Updated (February, 2011): Compare the Canon Rebel T3i vs Nikon Coolpix P5100

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as a whole, it is the best camera of its class that we've ever seen, and one of those rare cameras that won't look out of date in a couple of years' time."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
Nikon Coolpix P5100

39

Reasons to buy the Nikon Coolpix P5100

Size
Really small
Mid size 98x65x41 mm
Image stabilization
Image stabilization
Lens
Thickness
Thin
1.6"
Weight
Light-weight
250 g

differences

Advantages of the Canon T2i

Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 30fps vs 480p @ 30fps
Help
Shoots high resolution Full HD (1080p) video
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
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
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 17.9 MP vs 12 MP
Help
Capture around 50% more detail in your photos
Sensor size Significantly larger sensor APS-C 22.3x14.9mm vs 1/1.8" 7.4x5.6mm
Help
More than 8x 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 2,000 ISO
Help
The T2i's maximum light sensitivity is 1.7 f-stops better
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor CMOS vs CCD
Help
CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
Viewfinder Has a through-the-lens viewfinder Pentamirror vs Tunnel
Help
Through-the-lens viewfinders let you see exactly what your photo will look like
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 12,800 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
The T2i's boost ISO is 2 f-stops better
Fastest shutter speed Significantly faster max shutter speed 1/4000s vs 1/2000s
Help
2x faster max shutter speed
Longest exposure Longer exposures 30s vs 8s
Help
Around 4x longer exposures
Canon EOS Rebel T2i Learn more about
the Canon T2i

Advantages of the Nikon P5100

Image stabilization Image stabilization Lens vs None
Help
Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
Size Significantly smaller 98x65x41 mm vs 129x98x62 mm
Help
3x smaller
Weight Significantly lighter 250 g vs 530 g
Help
2.1x lighter
Thickness Thinner 1.6" vs 2.4"
Help
More than 30% thinner
Nikon Coolpix P5100 Learn more about
the Nikon P5100
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Canon EOS Rebel T2i Canon Rebel T2i
72 vs 39
Explain scores
Nikon Coolpix P5100 Nikon Coolpix P5100
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 digicam.

advice

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by dbarreda last week
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0
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by Bolder-Tour last week
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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
P5100:Tunnel
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
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
Dynamic range Has significantly wider dynamic range
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
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
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Pentax K-r

Pentax K-r

Entry-level DSLR

$645 - $649 with 18-55mm lens

Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Dynamic range Has slightly wider dynamic range
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly 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
Weight Is significantly heavier

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 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
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

Nikon Coolpix P5100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon Coolpix P510

Nikon Coolpix P510

Super zoom

$397 - $400

Zoom Much more zoom
Wide angle Much better wide angle
Size Significantly larger
Aperture Narrower aperture
Placeholder

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-P150

Compact

Size Slightly smaller
Thickness Thinner
Screen size Much smaller screen
Image stabilization No image stabilization
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX200V

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX200V

Super zoom

$399

Zoom Much more zoom
Wide angle Much better wide angle
Size Significantly larger
Thickness Much thicker
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ150

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ150

Super zoom

$499 - $500

Wide angle Much better wide angle
Zoom Much more zoom
Size Significantly larger
Thickness Significantly thicker
Fujifilm FinePix HS30 EXR

Fujifilm FinePix HS30 EXR

Super zoom

$438 - $500

Zoom Much more zoom
Wide angle Much better wide angle
Size Much larger
Thickness Much thicker

appearance

Canon EOS Rebel T2i Nikon Coolpix P5100
Canon EOS Rebel T2i Nikon Coolpix P5100
Canon EOS Rebel T2i Nikon Coolpix P5100

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