Updated (August, 2011): Compare the Canon Rebel T3 vs Sony NEX-5N

Sony Alpha NEX-5

54

"With noise (and noise reduction in the JPEGs), kept well controlled up to ISO 3200, and giving very usable results even at 6400."
dpreview.com | talking about the NEX-5's iso-noise
"With its magnesium alloy body has a level of build that's pretty much untouchable for the money."
dpreview.com | talking about the NEX-5's build-quality

Reasons to buy the Sony Alpha NEX-5

Movie format
Full HD
1080p @ 30fps
Screen resolution
High resolution screen
920k dots
Size
Really small
Compact 111x59x38 mm
Light sensitivity
High ISO
12,800 ISO
Dynamic range
Wide dynamic range
12.2 EV
Screen flips out
Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Canon Rebel T3

51

Runner-up

Canon Rebel T3

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
800 shots
Badge
Phase detection autofocus
fast and accurate
Viewfinder
Great viewfinder
Pentamirror
Live view
Has live view
Preview your photos

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
Battery life Significantly longer battery life 800 shots vs 330 shots
Help
Around 2.5x 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 $329.96 vs $569.00
Help
The best price we've seen is $239 cheaper (more than 40% less)
Canon Rebel T3 Learn more about
the Canon T3

Advantages of the Sony NEX-5

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
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 30fps vs 720p @ 30fps
Help
Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video
Screen size Significantly larger screen 3.0" vs 2.7"
Help
More than 10% larger screen
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
3D Takes 3D photos Yes vs No
Help
Combines multiple photos into a 3D image
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera Yes vs No
Help
Stitches together multiple photos for a wide perspective
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.2 EV vs 11 EV
Help
1.2 f-stops more dynamic range
Overall image quality Better image quality 69.0 vs 62.0
Help
More than 10% better image quality
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 12,800 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
Help
The NEX-5's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Thickness Significantly thinner 1.5" vs 3.1"
Help
2.1x thinner
True resolution Higher true resolution 14 MP vs 12.2 MP
Help
Capture around 20% more detail in your photos
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 7 fps vs 3 fps
Help
Around 2.5x faster continuous shooting
Focus points More focus points 25 vs 9
Help
Set focus accurately within the frame
Sensor cleaning Has a self cleaning sensor Yes vs No
Help
Removes dust from the sensor automatically, avoiding spots in photos
Weight Lighter 287 g vs 459 g
Help
Around 40% lighter
Color depth Better color depth 22.2 bits vs 21.9 bits
Help
Distinguishes 0.3 more bits of color
Sensor size Slightly larger sensor APS-C 23.4x15.6mm vs APS-C 22.2x14.7mm
Help
More than 10% larger sensor
Sony Alpha NEX-5 Learn more about
the Sony NEX-5
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Canon Rebel T3 Canon Rebel T3
51 vs 54
Explain scores
Sony Alpha NEX-5 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Sony Alpha NEX-5. 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.

advice

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1
votes
by Matthew-Kim last month
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similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Sensor size Very large sensors Help
T3:APS-C 22.2x14.7mm
NEX-5: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 RAW support Help
Better editing
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
Longest exposure Long exposures Help
30 seconds
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
T3:1
NEX-5:0

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens

Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Autofocus Focuses automatically while shootting video
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$544 - $949 body only

$649 - $867 with 18-55mm lens

True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$619 - $700 body only

$745 - $1,000 with 18-55mm lens

True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens

Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Nikon 1 J1

Nikon 1 J1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$547 with 10-30mm lens

High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
Sensor size Has a slightly smaller sensor
Canon PowerShot G12

Canon PowerShot G12

Pro digicam

$390 - $496

Image stabilization Has image stabilization
Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Longest exposure Slightly shorter exposures
Sensor type Has a CCD-family sensor
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$830 - $897 body only

$1,199 - $1,200 with 18-105mm lens

Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Startup delay Has slightly less startup delay
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is much heavier

Canon Rebel T3 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon EOS Rebel T1i

Canon Rebel T1i

Entry-level DSLR

$471 - $629 body only

$549 - $575 with 18-55mm lens

Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Battery life Significantly shorter battery life
Light sensitivity Worse maximum light sensitivity
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS

Entry-level DSLR

$348 - $595 body only

$439 with 18-55mm lens

Size Smaller
Thickness Thinner
Autofocus Slower autofocus
Movie format Does not take movies
Nikon D3000

Nikon D3000

Entry-level DSLR

$487 with 18-55mm lens

Screen size Significantly larger screen
Size Smaller
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Movie format Does not take movies

Sony Alpha NEX-5 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Sony NEX-5N

Sony NEX-5N

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$598 - $600 body only

$698 - $700 with 18-55mm lens

Supports 24p Supports 24p
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Startup delay More startup delay
Sony NEX-7

Sony NEX-7

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$1,200 body only

$1,350 - $1,499 with 18-55mm lens

True resolution Much higher true resolution
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Startup delay Slightly more startup delay
Weight Heavier
Sony NEX C3

Sony NEX C3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$548 with 16mm lens

Overall image quality Slightly better image quality
True resolution Higher true resolution
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly slower
Sony NEX-F3

Sony NEX-F3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$600 with 18-55mm lens

External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Continuous shooting Shoots slower
Size Slightly larger
Sony Alpha NEX-3

Sony Alpha NEX-3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$689 with 18-55mm lens

External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Storage slots Has more storage slots
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Dynamic range Less dynamic range

appearance

Canon Rebel T3 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Canon Rebel T3 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Canon Rebel T3 Sony Alpha NEX-5

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