Canon Rebel
T3i
 vs
Sony Alpha
NEX-3

Updated (May, 2012): Compare the Canon Rebel T4i vs Sony NEX C3

Canon Rebel T3i

89

  
Sony Alpha NEX-3

43

  

Reasons to buy the Canon Rebel T3i

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
 
Runner-up

Sony Alpha NEX-3

Reasons to buy the Sony Alpha NEX-3

Size
 Really small
Compact 117x62x33 mm
Light sensitivity
 High ISO
12,800 ISO
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
12 EV
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
 

differences

Advantages of the Canon T3i
Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
 Catch candid moments easily
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
 Get that real film feel
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 30fps vs 720p @ 30fps
Help
 Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video
Lens availability Much more lenses available 162 lenses vs 8 lenses
Help
 Around 20.5x more lenses available
True resolution Higher true resolution 17.9 MP vs 14 MP
Help
 Capture around 30% more detail in your photos
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 283 ms vs 670 ms
Help
 2.4x less delay when taking photos
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
Battery life Longer battery life 440 shots vs 330 shots
Help
 More than 30% more shots per battery charge
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
Canon Rebel T3i Learn more about
the Canon T3i

Advantages of the Sony NEX-3
Size Significantly smaller 117x62x33 mm vs 133x99x79 mm
Help
 4.4x smaller
Autofocus Video autofocus Contrast detection vs None
Help
 Automatically focuses shooting video
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
Storage slots Has more storage slots 2 vs 1
Help
 More slots allows storing more images without switching memory cards
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 12,800 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
Help
 The NEX-3's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12 EV vs 11.5 EV
Help
 0.5 f-stops more dynamic range
Thickness Significantly thinner 1.3" vs 3.1"
Help
 2.4x thinner
Weight Significantly lighter 297 g vs 570 g
Help
 Around 50% lighter
Startup delay Less startup delay 1000 ms vs 1500 ms
Help
 More than 30% less delay when turning on
Overall image quality Slightly better image quality 68.0 vs 65.0
Help
 Almost the same
Focus points More focus points 25 vs 9
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 7 fps vs 3.7 fps
Help
 Around 90% faster continuous shooting
Sensor size Slightly larger sensor APS-C 23.4x15.6mm vs APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
Help
 Around 10% larger sensor
Sony Alpha NEX-3 Learn more about
the Sony NEX-3
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Canon Rebel T3i Canon Rebel T3i
89 vs 43
Explain scores
Sony Alpha NEX-3 Sony Alpha NEX-3
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
External mic jack You can plug a microphone into both of these Help
Record higher quality audio with a microphone
Screen flips out Flip-out screens Help
Great for movies
Sensor size Large sensors Help
T3i:APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
NEX-3: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
True resolution Capture very high resolution images Help
T3i:17.9 MP
NEX-3:14 MP
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
Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
T3i:1
NEX-3:0

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$497 body only

$597 - $805 with 18-55mm lens
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Startup delay Has slightly less startup delay
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Compare the D5100 vs the Rebel T3i
Compare the D5100 vs the Alpha NEX-3
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$547 with 18-55mm lens
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the D3200 vs the Rebel T3i
Compare the D3200 vs the Alpha NEX-3
Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$332 body only

$429 - $499 with 18-55mm lens
Startup delay Has slightly less startup delay
Battery life Has a slightly longer battery life
Sensor cleaning Lacks a self cleaning sensor
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the Rebel T3i
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the Alpha NEX-3
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$447 - $740 with 18-55mm lens
Startup delay Has slightly less startup delay
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the D3100 vs the Rebel T3i
Compare the D3100 vs the Alpha NEX-3

Canon Rebel T3i Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon Rebel T4i

Canon Rebel T4i

Entry-level DSLR

$669 - $800 body only

$699 - $749 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 T4i vs the Rebel T3i
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$699 - $899 body only

$999 - $1,279 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

$500 body only

$600 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

Sony Alpha NEX-3 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sony Alpha NEX-5

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$656 - $782 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Dynamic range More dynamic range
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Storage slots Has fewer storage slots
Compare the Alpha NEX-5 vs the Alpha NEX-3
Sony Alpha NEX-F3

Sony NEX-F3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$399 - $730 with 18-55mm lens
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Movie format Higher resolution movies
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Movie continuous focus Doesn't focus continuously recording movies
Compare the NEX-F3 vs the Alpha NEX-3
Sony NEX-5N

Sony NEX-5N

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$650 - $699 with 18-55mm lens
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Touch screen Has a touch screen
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Storage slots Has fewer storage slots
Compare the NEX-5N vs the Alpha NEX-3
Nikon 1 J1

Nikon 1 J1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$397 with 10-30mm lens
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Continuous shooting Shoots much faster
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Compare the 1 J1 vs the Alpha NEX-3
Samsung NX1000

Samsung NX1000

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$328 - $449 with 20-50mm lens
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Movie format Higher resolution movies
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Compare the NX1000 vs the Alpha NEX-3

appearance

Canon Rebel T3i Sony Alpha NEX-3
Canon Rebel T3i Sony Alpha NEX-3
Canon Rebel T3i Sony Alpha NEX-3

discussion

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