Updated (February, 2011): Compare the Canon Rebel T3i vs Leica M9

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as a whole, it is the best camera of its class that we've ever seen, and one of those rare cameras that won't look out of date in a couple of years' time."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
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
Live view
Has live view
Preview your photos
Built-in flash
Built-in flash
External flash not needed
Leica M9

48

Runner-up

Leica M9

Reasons to buy the Leica M9

Size
Really small
Mid size 139x80x37 mm
Sensor size
Large sensor
Full frame 36.0x24.0mm
Badge
Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Thickness
Thin
1.5"

differences

Advantages of the Canon T2i

Movie format Shoots movies 1080p @ 30fps vs None
Help
Shoots Full HD (1080p) video as well as still pictures
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 1,040k dots vs 230k dots
Help
More than 4.5x higher resolution screen
Screen size Much larger screen 3.0" vs 2.5"
Help
More than 20% larger screen
Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
Catch candid moments easily
Lens availability Much more lenses available 162 lenses vs 22 lenses
Help
Around 7.5x more lenses available
Live view Has live view Yes vs No
Help
Preview your photos on the camera's screen before taking them
Lowest price Much cheaper $544.00 vs $6,995.00
Help
The best price we've seen is $6,451 cheaper (12.9x less)
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 2,500 ISO
Help
The T2i's maximum light sensitivity is 1.4 f-stops better
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
Sensor cleaning Has a self cleaning sensor Yes vs No
Help
Removes dust from the sensor automatically, avoiding spots in photos
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor CMOS vs CCD
Help
CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster 3.7 fps vs 2 fps
Help
Around 90% faster continuous shooting
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
Longest exposure Significantly longer exposures 30s vs 4s
Help
7.5x longer exposures
Weight Slightly lighter 530 g vs 585 g
Help
Around 10% lighter
Viewfinder Has a through-the-lens viewfinder Pentamirror vs Rangefinder
Help
Through-the-lens viewfinders let you see exactly what your photo will look like
Canon EOS Rebel T2i Learn more about
the Canon T2i

Advantages of the Leica M9

Sensor size Much larger sensor Full frame 36.0x24.0mm vs APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
Help
More than 2.5x larger sensor
Size Smaller 139x80x37 mm vs 129x98x62 mm
Help
Around 50% smaller
Battery life Longer battery life 600 shots vs 440 shots
Help
Around 40% more shots per battery charge
Overall image quality Slightly better image quality 69.0 vs 66.0
Help
Almost the same
Thickness Thinner 1.5" vs 2.4"
Help
More than 40% thinner
Dynamic range More dynamic range 11.7 EV vs 11.5 EV
Help
0.2 f-stops more dynamic range
Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO 884 ISO vs 784 ISO
Help
The M9 has a slight edge (0.2 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Color depth Better color depth 22.5 bits vs 22.1 bits
Help
Distinguishes 0.4 more bits of color
Leica M9 Learn more about
the Leica M9
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Canon EOS Rebel T2i Canon Rebel T2i
72 vs 48
Explain scores
Leica M9 Leica M9
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 mirrorless interchangeable-lens.

advice

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similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
True resolution Capture extremely high resolution images Help
T2i:17.9 MP
M9:18.1 MP
Sensor size Very large sensors Help
T2i:APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
M9:Full frame 36.0x24.0mm
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
T2i:22.1 bits
M9:22.5 bits
External flash Support external flash Help
Better lighting
Viewfinder Viewfinders Help
T2i:Pentamirror
M9:Rangefinder
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
1/4000 of a second
Weight Heavy Help
T2i:530 g
M9:585 g
Autofocus No video autofocus Help
Manual focus only
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
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

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

Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
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 slightly wider dynamic range
Thickness Is thicker
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$1,047 with 55-200mm lens

Dynamic range Has slightly wider dynamic range
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Pro DSLR

$2,198 body only

$2,898 - $2,999 with 24-105mm lens

Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,000 - $1,197 body only

$1,100 with 55-200mm lens

Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Weather sealed Has a weather sealed body
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
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
Viewfinder Doesn't have a viewfinder
External mic jack Lacks and external mic jack

Canon EOS Rebel T2i Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens

Autofocus Video autofocus
Battery life Longer battery life
Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
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 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$848 - $1,304 body only

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

Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen
Battery life Much longer battery life
Size Larger
Weight Heavier
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

Leica M9 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Fujifilm X-Pro1

Fujifilm X-Pro1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$1,991 - $2,298 body only

Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Movie format Shoots movies
Sensor size Much smaller sensor
Battery life Shorter battery life
Fujifilm FinePix X100

Fujifilm FinePix X100

Boutique

$1,199

Screen size Significantly larger screen
Movie format Shoots movies
Sensor size Much smaller sensor
True resolution Much lower true resolution
Nikon D800

Nikon D800

Pro DSLR

$2,999 - $3,000 body only

Screen size Much larger screen
Movie format Shoots movies
Size Much larger
Thickness Significantly thicker
Leica M8

Leica M8

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

Fastest shutter speed Faster max shutter speed
Longest exposure Slightly longer exposures
True resolution Much lower true resolution
Sensor size Much smaller sensor
Sony NEX-7

Sony NEX-7

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$1,200 body only

$1,350 - $1,499 with 18-55mm lens

Movie format Shoots movies
Screen size Much larger screen
Sensor size Much smaller sensor
Battery life Shorter battery life

appearance

Canon EOS Rebel T2i Leica M9
Canon EOS Rebel T2i Leica M9
Canon EOS Rebel T2i Leica M9

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