Canon Rebel
T2i
 vs
Nikon
D3

Updated (January, 2012): Compare the Canon Rebel T3i vs Nikon D4

Nikon D3

100
Winner

Nikon D3

Reasons to buy the Nikon D3

Low light performance
 Low noise at high ISO
2,290 ISO
Overall image quality
 Great image quality
81.0
Color depth
 Great color depth
23.5 bits
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
12.2 EV
Viewfinder size
 Large viewfinder
0.70x
Weather sealed
 Weather sealed
Shoot in extreme weather
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

71
Runner-up

Canon Rebel T2i
"Excellent detail and resolution"
dpreview.com | talking about the T2i's image-quality
"Since the body shell is virtually identical to the EOS 500D that it replaces, the handling is also virtually identical, meaning the grip still feels a bit fiddly unless you're got very delicate hands."
dpreview.com | talking about the T2i's feel

Reasons to buy the Canon Rebel T2i

Screen resolution
 High resolution screen
1,040k dots
External mic jack
 External mic jack
Record higher quality audio with a microphone
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
Thickness
 Thin
2.4"

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
Size Much smaller 129x98x62 mm vs 160x157x88 mm
Help
 2.8x smaller
True resolution Higher true resolution 17.9 MP vs 12.1 MP
Help
 Capture around 50% more detail in your photos
Lens availability More lenses available 162 lenses vs 121 lenses
Help
 More than 30% more lenses available
Sensor cleaning Has a self cleaning sensor Yes vs No
Help
 Removes dust from the sensor automatically, avoiding spots in photos
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen 1,040k dots vs 922k dots
Help
 More than 10% higher resolution screen
Thickness Much thinner 2.4" vs 3.5"
Help
 Around 30% thinner
Weight Much lighter 530 g vs 1,300 g
Help
 2.5x lighter
Lowest price Much cheaper $499.00 vs $6,682.39
Help
 The best price we've seen is $6,183 cheaper (13.4x less)
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
Canon EOS Rebel T2i Learn more about
the Canon T2i

Advantages of the Nikon D3
Low light performance Much lower noise at high ISO 2,290 ISO vs 784 ISO
Help
 The D3 has excellent image quality 1.5 f-stops higher ISO than the T2i
Overall image quality Much better image quality 81.0 vs 66.0
Help
 More than 20% better image quality
Battery life Much longer battery life 4300 shots vs 440 shots
Help
 Around 10x more shots per battery charge
Color depth Better color depth 23.5 bits vs 22.1 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 1.4 more bits of color
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.2 EV vs 11.5 EV
Help
 0.7 f-stops more dynamic range
Viewfinder size Significantly larger viewfinder 0.70x vs 0.54x
Help
 Around 70% larger viewfinder
Sensor size Much larger sensor Full frame 36.0x24.0mm vs APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
Help
 More than 2.5x larger sensor
Focus points Many more focus points 51 vs 9
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Weather sealed Weather sealed Yes vs No
Help
 Sealed to shoot in the rain
Shutter lag Much less shutter lag 88 ms vs 252 ms
Help
 2.9x less delay when taking photos
Continuous shooting Shoots significantly faster 9 fps vs 3.7 fps
Help
 Around 2.5x faster continuous shooting
Cross type focus points Significantly more cross-type focus points 15 vs 1
Help
 Grab focus in difficult situations
Viewfinder coverage Much better viewfinder coverage 100% vs 95%
Help
 Around 10% better viewfinder coverage
Viewfinder Has a pentaprism viewfinder Pentaprism vs Pentamirror
Help
 Pentaprism viewfinders are typically brighter
Storage slots Has more storage slots 2 vs 1
Help
 More slots allows storing more images without switching memory cards
Startup delay Less startup delay 300 ms vs 400 ms
Help
 Around 30% less delay when turning on
Fastest shutter speed Much faster max shutter speed 1/8000s vs 1/4000s
Help
 2x faster max shutter speed
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 25,600 ISO vs 12,800 ISO
Help
 The D3's boost ISO is 1 f-stop better
Nikon D3 Learn more about
the Nikon D3
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent DSLRs, and ignoring price

Canon EOS Rebel T2i Canon Rebel T2i
71 vs 100
Explain scores
Nikon D3 Nikon D3
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D3. 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 pro DSLR.

performance Which camera has better performance? Cast your vote!

CanonRebel T2i
 Canon EOS Rebel T2i vs Nikon D3
NikonD3
Uses Travel score Travel
On holiday or vacation
0
0
Vote Vote
Sports score Sports
Fast action, sometimes indoors
0
0
Vote Vote
Features Color accuracy Color accuracy
White balance in varied lighting
0
0
Vote Vote
Autofocus peformance Still image focusing
Speed and accuracy
0
0
Vote Vote
Manual controls Manual settings
How quickly and easily you can change settings
0
0
Vote Vote
Build quality Build quality
Is it sturdy, well made, plastic or metal
0
0
Vote Vote
Green arrow Join in the discussion below!

similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Screen resolution High resolution screens Help
T2i:1,040k dots
D3:922k dots
Startup delay Minimal startup delay Help
T2i:400 ms
D3:300 ms
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
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
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

$609 - $800 body only

$709 - $1,180 with 18-55mm lens
Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the Rebel T2i
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D3
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$650 - $749 body only

$600 - $750 with 18-55mm lens
Dynamic range Has slightly wider dynamic range
Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D5100 vs the Rebel T2i
Compare the D5100 vs the D3
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $984 with 18-55mm lens
Movie continuous focus Can focus continuously while recording movies
Autofocus Focuses automatically while shootting video
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D3100 vs the Rebel T2i
Compare the D3100 vs the D3
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$899 - $1,304 body only

$1,138 - $1,342 with 18-135mm lens
Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the EOS 60D vs the Rebel T2i
Compare the EOS 60D vs the D3
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$869 - $897 body only

$1,099 - $1,200 with 18-105mm lens
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D90 vs the Rebel T2i
Compare the D90 vs the D3
Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,329 - $1,821 body only

$1,498 - $1,800 with 28-135mm lens
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Compare the EOS 7D vs the Rebel T2i
Compare the EOS 7D vs the D3
Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Pro DSLR

$2,400 body only

$2,799 - $2,839 with 24-105mm lens
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the EOS 5D Mark II vs the Rebel T2i
Compare the EOS 5D Mark II vs the D3

Canon EOS Rebel T2i Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$379 body only

$460 - $550 with 18-55mm lens
Battery life Longer battery life
Weight Lighter
Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen
Screen size Much smaller screen
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the Rebel T2i
Canon EOS Rebel T1i

Canon Rebel T1i

Entry-level DSLR

$445 - $629 body only

$504 - $609 with 18-55mm lens
Shutter lag Less shutter lag
Startup delay Less startup delay
Color depth Worse color depth
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Compare the Rebel T1i vs the Rebel T2i

Nikon D3 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D700

Nikon D700

Pro DSLR

$2,750 body only
Size Much smaller
Sensor cleaning Has a self cleaning sensor
Battery life Much shorter battery life
Continuous shooting Shoots significantly slower
Compare the D700 vs the D3
Nikon D3S

Nikon D3S

Pro DSLR

$5,197 body only
Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO
Movie format Shoots movies
Shutter lag Significantly more shutter lag
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Compare the D3S vs the D3
Nikon D800

Nikon D800

Pro DSLR
Movie format Shoots movies
True resolution Much higher true resolution
Battery life Much shorter battery life
Continuous shooting Shoots significantly slower
Compare the D800 vs the D3
Nikon D4

Nikon D4

Pro DSLR

$6,000 body only
Movie format Shoots movies
Screen size Significantly larger screen
Battery life Much shorter battery life
Size Slightly larger
Compare the D4 vs the D3

appearance

Canon EOS Rebel T2i Nikon D3
Canon EOS Rebel T2i Nikon D3
Canon EOS Rebel T2i Nikon D3

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?

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