Canon Rebel
T3i
 vs
Canon EOS
7D

Canon EOS 7D

69
Winner

Canon EOS 7D
"Very good low-light performance, low noise levels and good retention of detail"
dpreview.com | talking about the 7D's iso-noise
"Improved button and control layout over 50D/5D Mark II"
dpreview.com | talking about the 7D's button-layout

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 7D

Viewfinder size
 Large viewfinder
0.62x
Weather sealed
 Weather sealed
Shoot in extreme weather
Continuous shooting
 Rapid fire
8 fps
External mic jack
 External mic jack
Record higher quality audio with a microphone
Shutter lag
 Barely any delay taking photos
131 ms shutter lag
Cross type focus points
 Many cross-type focus points
19
Canon Rebel T3i

53
Runner-up

Canon Rebel T3i
"Excellent image quality even at high ISO settings"
dpreview.com | talking about the T3i's image-quality
"Good quality 1080/720p video output with a range of frame rates and control over exposure"
dpreview.com | talking about the T3i's video-quality

Reasons to buy the Canon Rebel T3i

Screen resolution
 High resolution screen
1,040k dots
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
External mic jack
 External mic jack
Record higher quality audio with a microphone
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses

differences

Advantages of the Canon T3i
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
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen 1,040k dots vs 920k dots
Help
 More than 10% higher resolution screen
Color depth Better color depth 22.1 bits vs 22 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.1 more bits of color
Weight Lighter 570 g vs 860 g
Help
 More than 30% lighter
Size Smaller 133x99x79 mm vs 148x111x74 mm
Help
 More than 10% smaller
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $618.94 vs $1,500.00
Help
 The best price we've seen is $881 cheaper (2.4x less)
Canon Rebel T3i Learn more about
the Canon T3i

Advantages of the Canon 7D
Weather sealed Weather sealed Yes vs No
Help
 Sealed to shoot in the rain
Shutter lag Significantly less shutter lag 131 ms vs 283 ms
Help
 2.2x less delay when taking photos
Continuous shooting Shoots significantly faster 8 fps vs 3.7 fps
Help
 More than 2x faster continuous shooting
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder 0.62x vs 0.53x
Help
 Around 40% larger viewfinder
Cross type focus points Significantly more cross-type focus points 19 vs 1
Help
 Grab focus in difficult situations
Viewfinder coverage Much better viewfinder coverage 100% vs 95%
Help
 Around 10% better viewfinder coverage
Dynamic range More dynamic range 11.7 EV vs 11.5 EV
Help
 0.2 f-stops more dynamic range
Viewfinder Has a pentaprism viewfinder Pentaprism vs Pentamirror
Help
 Pentaprism viewfinders are typically brighter
Focus points More focus points 19 vs 9
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Battery life Longer battery life 800 shots vs 440 shots
Help
 More than 80% more shots per battery charge
Overall image quality Slightly better image quality 66.0 vs 65.0
Help
 Almost the same
Fastest shutter speed Much faster max shutter speed 1/8000s vs 1/4000s
Help
 2x faster max shutter speed
Thickness Thinner 2.9" vs 3.1"
Help
 Around 10% thinner
Canon EOS 7D Learn more about
the Canon 7D
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent DSLRs, and ignoring price

Canon Rebel T3i Canon Rebel T3i
53 vs 69
Explain scores
Canon EOS 7D Canon EOS 7D
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon EOS 7D. 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 pro DSLR.

advice

Need help deciding?

Ask the community!
I am considering either the T3i or the 7D,
For example: Taking photos in low light or great family photos or ability to take great photos underwater

Select aspects that are most important to you: (max 3)

Popular tags:

Are you a camera expert? Share your knowledge!
1
votes
by Jim-Dabler last month
Canon T3i vs Canon 7D

I have a Canon 20D with 28-135 lenses. It takes great pictures but I want to upgrade and use it...
0
votes
by Juvil-Plus last month
Canon T3i vs Canon 7D

i am new to cinematography and i am low on the budget aspect, i know the canon t3i n 7d are stil...

2 people recommend the Canon T3i:

"Pretty much the exact same video recording capabilities. As long as you have 1.2 or 1.4 prime lens..."

" if your new the t3i is perfect because it offers easy functionality but still great over all con..."
0
votes
by Gino-Mauceli last month
Canon 7D vs Olympus E-5

not a beginner nor expert. haven t had a good camera in 15 yrs. no real digital experience. they...
0
votes
by jynielsen 4 days ago
Canon T3i vs Sony NEX-5N

We need a camera for product photos (to be used in marketing materials, such as trade show banne...
0
votes
by Jaimenez last month
Canon T3i vs Sony NEX-5N

I really want the ability to control exposure/aperture on the fly

similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Lens availability Many lenses available Help
162 lenses
Supports 24p 24p support Help
For that film look
Storage slots Fewer storage slots Help
1
Light sensitivity (boost) Poor boost ISO Help
12,800 ISO
Autofocus No video autofocus Help
Manual focus only
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Sensor size Very small sensors Help
APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
6,400 ISO
Color depth Poor color depth Help
T3i:22.1 bits
7D:22 bits
Overall image quality Low image quality Help
T3i:65.0
7D:66.0

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Color depth Has significantly more color depth
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D5100 vs the Rebel T3i
Compare the D5100 vs the EOS 7D
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$544 - $949 body only

$649 - $867 with 18-55mm lens
Startup delay Has significantly less startup delay
Size Is slightly smaller
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Shutter lag Has significantly more shutter lag
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the Rebel T3i
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the EOS 7D
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$848 - $1,304 body only

$1,177 - $1,342 with 18-135mm lens
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the EOS 60D vs the Rebel T3i
Compare the EOS 60D vs the EOS 7D
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,000 - $1,197 body only

$1,100 with 55-200mm lens
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Color depth Has significantly more color depth
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the D7000 vs the Rebel T3i
Compare the D7000 vs the EOS 7D
Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Pro DSLR

$2,198 body only

$2,898 - $2,999 with 24-105mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Built-in flash Doesn't have a built-in flash
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Compare the EOS 5D Mark II vs the Rebel T3i
Compare the EOS 5D Mark II vs the EOS 7D
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$699 - $700 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Movie continuous focus Can focus continuously while recording movies
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Compare the D3200 vs the Rebel T3i
Compare the D3200 vs the EOS 7D
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$830 - $897 body only

$1,199 - $1,200 with 18-105mm lens
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Color depth Has slightly more color depth
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D90 vs the Rebel T3i
Compare the D90 vs the EOS 7D

Canon Rebel T3i Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$330 body only

$489 - $500 with 18-55mm lens
Battery life Longer battery life
Weight Lighter
Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen
Screen size Much smaller screen
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the Rebel T3i
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens
Startup delay Significantly less startup delay
Color depth Better color depth
Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Compare the D3100 vs the Rebel T3i

Canon EOS 7D Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Pro DSLR

$3,499 - $3,500 body only

$4,299 - $4,300 with 24-105mm lens
Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality
Lens availability Fewer lenses available
Continuous shooting Shoots slower
Compare the EOS 5D Mark III vs the EOS 7D
Sony SLT-A77

Sony SLT A77

Pro DSLR

$1,398 body only

$1,998 with 16-50mm lens
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality
Color depth Better color depth
Viewfinder Has a digital viewfinder
Lens availability Significantly fewer lenses available
Compare the SLT A77 vs the EOS 7D

appearance

Canon Rebel T3i Canon EOS 7D
Canon Rebel T3i Canon EOS 7D
Canon Rebel T3i Canon EOS 7D

discussion

Showing 12 comments

Antonio Pedroso (11:54 PM, March 24, 2012)
Hi there, i love your comparison!But I can help you with more information.
I already had the both cameras. Now I got a 7d.
But my reason to change was that the t3i when pluged in a HDMI external monitor through its mini hdmi output, shows the image as is:
when previewing, its full hd output. When recording  shows only an SD image on the hdmi output.When playing it show full hd hdmi output.
But when using the 7d , it shows all the time the ful hd hdmi output without change never the size of the image when doing play, rec or preview.
But what I like in t3i is that it has the control to turn off the hell AGC audio, that 7d does not have ( i hate them because of this).
I really dont know why the canon does a god job in some cameras and a shit in anothers.
That's all folks that I had to tell.
Bye

Attn
Antonio Pedroso
Brazil
 
Fioremomma (4:26 PM, February 03, 2012)
I didn't find the format confusing but could be to others. Great review, Im depending on this site to make my purchase.
 
Diego (6:22 PM, January 15, 2012)
You say that neither 7D or T3i has weather sealed and the 7D it does have it.
 
Agray (4:10 PM, December 23, 2011)
Your comparison review is perfectly on-point statistically and cogently presented in visually literate layout. Any comments to the contrary reflect flaws in the commentor, as you so deftly and kindly point out. Your review fundamentally confirmed my decision and contributed significantly to my feeling of confidence and satisfaction; both before and after my purchase of the T3i. Thank you kindly.
 
Mike (1:32 AM, November 21, 2011)
This comparison is great, thanks!
 
skyfox (5:44 PM, September 24, 2011)
this review was super, uber helpful
 
JC Hambone (10:07 PM, September 04, 2011)
Great review
Good Job!
 
FatalityBySponge (9:24 PM, July 26, 2011)
The format was just confusing. I would suggest in future comparison, to not switch the columns back and forth. Keep one camera in column 2 and the other in column 1. Thanks for the review, though! Very helpful!
 
Avatar for Snapsort Snapsort (4:14 PM, May 20, 2011)
Hey Hawkeye, is there something specific we have wrong. I have compared our specs to Canon's website and it looks correct. 

Thanks again.
 
Hawkeye245 (0:17 AM, May 20, 2011)
Your information about the t3i and the 7d incorrect, I would suggest looking the cameras up again and fixing your specs.
 
Avatar for Snapsort Snapsort (3:42 PM, April 05, 2011)
Hi Sylvain, I think you misinterpreted the page, the page shows that the 7D has a 1/8000s shutter speed and shoots at 8fps. You can confirm this on our Canon 7D specs page.
 
Sylvain (4:01 AM, April 05, 2011)
You should be careful. You're providing wrong and confusing information. For instance the 1/8000s is for the 7D and not the T3i. Same for the 8 fps.