Canon Rebel
T3
 vs
Canon Rebel
T3i

Updated (May, 2012): Compare the Canon Rebel T3 vs Canon 650D / T4i

Canon Rebel T3i

60

  
Canon Rebel T3

41

  

Reasons to buy the Canon Rebel T3i

Movie format
 Full HD
1080p @ 30fps
Screen resolution
 High resolution screen
1,040k dots
Supports 24p
 24p movies
For that film look
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
External mic jack
 External mic jack
Record higher quality audio with a microphone
Sensor cleaning
 Self cleaning sensor
Avoids dust in your photos
 
Runner-up

Canon Rebel T3

Reasons to buy the Canon Rebel T3

Battery life
 Great battery life
700 shots
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Weight
 Light-weight
459 g
 

differences

Advantages of the Canon T3
Startup delay Significantly less startup delay 300 ms vs 1500 ms
Help
 5x less delay when turning on
Battery life Significantly longer battery life 700 shots vs 440 shots
Help
 Around 60% more shots per battery charge
Size Smaller 130x100x78 mm vs 133x99x79 mm
Help
 Almost the same
Lowest price Cheaper $331.59 vs $549.00
Help
 The best price we've seen is $217 cheaper (around 40% less)
Weight Lighter 459 g vs 570 g
Help
 Around 20% lighter
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder 0.54x vs 0.53x
Help
 Almost the same
Thickness Thinner 3.1" vs 3.1"
Help
 Almost the same
Canon Rebel T3 Learn more about
the Canon T3

Advantages of the Canon T3i
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 30fps vs 720p @ 30fps
Help
 Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 1,040k dots vs 230k dots
Help
 More than 4.5x higher resolution screen
Screen size Significantly larger screen 3.0" vs 2.7"
Help
 More than 10% larger screen
External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
 Record high quality audio with an external microphone
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
 Get that real film feel
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen Yes vs No
Help
 Flip-out screens can be helpful when composing tricky shots or taking movies
Dynamic range More dynamic range 11.5 EV vs 11 EV
Help
 0.5 f-stops more dynamic range
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 17.9 MP vs 12.2 MP
Help
 Capture around 50% more detail in your photos
Color depth Better color depth 22.1 bits vs 21.9 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.2 more bits of color
Overall image quality Better image quality 65.0 vs 62.0
Help
 Almost the same
Sensor cleaning Has a self cleaning sensor Yes vs No
Help
 Removes dust from the sensor automatically, avoiding spots in photos
Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO 793 ISO vs 755 ISO
Help
 The T3i has a slight edge (0.1 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Sensor size Larger sensor APS-C 22.3x14.9mm vs APS-C 22.2x14.7mm
Help
 Almost the same
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 3.7 fps vs 3 fps
Help
 More than 20% faster continuous shooting
Canon Rebel T3i Learn more about
the Canon T3i
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent entry-level DSLRs, and ignoring price

Canon Rebel T3 Canon Rebel T3
41 vs 60
Explain scores
Canon Rebel T3i Canon Rebel T3i
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon Rebel T3i.

similarities

Compared to recent entry-level DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Lens availability Many lenses available Help
162 lenses
Fastest shutter speed Slow max shutter speed Help
1/4000 of a second
Autofocus No video autofocus Help
Manual focus only
Viewfinder coverage Below average viewfinder coverage Help
95%
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Sensor size Very small sensors Help
T3:APS-C 22.2x14.7mm
T3i:APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
1
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
6,400 ISO
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
T3:3 fps
T3i:3.7 fps
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Focus points Few focus points Help
9
Weather sealed Neither is weather sealed Help
Need to shelter it from weather
Dynamic range Poor dynamic range Help
T3:11 EV
T3i:11.5 EV
Viewfinder size Below average viewfinder size Help
T3:0.54x
T3i:0.53x
Overall image quality Low image quality Help
T3:62.0
T3i:65.0
Color depth Poor color depth Help
T3:21.9 bits
T3i:22.1 bits
Low light performance Above average noise at high ISO Help
T3:755 ISO
T3i:793 ISO

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$497 body only

$597 - $805 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is significantly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the D5100 vs the Rebel T3
Compare the D5100 vs the Rebel T3i
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$447 - $740 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Sensor size Has a slightly larger sensor
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Light sensitivity Slightly lower maximum light sensitivity
Compare the D3100 vs the Rebel T3
Compare the D3100 vs the Rebel T3i
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$547 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is significantly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Compare the D3200 vs the Rebel T3
Compare the D3200 vs the Rebel T3i
Canon 650D / T4i

Canon Rebel T4i

Entry-level DSLR

$649 - $800 body only

$719 - $749 with 18-55mm lens
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the Rebel T4i vs the Rebel T3
Compare the Rebel T4i vs the Rebel T3i
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$550 body only

$609 with 18-55mm lens
Size Is much smaller
Thickness Is thinner
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the Rebel T3
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the Rebel T3i
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$699 - $899 body only

$999 - $1,279 with 18-135mm lens
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder
Weather sealed Has a weather sealed body
Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
Weight Is much heavier
Compare the EOS 60D vs the Rebel T3
Compare the EOS 60D vs the Rebel T3i
Canon 700D/T5i

Canon Rebel T5i

Entry-level DSLR

$749 - $905 body only

$899 with 18-55mm lens
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the Rebel T5i vs the Rebel T3
Compare the Rebel T5i vs the Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D3000

Nikon D3000

Entry-level DSLR

$436 with 18-55mm lens
Screen size Significantly larger screen
Sensor size Much larger sensor
Movie format Does not take movies
Live view No live view
Compare the D3000 vs the Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3i Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Canon Rebel T3i.

appearance

Canon Rebel T3 Canon Rebel T3i
Canon Rebel T3 Canon Rebel T3i
Canon Rebel T3 Canon Rebel T3i

discussion

Showing 1 comments

Nikki (2:37 PM, July 11, 2012)
I've had the t3i for about a year now and I absolutely love it!! It's great for everyday use or for shooting sports, fireworks, concerts, and more! Wonderful camera.