Updated (August, 2012): Compare the Canon Rebel T4i vs Sony NEX-5R

Canon Rebel T3i

91

vs
Sony NEX-5N

63

Sony NEX-5N
Runner-up
 
 
 
 

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
 

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
 
Differences | Recommendations | Similarities | Competitors | Appearance | Discussion

differences

Advantages of the Canon T3i
Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
 Catch candid moments easily
External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
 Record high quality audio with an external microphone
Lens availability Much more lenses available 162 lenses vs 8 lenses
Help
 Around 20.5x more lenses available
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen 1,040k dots vs 920k dots
Help
 More than 10% higher resolution screen
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
True resolution Higher true resolution 17.9 MP vs 16 MP
Help
 Capture more than 10% more detail in your photos
Startup delay Less startup delay 1500 ms vs 1900 ms
Help
 More than 20% less delay when turning on
Canon Rebel T3i Learn more about
the Canon T3i

Advantages of the Sony NEX-5N
Size Significantly smaller 111x59x38 mm vs 133x99x79 mm
Help
 4.2x smaller
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
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
Overall image quality Better image quality 77.0 vs 65.0
Help
 Around 20% better image quality
3D Takes 3D photos Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple photos into a 3D image
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
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.7 EV vs 11.5 EV
Help
 1.2 f-stops more dynamic range
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 10 fps vs 3.7 fps
Help
 More than 2.5x faster continuous shooting
Thickness Significantly thinner 1.5" vs 3.1"
Help
 2.1x thinner
Weight Significantly lighter 269 g vs 570 g
Help
 2.1x lighter
Focus points More focus points 25 vs 9
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Color depth Better color depth 23.6 bits vs 22.1 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 1.5 more bits of color
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 1,079 ISO vs 793 ISO
Help
 The NEX-5N has a slight edge (0.4 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Sensor size Slightly larger sensor APS-C 23.4x15.6mm vs APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
Help
 Around 10% larger sensor
Shutter lag Slightly less shutter lag 235 ms vs 283 ms
Help
 Around 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 T3i Canon Rebel T3i
91 vs 63
Explain scores
Sony NEX-5N Sony NEX-5N
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon Rebel T3i. 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
Screen resolution High resolution screens Help
T3i:1,040k dots
NEX-5N:920k dots
Supports 24p Both support 24p, which is uncommon in cameras similar to these Help
For that film look
Screen flips out Flip-out screens Help
Great for movies
Sensor size Large sensors Help
T3i:APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
NEX-5N:APS-C 23.4x15.6mm
True resolution Capture very high resolution images Help
T3i:17.9 MP
NEX-5N:16 MP
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
Sensor cleaning Both have self cleaning sensors, which is uncommon in cameras similar to these Help
Avoids dust in your photos
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
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$497 body only

$585 - $805 with 18-55mm lens
Startup delay Has slightly less startup delay
Battery life Has a slightly longer battery life
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Compare the D5100 vs the Rebel T3i
Compare the D5100 vs the NEX-5N
Canon Rebel T4i

Canon Rebel T4i

Entry-level DSLR

$580 - $799 body only

$731 - $899 with 18-55mm lens
Startup delay Has slightly less startup delay
Autofocus Focuses automatically while shootting video
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Compare the Rebel T4i vs the Rebel T3i
Compare the Rebel T4i vs the NEX-5N
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$547 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Startup delay Has slightly less startup delay
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the D3200 vs the Rebel T3i
Compare the D3200 vs the NEX-5N

Canon Rebel T3i Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$328 body only

$449 with 18-55mm lens
Startup delay Significantly less startup delay
Battery life Longer battery life
Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the Rebel T3i
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$649 - $968 body only

$949 - $1,182 with 18-135mm lens
Weather sealed Weather sealed
Battery life Much longer battery life
Size Larger
Weight Heavier
Compare the EOS 60D vs the Rebel T3i
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$540 body only

$609 with 18-55mm lens
Startup delay Significantly less startup delay
Size Smaller
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the Rebel T3i
Canon Rebel T5i

Canon Rebel T5i

Entry-level DSLR

$749 - $871 body only

$899 with 18-55mm lens
Autofocus Video autofocus
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Overall image quality Slightly worse image quality
Color depth Worse color depth
Compare the Rebel T5i vs the Rebel T3i

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
Compare the NEX-5R vs the NEX-5N
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
Compare the NEX-7 vs the NEX-5N
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
Compare the Alpha NEX-6 vs the NEX-5N
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
Compare the Alpha NEX-5 vs the NEX-5N
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
Compare the Cybershot DSC-RX100 vs the NEX-5N

appearance

Canon Rebel T3i Sony NEX-5N
Canon Rebel T3i Sony NEX-5N
Canon Rebel T3i Sony NEX-5N

discussion

Showing 2 comments

Picasso (2:28 AM, September 11, 2012)
What kind of ridiculous logic makes T3i the winner when NEX 5 seems to have several more advantages. Am I missing something here?
 
pinapple (10:15 AM, February 03, 2012)
How on earth is the canon the winner when the NEX beats it in almost every aspect...