Canon Rebel
T2i
 vs
Sony Alpha
NEX-3

Updated (June, 2011): Compare the Canon Rebel T3i vs Sony NEX C3

Canon EOS Rebel T2i

86
"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

Movie format
 Full HD
1080p @ 30fps
Screen resolution
 High resolution screen
1,040k dots
True resolution
 High true resolution
17.9 MP
Supports 24p
 24p movies
For that film look
External mic jack
 External mic jack
Record higher quality audio with a microphone
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Sony Alpha NEX-3

41
Runner-up

Sony Alpha NEX-3
"Most impressive is that it focuses fast enough to track a subject running full speed at the camera"
imaging-resource.com | talking about the NEX-3's video-quality
"The Sony NEX-3 and NEX-5 are unique cameras that will be remembered for their design as well as their excellent image quality/"
imaging-resource.com | talking about the NEX-3's image-quality

Reasons to buy the Sony Alpha NEX-3

Size
 Really small
Compact 117x62x33 mm
Light sensitivity
 High ISO
12,800 ISO
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
HDR
 In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
Panorama
 In-camera panoramas
Stitches together multiple photos into a panorama
3D
 Takes 3D photos
View photos in 3D on 3D televisions

differences

Advantages of the Canon T2i
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 30fps vs 720p @ 30fps
Help
 Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video
Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
 Catch candid moments easily
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
 Get that real film feel
Lens availability Much more lenses available 162 lenses vs 8 lenses
Help
 Around 20.5x more lenses available
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 17.9 MP vs 14 MP
Help
 Capture around 30% more detail in your photos
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
Startup delay Less startup delay 400 ms vs 1000 ms
Help
 2.5x less delay when turning on
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen 1,040k dots vs 920k dots
Help
 More than 10% higher resolution screen
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder Pentamirror vs None
Help
 A viewfinder can help save battery life by keeping the screen turned off
Battery life Longer battery life 440 shots vs 330 shots
Help
 More than 30% more shots per battery charge
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 252 ms vs 441 ms
Help
 More than 40% less delay when taking photos
Light sensitivity (boost) Has boost ISO 12,800 ISO vs None
Help
 Allows taking photos in darker situations, often at the cost of additional noise in the image
Cross type focus points Slightly more cross-type focus points 1 vs 0
Help
 Grab focus in difficult situations
Canon EOS Rebel T2i Learn more about
the Canon T2i

Advantages of the Sony NEX-3
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
Size Significantly smaller 117x62x33 mm vs 129x98x62 mm
Help
 3.3x smaller
Autofocus Video autofocus Contrast detection vs None
Help
 Automatically focuses shooting video
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
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera Yes vs No
Help
 Stitches together multiple photos for a wide perspective
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 12,800 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
Help
 The NEX-3'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
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12 EV vs 11.5 EV
Help
 0.5 f-stops more dynamic range
Weight Significantly lighter 297 g vs 530 g
Help
 More than 40% lighter
Focus points More focus points 25 vs 9
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Thickness Thinner 1.3" vs 2.4"
Help
 Around 50% thinner
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 7 fps vs 3.7 fps
Help
 Around 90% faster continuous shooting
Overall image quality Slightly better image quality 68.0 vs 66.0
Help
 Almost the same
Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO 830 ISO vs 784 ISO
Help
 The NEX-3 has a slight edge (0.1 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Sony Alpha NEX-3 Learn more about
the Sony NEX-3
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Canon EOS Rebel T2i Canon Rebel T2i
86 vs 41
Explain scores
Sony Alpha NEX-3 Sony Alpha NEX-3
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.

performance Which camera has better performance? Cast your vote!

CanonRebel T2i
 Canon EOS Rebel T2i vs Sony Alpha NEX-3
SonyAlpha NEX-3
Uses Travel score Travel
On holiday or vacation
1
6
Vote Vote
Sports score Sports
Fast action, sometimes indoors
3
4
Vote Vote
Features Color accuracy Color accuracy
White balance in varied lighting
2
6
Vote Vote
Autofocus peformance Still image focusing
Speed and accuracy
2
6
Vote Vote
Autofocus performance Video focusing
Speed and accuracy
1
5
Vote Vote
Manual controls Manual settings
How quickly and easily you can change settings
5
3
Vote Vote
Build quality Build quality
Is it sturdy, well made, plastic or metal
2
5
Vote Vote
Green arrow Join in the discussion below!

similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Screen resolution High resolution screens Help
T2i:1,040k dots
NEX-3:920k dots
External mic jack You can plug a microphone into both of these Help
Record higher quality audio with a microphone
True resolution Capture very high resolution images Help
T2i:17.9 MP
NEX-3:14 MP
Interchangeable lenses Both support interchangeable lenses, which is uncommon in cameras similar to these Help
Many lenses to choose from
Supports RAW Supports RAW Help
Better editing
Color depth Good color depth Help
22.1 bits
Low light performance Relatively low noise at high ISO Help
T2i:784 ISO
NEX-3:830 ISO
Light sensitivity Very good maximum light sensitivity Help
T2i:6,400 ISO
NEX-3:12,800 ISO
External flash Support external flash Help
Better lighting
Sensor type Better sensor types Help
Better in low light
Sensor cleaning Self cleaning sensors Help
Avoids dust in your photos
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
Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
T2i:1
NEX-3:0

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$650 - $749 body only

$600 - $750 with 18-55mm lens
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Dynamic range Has slightly wider dynamic range
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Compare the D5100 vs the Rebel T2i
Compare the D5100 vs the Alpha NEX-3
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $984 with 18-55mm lens
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the D3100 vs the Rebel T2i
Compare the D3100 vs the Alpha NEX-3
Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$379 body only

$460 - $550 with 18-55mm lens
Battery life Has a significantly longer battery life
Sensor cleaning Lacks a self cleaning sensor
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the Rebel T2i
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the Alpha NEX-3
Canon EOS Rebel T1i

Canon Rebel T1i

Entry-level DSLR

$445 - $629 body only

$504 - $609 with 18-55mm lens
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Compare the Rebel T1i vs the Rebel T2i
Compare the Rebel T1i vs the Alpha NEX-3
Sony Alpha NEX-5

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$569 with 18-55mm lens
Startup delay Has slightly more startup delay
Compare the Alpha NEX-5 vs the Rebel T2i
Compare the Alpha NEX-5 vs the Alpha NEX-3
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS

Entry-level DSLR

$334 - $595 body only

$449 - $460 with 18-55mm lens
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the EOS Digital Rebel XS vs the Rebel T2i
Compare the EOS Digital Rebel XS vs the Alpha NEX-3
Sony NEX-5N

Sony NEX-5N

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$599 - $600 body only

$698 - $699 with 18-55mm lens
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Light sensitivity Much higher maximum light sensitivity
External mic jack Lacks and external mic jack
Startup delay Has significantly more startup delay
Compare the NEX-5N vs the Rebel T2i
Compare the NEX-5N vs the Alpha NEX-3

Canon EOS Rebel T2i 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 flip-out screen
Startup delay Significantly more startup delay
Size Larger
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the Rebel T2i
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 flip-out screen
Battery life Much longer battery life
Size Larger
Weight Significantly heavier
Compare the EOS 60D vs the Rebel T2i
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$869 - $897 body only

$1,099 - $1,200 with 18-105mm 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
Compare the D90 vs the Rebel T2i

Sony Alpha NEX-3 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sony NEX C3

Sony NEX C3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$499 - $550 with 18-55mm lens
Overall image quality Better image quality
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Storage slots Has fewer storage slots
Compare the NEX C3 vs the Alpha NEX-3
Nikon 1 J1

Nikon 1 J1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$597 with 10-30mm lens
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Continuous shooting Shoots much faster
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Compare the 1 J1 vs the Alpha NEX-3
Olympus PEN E-PL1

Olympus PEN E-PL1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$280 - $299 with 14-42mm lens
Image stabilization Image stabilization
Built-in flash Built-in flash
Screen resolution Significantly lower resolution screen
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Compare the PEN E-PL1 vs the Alpha NEX-3
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$329 - $379 with 14-42mm lens
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF2 vs the Alpha NEX-3

appearance

Canon EOS Rebel T2i Sony Alpha NEX-3
Canon EOS Rebel T2i Sony Alpha NEX-3
Canon EOS Rebel T2i Sony Alpha NEX-3

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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