Updated (February, 2011): Compare the Canon Rebel T3i vs Canon PowerShot S5 IS

Canon EOS Rebel T2i

72

"Quite simply, taken as a whole, it is the best camera of its class that we've ever seen, and one of those rare cameras that won't look out of date in a couple of years' time."
dpreview.com | talking about the T2i's overall-performance
"High-spec video mode, including external microphone jack"
dpreview.com | talking about the T2i's video-quality

Reasons to buy the Canon Rebel T2i

Screen resolution
High resolution screen
1,040k dots
Size
Really small
Prosumer size 129x98x62 mm
True resolution
High true resolution
17.9 MP
Supports 24p
24p movies
For that film look
External mic jack
External mic jack
Record higher quality audio with a microphone
Badge
Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Canon PowerShot S5 IS

43

Reasons to buy the Canon PowerShot S5 IS

Size
Really small
Prosumer size 117x80x78 mm
Image stabilization
Image stabilization
Lens
Screen flips out
Flip-out screen
Great for movies

differences

Advantages of the Canon T2i

Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 1,040k dots vs 207k dots
Help
More than 5x higher resolution screen
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 30fps vs 480p @ 30fps
Help
Shoots high resolution Full HD (1080p) video
Screen size Much larger screen 3.0" vs 2.5"
Help
More than 20% larger screen
True resolution Much higher true resolution 17.9 MP vs 8 MP
Help
Capture more than 2x more detail in your photos
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
Sensor size Much larger sensor APS-C 22.3x14.9mm vs 1/2.5" 5.8x4.3mm
Help
Around 13.5x larger sensor
Interchangeable lenses Has interchangeable lenses Yes vs No
Help
Can take advantage of a variety of lenses
Supports RAW Shoots RAW Yes vs No
Help
Digitally develop your own photos with precise image control
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 1,600 ISO
Help
The T2i's maximum light sensitivity is 2 f-stops better
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor CMOS vs CCD
Help
CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 3.7 fps vs 1.5 fps
Help
Around 2.5x faster continuous shooting
Thickness Thinner 2.4" vs 3.1"
Help
More than 20% thinner
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
Viewfinder Has an optical viewfinder Pentamirror vs Digital
Help
Optical viewfinders save battery life and are more detailed
Longest exposure Longer exposures 30s vs 15s
Help
2x longer exposures
Weight Slightly lighter 530 g vs 550 g
Help
Almost the same
Fastest shutter speed Faster max shutter speed 1/4000s vs 1/3200s
Help
20% faster max shutter speed
Canon EOS Rebel T2i Learn more about
the Canon T2i

Advantages of the Canon S5 IS

Image stabilization Image stabilization Lens vs None
Help
Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
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
Size Slightly smaller 117x80x78 mm vs 129x98x62 mm
Help
Around 10% smaller
Canon PowerShot S5 IS Learn more about
the Canon S5 IS
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Canon EOS Rebel T2i Canon Rebel T2i
72 vs 43
Explain scores
Canon PowerShot S5 IS Canon PowerShot S5 IS
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon EOS Rebel T2i. 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 super zoom.

advice

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similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
External flash Support external flash Help
Better lighting
Viewfinder Viewfinders Help
T2i:Pentamirror
S5 IS:Digital
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
T2i:1/4000s
S5 IS:1/3200s
Weight Heavy Help
T2i:530 g
S5 IS:550 g
Thickness Quite thick Help
T2i:2.4"
S5 IS:3.1"
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Size Large Help
T2i:129x98x62 mm
S5 IS:117x80x78 mm

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$619 - $700 body only

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

Thickness Is thicker
Startup delay Has slightly more startup delay
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
Dynamic range Has significantly wider dynamic range
Thickness Is thicker
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens

Movie continuous focus Can focus continuously while recording movies
Autofocus Focuses automatically while shootting video
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$848 - $1,304 body only

$1,177 - $1,342 with 18-135mm lens

Battery life Has a much longer battery life
Cross type focus points Has slightly more cross-type focus points
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Canon Powershot SX40

Canon Powershot SX40

Super zoom

$347 - $380

Zoom Has way more more zoom
Wide angle Has a much wider wide angle lens
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is significantly larger
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi

Entry-level DSLR

$749 with 18-55mm lens

Live view Doesn't let you preview your photos on the screen
Dynamic range Has slightly narrower dynamic range

Canon EOS Rebel T2i Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$333 body only

$489 - $500 with 18-55mm lens

Battery life Significantly longer battery life
Weight Lighter
Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Canon EOS Rebel T1i

Canon Rebel T1i

Entry-level DSLR

$471 - $629 body only

$549 - $580 with 18-55mm lens

Shutter lag Slightly less shutter lag
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Supports 24p No 24p support
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$1,047 with 55-200mm lens

Battery life Significantly longer battery life
Overall image quality Better image quality
Movie format Lower resolution movies
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack

Canon PowerShot S5 IS Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon PowerShot SX20 IS

Canon PowerShot SX20 IS

Super zoom

$742

Wide angle Much better wide angle
Zoom More zoom
Size Larger
Aperture Slightly narrower aperture
Canon PowerShot SX130 IS

Canon PowerShot SX130 IS

Travel zoom

$130 - $245

Wide angle Much better wide angle
Screen size Much larger screen
Aperture Significantly narrower aperture
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Canon ELPH 300 HS

Canon ELPH 300 HS

Compact

$148 - $179

Wide angle Much better wide angle
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Zoom Less zoom

appearance

Canon EOS Rebel T2i Canon PowerShot S5 IS
Canon EOS Rebel T2i Canon PowerShot S5 IS
Canon EOS Rebel T2i Canon PowerShot S5 IS

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