Canon EOS Digital
Rebel XSi
 vs
Sony Alpha
DSLR-A330

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi

40
"Superb resolution, good per-pixel sharpness"
dpreview.com | talking about the Rebel XSi's image-quality
"Lots of external controls including new ISO button give instant access to commonly changed functions"
dpreview.com | talking about the Rebel XSi's button-layout

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi

Screen size
 Large screen
3.0"
Startup delay
 Almost no delay when powering up
400 ms startup delay
Shutter lag
 Barely any delay taking photos
160 ms shutter lag
Size
 Really small
Prosumer size 129x98x62 mm
Sensor cleaning
 Self cleaning sensor
Avoids dust in your photos
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Sony Alpha DSLR-A330

33

Reasons to buy the Sony Alpha DSLR-A330

Image stabilization
 Image stabilization
Sensor shift
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Sensor size
 Large sensor
APS-C 23.5x15.7mm
Storage slots
 More storage slots
2
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses

differences

Advantages of the Canon Rebel XSi
Screen size Much larger screen 3.0" vs 2.7"
Help
 More than 10% larger screen
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 692 ISO vs 535 ISO
Help
 The Rebel XSi has a slight edge (0.4 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available 162 lenses vs 92 lenses
Help
 Around 80% more lenses available
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder 0.54x vs 0.48x
Help
 More than 20% larger viewfinder
True resolution Higher true resolution 12.2 MP vs 10 MP
Help
 Capture more than 20% more detail in your photos
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor CMOS vs CCD
Help
 CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 3.5 fps vs 2.5 fps
Help
 40% faster continuous shooting
Size Smaller 129x98x62 mm vs 128x97x71 mm
Help
 More than 10% smaller
Thickness Thinner 2.4" vs 2.8"
Help
 More than 10% thinner
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi Learn more about
the Canon Rebel XSi

Advantages of the Sony DSLR-A330
Image stabilization Image stabilization Sensor shift vs None
Help
 Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
Color depth Better color depth 22.4 bits vs 21.9 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.5 more bits of color
Dynamic range More dynamic range 11.5 EV vs 10.8 EV
Help
 0.7 f-stops more dynamic range
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
Overall image quality Better image quality 64.0 vs 61.0
Help
 Almost the same
Sensor size Larger sensor APS-C 23.5x15.7mm vs APS-C 22.2x14.8mm
Help
 More than 10% larger sensor
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 3,200 ISO vs 1,600 ISO
Help
 The DSLR-A330's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Sony Alpha DSLR-A330 Learn more about
the Sony DSLR-A330
vs

recommendations

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

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi
40 vs 33
Explain scores
Sony Alpha DSLR-A330 Sony Alpha DSLR-A330
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi.

performance Which camera has better performance? Cast your vote!

CanonEOS Digital Rebel XSi
 Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi vs Sony Alpha DSLR-A330
SonyAlpha DSLR-A330
Uses Travel score Travel
On holiday or vacation
0
2
Vote Vote
Sports score Sports
Fast action, sometimes indoors
0
2
Vote Vote
Features Color accuracy Color accuracy
White balance in varied lighting
0
1
Vote Vote
Autofocus peformance Still image focusing
Speed and accuracy
0
1
Vote Vote
Manual controls Manual settings
How quickly and easily you can change settings
0
1
Vote Vote
Build quality Build quality
Is it sturdy, well made, plastic or metal
0
1
Vote Vote
Green arrow Join in the discussion below!

similarities

Compared to recent entry-level DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Size Fairly small Help
Rebel XSi:129x98x62 mm
DSLR-A330:128x97x71 mm
Thickness Thin Help
Rebel XSi:2.4"
DSLR-A330:2.8"
Weight Light weight Help
Rebel XSi:524 g
DSLR-A330:529 g
Fastest shutter speed Slow max shutter speed Help
1/4000 of a second
Light sensitivity (boost) No boost ISO Help
Lacks boost light sensitivity
Viewfinder coverage Below average viewfinder coverage Help
95%
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
Rebel XSi:1,600 ISO
DSLR-A330:3,200 ISO
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
Rebel XSi:12.2 MP
DSLR-A330:10 MP
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
Rebel XSi:3.5 fps
DSLR-A330:2.5 fps
Autofocus No video autofocus Help
Manual focus only
Screen resolution Low resolution screens Help
230k dots
Movie format Do not shoot movies Help
No movies
Dynamic range Poor dynamic range Help
Rebel XSi:10.8 EV
DSLR-A330:11.5 EV
Overall image quality Low image quality Help
Rebel XSi:61.0
DSLR-A330:64.0
Low light performance Above average noise at high ISO Help
Rebel XSi:692 ISO
DSLR-A330:535 ISO

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$379 body only

$460 - $550 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Records lower quality movies
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Thickness Is thicker
Sensor cleaning Lacks a self cleaning sensor
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the EOS Digital Rebel XSi
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the Alpha DSLR-A330
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$499 - $949 body only

$579 - $867 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Screen resolution Has a much higher resolution screen
Shutter lag Has significantly more shutter lag
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the EOS Digital Rebel XSi
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the Alpha DSLR-A330
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$609 - $800 body only

$888 - $1,100 with 18-135mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is significantly larger
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the EOS Digital Rebel XSi
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the Alpha DSLR-A330
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$834 body only

$500 - $984 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Thickness Is thicker
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Compare the D3100 vs the EOS Digital Rebel XSi
Compare the D3100 vs the Alpha DSLR-A330
Canon EOS Rebel T1i

Canon Rebel T1i

Entry-level DSLR

$445 - $629 body only

$503 - $609 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Screen resolution Has a significantly higher resolution screen
Color depth Has slightly less color depth
Compare the Rebel T1i vs the EOS Digital Rebel XSi
Compare the Rebel T1i vs the Alpha DSLR-A330
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS

Entry-level DSLR

$334 - $595 body only

$449 - $459 with 18-55mm lens
Screen size Has a significantly smaller screen
Compare the EOS Digital Rebel XS vs the EOS Digital Rebel XSi
Compare the EOS Digital Rebel XS vs the Alpha DSLR-A330
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi

Entry-level DSLR

$625 with 18-55mm lens
Live view Doesn't let you preview your photos on the screen
Screen size Has a significantly smaller screen
Compare the EOS Digital Rebel XTi vs the EOS Digital Rebel XSi
Compare the EOS Digital Rebel XTi vs the Alpha DSLR-A330

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$899 - $1,304 body only

$1,139 - $1,342 with 18-135mm lens
Movie format Shoots movies
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Shutter lag Significantly more shutter lag
Size Much larger
Compare the EOS 60D vs the EOS Digital Rebel XSi

Sony Alpha DSLR-A330 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sony Alpha DSLR-A390

Sony Alpha DSLR-A390

Entry-level DSLR

$471 - $499 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution
Size Larger
Thickness Significantly thicker
Compare the Alpha DSLR-A390 vs the Alpha DSLR-A330

appearance

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi Sony Alpha DSLR-A330
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi Sony Alpha DSLR-A330
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi Sony Alpha DSLR-A330

Find similar cameras

Here are some links to help you find other cameras with similar features to both of these:

discussion Which do you think is better?

Speech is free, but discussion at Snapsort is moderated! Please discuss your opinion of these cameras here, and discuss feedback for Snapsort at our support community.

Showing 0 comments