Canon Rebel
T3i
 vs
Sony Alpha
DSLR-A550

Canon Rebel T3i

57
"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
True resolution
 High true resolution
17.9 MP
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
Sony Alpha DSLR-A550

53

Reasons to buy the Sony Alpha DSLR-A550

Image stabilization
 Image stabilization
Sensor shift
Light sensitivity
 High ISO
12,800 ISO
Continuous shooting
 Rapid fire
7 fps
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Sensor size
 Large sensor
APS-C 23.4x15.6mm
HDR
 In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures

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
Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
 Catch candid moments easily
Color depth Better color depth 22.1 bits vs 21.9 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.2 more bits of color
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available 162 lenses vs 92 lenses
Help
 Around 80% more lenses available
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 17.9 MP vs 14 MP
Help
 Capture around 30% more detail in your photos
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen 1,040k dots vs 921k dots
Help
 More than 10% higher resolution screen
Size Smaller 133x99x79 mm vs 137x104x84 mm
Help
 More than 10% smaller
Light sensitivity (boost) Has boost ISO 12,800 ISO vs None
Help
 Allows taking photos in darker situations, often at the cost of additional noise in the image
Thickness Thinner 3.1" vs 3.3"
Help
 Around 10% thinner
Weight Lighter 570 g vs 632 g
Help
 Around 10% lighter
Canon Rebel T3i Learn more about
the Canon T3i

Advantages of the Sony DSLR-A550
Image stabilization Image stabilization Sensor shift vs None
Help
 Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Dynamic range More dynamic range 11.8 EV vs 11.5 EV
Help
 0.3 f-stops more dynamic range
Continuous shooting Shoots significantly faster 7 fps vs 3.7 fps
Help
 Around 90% faster continuous shooting
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 12,800 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
Help
 The DSLR-A550's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Sensor size Larger sensor APS-C 23.4x15.6mm vs APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
Help
 Around 10% larger sensor
Storage slots Has more storage slots 2 vs 1
Help
 More slots allows storing more images without switching memory cards
Overall image quality Slightly better image quality 66.0 vs 65.0
Help
 Almost the same
Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 Learn more about
the Sony DSLR-A550
vs

recommendations

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

Canon Rebel T3i Canon Rebel T3i
57 vs 53
Explain scores
Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 Sony Alpha DSLR-A550
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon Rebel T3i.

advice

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One person recommends the Canon T3i:

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similarities

Compared to recent entry-level DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Screen resolution High resolution screens Help
T3i:1,040k dots
DSLR-A550:921k dots
Screen flips out Flip-out screens Help
Great for movies
Fastest shutter speed Slow max shutter speed Help
1/4000 of a second
Viewfinder coverage Below average viewfinder coverage Help
95%
Autofocus No video autofocus Help
Manual focus only
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Weather sealed Neither is weather sealed Help
Need to shelter it from weather
Viewfinder size Below average viewfinder size Help
T3i:0.53x
DSLR-A550:0.52x
Color depth Poor color depth Help
T3i:22.1 bits
DSLR-A550:21.9 bits
Overall image quality Low image quality Help
T3i:65.0
DSLR-A550:66.0

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is significantly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Compare the D5100 vs the Rebel T3i
Compare the D5100 vs the Alpha DSLR-A550
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$544 - $949 body only

$649 - $867 with 18-55mm lens
Startup delay Has much less startup delay
Size Is significantly smaller
Screen flips out Doesn't have a screen which flips out
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the Rebel T3i
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the Alpha DSLR-A550
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$848 - $1,304 body only

$1,177 - $1,342 with 18-135mm lens
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder
Viewfinder Has higher quality type of viewfinder
Weight Is significantly heavier
Size Is slightly larger
Compare the EOS 60D vs the Rebel T3i
Compare the EOS 60D vs the Alpha DSLR-A550
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Color depth Has slightly more color depth
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
External mic jack Lacks and external mic jack
Compare the D3100 vs the Rebel T3i
Compare the D3100 vs the Alpha DSLR-A550
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$830 - $897 body only

$1,199 - $1,200 with 18-105mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Weight Is slightly heavier
External mic jack Lacks and external mic jack
Compare the D90 vs the Rebel T3i
Compare the D90 vs the Alpha DSLR-A550
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,000 - $1,197 body only

$1,100 with 55-200mm lens
Low light performance Is significantly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Weight Is significantly heavier
Compare the D7000 vs the Rebel T3i
Compare the D7000 vs the Alpha DSLR-A550
Sony SLT A57

Sony SLT A57

Entry-level DSLR

$698 - $700 body only

$798 - $800 with 18-55mm lens
Viewfinder size Much larger viewfinder
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Viewfinder Has a lower quality type of viewfinder
Compare the SLT A57 vs the Rebel T3i
Compare the SLT A57 vs the Alpha DSLR-A550

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 Significantly 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 D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$699 - $700 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Much higher true resolution
Autofocus Video autofocus
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Screen resolution Lower resolution screen
Compare the D3200 vs the Rebel T3i
Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,549 - $1,821 body only

$1,500 - $1,849 with 18-135mm lens
Cross type focus points Many more cross-type focus points
Weather sealed Weather sealed
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Screen resolution Lower resolution screen
Compare the EOS 7D vs the Rebel T3i

Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sony Alpha DSLR-A580

Sony Alpha DSLR-A580

Entry-level DSLR

$949 with 55-200mm lens
Overall image quality Much better image quality
Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO
Compare the Alpha DSLR-A580 vs the Alpha DSLR-A550
Sony Alpha NEX-5

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$569 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Shoots movies
Size Much smaller
Viewfinder No viewfinder
Image stabilization No image stabilization
Compare the Alpha NEX-5 vs the Alpha DSLR-A550

appearance

Canon Rebel T3i Sony Alpha DSLR-A550
Canon Rebel T3i Sony Alpha DSLR-A550
Canon Rebel T3i Sony Alpha DSLR-A550

discussion

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