Updated (February, 2011): Compare the Canon Rebel T3i vs Sony Alpha DSLR-A850

Sony Alpha DSLR-A850

73

Reasons to buy the Sony Alpha DSLR-A850

Low light performance
Low noise at high ISO
1,415 ISO
Overall image quality
Great image quality
79.0
Color depth
Great color depth
23.8 bits
Dynamic range
Wide dynamic range
12.2 EV
Viewfinder size
Large viewfinder
0.74x
Image stabilization
Image stabilization
Sensor shift
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as a whole, it is the best camera of its class that we've ever seen, and one of those rare cameras that won't look out of date in a couple of years' time."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
"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"

differences

Advantages of the Canon T2i

Live view Has live view Yes vs No
Help
Preview your photos on the camera's screen before taking them
Movie format Shoots movies 1080p @ 30fps vs None
Help
Shoots Full HD (1080p) video as well as still pictures
Lens availability Much more lenses available 162 lenses vs 62 lenses
Help
More than 2.5x more lenses available
Size Significantly smaller 129x98x62 mm vs 156x117x82 mm
Help
Around 50% smaller
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen 1,040k dots vs 921k dots
Help
More than 10% higher resolution screen
Thickness Much thinner 2.4" vs 3.2"
Help
More than 20% thinner
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 895 g
Help
More than 40% lighter
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
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster 3.7 fps vs 3 fps
Help
More than 20% faster continuous shooting
Lowest price Cheaper $544.00 vs $2,899.99
Help
The best price we've seen is $2,356 cheaper (5.3x less)
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay 400 ms vs 500 ms
Help
20% less delay when turning on
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 Sony DSLR-A850

Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 79.0 vs 66.0
Help
Around 20% better image quality
Color depth Better color depth 23.8 bits vs 22.1 bits
Help
Distinguishes 1.7 more bits of color
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 1,415 ISO vs 784 ISO
Help
The DSLR-A850 has a slight edge (0.9 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Viewfinder size Much larger viewfinder 0.74x vs 0.54x
Help
Around 90% larger viewfinder
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.2 EV vs 11.5 EV
Help
0.7 f-stops more dynamic range
Image stabilization Image stabilization Sensor shift vs None
Help
Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
Sensor size Much larger sensor Full frame 35.9x24.0mm vs APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
Help
More than 2.5x larger sensor
Weather sealed Weather sealed Yes vs No
Help
Sealed to shoot in the rain
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 24.4 MP vs 17.9 MP
Help
Capture around 40% more detail in your photos
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 184 ms vs 252 ms
Help
Around 30% less delay when taking photos
Viewfinder Has a pentaprism viewfinder Pentaprism vs Pentamirror
Help
Pentaprism viewfinders are typically brighter
Viewfinder coverage Significantly better viewfinder coverage 98% vs 95%
Help
Almost the same
Battery life Longer battery life 880 shots vs 440 shots
Help
2x more shots per battery charge
Focus points More focus points 19 vs 9
Help
Set focus accurately within the frame
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
Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 Learn more about
the Sony DSLR-A850
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent DSLRs, and ignoring price

Canon EOS Rebel T2i Canon Rebel T2i
54 vs 73
Explain scores
Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 Sony Alpha DSLR-A850
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Sony Alpha DSLR-A850. 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

Snapsort is not aware of any interesting strengths shared by these two products.

Light sensitivity (boost) Poor boost ISO Help
T2i:12,800 ISO
DSLR-A850:6,400 ISO
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
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
T2i:3.7 fps
DSLR-A850:3 fps
Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
1
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
DSLR-A850:3,200 ISO

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens

Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
HDR Has in-camera HDR
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
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
Cross type focus points Has slightly more cross-type focus points
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
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
Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,549 - $1,821 body only

$1,500 - $1,849 with 18-135mm lens

Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
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

$2,198 body only

$2,898 - $2,999 with 24-105mm lens

Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,000 - $1,197 body only

$1,100 with 55-200mm lens

Dynamic range Has slightly wider dynamic range
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Sony SLT-A55

Sony SLT-A55

Entry-level DSLR

$598 body only

$729 with 18-55mm lens

Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker

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
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens

Color depth Better color depth
Autofocus Video autofocus
Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
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 Rebel T1i

Canon Rebel T1i

Entry-level DSLR

$471 - $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

Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Sony SLT-A77

Sony SLT A77

Pro DSLR

$1,398 body only

$1,998 with 16-50mm lens

Live view Has live view
Movie format Shoots movies
Startup delay Much more startup delay
Low light performance More noise at high ISO
Sony Alpha DSLR-A900

Sony Alpha DSLR-A900

Pro DSLR

$2,893 body only

Continuous shooting Shoots faster
Viewfinder coverage Better viewfinder coverage
Light sensitivity Worse maximum light sensitivity
Nikon D700

Nikon D700

Pro DSLR

$2,349 body only

Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO
Live view Has live view
Image stabilization No image stabilization
True resolution Much lower true resolution
Sony Alpha DSLR-A580

Sony Alpha DSLR-A580

Entry-level DSLR

$949 with 55-200mm lens

Live view Has live view
Movie format Shoots movies
Viewfinder size Much smaller viewfinder
Sensor size Much smaller sensor
Nikon D800

Nikon D800

Pro DSLR

$2,999 - $3,000 body only

Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality
Image stabilization No image stabilization
Viewfinder size Slightly smaller viewfinder

appearance

Canon EOS Rebel T2i Sony Alpha DSLR-A850
Canon EOS Rebel T2i Sony Alpha DSLR-A850
Canon EOS Rebel T2i Sony Alpha DSLR-A850

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