Canon Rebel
T2i
 vs
Nikon
D300S

Updated (February, 2011): Compare the Canon Rebel T3i vs Nikon D300S

Nikon D300S

77
Winner

Nikon D300S
"Most high-end DSLRs feature Magnesium alloy construction but the D300 stood out as a particularly weighty and well-constructed example"
dpreview.com | talking about the D300S's build-quality
"The D300S is not the standout product that its predecessor was and unless you find your clients are clamoring for video footage... that shouldn't take away from an absolutely excellent product - a gently polished and refined update of a product that we considered a benchmark when it was released."
dpreview.com | talking about the D300S's overall-performance

Reasons to buy the Nikon D300S

Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
12.2 EV
Weather sealed
 Weather sealed
Shoot in extreme weather
Continuous shooting
 Rapid fire
7 fps
Startup delay
 Almost no delay when powering up
300 ms startup delay
External mic jack
 External mic jack
Record higher quality audio with a microphone
Focus points
 Many focus points
51
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

73
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
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Thickness
 Thin
2.4"
Weight
 Light-weight
530 g

differences

Advantages of the Canon T2i
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 30fps vs 720p @ 24fps
Help
 Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video at a higher frame rate
True resolution Higher true resolution 17.9 MP vs 12.2 MP
Help
 Capture around 50% more detail in your photos
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen 1,040k dots vs 920k 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 938 g
Help
 More than 40% lighter
Thickness Significantly thinner 2.4" vs 2.9"
Help
 Around 20% thinner
Lowest price Cheaper $499.00 vs $1,699.99
Help
 The best price we've seen is $1,201 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 D300S
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.2 EV vs 11.5 EV
Help
 0.7 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
Overall image quality Better image quality 70.0 vs 66.0
Help
 Around 10% better image quality
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
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 7 fps vs 3.7 fps
Help
 Around 90% faster continuous shooting
Color depth Better color depth 22.5 bits vs 22.1 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.4 more bits of color
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
Battery life Longer battery life 950 shots vs 440 shots
Help
 More than 2x more shots per battery charge
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
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 225 ms vs 252 ms
Help
 More than 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 D300S Learn more about
the Nikon D300S
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent DSLRs, and ignoring price

Canon EOS Rebel T2i Canon Rebel T2i
73 vs 77
Explain scores
Nikon D300S Nikon D300S
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D300S. 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 D300S
NikonD300S
Uses Travel score Travel
On holiday or vacation
3
1
Vote Vote
Sports score Sports
Fast action, sometimes indoors
2
2
Vote Vote
Features Color accuracy Color accuracy
White balance in varied lighting
2
2
Vote Vote
Autofocus peformance Still image focusing
Speed and accuracy
2
2
Vote Vote
Autofocus performance Video focusing
Speed and accuracy
2
1
Vote Vote
Manual controls Manual settings
How quickly and easily you can change settings
2
2
Vote Vote
Build quality Build quality
Is it sturdy, well made, plastic or metal
2
2
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
D300S:169 lenses
Screen resolution High resolution screens Help
T2i:1,040k dots
D300S:920k dots
Supports 24p 24p support Help
For that film look
Startup delay Minimal startup delay Help
T2i:400 ms
D300S:300 ms
Thickness Thin Help
T2i:2.4"
D300S:2.9"
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 D300S
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 D300S
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 D300S
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 D300S
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 D300S
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,097 body only

$1,227 with 55-200mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the D7000 vs the Rebel T2i
Compare the D7000 vs the D300S
Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,329 - $1,821 body only

$1,498 - $1,800 with 28-135mm lens
Shutter lag Has slightly less shutter lag
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Compare the EOS 7D vs the Rebel T2i
Compare the EOS 7D vs the D300S

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 D300S Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D700

Nikon D700

Pro DSLR

$2,750 body only
Low light performance Much lower noise at high ISO
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality
Movie format Does not take movies
Lens availability Fewer lenses available
Compare the D700 vs the D300S
Nikon D300

Nikon D300

Pro DSLR

$1,673 - $1,816 body only

$2,639 with 16-85mm lens
Movie format Does not take movies
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Compare the D300 vs the D300S

appearance

Canon EOS Rebel T2i Nikon D300S
Canon EOS Rebel T2i Nikon D300S
Canon EOS Rebel T2i Nikon D300S

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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