Updated (June, 2011): Compare the Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS vs Sony NEX C3

Sony Alpha NEX-3

47

"Most impressive is that it focuses fast enough to track a subject running full speed at the camera"
imaging-resource.com | talking about the NEX-3's video-quality
"The Sony NEX-3 and NEX-5 are unique cameras that will be remembered for their design as well as their excellent image quality/"
imaging-resource.com | talking about the NEX-3's image-quality

Reasons to buy the Sony Alpha NEX-3

Screen size
Large screen
3.0"
Screen resolution
High resolution screen
920k dots
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
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS

34

"Configurable "My menu" system makes the interface fast and friendly"
dpreview.com | talking about the Rebel XS's button-layout
"Great results even with default settings"
dpreview.com | talking about the Rebel XS's image-quality

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS

Lens availability
Slightly more lenses available
162 lenses
Badge
Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Viewfinder
Great viewfinder
Pentamirror
Live view
Has live view
Preview your photos
Built-in flash
Built-in flash
External flash not needed

differences

Advantages of the Canon Rebel XS

Lens availability Much more lenses available 162 lenses vs 8 lenses
Help
Around 20.5x more lenses available
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
Lowest price Cheaper $347.99 vs $689.00
Help
The best price we've seen is $341 cheaper (around 50% less)
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS Learn more about
the Canon Rebel XS

Advantages of the Sony NEX-3

Screen size Much larger screen 3.0" vs 2.5"
Help
More than 20% larger screen
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 920k dots vs 230k dots
Help
4x higher resolution screen
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen Yes vs No
Help
Flip-out screens can be helpful when composing tricky shots or taking movies
Movie format Shoots movies 720p @ 30fps vs None
Help
Shoots HD (720p) video as well as still pictures
Size Significantly smaller 117x62x33 mm vs 126x98x65 mm
Help
3.4x 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
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 12,800 ISO vs 1,600 ISO
Help
The NEX-3's maximum light sensitivity is 3 f-stops better
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera Yes vs No
Help
Stitches together multiple photos for a wide perspective
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12 EV vs 10.9 EV
Help
1.1 f-stops more dynamic range
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 14 MP vs 10.1 MP
Help
Capture around 40% more detail in your photos
Overall image quality Better image quality 68.0 vs 62.0
Help
Around 10% better image quality
Storage slots Has more storage slots 2 vs 1
Help
More slots allows storing more images without switching memory cards
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 7 fps vs 3 fps
Help
Around 2.5x faster continuous shooting
Thickness Significantly thinner 1.3" vs 2.6"
Help
Around 50% thinner
Weight Lighter 297 g vs 502 g
Help
More than 40% lighter
Sensor size Slightly larger sensor APS-C 23.4x15.6mm vs APS-C 22.2x14.8mm
Help
More than 10% larger sensor
Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO 830 ISO vs 719 ISO
Help
The NEX-3 has a slight edge (0.2 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Sony Alpha NEX-3 Learn more about
the Sony NEX-3
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS
34 vs 47
Explain scores
Sony Alpha NEX-3 Sony Alpha NEX-3
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Sony Alpha NEX-3. 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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similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Sensor size Very large sensors Help
Rebel XS:APS-C 22.2x14.8mm
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
Supports RAW RAW support Help
Better editing
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
Longest exposure Long exposures Help
30 seconds
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Movie format One shoots movies Help
Rebel XS:None
NEX-3:720p @ 30fps

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$333 body only

$489 - $500 with 18-55mm lens

Battery life Has a significantly longer battery life
Autofocus Focuses automatically
Sensor cleaning Lacks a self cleaning sensor
Thickness Is thicker
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$544 - $949 body only

$649 - $867 with 18-55mm lens

Movie format Records higher quality movies
True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$619 - $700 body only

$745 - $1,000 with 18-55mm lens

Movie format Records higher quality movies
True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
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
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Canon Powershot SX40

Canon Powershot SX40

Super zoom

$347 - $380

Movie format Records higher quality movies
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Longest exposure Slightly shorter exposures
Thickness Is thicker
Canon PowerShot G12

Canon PowerShot G12

Pro digicam

$390 - $496

Image stabilization Has image stabilization
Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Longest exposure Slightly shorter exposures
Sensor type Has a CCD-family sensor

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D3000

Nikon D3000

Entry-level DSLR

$481 with 18-55mm lens

Screen size Much larger screen
Autofocus Faster autofocus
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Live view No live view
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi

Entry-level DSLR

$749 with 18-55mm lens

Live view No live view
Weight Slightly heavier
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi

Entry-level DSLR

$468 body only

$600 with 18-55mm lens

Screen size Much larger screen
Autofocus Faster autofocus
Color depth Worse color depth
Light sensitivity Worse maximum light sensitivity

Sony Alpha NEX-3 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$569 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
Sony NEX C3

Sony NEX C3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$548 with 16mm lens

Overall image quality Better image quality
True resolution Higher true resolution
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Storage slots Has fewer storage slots
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
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Screen resolution Significantly lower resolution screen
Sony NEX-5N

Sony NEX-5N

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$598 - $600 body only

$698 - $700 with 18-55mm lens

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Supports 24p Supports 24p
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Storage slots Has fewer storage slots
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$433 body only

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Overall image quality Significantly worse image quality
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack

appearance

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS Sony Alpha NEX-3
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS Sony Alpha NEX-3
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS Sony Alpha NEX-3

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