Canon Rebel
T2i
 vs
Pentax
K-r

Updated (February, 2011): Compare the Canon Rebel T3i vs Pentax K-r

Pentax K-r

75
Winner

Pentax K-r
"The K-r produces, in almost any shooting situation, output that is virtually identical to the K-x's."
dpreview.com | talking about the K-r's image-quality
"The K-r is in many ways a very competent upper entry-level camera."
dpreview.com | talking about the K-r's overall-performance

Reasons to buy the Pentax K-r

Color depth
 Great color depth
22.9 bits
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
12.4 EV
Image stabilization
 Image stabilization
Sensor shift
Light sensitivity
 High ISO
12,800 ISO
Continuous shooting
 Rapid fire
6 fps
Startup delay
 Almost no delay when powering up
300 ms startup delay
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

58
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as a whole, it is the best camera of its class that we've ever seen, and one of those rare cameras that won't look out of date in a couple of years' time."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
"High-spec video mode, including external microphone jack"
dpreview.com | talking about the T2i's video-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 @ 25fps
Help
 Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video at a higher frame rate
External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
 Record high quality audio with an external microphone
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
 Get that real film feel
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 17.9 MP vs 12.2 MP
Help
 Capture around 50% more detail in your photos
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available 162 lenses vs 90 lenses
Help
 80% more lenses available
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen 1,040k dots vs 920k dots
Help
 More than 10% higher resolution screen
Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO 784 ISO vs 755 ISO
Help
 The T2i has a slight edge (0.1 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Thickness Thinner 2.4" vs 2.7"
Help
 Around 10% thinner
Size Smaller 129x98x62 mm vs 125x97x68 mm
Help
 Almost the same
Weight Lighter 530 g vs 598 g
Help
 More than 10% lighter
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $544.00 vs $644.79
Help
 The best price we've seen is $101 cheaper (around 20% less)
Canon EOS Rebel T2i Learn more about
the Canon T2i

Advantages of the Pentax K-r
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.4 EV vs 11.5 EV
Help
 0.9 f-stops more dynamic range
Image stabilization Image stabilization Sensor shift vs None
Help
 Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
Overall image quality Better image quality 72.0 vs 66.0
Help
 Around 10% better image quality
Cross type focus points Many more cross-type focus points 9 vs 1
Help
 Grab focus in difficult situations
Color depth Better color depth 22.9 bits vs 22.1 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.8 more bits of color
Shutter lag Much less shutter lag 105 ms vs 252 ms
Help
 2.4x less delay when taking photos
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Sensor size Significantly larger sensor APS-C 23.6x15.8mm vs APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
Help
 More than 10% larger sensor
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 12,800 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
Help
 The K-r's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 6 fps vs 3.7 fps
Help
 More than 60% faster continuous shooting
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 25,600 ISO vs 12,800 ISO
Help
 The K-r's boost ISO is 1 f-stop better
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder 0.56x vs 0.54x
Help
 Around 10% larger viewfinder
Focus points More focus points 11 vs 9
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay 300 ms vs 400 ms
Help
 Around 30% less delay when turning on
Viewfinder coverage Better viewfinder coverage 96% vs 95%
Help
 Almost the same
Fastest shutter speed Significantly faster max shutter speed 1/6000s vs 1/4000s
Help
 More than 30% faster max shutter speed
Battery life Slightly longer battery life 470 shots vs 440 shots
Help
 Around 10% more shots per battery charge
Pentax K-r Learn more about
the Pentax K-r
vs

recommendations

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

Canon EOS Rebel T2i Canon Rebel T2i
58 vs 75
Explain scores
Pentax K-r Pentax K-r
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Pentax K-r.

advice

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similarities

Compared to recent entry-level DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Screen resolution High resolution screens Help
T2i:1,040k dots
K-r:920k dots
Startup delay Minimal startup delay Help
T2i:400 ms
K-r:300 ms
Size Very small Help
T2i:129x98x62 mm
K-r:125x97x68 mm
Thickness Very thin Help
T2i:2.4"
K-r:2.7"
Storage slots Fewer storage slots Help
1
Autofocus No video autofocus Help
Manual focus only
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Battery life Few shots per battery charge Help
T2i:440 shots
K-r:470 shots
Weather sealed Neither is weather sealed Help
Need to shelter it from weather

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
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 K-r
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 slightly 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 K-r
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
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D3100 vs the Rebel T2i
Compare the D3100 vs the K-r
Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$333 body only

$489 - $500 with 18-55mm lens
Battery life Has a significantly longer battery life
Weight Is slightly lighter
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 K-r
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 screen which flips out
Viewfinder Has higher quality type of viewfinder
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the EOS 60D vs the Rebel T2i
Compare the EOS 60D vs the K-r
Canon EOS Rebel T1i

Canon Rebel T1i

Entry-level DSLR

$471 - $629 body only

$549 - $580 with 18-55mm lens
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Compare the Rebel T1i vs the Rebel T2i
Compare the Rebel T1i vs the K-r
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
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Compare the D90 vs the Rebel T2i
Compare the D90 vs the K-r

Canon EOS Rebel T2i Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

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

Pentax K-r Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Pentax K-x

Pentax K-x

Entry-level DSLR

$675 with 18-55mm lens
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO
Screen size Much smaller screen
Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen
Compare the K-x vs the K-r
Pentax K-5

Pentax K-5

Entry-level DSLR

$888 - $1,129 body only

$1,033 - $1,283 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Much lower noise at high ISO
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality
Startup delay More startup delay
Size Larger
Compare the K-5 vs the K-r

appearance

Canon EOS Rebel T2i Pentax K-r
Canon EOS Rebel T2i Pentax K-r
Canon EOS Rebel T2i Pentax K-r

discussion

Showing 4 comments

J1 (7:51 PM, December 06, 2011)
I found this very helpful. I can see why the T2i wins on a score basis--especially given the comment about some skewing to Canon. That said, it also helps increase my confidence in going with the the Pentax over the Canon.

I don't really care about video...it's an add-on for emergencies. And suddenly, the Pentax looks a lot better by the numbers.

Also, there are two features that I find huge on the Pentax that for me move the needle way over to the Pentax side: the in-camera HDR and the in-camera image stabilization.The cost of Canon IS series lenses is much higher than the non-stablized lenses. With Pentax, any lens you have (including the 50mm lens from my K1000) is image stablized for free. So buy the Pentax, and you get cheaper (or better) lenses going forward forever.While I'm no expert in HDR, I've seen some of the results that the KR can produce in challenging shooting conditions, and was very impressed.As a side note, the number of lenses seems an irrelevant comparator, both because the "core" lenses you'll use most often are available on both, and because the number of lenses on the Canon include IS versus non IS lenses.
 
Loudnoizez (9:14 PM, February 11, 2011)
Thanks for the breakdown link.
http://snapsort.com/compare/Canon_EOS_Rebel_T2i-vs-Pentax_K-r/score

I completely agree with Paul. My girl friend has a T2i and I have a K-r. In the linked Score breakdown above,... In most categories where the K-r wins, it wins BIG! In most categories where the T2i wins, it only wins a little. Also, if you disregard Movie format and lenses available, the K-r WINS the total rating!
 
Avatar for Snapsort Snapsort (0:04 AM, November 21, 2010)
Definitely the K-R looks like a great option as far as image quality goes. They're very close though, and truth be told I'm not sure many people would notice the difference in color depth or dynamic range.

To see why Snapsort gives the Canon a higher score click 'explain scores': http://snapsort.com/compare/Canon_EOS_Rebel_T2i-vs-Pentax_K-r/score

Snapsort includes 'popularity' in the score which skews it in favor of the Canon.
 
Paul (11:31 PM, November 20, 2010)
I'm not sure I understand why the Canon gets so much better a score. It sounds as though the Pentax creates far superior photos. For someone who's primarily concerned with the image quality, the Pentax sounds like a better option. Would that be the case?