Similarities Between Siblings
Let’s run down the similarities really fast. Both the T2i and the T3i share the following characteristics:
- · 18.8MP CMOS sensor
- · DIGIC 4 Image processor
- · ISO 100 – 6400 (expandable to 12800)
- · Full HD Movie mode (1080p) at FPS of 30, 24 and 25. (Same crap AGC)
- · Plastic body
- · EF & EF-S Lens Mounts
- · SD/SDHC/SCXC memory card slot
- · 3-Inch wide, 1,040,000-dot VGA screen.
- · Live View Button / Movie Shooting Button on Back Face
- · 3.7fps continuous shooting (6 RAW or 34 full res JPEGs)
- · 63-Zone, dual-later metering system
- · 9-Point AF stem using f/2.8 cross-type center point.
With so many core similarities, it might be easy to write the T3i off as the 2011-2012 version of the T2i, but you’d be fundamentally mistaken to do that. The EOS T3i has received a few new upgrades which will make this camera stand out from it’s predecessor and may very well influence you to consider purchasing your own T3i. So take your finger off the “Checkout” button on Amazon, and read why the T3i was made.
You’ll Flip Out
One of the most obvious differences at first glance is that the 3’ screen which the T3i features actually flips out. Canon calls this a “Vari-angle” screen. The advantage of the Vari-Angle screen shouldn’t be diminished. First off, you can close your screen, and keep it from getting damaged when you’re not using it.
Next, when actually shooting, you have the ability to look at your picture on the screen instead of looking through the viewfinder when using the “Live View” mode. That means if your subject is low to the ground, you don’t have to lie down to shoot a well-composed picture. That also means that if you’d like a picture from a higher perspective, you can just raise your arms and shoot and you know your subject will be in frame because you can see your camera from a wide variety of angles. This is an infinitely valuable feature! Now the body of the camera is slightly larger to make room for this screen, but I don’t think it’s too large.
There are a couple aesthetic differences as well, including a different mode selector (which looks higher in quality) and a little more rubber padding on the body for extra grip and protection.
Off Camera Flash
Another great feature of the T3i is that it features a built-in wireless control for an off camera flash. If you want to set up a slave flash system, this is a very nice feature. To achieve that same thing with the T2i you’d need to purchase a Speedlite transmitter that can run several hundred dollars (MSRP $350 for the Canon ST-E2 transmitter). This feature alone may warrant the additional $150 that the T3i costs compared with the older T2i, as the price difference is only about half what a transmitter costs AND you’re not taking up your accessory shoe at the top of your camera.
Digital Zoom
Yes… the Canon T3i CAN do digital zoom when shooting video. Just like you CAN jump off a bridge if you want to. Just because you can do something, doesn’t mean you should. You have the on camera video option of “zooming” 3x – 10x.
Digital zoom reduces the number of pixels and essentially crops your image. Since 1080p video is only the equivalent of 2 megapixels (1920×1080 pixels) you are cutting the legs out of your quality the moment you start hacking away your image to make it digitally appear larger. Please don’t do that.
In Camera Guide – In the Box Books
The T3i was built for someone learning to use a DSLR camera. Right out of the box you’re given not just a user manual, but also some booklets to teach you how to use your camera. Included titles are, “Great Photography is Easy” and “Do more with Macro.”
Another expressly cool feature of the T3i is the “In-Camera Guide”. Whenever you use the selector wheel at the top of the camera to switch between shooting modes, right on the LCD screen pops up a description of each shooting mode. This helps to demystify the terminology, so if you’re used to a point and shoot camera and you might wonder… “What the heck is this P mode all about?” you’re given an explanation of that mode which may help someone less inclined to take risks feel more comfortable about exploring the camera’s more advanced functions.
One last shooting mode that is really cools is “A+” A+ is a scene intelligent auto mode that unites five Canon features: Picture Style Auto, Plus Automatic Lighting Optimizer, Automatic White Balance, Autofocus and Automatic Exposure, into one easy to use shooting mode. If you have no clue what those things are, then this is probably the shooting mode for you. What you get is a very smart system setting your camera to take really good looking pictures.
What’s in The Box?
- · EOS Rebel T3i Body
- · EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Type II Lens
- · Eyecup
- · Wide Strap
- · USB Cable
- · AV Cable
- · Battery LP-E8 (Same as T2i)
- · Battery Charger
- · EOS Digital Solution Disk
- · Instruction Manual + “Great Photography is Easy” & “Do More with Macro”
The Final Say
So is this just an upgrade of the EOS Rebel T2i? Absolutely yes, but keep the emphasis on upgrade.
With the addition of the Vari-Angle screen, the on-board off-camera flash support (which more than pays the difference in accessory dollars saved) and the easier to use shooting modes I’d HIGHLY recommend the Canon EOS T3i to a beginner photographer who doesn’t mind spending a little more on a great camera.