Canon Rebel
T2i
 vs
Nikon
D3000

Updated (February, 2011): Compare the Canon Rebel T3i vs Nikon D3100

Canon EOS Rebel T2i

58
"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as a whole, it is the best camera of its class that we've ever seen, and one of those rare cameras that won't look out of date in a couple of years' time."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

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 D3000

32
Runner-up

Nikon D3000
"The Nikon D40 was a groundbreaking camera, not only for Nikon, but for the entire entry-level sector of the DSLR market"
dpreview.com | talking about the D3000's overall-performance
"Very capable AF system, including 3D AF tracking, on a par with much more expensive DSLRs"
dpreview.com | talking about the D3000's auto-focus

Reasons to buy the Nikon D3000

Sensor size
 Large sensor
APS-C 23.6x15.8mm
Size
 Really small
Prosumer size 126x97x64 mm
Thickness
 Thin
2.5"

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
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 784 ISO vs 563 ISO
Help
 The T2i has a slight edge (0.5 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Live view Has live view Yes vs No
Help
 Preview your photos on the camera's screen before taking them
True resolution Much higher true resolution 17.9 MP vs 10 MP
Help
 Capture around 80% more detail in your photos
Overall image quality Better image quality 66.0 vs 62.0
Help
 Around 10% better image quality
Dynamic range More dynamic range 11.5 EV vs 11.1 EV
Help
 0.4 f-stops more dynamic range
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
Startup delay Less startup delay 400 ms vs 700 ms
Help
 More than 40% less delay when turning on
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor Yes vs No
Help
 Autofocuses with all autofocus lenses
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 12,800 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
 The T2i's boost ISO is 2 f-stops better
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster 3.7 fps vs 3 fps
Help
 More than 20% faster continuous shooting
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder 0.54x vs 0.52x
Help
 Around 10% larger viewfinder
Shutter lag Slightly less shutter lag 252 ms vs 262 ms
Help
 Almost the same
Thickness Thinner 2.4" vs 2.5"
Help
 Almost the same
Canon EOS Rebel T2i Learn more about
the Canon T2i

Advantages of the Nikon D3000
Sensor size Significantly larger sensor APS-C 23.6x15.8mm vs APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
Help
 More than 10% larger sensor
Color depth Better color depth 22.3 bits vs 22.1 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.2 more bits of color
Battery life Longer battery life 550 shots vs 440 shots
Help
 Around 30% more shots per battery charge
Focus points More focus points 11 vs 9
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available 169 lenses vs 162 lenses
Help
 Almost the same
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $480.99 vs $544.00
Help
 The best price we've seen is $63 cheaper (more than 10% less)
Nikon D3000 Learn more about
the Nikon D3000
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent entry-level DSLRs, and ignoring price

Canon EOS Rebel T2i Canon Rebel T2i
58 vs 32
Explain scores
Nikon D3000 Nikon D3000
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon EOS Rebel T2i.

advice

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1
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similarities

Compared to recent entry-level DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Lens availability Many lenses available Help
T2i:162 lenses
D3000:169 lenses
Size Very small Help
T2i:129x98x62 mm
D3000:126x97x64 mm
Thickness Very thin Help
T2i:2.4"
D3000:2.5"
Lowest price Inexpensive Help
T2i:$544.00
D3000:$480.99
Fastest shutter speed Slow max shutter speed Help
1/4000 of a second
Storage slots Fewer storage slots Help
1
Viewfinder coverage Below average viewfinder coverage Help
95%
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Autofocus No video autofocus Help
Manual focus only
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
1
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
T2i:3.7 fps
D3000:3 fps
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
T2i:6,400 ISO
D3000:1,600 ISO
Weather sealed Neither is weather sealed Help
Need to shelter it from weather
Dynamic range Poor dynamic range Help
T2i:11.5 EV
D3000:11.1 EV
Overall image quality Low image quality Help
T2i:66.0
D3000:62.0

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
Size Is significantly larger
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the Rebel T2i
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D3000
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is significantly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is significantly larger
Compare the D5100 vs the Rebel T2i
Compare the D5100 vs the D3000
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Movie continuous focus Can focus continuously while recording movies
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is slightly larger
Compare the D3100 vs the Rebel T2i
Compare the D3100 vs the D3000
Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$333 body only

$489 - $500 with 18-55mm lens
Battery life Has a slightly longer battery life
Weight Is slightly lighter
Thickness Is thicker
Sensor cleaning Lacks a self cleaning sensor
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the Rebel T2i
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the D3000
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$848 - $1,304 body only

$1,177 - $1,342 with 18-135mm lens
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the EOS 60D vs the Rebel T2i
Compare the EOS 60D vs the D3000
Canon EOS Rebel T1i

Canon Rebel T1i

Entry-level DSLR

$471 - $629 body only

$549 - $580 with 18-55mm lens
Shutter lag Has significantly less shutter lag
External mic jack Lacks and external mic jack
Supports 24p Doesn't record movies in 24p
Compare the Rebel T1i vs the Rebel T2i
Compare the Rebel T1i vs the D3000
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$1,047 with 55-200mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D90 vs the Rebel T2i
Compare the D90 vs the D3000

Canon EOS Rebel T2i Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

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

Nikon D3000 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D60

Nikon D60

Entry-level DSLR
Overall image quality Better image quality
Dynamic range More dynamic range
Screen size Much smaller screen
Autofocus Slower autofocus
Compare the D60 vs the D3000

appearance

Canon EOS Rebel T2i Nikon D3000
Canon EOS Rebel T2i Nikon D3000
Canon EOS Rebel T2i Nikon D3000

discussion

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