Updated (August, 2011): Compare the Canon Rebel T3i vs Sony NEX-5N

Canon EOS Rebel T2i

72

"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as a whole, it is the best camera of its class that we've ever seen, and one of those rare cameras that won't look out of date in a couple of years' time."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
Supports 24p
24p movies
For that film look
External mic jack
External mic jack
Record higher quality audio with a microphone
Lens availability
Slightly more lenses available
162 lenses
Badge
Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Badge
Phase detection autofocus
fast and accurate
Sony NEX-5N

67

Runner-up

Sony NEX-5N

Reasons to buy the Sony NEX-5N

Size
Really small
Compact 111x59x38 mm
Light sensitivity
High ISO
25,600 ISO
Touch screen
Touch screen
Less buttons
Supports 24p
24p movies
For that film look
Continuous shooting
Rapid fire
10 fps
Dynamic range
Wide dynamic range
12.7 EV

differences

Advantages of the Canon T2i

Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
Catch candid moments easily
External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
Record high quality audio with an external microphone
Lens availability Much more lenses available 162 lenses vs 8 lenses
Help
Around 20.5x more lenses available
Startup delay Less startup delay 400 ms vs 1900 ms
Help
4.8x less delay when turning on
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen 1,040k dots vs 920k dots
Help
More than 10% higher resolution screen
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
True resolution Higher true resolution 17.9 MP vs 16 MP
Help
Capture more than 10% more detail in your photos
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder Pentamirror vs None
Help
A viewfinder can help save battery life by keeping the screen turned off
Canon EOS Rebel T2i Learn more about
the Canon T2i

Advantages of the Sony NEX-5N

Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 25,600 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
Help
The NEX-5N's maximum light sensitivity is 2 f-stops better
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen Yes vs No
Help
Flip-out screens can be helpful when composing tricky shots or taking movies
Touch screen Has a touch screen Yes vs No
Help
Fewer buttons to worry about and direct interaction with camera menus
Size Significantly smaller 111x59x38 mm vs 129x98x62 mm
Help
3.1x smaller
3D Takes 3D photos Yes vs No
Help
Combines multiple photos into a 3D image
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Autofocus Video autofocus Contrast detection vs None
Help
Automatically focuses shooting video
Overall image quality Better image quality 77.0 vs 66.0
Help
Around 20% better image quality
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera Yes vs No
Help
Stitches together multiple photos for a wide perspective
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.7 EV vs 11.5 EV
Help
1.2 f-stops more dynamic range
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 10 fps vs 3.7 fps
Help
More than 2.5x faster continuous shooting
Weight Significantly lighter 269 g vs 530 g
Help
Around 50% lighter
Focus points More focus points 25 vs 9
Help
Set focus accurately within the frame
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 1,079 ISO vs 784 ISO
Help
The NEX-5N has a slight edge (0.5 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Color depth Better color depth 23.6 bits vs 22.1 bits
Help
Distinguishes 1.5 more bits of color
Thickness Thinner 1.5" vs 2.4"
Help
Around 40% thinner
Sensor size Slightly larger sensor APS-C 23.4x15.6mm vs APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
Help
Around 10% larger sensor
Sony NEX-5N Learn more about
the Sony NEX-5N
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Canon EOS Rebel T2i Canon Rebel T2i
72 vs 67
Explain scores
Sony NEX-5N Sony NEX-5N
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 mirrorless interchangeable-lens.

advice

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similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Screen resolution Very high resolution screens Help
T2i:1,040k dots
NEX-5N:920k dots
Supports 24p Both support 24p, which is uncommon in cameras similar to these Help
For that film look
Movie format Full HD (1080p) video Help
T2i:1080p @ 30fps
NEX-5N:1080p @ 60fps
True resolution Capture extremely high resolution images Help
T2i:17.9 MP
NEX-5N:16 MP
Sensor size Very large sensors Help
T2i:APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
NEX-5N:APS-C 23.4x15.6mm
Interchangeable lenses Both support interchangeable lenses, which is uncommon in cameras similar to these Help
Many lenses to choose from
Supports RAW RAW support Help
Better editing
Color depth Good color depth Help
T2i:22.1 bits
NEX-5N:23.6 bits
External flash Support external flash Help
Better lighting
Sensor cleaning Self cleaning sensors Help
Avoids dust in your photos
Sensor type Better sensor types Help
Better in low light
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
1/4000 of a second
Longest exposure Long exposures Help
30 seconds
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur

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

Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens

Battery life Has a slightly longer battery life
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens

Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$848 - $1,304 body only

$1,177 - $1,342 with 18-135mm lens

Battery life Has a much longer battery life
Cross type focus points Has slightly more cross-type focus points
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is much heavier
Sony Alpha NEX-5

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$569 with 18-55mm lens

True resolution Takes slightly lower resolution photos
Supports 24p Doesn't record movies in 24p
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$699 - $700 with 18-55mm lens

True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,000 - $1,197 body only

$1,100 with 55-200mm lens

Weather sealed Has a weather sealed body
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is much heavier

Canon EOS Rebel T2i Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$333 body only

$489 - $500 with 18-55mm lens

Battery life Significantly longer battery life
Weight Lighter
Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Canon EOS Rebel T1i

Canon Rebel T1i

Entry-level DSLR

$471 - $629 body only

$549 - $580 with 18-55mm lens

Shutter lag Slightly less shutter lag
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Supports 24p No 24p support
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$1,047 with 55-200mm lens

Battery life Significantly longer battery life
Overall image quality Better image quality
Movie format Lower resolution movies
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack

Sony NEX-5N Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Sony NEX-7

Sony NEX-7

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$1,200 body only

$1,350 - $1,499 with 18-55mm lens

External mic jack Has an external mic jack
True resolution Much higher true resolution
Touch screen No touch screen
Light sensitivity Worse maximum light sensitivity
Nikon 1 J1

Nikon 1 J1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$547 with 10-30mm lens

High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Continuous shooting Shoots much faster
Light sensitivity Worse maximum light sensitivity
Overall image quality Significantly worse image quality
Sony NEX-F3

Sony NEX-F3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$600 with 18-55mm lens

External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Built-in flash Built-in flash
Touch screen No touch screen
Movie continuous focus Doesn't focus continuously recording movies
Sony NEX C3

Sony NEX C3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$548 with 16mm lens

Startup delay Less startup delay
Weight Slightly lighter
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Supports 24p No 24p support

appearance

Canon EOS Rebel T2i Sony NEX-5N
Canon EOS Rebel T2i Sony NEX-5N
Canon EOS Rebel T2i Sony NEX-5N

discussion

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