nikon D3100. Maybe I'm just saying this because I'm a Nikon user but don't hold it against my answer. The best thing to do would be go to a camera shop in your area (Tall's, Glazers, Sammy's… Whatever) and try out the two cameras. What do you like about them? How does it feel in your hand, what's the shutter speed like, hows the performance, ect? I have worked with the Nikon D3100 and was very impressed with it as being a beginner camera. The images have incredible quality, while the controls are very user friendly. I have also worked with the T3i and while it was an amazing camera, I found it not very user friendly, and the controls were a little mashed around if you know what I mean.

I have the Nikon D3100 and I have shot many videos with it. The main issue is that it doesn't automatically focus when you record a video, thus you have to press the shutter button halfway until it does. I'm sure that the Canon does the same thing but you should pull them both up and do a side-by-side review. You can also try asking other people who uses cameras for making videos, too. The Nikon D3100's still photography feature is better than the Canon's, so that's why I chose it.