Canon EOS Digital Rebel T3 and T3i - a closer look
Tilt and Swivel 3" LCD screen on the new Canon EOS Digital Rebel T3i
The two new Canon EOS digital rebel models just announced (02/11) almost share a name - T3 and T3i - though they occupy opposite ends of the entry level (Rebel) DSLR spectrum. The Canon EOS Digital Rebel T3i now sits on top of the pack as the most advanced and fully featured digital Rebel, while the similarly named T3 occupies the lower, most basic, entry level.
Both cameras share the usual Digital Rebel features such as program, aperture Priority, shutter priority and manual exposure modes, plus auto DOF and scene modes. Both offer exposure compensation and autobracketing, both can save images in RAW format (and both come supplied with the same software including Canon's DPP image editor and converter). Both have the same multiple white balance choices, plus white balance fine tuning and white balance bracketing. Both have the same in-camera options for Highlight Tone Priority, Auto Lighting Optimizer, Long exposure noise reduction, High ISO noise reduction and Peripheral illumination correction. Both have depth of field preview and mirror lock-up options. In short both offer most of the functions that photographers actually need and use (plus a few that they don't!).
Left: Canon EOS Digital Rebel T3, Right: Canon EOS Digital Rebel T3i
The T3i is much better suited for shooting video for example. It has a tilt and swivel high resolution 3" LCD screen, plus full control over exposure and audio levels, and it has multiple formats including 1080p and 720p at selectable frame rates. There is also a zoom feature which crops the full sensor image yet still produces high quality HD video. On the other hand the T3 has a smaller, fixed, LCD screen, video exposure and audio are fully automatic with no manual control options and only the 720p HD format is available.
Left: Canon EOS Digital Rebel T3, Right: Canon EOS Digital Rebel T3i
Note dedicated Display and ISO buttons on the T3i
When it comes to still photography the T3i again "outfeatures" the T3. First it has a higher pixel count (18MP vs 12MP), it can shoot at higher ISO settings (12,800 with expansion vs. 6400), it has a faster continuous shooting frame rate and a slightly better AF system with a high precision center AF zone (when used with lenses f2.8 and faster). There are also more in camera editing options, a spot meter and a built in flash which is capable of operating as a wireless master controller in a multiple Speedlite system. The T3i has a 1 million dot LCD screen (articulated), while the T3 has a lower resolution 230,000 dot 2.7" LCD screen (fixed).
The T3i also has a number of image processing features built into the camera that can be applied to JPEG images after shooting:
- A Soft Focus effect filter which helps dramatize an image and smooth over shiny reflections.
- A Grainy Black and White filter which can give a different nostalgic perspective to any shot.
- Canon's "Toy Camera" filter which deliberately adds vignetting and color shift for a creative option when shooting a colorful scene.
- Users can also make a scene appear like a small-scale model, simulating the look from a tilt-shift lens, with Canon's Miniature Effect filter.
- Rebel XS - 10MP - no video - Fixed LCD
- Rebel XSi - 12MP - no video - Fixed LCD
- Rebel T3 - 12 MP - 720p video - Fixed LCD
- Revel T1i - 15MP - 1080p video - Fixed LCD
- Rebel T2i - 18MP - 1080p video - Fixed LCD
- Rebel T3i - 18MP - 1080p video - Tilt/swivel LCD
I would guess that the XS and XSi will be phased out, leaving the four "T-series" rebels. Since the list price of the T2i and T3i are the same ($799.99 for the body, $899.99 with the EF-S 18-55 kit lens), I'm sure the list (and hence street) price on the T2i will drop, which in turn will push down the price of the XSi (currently listed at $749.99). I suspect eventually we'll see list prices from Canon something like:
- Rebel T3 kit ~$600
- Rebel T1i kit ~$700
- Rebel T2i kit ~$800
- Rebel T3i kit ~$900
Personally, if I was going to buy a Digital Rebel, I'd just get the new Canon EOS Digital Rebel T3i. The savings on the other models just really aren't enough to make it worthwhile giving up the features of the T3i. The price differences are small percentage of the overall cost, particularly if you add in a couple of lenses and a Speedlite and intend to get more serious about photography. Though the T3i is pretty fully featured and incorporates many EOS 60D features, if I didn't want the EF-S 18-55 kit lens, I'd probably take the EOS 60D body over the Rebel T3i body and pay the extra $100. The 60D doesn't come in a kit with the 18-55. You can buy it separately, but then you pay almost $170 rather than the $100 it costs as part of a lens/body kit.
For those who just want something better than a P&S digicam and have a very limited budget, the T3 kit with the new EF-S 18-55/3.5-5.6 IS II lens makes a pretty attractive package at $599.99 list and it has most features the newcomer to the DSLR world wants or needs. It would certainly be a better buy than the current Rebel XS or even the Rebel XSi.
Canon Digital Rebel T3 (1100D) and T3i (600D) specification comparison
[The tan background indicates an additional feature of the T3i over the T3]
| Canon EOS Digital Rebel T3i | Canon EOS Digital Rebel T3 | |
| Sensor | 18.0 MP 22.3 x 14.9 mm CMOS sensor |
12.2 MP 22.2 x 14.7 mm CMOS sensor |
| Dust reduction | Low-pass filter vibration Anti-static coating on sensor surfaces Software dust-removal (camera maps dust, removed later in DPP) |
Anti-static coating on sensor surfaces Software dust-removal (camera maps dust, removed later in DPP) |
| Output formats | RAW (14-bit), RAW + JPEG, JPEG | RAW (14-bit), RAW + JPEG, JPEG |
| Image sizes | RAW 5184 x 3456 JPEG 3:2, 4:3, 16:9, 1:1 aspect ratios |
RAW 4272 x 2848 JPEG 3:2 aspect ratio |
| Movie recording | 1920 x 1080 (30/25/24 fps) 1280 x 720 (60/50 fps) 640 x 480 (60/50 fps) .MOV format (H.264, PCM audio) |
1280 x 720 (30, 25 fps) .MOV format(Video: H.264, PCM audio) |
| Movie Audio | Auto or manual control Optional wind filter |
Auto only |
| Image processor | DIGIC 4 | DIGIC 4 |
| Lenses | Canon EF / EF-S lens mount 1.6x "digital multiplier" |
Canon EF / EF-S lens mount 1.6x "digital multiplier" |
| Auto Focus | 9-point CMOS sensor F5.6 cross-type at center (extra vertical sensitivity at f2.8) Range: -0.5 to 18 EV (at 23°C, ISO 100) |
9-point CMOS sensor Cross-type F5.6 at center Range: 0 to 18 EV (at 23°C, ISO 100) |
| AF modes | AI Focus, One Shot, AI Servo | AI Focus, One shot, AI Servo |
| AF assist | Flash strobe | Flash strobe |
| Shooting modes | Program AE (P) Shutter priority AE (Tv) Aperture priority AE (Av) Manual (M) Auto depth-of-field Scene Intelligent Auto Flash off Creative Auto Portrait Landscape Close-up Sports Night portrait Movie |
Auto Program AE (P) Shutter priority AE (Tv) Aperture priority AE (Av) Manual (M) Auto depth-of-field Portrait Landscape Close-up Sports Night portrait Flash off Creative Auto Movie |
| Metering | Evaluative 63-zone Partial 9% Spot 4% Center-weighted average Metering range: EV 1 - 20 EV (23°C, ISO 100, 50/1.4) |
Evaluative 63-zone Partial (10%) Center weighted average metering Range : EV 1-20 (23°C, ISO100, 50/1.4) |
| AE Bracketing | +/- 2.0 EV (3 shots) 0.5 or 0.3 EV steps |
+/- 2.0 EV 0.5 or 0.3 EV steps |
| Exposure compensation | +/- 5.0 EV 0.5 or 0.3 EV steps |
+/- 5.0 EV 0.5 or 0.3 EV steps |
| Shutter | 30 - 1/4000 sec (0.5 or 0.3 EV steps) Flash X-Sync: 1/200 sec Bulb |
30 - 1/4000 sec (0.5 or 0.3 EV steps) Flash X-Sync: 1/200 sec Bulb |
| Sensitivity | Auto (100 - 6400) ISO 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200, 6400, 12800(H1) |
Auto (100 - 6400) ISO 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200, 6400 |
| DOF preview | Yes (custom function) | Yes (custom function) |
| Drive modes | Single Continuous: 3.7 fps up to 34 Large/Fine JPEG / 6 RAW frames Self-timer |
Single Continuous: 2 fps up to 5 RAW frames / 3 fps up to 830 JPEG Self-timer |
| White balance | Auto Daylight Shade Cloudy Tungsten Fluorescent Flash Custom |
Auto Daylight Shade Cloudy Tungsten White Fluorescent Light Flash Custom |
| WB Bracketing | +/-3 levels 3 images Selectable Blue/Amber or Magenta/Green bias |
+/-3 levels 3 images Selectable Blue/Amber or Magenta/Green bias |
| WB fine-tuning | Blue (-9) to Amber (+9) Magenta (-9) to Green (+9) |
Blue (-9) To Amber (+9) Magenta (-9) to Green (+9) |
| Color space | sRGB, Adobe RGB | sRGB, Adobe RGB |
| Picture Styles | Standard, Portrait, Landscape, Neutral, Faithful, Monochrome, User 1, User 2, User 3 | Standard, Portrait, Landscape, Neutral, Faithful, Monochrome, User 1, User 2, User 3 |
| Viewfinder | Pentamirror 95% frame coverage Magnification: 0.85x Eyepoint: 19 mm Dioptric adjustment: -3.0 to +1.0 Fixed precision matte screen |
Pentamirror 95% frame coverage Magnification: 0.87x Eyepoint: 19 mm Dioptric adjustment: -3.0 to +1.0 Fixed precision matte screen |
| LCD monitor | Vari-angle (tilt + swivel) 3.0" 3:2 TFT LCD,
1,040,000 dots Wide viewing angle (170° horizontal and vertical) Dual anti-reflection, anti-smudge 7 brightness levels Up to 10x zoom playback |
Fixed 2.7" TFT LCD, 230,000 dots Wide viewing angle (170° horizontal and vertical) 7 brightness levels Up to 10x zoom playback |
| LCD Live view | Live TTL display Approx 99% frame coverage w/30 fps display rate) Real-time evaluative metering Optional grid Optional Live Histogram Magnify optional (5x or 10x at any point on the screen) Quick mode or Live modeAF |
Live TTL display 100% frame coverage w/30fps frame rate Real-time evaluative metering Optional Grid Magnify optional (5x or 10x at AF point) Quick mode, or Live mode AF |
| Flash | Auto pop-up E-TTL II auto flash Guide number approx 13 9m, ISO 100) Modes: Auto, Manual Flash On/ Off, Red-Eye Reduction Integrated Speedlite Transmitter, wireless multi-flash support X-Sync: 1/200 sec Flash exposure compensation: +/-2.0 EV (0.3 or 0.5 EV steps) Coverage up to 17 mm focal length (27 mm FOV equiv.) |
Auto pop-up E-TTL II auto flash Guide number approx 13 (m, iso 100) Modes: Auto, Manual Flash On/ Off, Red-Eye Reduction X-Sync: 1/200 sec Flash exposure compensation: +/-2.0 EV (0.3 or 0.5 EV steps) Coverage up to 17 mm focal length (27 mm FOV equiv.) |
| External flash | E-TTL II auto flash with EX-series Speedlites Hot-shoe |
E-TTL II auto flash with EX-series Speedlites Hot-shoe |
| Processing Options | Highlight Tone Priority Auto Lighting Optimizer Long exposure noise reduction High ISO noise reduction Peripheral illumination correction Basic+ (Shoot by ambiance selection, Shoot by lighting or scene type) Creative filters (Grainy B/W, Soft focus, Toy camera, Miniature effect, Fish-eye) |
Highlight Tone Priority Auto Lighting Optimizer Long exposure noise reduction High ISO noise reduction Peripheral illumination correction Basic+ (Shoot by ambiance selection, Shoot by lighting or scene type) |
| Memory | SD / SDHC /SDXC cards | SD / SDHC / SDXC card |
| Playback modes | Single image Single image with info (histogram brightness / RGB ) Magnified view (1.5 - 10x) 4 and 9 image index Auto play Image rotation Jump (by 10, 100 or date) |
Single image Single image with info (histogram brightness / RGB ) Magnified view (1.5 - 10x) 4 and 9 image index Auto play Image rotation |
| Custom functions | 11 custom functions with 34 settings | 10 custom functions with 32settings |
| Connectivity | USB 2.0 (Hi-Speed) Video out (PAL / NTSC) (integrated with USB terminal) HDMI mini output (HDMI-CEC) E3 type wired remote control Remote Controller RC-6 External microphone (3.5mm Stereo mini jack |
USB 2.0 (Hi-Speed) mini-B Video out (PAL / NTSC) HDMI mini output (HDMI-CEC compatible) |
| Battery | Li-Ion LP-E8 rechargeable battery ~440 shots (23°C 50% flash) 4 level battery life display Optional ACK-E8 AC adapter kit |
Li-Ion LP-E10 rechargeable battery. ~700 shots (23°C 50% flash) Optional ACK-E10 AC adapter kit |
| Weight (minus battery) | 570 g | 495 g |
| Size | 133.1 x 99.5 x 79.7 mm (5.2 x 3.9 x 3.1 in) | 130 x 100 x 78 mm (5.1 x 3.9 x 3.1 in) |
