Canon T4i vs Nikon D5100 vs Pentax K-30
Pricing and Value
So, which kit is the best value? Here is the MAP pricing as of October, 2012.
18-55mm Kit | 50mm F1.8 Lens | Total | |
Canon Rebel T4i | $792.00 | $92.00 | $884.00 |
Nikon D5100 | $596.95 | $124.95 (D, no AF) or $216.95 (G w/AF) | or |
Pentax K-30 | $846.95 | $249.95 | $1096.90 |
Both Nikon setups are cheaper than those from the other manufacturers. This makes sense, considering the fact that the camera is a whole year older. The Pentax, being weather-sealed and targeted at slightly more advanced users, is a little bit more expensive than the Canon. For Pentax users, it may be a better idea to get a used manual K or M 50mm F1.4 lens rather than the seemingly-overpriced DA 50mm 1.8. Doing so will almost level the playing field in terms of pricing. We believe that it may be worth paying a little bit more for Pentax's excellent backwards-compatibility.
Other Kit Options
If you're looking for better image quality (or, in the case of the K-30, a weather-sealed zoom), the Canon and the Pentax are also available in kits with a 18-135mm lens for $1009 and $1147, respectively. Dual 18-55mm and 50/55-200mm kits are available for both the Pentax and the Nikon.