At first glance the new Canon T3 DSLR pair are largely a renaming of their existing entry level DSLRs, with a few gimmicks thrown in giving the impression they are new cameras.
"Everyone today is a photographer, and for those looking to capture stunning images and do more with photography, Canon has introduced the EOS Rebel T3i and T3, offering the right balance of high-end features and easy-to-use guidance at a great price. So regardless of experience level or budget, there is a Canon Rebel camera suited to a user's needs and lifestyle," said Yuichi Ishizuka, executive vice president and general manager, Imaging Technologies and Communications Group, Canon U.S.A.
Ignoring the marketing hype, the DxO Mark lab test show the Canon T3i range are still very capable Digital SLRs.
Canon Rebel T3i
The T3i is substantially the same as the T2i, with addition of the flappy paddle LCD screen and some extra in-camera photo editing software. The heart of the camera, the digital sensor, remains the same producing similar results to the T2i in the DxOMark lab test.
The flappy paddle display is for those difficult to get points of view according to Canon. “Photographers will enjoy the convenience of capturing an overhead shot of a parade or low-angle shots of their children on the Vari-Angle screen.”
This is evokes images of a crowd of photojournalists scrambling with each other to get the shot. Those at back are resorting to holding the camera as high as they can, and shooting blindly, in the hope of getting something in the frame. The flappy paddle is offered as a solution to this scenario. One problem, photojournalists do not use the system, as even Canon do not offer it on any of their professional Digital SLRs.
It is difficult to compose images while being jostled by a crowd, and it is very hard to hold a camera steady holding it with the arms extended.
Canon Rebel T3
However the base model T3 does have some unheralded performance gain over the older Rebel XSi with a worthwhile improvement in ISO sensitivity performance. The ISO range increases substantially from 100-1600 to a far more useful 100-6400.
Canon marketers may think that first time Digital SLR buyers do not realise the importance of low noise and high ISO performance, so they ignored a real performance improvement in their base model DSLR T3 .
The DxOMark comparison test show the T3 produces similar amount of digital noise in the images as the entry level models from Nikon and Pentax. The catch for the Canon is the other two have a much greater range of ISO sensitivity. Still the Canon T3 still has a significant advantage in low light capability over ordinary digital cameras.
Relationship to Other Canon DSLRs
On problem for Canon in setting the specifications for their entry level T3s is their relation to the large range of other higher priced Canon DSLRs. They have to limit the performance of their T3 price leader DSLRs so they will not offer better value for money than the more expensive members of the Canon family of DSLRs.
Live View vs Optical Viewfinder and Battery Life
With Canon promoting the flappy paddle LCD screen and Live View for composing digital photographs the effect on operating time is particularly relevant.
The battery life comparison from the Canon specifications sheet for the T3 showing the number of shots using Live view compared to using the optical viewfinder. The difference is dramatic, although intuitively there is expected to be a difference as the display uses power, while the optical viewfinder only uses battery power for the peripheral camera setting displays, the optical image is power free as it uses the light coming in through the lens. The difference from approximately 800 digital photos down to 240 for live view comes as bit of shock.
This is not just for the Canon T3 indicates the general trend. For example, the T3i has 550 optical compared 200 Live view capacity according to Canon. Not as dramatic as the T3, but still shows a significant power drain for Live View. This is something any to consider when traveling or photographing those once in life time events such as graduations or weddings where it is drain the battery if Live View is the normal photography method.
DxOMark Tests
The DxO lab testing not only provides valuable data for photography reviews, its prime purpose is for DxO Optics Pro digital photo editing software. The latest data helps DxO Optics Pro software correct flaws introduced by the camera and various lenses for users of the new Canon Rebel T3s and T3is.
Join the Conversation