Canon Rebel
T3i
 vs
Sony Alpha
NEX-5

Updated (August, 2011): Compare the Canon Rebel T3i vs Sony NEX-5N

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
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
Badge
 Phase detection autofocus
fast and accurate
Sony Alpha NEX-5

54
Runner-up

Sony Alpha NEX-5
"With noise (and noise reduction in the JPEGs), kept well controlled up to ISO 3200, and giving very usable results even at 6400."
dpreview.com | talking about the NEX-5's iso-noise
"With its magnesium alloy body has a level of build that's pretty much untouchable for the money."
dpreview.com | talking about the NEX-5's build-quality

Reasons to buy the Sony Alpha NEX-5

Size
 Really small
Compact 111x59x38 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
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
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 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
Battery life Longer battery life 440 shots vs 330 shots
Help
 More than 30% more shots per battery charge
Shutter lag Slightly less shutter lag 283 ms vs 441 ms
Help
 Around 40% less delay when taking photos
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-5
Size Much smaller 111x59x38 mm vs 133x99x79 mm
Help
 4.2x 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
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera Yes vs No
Help
 Stitches together multiple photos for a wide perspective
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 12,800 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
Help
 The NEX-5'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
Overall image quality Slightly better image quality 69.0 vs 65.0
Help
 Around 10% better image quality
Thickness Significantly thinner 1.5" vs 3.1"
Help
 2.1x thinner
Weight Significantly lighter 287 g vs 570 g
Help
 Around 50% lighter
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
Startup delay Less startup delay 1000 ms vs 1500 ms
Help
 More than 30% 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 Alpha NEX-5 Learn more about
the Sony NEX-5
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Canon Rebel T3i Canon Rebel T3i
84 vs 54
Explain scores
Sony Alpha NEX-5 Sony Alpha NEX-5
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

Need help deciding?

Ask the community!
I am considering either the Canon T3i or the Sony NEX-5,
For example: Taking photos in low light or great family photos or ability to take great photos underwater

Select aspects that are most important to you: (max 3)

Popular tags:

Are you a camera expert? Share your knowledge!
2
votes
by Alex-Jenkins last month
Sony DSC-HX9v vs Sony NEX-5

I'm a beginner who's been using an old Nikon D70 for last 7 years - in auto mode only. I want s...
0
votes
by Mark-Ballard last week
Panasonic DMC-GX1 vs Sony NEX-5

Hey everyone. I'm a pretty unexperienced amateur that currently uses a Samsung NX10 normally wit...
0
votes
by Deanna-Strieb last week
Canon T3i vs Nikon D90

I'm mainly taking pictures of my children but am super picky!  I don't want to do manual setting...
0
votes
by Lisa-Bunn last month
Canon T3i vs Nikon D90

been stealing my dad's d-slr for quite some time for mini photo shoots with my dogs and friends ...
1
votes
by Matthew-Kim last month
Sony NEX-5N vs Sony NEX-5

I am a beginner but woudl like to take quality pictures of my kids.

One person recommends the Sony NEX-5N:

"Hi Matthew, I think both of these cameras would be awesome. The Sony NEX cameras are really small ..."

similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Screen resolution Very high resolution screens Help
T3i:1,040k dots
NEX-5:920k dots
Screen flips out Flip-out screens Help
Great for movies
Movie format Both shoot high resolution HD movies Help
1080p @ 30fps
Sensor size Very large sensors Help
T3i:APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
NEX-5:APS-C 23.4x15.6mm
True resolution Capture very high resolution images Help
T3i:17.9 MP
NEX-5:14 MP
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
NEX-5:22.2 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
Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
T3i:1
NEX-5:0

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Compare the D5100 vs the Rebel T3i
Compare the D5100 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$544 - $949 body only

$649 - $867 with 18-55mm lens
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the Rebel T3i
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the Alpha NEX-5
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
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the Rebel T3i
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens
Autofocus Focuses automatically while shootting video
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the D3100 vs the Rebel T3i
Compare the D3100 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Sony NEX-5N

Sony NEX-5N

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$598 - $600 body only

$698 - $700 with 18-55mm lens
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Light sensitivity Much higher maximum light sensitivity
Startup delay Has slightly more startup delay
Compare the NEX-5N vs the Rebel T3i
Compare the NEX-5N vs the Alpha NEX-5
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$830 - $897 body only

$1,199 - $1,200 with 18-105mm lens
Startup delay Has slightly less startup delay
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is much heavier
Compare the D90 vs the Rebel T3i
Compare the D90 vs the Alpha NEX-5
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
Compare the NEX-7 vs the Rebel T3i
Compare the NEX-7 vs the Alpha NEX-5

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
Compare the EOS 60D vs the Rebel T3i
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
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
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
Compare the EOS 7D vs the Rebel T3i

Sony Alpha NEX-5 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
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
Screen resolution Significantly lower resolution screen
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Compare the 1 J1 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Sony NEX C3

Sony NEX C3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$548 with 16mm lens
Overall image quality Slightly better image quality
True resolution Higher true resolution
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly slower
Compare the NEX C3 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Sony NEX-F3

Sony NEX-F3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$600 with 18-55mm lens
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Continuous shooting Shoots slower
Size Slightly larger
Compare the NEX-F3 vs the Alpha NEX-5
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
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Compare the Alpha NEX-3 vs the Alpha NEX-5

appearance

Canon Rebel T3i Sony Alpha NEX-5
Canon Rebel T3i Sony Alpha NEX-5
Canon Rebel T3i Sony Alpha NEX-5

discussion

Showing 1 comments

Rleon (1:05 AM, December 02, 2011)
I am leaning more to the Canon T3I.  I have the Sony NEX-3 and, while the NEX-5N has improvements, it also still has the drawbacks that drive me nuts with my NEX-3:  no viewfinder - this is important, especially on very sunny days when I cannot see the screen or when the screen gets worn and a weak zoom.  My Sony camcorder has a much stronger zoom than the NEX-3 and my husband's Canon SLR (a professional model but I don't need that much power) has a wonderful zoom.  So, when I upgrade it, it will be to the Canon T3i for those reasons.