Updated (May, 2012): Compare the Canon Rebel T4i vs Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi

Canon Rebel T3i

59

 
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi

42

 

Reasons to buy the Canon Rebel T3i

Movie format
Full HD
1080p @ 30fps
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
 

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi

Shutter lag
Barely any delay taking photos
160 ms shutter lag
Size
Really small
Prosumer size 129x98x62 mm
Badge
Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Thickness
Thin
2.4"
Weight
Light-weight
524 g
 

differences

Advantages of the Canon T3i

Movie format Shoots movies 1080p @ 30fps vs None
Help
Shoots Full HD (1080p) video as well as still pictures
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 1,040k dots vs 230k dots
Help
More than 4.5x higher resolution screen
Dynamic range More dynamic range 11.5 EV vs 10.8 EV
Help
0.7 f-stops more dynamic range
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
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 793 ISO vs 692 ISO
Help
The T3i has a slight edge (0.2 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 17.9 MP vs 12.2 MP
Help
Capture around 50% more detail in your photos
Overall image quality Better image quality 65.0 vs 61.0
Help
Around 10% better image quality
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 800 ISO
Help
The T3i's maximum light sensitivity is 3 f-stops better
Color depth Better color depth 22.1 bits vs 21.9 bits
Help
Distinguishes 0.2 more bits of color
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 12,800 ISO vs 1,600 ISO
Help
The T3i's boost ISO is 3 f-stops better
Sensor size Slightly larger sensor APS-C 22.3x14.9mm vs APS-C 22.2x14.8mm
Help
Almost the same
Lowest price Cheaper $549.00 vs $728.00
Help
The best price we've seen is $179 cheaper (more than 20% less)
Canon Rebel T3i Learn more about
the Canon T3i

Advantages of the Canon Rebel XSi

Size Much smaller 129x98x62 mm vs 133x99x79 mm
Help
Around 30% smaller
Startup delay Significantly less startup delay 400 ms vs 1500 ms
Help
3.7x less delay when turning on
Shutter lag Significantly less shutter lag 160 ms vs 283 ms
Help
More than 40% less delay when taking photos
Thickness Much thinner 2.4" vs 3.1"
Help
More than 20% thinner
Battery life Longer battery life 500 shots vs 440 shots
Help
More than 10% more shots per battery charge
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder 0.54x vs 0.53x
Help
Almost the same
Weight Lighter 524 g vs 570 g
Help
Around 10% lighter
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi Learn more about
the Canon Rebel XSi
vs

recommendations

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

Canon Rebel T3i Canon Rebel T3i
59 vs 42
Explain scores
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi
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
Light sensitivity (boost) Poor boost ISO Help
T3i:12,800 ISO
Rebel XSi:1,600 ISO
Viewfinder coverage Below average viewfinder coverage Help
95%
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Autofocus No video autofocus Help
Manual focus only
Sensor size Very small sensors Help
T3i:APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
Rebel XSi:APS-C 22.2x14.8mm
Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
1
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
T3i:6,400 ISO
Rebel XSi:800 ISO
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
T3i:3.7 fps
Rebel XSi:3.5 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
Battery life Few shots per battery charge Help
T3i:440 shots
Rebel XSi:500 shots
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
T3i:11.5 EV
Rebel XSi:10.8 EV
Viewfinder size Below average viewfinder size Help
T3i:0.53x
Rebel XSi:0.54x
Overall image quality Low image quality Help
T3i:65.0
Rebel XSi:61.0
Color depth Poor color depth Help
T3i:22.1 bits
Rebel XSi:21.9 bits
Low light performance Above average noise at high ISO Help
T3i:793 ISO
Rebel XSi:692 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
Thickness Is thicker
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Canon Rebel T4i

Canon Rebel T4i

Entry-level DSLR

$669 - $800 body only

$699 - $749 with 18-55mm lens

Light sensitivity Significantly higher maximum light sensitivity
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
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
Thickness Is thicker
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$332 body only

$429 - $499 with 18-55mm lens

Battery life Has a slightly longer battery life
Lowest price Is slightly less expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Sensor cleaning Lacks a self cleaning sensor
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 slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$500 body only

$600 with 18-55mm lens

Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
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
Thickness Is thicker
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor

Canon Rebel T3i Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

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

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi

Entry-level DSLR

Color depth Better color depth
Dynamic range More dynamic range
Screen size Much smaller screen
Live view No live view

appearance

Canon Rebel T3i Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi
Canon Rebel T3i Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi
Canon Rebel T3i Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi

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