Canon Rebel T3i

84

"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
Badge
Phase detection autofocus
fast and accurate
Built-in flash
Built-in flash
External flash not needed
Sony NEX C3

51

Runner-up

Sony NEX C3

Reasons to buy the Sony NEX C3

Size
Really small
Compact 110x60x33 mm
Light sensitivity
High ISO
12,800 ISO
Screen flips out
Flip-out screen
Great for movies
HDR
In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
Panorama
In-camera panoramas
Stitches together multiple photos into a panorama
3D
Takes 3D photos
View photos in 3D on 3D televisions

differences

Advantages of the Canon T3i

Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 30fps vs 720p @ 30fps
Help
Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video
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
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
Get that real film feel
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 921k 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
True resolution Higher true resolution 17.9 MP vs 16 MP
Help
Capture more than 10% more detail in your photos
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder Pentamirror vs None
Help
A viewfinder can help save battery life by keeping the screen turned off
Shutter lag Slightly less shutter lag 283 ms vs 430 ms
Help
More than 30% less delay when taking photos
Battery life Slightly longer battery life 440 shots vs 400 shots
Help
10% more shots per battery charge
Canon Rebel T3i Learn more about
the Canon T3i

Advantages of the Sony C3

Size Much smaller 110x60x33 mm vs 133x99x79 mm
Help
4.8x smaller
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
Autofocus Video autofocus Contrast detection vs None
Help
Automatically focuses shooting video
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera Yes vs No
Help
Stitches together multiple photos for a wide perspective
Overall image quality Better image quality 73.0 vs 65.0
Help
More than 10% better image quality
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 12,800 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
Help
The C3's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.2 EV vs 11.5 EV
Help
0.7 f-stops more dynamic range
Thickness Significantly thinner 1.3" vs 3.1"
Help
2.4x thinner
Weight Significantly lighter 225 g vs 570 g
Help
2.5x lighter
Focus points More focus points 25 vs 9
Help
Set focus accurately within the frame
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 1,083 ISO vs 793 ISO
Help
The C3 has a slight edge (0.4 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster 5.5 fps vs 3.7 fps
Help
Around 50% faster continuous shooting
Color depth Better color depth 22.7 bits vs 22.1 bits
Help
Distinguishes 0.6 more bits of color
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay 1200 ms vs 1500 ms
Help
20% less delay when turning on
Sensor size Slightly larger sensor APS-C 23.4x15.6mm vs APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
Help
Around 10% larger sensor
Sony NEX C3 Learn more about
the Sony C3
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Canon Rebel T3i Canon Rebel T3i
84 vs 51
Explain scores
Sony NEX C3 Sony NEX C3
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.

advice

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6
votes
by dinsky this month
Canon T3i vs Nikon D3100

My daughter wants to start taking photo classes, which camera is better for a beginning student....

26 people recommend the Canon T3i:

" i think it´s too much to start, i don´t know if the girl has got a camera already... but since t..."

" it is the best entry level camera and even most professionals use this. better get this camera f..."

" Very good for beginners. And keeping that in mind, the D3100 has more expensive lenses than cano..."

26 people recommend the Nikon D3100:

" I would say that from what I know, nikon has a better beginner friendly interface which will hel..."

" * More comfortable * Easy to use * More Auto modes * Smaller and lighter * Cheaper too"

" They are both as good as one another, neither is particularly better than the other. If you real..."

1
votes
by Ameera-Khan1 last month
Canon T3i vs Nikon D3100

This will be my first purchase of a dslr. I want to buy the best available camera that I can use...

6 people recommend the Canon T3i:

" Since Ameera wants a camera that she expects to use for many years to come, the Canon T3i is ide..."

" Thy are easy to use. I have used Canon's for many many years. I have tried Nikon they are not ea..."

" If filmography is your calling, then go with the T3i. Trust me. "

One person recommends the Nikon D3100:

" Nikon have better cheaper lenses and some of them even don't have a Canon version, for example t..."

0
votes
by Bucketsss last month
Canon T3i vs Nikon D3100

Tell us more! Are you a beginner or expert? What types of photos do you like to take? What featu...

One person recommends the Canon T3i:

" http://snapsort.com/compare/Canon-600d-vs-Nikon_D3100 Wildlife with the 600mm L lens from Canon..."

0
votes
by Faye-Takai last month
Canon T3i vs Nikon D3100

I am a beginner! Never used a DSLR before. I do take alot of pictues indoors of my dogs and fami...

-1
votes
by Sagar-Rayate last month
Canon T3i vs Nikon D3100

Slr...micro zoom. hd recording,

One person recommends the Canon T3i:

" Simple 1 answer possible, the Canon 5D Mk III, but the 600D is also nice. http://snapsort.com/c..."

similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Screen resolution Very high resolution screens Help
T3i:1,040k dots
C3:921k dots
Screen flips out Flip-out screens Help
Great for movies
True resolution Capture extremely high resolution images Help
T3i:17.9 MP
C3:16 MP
Sensor size Very large sensors Help
T3i:APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
C3: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
Color depth Good color depth Help
T3i:22.1 bits
C3:22.7 bits
External flash Support external flash Help
Better lighting
Sensor cleaning Self cleaning sensors Help
Avoids dust in your photos
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

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 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
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$544 - $949 body only

$649 - $867 with 18-55mm lens

Startup delay Has slightly less startup delay
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$330 body only

$489 - $500 with 18-55mm lens

Battery life Has a significantly longer battery life
Sensor cleaning Lacks a self cleaning sensor
Thickness Is thicker
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens

Startup delay Has slightly less startup delay
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Sony NEX-5N

Sony NEX-5N

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$598 - $600 body only

$698 - $700 with 18-55mm lens

Light sensitivity Much higher maximum light sensitivity
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Startup delay Has slightly more startup delay
Sony NEX-7

Sony NEX-7

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$1,200 body only

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

Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Weight Is slightly heavier

Canon Rebel T3i Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$848 - $1,304 body only

$1,177 - $1,342 with 18-135mm lens

Battery life Much longer battery life
Cross type focus points More cross-type focus points
Size Larger
Weight Heavier
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$699 - $700 with 18-55mm lens

Autofocus Video autofocus
True resolution Much higher true resolution
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,549 - $1,821 body only

$1,500 - $1,849 with 18-135mm lens

Weather sealed Weather sealed
Cross type focus points Significantly more cross-type focus points
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Screen resolution Lower resolution screen

Sony NEX C3 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$569 with 18-55mm lens

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster
Overall image quality Slightly worse image quality
True resolution Lower true resolution
Nikon 1 J1

Nikon 1 J1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$547 with 10-30mm lens

High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Continuous shooting Shoots much faster
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Screen resolution Significantly lower resolution screen
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
Overall image quality Worse image quality
True resolution Lower true resolution
Sony NEX-F3

Sony NEX-F3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$600 with 18-55mm lens

Movie format Higher resolution movies
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Movie continuous focus Doesn't focus continuously recording movies
Size Slightly larger
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$469 body only

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Overall image quality Significantly worse image quality
Screen resolution Significantly lower resolution screen

appearance

Canon Rebel T3i Sony NEX C3
Canon Rebel T3i Sony NEX C3
Canon Rebel T3i Sony NEX C3

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