Updated (August, 2012): Compare the Canon Rebel T3 vs Sony NEX-5R

Sony NEX-5N

Winner
Sony NEX-5N

63

vs

Canon Rebel T3

52

Canon Rebel T3

Runner-up
 
 
 
 

Reasons to buy the Sony NEX-5N

Size
Really small
Compact 111x59x38 mm
Light sensitivity
High ISO
25,600 ISO
Touch screen
Touch screen
Less buttons
Continuous shooting
Rapid fire
10 fps
 

Reasons to buy the Canon Rebel T3

Lens availability
Slightly more lenses available
162 lenses
Badge
Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Battery life
Great battery life
700 shots
Badge
Phase detection autofocus
fast and accurate
 

differences

Advantages of the Canon T3

Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
Catch candid moments easily
Lens availability Much more lenses available 162 lenses vs 8 lenses
Help
Around 20.5x more lenses available
Startup delay Significantly less startup delay 300 ms vs 1900 ms
Help
6.3x less delay when turning on
Battery life Longer battery life 700 shots vs 460 shots
Help
More than 50% more shots per battery charge
Built-in flash Built-in flash Yes vs No
Help
A built-in flash is useful for taking indoor shots where there is little light
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder Pentamirror vs None
Help
A viewfinder can help save battery life by keeping the screen turned off
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $327.69 vs $649.95
Help
The best price we've seen is $322 cheaper (around 50% less)
Canon Rebel T3 Learn more about
the Canon T3

Advantages of the Sony NEX-5N

Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 920k dots vs 230k dots
Help
4x higher resolution screen
Size Significantly smaller 111x59x38 mm vs 130x100x78 mm
Help
4.1x smaller
Screen size Significantly larger screen 3.0" vs 2.7"
Help
More than 10% larger screen
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
Get that real film feel
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 25,600 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
Help
The NEX-5N's maximum light sensitivity is 2 f-stops better
Overall image quality Better image quality 77.0 vs 62.0
Help
More than 20% better image quality
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
Touch screen Has a touch screen Yes vs No
Help
Fewer buttons to worry about and direct interaction with camera menus
Autofocus Video autofocus Contrast detection vs None
Help
Automatically focuses shooting video
3D Takes 3D photos Yes vs No
Help
Combines multiple photos into a 3D image
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.7 EV vs 11 EV
Help
1.7 f-stops more dynamic range
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera Yes vs No
Help
Stitches together multiple photos for a wide perspective
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 60fps vs 720p @ 30fps
Help
Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video at a higher frame rate
True resolution Higher true resolution 16 MP vs 12.2 MP
Help
Capture more than 30% more detail in your photos
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 10 fps vs 3 fps
Help
Around 3.5x faster continuous shooting
Color depth Better color depth 23.6 bits vs 21.9 bits
Help
Distinguishes 1.7 more bits of color
Thickness Significantly thinner 1.5" vs 3.1"
Help
2.1x thinner
Sensor cleaning Has a self cleaning sensor Yes vs No
Help
Removes dust from the sensor automatically, avoiding spots in photos
Focus points More focus points 25 vs 9
Help
Set focus accurately within the frame
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 1,079 ISO vs 755 ISO
Help
The NEX-5N has a slight edge (0.5 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Weight Lighter 269 g vs 459 g
Help
More than 40% lighter
Sensor size Slightly larger sensor APS-C 23.4x15.6mm vs APS-C 22.2x14.7mm
Help
More than 10% larger sensor
Shutter lag Slightly less shutter lag 235 ms vs 309 ms
Help
More than 20% less delay when taking photos
Sony NEX-5N Learn more about
the Sony NEX-5N
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Canon Rebel T3 Canon Rebel T3
52 vs 63
Explain scores
Sony NEX-5N Sony NEX-5N
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Sony NEX-5N. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a entry-level DSLR with a mirrorless interchangeable-lens.

similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Sensor size Large sensors Help
T3:APS-C 22.2x14.7mm
NEX-5N:APS-C 23.4x15.6mm
Interchangeable lenses Both support interchangeable lenses, which is uncommon in cameras similar to these Help
Many lenses to choose from
Supports RAW Supports RAW Help
Better editing
Battery life Great battery life Help
T3:700 shots
NEX-5N:460 shots
External flash Support external flash Help
Better lighting
Sensor type Better sensor types Help
Better in low light
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
1/4000 of a second
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$549 body only

$595 - $599 with 18-55mm lens

External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$547 with 18-55mm lens

True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$497 body only

$585 - $805 with 18-55mm lens

External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Canon Rebel T4i

Canon Rebel T4i

Entry-level DSLR

$580 - $799 body only

$731 - $899 with 18-55mm lens

External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Autofocus Focuses automatically while shootting video
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier

Canon Rebel T3 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$447 - $740 with 18-55mm lens

Screen size Significantly larger screen
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Battery life Shorter battery life
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$540 body only

$609 with 18-55mm lens

Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Battery life Shorter battery life
Weight Heavier
Canon EOS Rebel T1i

Canon Rebel T1i

Entry-level DSLR

$723 with 18-55mm lens

Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Screen size Significantly larger screen
Battery life Significantly shorter battery life
Light sensitivity Worse maximum light sensitivity

Sony NEX-5N Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Sony NEX-5R

Sony NEX-5R

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$498 body only

$598 with 18-55mm lens

Autofocus Faster autofocus
Focus points Many more focus points
Battery life Shorter battery life
Low light performance Slightly more noise at high ISO
Sony NEX-7

Sony NEX-7

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$948 body only

$1,098 with 18-55mm lens

External mic jack Has an external mic jack
True resolution Much higher true resolution
Touch screen No touch screen
Light sensitivity Worse maximum light sensitivity
Sony Alpha NEX-6

Sony Alpha NEX-6

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$648 body only

$798 with 16-50mm lens

Autofocus Faster autofocus
Focus points Many more focus points
Touch screen No touch screen
3D Doesn't take 3D photos
Sony Alpha NEX-5

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$656 - $743 with 18-55mm lens

Startup delay Less startup delay
Supports 24p No 24p support
Touch screen No touch screen
Sony Cybershot DSC-RX100

Sony Cybershot DSC-RX100

Pro digicam

$648 - $760

Image stabilization Image stabilization
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen
Supports 24p No 24p support
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out

appearance

Canon Rebel T3 Sony NEX-5N
Canon Rebel T3 Sony NEX-5N
Canon Rebel T3 Sony NEX-5N

discussion

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