Canon Rebel
T2i
 vs
Nikon
D300

Updated (February, 2011): Compare the Canon Rebel T3i vs Nikon D300

Canon EOS Rebel T2i

73
"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

Movie format
 Full HD
1080p @ 30fps
Screen resolution
 High resolution screen
1,040k dots
True resolution
 High true resolution
17.9 MP
External mic jack
 External mic jack
Record higher quality audio with a microphone
Size
 Really small
Prosumer size 129x98x62 mm
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Nikon D300

70
Runner-up

Nikon D300
"The body is constructed from magnesium alloy, soft rubber is used on the grips both front and back as well as environmental seals on compartment doors."
dpreview.com | talking about the D300's build-quality
"High ISO 3200 perfectly usable (if slightly softer due to NR), ISO 6400 usable for small output"
dpreview.com | talking about the D300's iso-noise

Reasons to buy the Nikon D300

Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
12 EV
Viewfinder size
 Large viewfinder
0.62x
Weather sealed
 Weather sealed
Shoot in extreme weather
Startup delay
 Almost no delay when powering up
300 ms startup delay
Focus points
 Many focus points
51
Cross type focus points
 Many cross-type focus points
15

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
True resolution Higher true resolution 17.9 MP vs 12.2 MP
Help
 Capture around 50% more detail in your photos
Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO 784 ISO vs 679 ISO
Help
 The T2i has a slight edge (0.2 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen 1,040k dots vs 922k dots
Help
 More than 10% higher resolution screen
Size Smaller 129x98x62 mm vs 147x114x74 mm
Help
 Around 40% smaller
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
 The T2i's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Weight Significantly lighter 530 g vs 925 g
Help
 More than 40% lighter
Thickness Significantly thinner 2.4" vs 2.9"
Help
 Around 20% thinner
Lowest price Cheaper $499.00 vs $1,672.81
Help
 The best price we've seen is $1,174 cheaper (3.4x less)
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 12,800 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
Help
 The T2i's boost ISO is 1 f-stop better
Canon EOS Rebel T2i Learn more about
the Canon T2i

Advantages of the Nikon D300
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12 EV vs 11.5 EV
Help
 0.5 f-stops more dynamic range
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
Cross type focus points Significantly more cross-type focus points 15 vs 1
Help
 Grab focus in difficult situations
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder 0.62x vs 0.54x
Help
 More than 30% larger viewfinder
Viewfinder coverage Much better viewfinder coverage 100% vs 95%
Help
 Around 10% better viewfinder coverage
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 6 fps vs 3.7 fps
Help
 More than 60% faster continuous shooting
Viewfinder Has a pentaprism viewfinder Pentaprism vs Pentamirror
Help
 Pentaprism viewfinders are typically brighter
Battery life Longer battery life 1000 shots vs 440 shots
Help
 Around 2.5x more shots per battery charge
Overall image quality Slightly better image quality 67.0 vs 66.0
Help
 Almost the same
Startup delay Less startup delay 300 ms vs 400 ms
Help
 Around 30% less delay when turning on
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 227 ms vs 252 ms
Help
 Around 10% less delay when taking photos
Sensor size Slightly larger sensor APS-C 23.6x15.8mm vs APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
Help
 More than 10% larger sensor
Fastest shutter speed Much faster max shutter speed 1/8000s vs 1/4000s
Help
 2x faster max shutter speed
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available 169 lenses vs 162 lenses
Help
 Almost the same
Nikon D300 Learn more about
the Nikon D300
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent DSLRs, and ignoring price

Canon EOS Rebel T2i Canon Rebel T2i
73 vs 70
Explain scores
Nikon D300 Nikon D300
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 pro DSLR.

performance Which camera has better performance? Cast your vote!

CanonRebel T2i
 Canon EOS Rebel T2i vs Nikon D300
NikonD300
Uses Travel score Travel
On holiday or vacation
6
4
Vote Vote
Sports score Sports
Fast action, sometimes indoors
3
8
Vote Vote
Features Color accuracy Color accuracy
White balance in varied lighting
5
5
Vote Vote
Autofocus peformance Still image focusing
Speed and accuracy
3
7
Vote Vote
Manual controls Manual settings
How quickly and easily you can change settings
4
6
Vote Vote
Build quality Build quality
Is it sturdy, well made, plastic or metal
3
6
Vote Vote
Green arrow Join in the discussion below!

similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Lens availability Many lenses available Help
T2i:162 lenses
D300:169 lenses
Screen resolution High resolution screens Help
T2i:1,040k dots
D300:922k dots
Startup delay Minimal startup delay Help
T2i:400 ms
D300:300 ms
Thickness Thin Help
T2i:2.4"
D300:2.9"
Storage slots Fewer storage slots Help
1
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 D300
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$650 - $749 body only

$600 - $750 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D5100 vs the Rebel T2i
Compare the D5100 vs the D300
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 D300
Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$379 body only

$460 - $550 with 18-55mm lens
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the Rebel T2i
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the D300
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 D300
Canon EOS Rebel T1i

Canon Rebel T1i

Entry-level DSLR

$445 - $629 body only

$504 - $609 with 18-55mm lens
Shutter lag Has slightly less shutter lag
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
External mic jack Lacks and external mic jack
Compare the Rebel T1i vs the Rebel T2i
Compare the Rebel T1i vs the D300
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$869 - $897 body only

$1,099 - $1,200 with 18-105mm lens
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Color depth Has slightly more color depth
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D90 vs the Rebel T2i
Compare the D90 vs the D300

Canon EOS Rebel T2i Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Canon EOS Rebel T2i.

Nikon D300 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D300S

Nikon D300S

Pro DSLR

$1,700 body only

$2,547 - $4,295 with 18-200mm lens
Movie format Shoots movies
Overall image quality Better image quality
Compare the D300S vs the D300

appearance

Canon EOS Rebel T2i Nikon D300
Canon EOS Rebel T2i Nikon D300
Canon EOS Rebel T2i Nikon D300

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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