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

Nikon D3S

91

Winner

Nikon D3S

"The D3's proportions make it almost square, and thanks to a magnesium shell it is literally as solid as a brick."
dpreview.com | talking about the D3S's build-quality
"Class-leading high ISO performance and incredibly versatile ISO 100-12,800 sensitivity range"
dpreview.com | talking about the D3S's iso-noise

Reasons to buy the Nikon D3S

Low light performance
Low noise at high ISO
3,253 ISO
Overall image quality
Great image quality
82.0
Color depth
Great color depth
23.5 bits
Dynamic range
Wide dynamic range
12 EV
Viewfinder size
Large viewfinder
0.70x
Light sensitivity
High ISO
12,800 ISO
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

54

Runner-up

Canon Rebel T2i

"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as a whole, it is the best camera of its class that we've ever seen, and one of those rare cameras that won't look out of date in a couple of years' time."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
"Excellent detail and resolution"
dpreview.com | talking about the T2i's image-quality

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
Size Much smaller 129x98x62 mm vs 160x157x88 mm
Help
2.8x smaller
True resolution Significantly 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
Thickness Much thinner 2.4" vs 3.5"
Help
Around 30% thinner
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen 1,040k dots vs 921k dots
Help
More than 10% higher resolution screen
Weight Much lighter 530 g vs 1,240 g
Help
2.3x lighter
Lowest price Significantly cheaper $544.00 vs $5,196.95
Help
The best price we've seen is $4,653 cheaper (9.6x 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 D3S

Low light performance Much lower noise at high ISO 3,253 ISO vs 784 ISO
Help
The D3S has excellent image quality 2.1 f-stops higher ISO than the T2i
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 82.0 vs 66.0
Help
More than 20% better image quality
Battery life Much longer battery life 4400 shots vs 440 shots
Help
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 EV vs 11.5 EV
Help
0.5 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 36.0x23.9mm 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
Continuous shooting Shoots significantly faster 9 fps vs 3.7 fps
Help
Around 2.5x faster continuous shooting
Cross type focus points 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
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 102,400 ISO vs 12,800 ISO
Help
The D3S's boost ISO is 3 f-stops better
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 197 ms vs 252 ms
Help
More than 20% less delay when taking photos
Viewfinder Has a pentaprism viewfinder Pentaprism vs Pentamirror
Help
Pentaprism viewfinders are typically brighter
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 12,800 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
Help
The D3S's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Storage slots Has more storage slots 2 vs 1
Help
More slots allows storing more images without switching memory cards
Fastest shutter speed Much faster max shutter speed 1/8000s vs 1/4000s
Help
2x faster max shutter speed
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay 300 ms vs 400 ms
Help
Around 30% less delay when turning on
Nikon D3S Learn more about
the Nikon D3S
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent DSLRs, and ignoring price

Canon EOS Rebel T2i Canon Rebel T2i
54 vs 91
Explain scores
Nikon D3S Nikon D3S
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D3S. 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.

advice

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similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Supports 24p 24p support Help
For that film look
Autofocus No video autofocus Help
Manual focus only
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
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

Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 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
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
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$1,047 with 55-200mm lens

Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$699 - $700 with 18-55mm lens

True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Movie continuous focus Can focus continuously while recording movies
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,549 - $1,821 body only

$1,620 - $1,849 with 18-135mm lens

Shutter lag Has slightly less shutter lag
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Pro DSLR

$2,130 body only

$2,875 - $2,999 with 24-105mm lens

True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,000 body only

$1,100 with 55-200mm lens

Dynamic range Has slightly wider dynamic range
Movie continuous focus Can focus continuously while recording movies
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier

Canon EOS Rebel T2i 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 flip-out screen
Startup delay Significantly more startup delay
Thickness Much thicker
Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$333 body only

$489 - $500 with 18-55mm lens

Battery life Longer battery life
Weight Slightly lighter
Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen
Screen size Much smaller screen
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 Longer battery life
Thickness Much thicker
Size Larger
Canon EOS Rebel T1i

Canon Rebel T1i

Entry-level DSLR

$475 - $629 body only

$549 - $580 with 18-55mm lens

Shutter lag Less shutter lag
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay
Color depth Worse color depth
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack

Nikon D3S Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D800

Nikon D800

Pro DSLR

$2,999 - $3,000 body only

True resolution Much higher true resolution
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality
Battery life Much shorter battery life
Low light performance More noise at high ISO
Nikon D4

Nikon D4

Pro DSLR

$5,999 - $6,000 body only

Overall image quality Better image quality
Screen size Significantly larger screen
Battery life Much shorter battery life
Low light performance More noise at high ISO
Nikon D700

Nikon D700

Pro DSLR

$2,649 body only

Size Significantly smaller
Dynamic range More dynamic range
Low light performance Significantly more noise at high ISO
Battery life Much shorter battery life
Nikon D3X

Nikon D3X

Pro DSLR

$7,997 - $8,000 body only

True resolution Much higher true resolution
Overall image quality Better image quality
Low light performance Significantly more noise at high ISO
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Nikon D3

Nikon D3

Pro DSLR

Shutter lag Significantly less shutter lag
Dynamic range More dynamic range
Low light performance Significantly more noise at high ISO
Sensor cleaning Lacks a self cleaning sensor

appearance

Canon EOS Rebel T2i Nikon D3S
Canon EOS Rebel T2i Nikon D3S
Canon EOS Rebel T2i Nikon D3S

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