I am a Nikon owner for years now trying to switch to Canon. After receiving this camera for a few days, I can now give a list of the differences between this T3i and the Nikon counterpart D5100.
1. T3i has 4 buttons on the back defined to be used to control "AF", "White Balance", "Drive Mode", and "Picture Control", plus a dedicated ISO button on the shoulder, and a focus point selector on the top right corner of the back, which is great, and also the main reason I am trying to switch to Canon. For D5100, you have to go deep into the menu.
2. T3i can trigger external flash, D5100 can't.
3. T3i has White Balance Shifts with the Custom White Balance, Nikon D5100 Customer White Balance is a one shot setup.
4. T3i's image quality seems to be a little better than D5100. Especially the LCD is brighter and looks great.
5. T3i can work with any Canon lens, D5100 only works with AF-S lenses due to the lack of a body motor.
6. D5100 has Distortion Control, before and after shoot, T3i doesn't.
7. D5100 has Color Balance adjustment after shot, T3i doesn't.
8. D5100 has Straighten feature, T3i doesn't.
9. D5100 has Perspective adjustment, T3i doesn't.
10. D5100 makes smarter decision when shoot in P, A, S modes, while T3i frequently makes you shoot in weird combinations like "1/320, ISO3200, f22"...
Common issues:
1. When shoot in bright sunlight, both tend to produce yellowish images, that's more like a common issue of CMOS sensor. I have never had a problem with CCD cameras, but I have experienced the same issue with all the CMOS cameras including Nikon D7000, Nikon D90, Nikon D300s.
2. Live Mode focuses very slow on both (Nikon is slightly better).
* The 18-135 lens is a pretty sharp IS lens, the IS works as great as Nikon's VR does. However, this 18-135 is only like 20-135, compared to the Nikon 18-200 VR.
Overall, both cameras are good entry level cameras. T3i will be a better choice for a more advanced user.
Update on July 13, 2011:
11. D5100's battery lasts much longer, almost 50% longer. T3i's battery is smaller and the LCD is brighter.
12. T3i's White Balance Bracketing is both ways. D5100 is only between Amber and Blue.
13. D5100 has HDR feature which sometimes maybe useful.
14. D5100's power switch is located in a perfect position. T3i's is a little awkward.
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