Canon EOS Rebel T2i vs Sony a55

This is a full comparison between the cameras Canon EOS Rebel T2i and Sony a55. We compare them by looking at the categories you see below.

Manufacturing

Canon EOS Rebel T2i is manufacturered by Canon but Sony a55 is from Sony. Both Canon and Sony are well known brands though.

Type of camera

Sensors / crop factor

These cameras have different sensors. Canon EOS Rebel T2i has a "Canon APS-C"-sensor while Sony a55 has a "Sony APS-C"-sensor, and their difference in sensors will also affect the crop factor and experience focal length. See the table below.

** Experienced focal length when using a lens such as a common "50mm f/1.8"

Learn more about crop factor and focal length multiplier here:
Camera selection can affect the focal length (Canon)
Camera selection can affect the focal length (Sony)

Resolution

Canon EOS Rebel T2i has a 18,7 MP (Megapixels) resolution while Sony a55 has 16 MP. If we break down this in more detail this is the data behind the numbers:

Canon EOS Rebel T2i has a 12 % larger resolution than Sony a55. This could give you more details in the picture but also a possibility to crop more in the pictures, afterward while editing the pictures, if needed that is.

ISO range

Both of these cameras offer the exact same ISO range. They both have 100 to 12800.

Autofocus and lens compatibility

Both of these cameras have a built-in autofocus motor. Some lenses, that support autofocus, do not have an autofocus motor of their own but this won't cause any problems with these two cameras.

Here is a complete overview of which lenses work with each camera:
Lens compatibility chart for Canon EOS Rebel T2i
Lens compatibility chart for Sony a55

Pictures per second

Depending on what you are shooting the FPS, or frames/pictures per second, can definitely be of interest. Canon EOS Rebel T2i can shoot up to 3,7 pictures per seconds and Sony a55 can shoot up to 10 pictures per seconds.

Ability to record movies

It is becoming more and more popular to record movies with digital cameras.

In this case, both Canon EOS Rebel T2i and Sony a55 can shoot movies.

Weight

The weight of the camera can be an extremely important factor, especially if the camera is about to be used, or carried around, for several hours at a time.

Canon EOS Rebel T2i weighs 510 gr (equal to 1.12 lb) which is 2% heavier than Sony a55 and its 500 gr (or 1.1 lb).

Canon EOS Rebel T2i vs Sony a55 Specs

Below you will find the complete and detailed technical specs for both Canon EOS Rebel T2i and Sony a55, next to each other. Each category of data is a link to an article covering the subject, giving you a deeper understanding so you can better understand the strengths and weaknesses of the two camera models.

Product	Canon EOS Rebel T2i	Sony a55
Name	Canon EOS Rebel T2i	Sony a55
Manufacturer	Canon	Sony
Release Date and Price	Canon EOS Rebel T2i	Sony a55
Release Year	2010	2010
Release Date	2010-02-08	2010-08-24
MSRP	899 USD	749 USD
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Camera Type	Canon EOS Rebel T2i	Sony a55
Camera Type	DSLR	SLT
Sensor	Canon EOS Rebel T2i	Sony a55
Sensor Size	APS-C (approx 22.3 x 14.9 mm)	APS-C (approx 23.5 x 15.6 mm)
Sensor Type	CMOS	CMOS
Resolution	5184 x 3456 pixels	4912 x 3264 pixels
Megapixels	18,7 MP	16 MP
Image Processor	DIGIC 4	Bionz
Image	Canon EOS Rebel T2i	Sony a55
ISO Range	100 - 12800	100 - 12800
White Balance Presets	6	6
Custom White Balance	Yes	Yes
Image Stabilization	No	Yes (Sensor-Shift)
Image Stabilization CIPA Rating	0 stops	0 stops
Uncompressed format	RAW	RAW
Optics & Focus	Canon EOS Rebel T2i	Sony a55
Autofocus Motor	Yes	Yes
Autofocus	Contract Detect (sensor) Phase Detect Multi Area Selective Single Point Single Continuous Face Detection LiveView	Phase Detect Multi Area Selective Single Point Single Continuous Face Detection LiveView
Focus Points	9	15
Lens Mount	Canon EF Canon EF-S See Compatible Lenses	Sony A See Compatible Lenses
Focal Length Multiplier	APS-C Sensor 1.6x multiplier Example: 24 mm becomes 38 mm 50 mm becomes 80 mm 100 mm becomes 160 mm 200 mm becomes 320 mm	APS-C Sensor (1.5x) 1.5x multiplier Example: 24 mm becomes 36 mm 50 mm becomes 75 mm 100 mm becomes 150 mm 200 mm becomes 300 mm
Screen & Viewfinder	Canon EOS Rebel T2i	Sony a55
Articulated LCD	Fixed	Fully articulated
Screen size	3”	3”
Screen dots	1040000	921000
Touch screen	No	No
Screen type	TFT color liquid-crystal LCD	N/A
Live view	Yes	Yes
Viewfinder Type	Optical (pentamirror)	Electronic
Viewfinder Coverage	95%	100%
Viewfinder Magnification	0.87× (0.54× 35mm equiv.)	1.1× (0.73× 35mm equiv.)
Viewfinder Resolution	N/A	N/A
Photography features	Canon EOS Rebel T2i	Sony a55
Frames per second	3,7 fps	10 fps
Minimum Shutter Speed	30 seconds	30 seconds
Maximum Shutter Speed	1/4000 seconds	1/4000 seconds
Built-in Flash	Yes	Yes
Built-in Flash Range	13 meters	10 meters
External Flash	Yes	Yes
Self-Timer	Yes	Yes
Time-lapse	Yes	No
Metering modes	Multi Center Weighted Spot Partial	Multi Center Weighted Spot
Exposure Compensation	+/- 5 (at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV steps)	+/- 2 (at 1/3 EV steps)
Videography features	Canon EOS Rebel T2i	Sony a55
Video recording	Yes	Yes
Video format	H.264	MPEG4 H.264 AVCHD
Video resolution	1280 x 720 1920 x 1080	1440 x 1080 1920 x 1080
Built-in Microphone	Yes	Yes
Built-in Speakers	No	No
Storage	Canon EOS Rebel T2i	Sony a55
Memory Card	SD/SDHC	Memory Stick Pro Duo SD/SDHC
Connectivity	Canon EOS Rebel T2i	Sony a55
HDMI Output	Yes	Yes
Microphone Port	No	No
Headphone Port	No	No
Wireless	Yes Eye-Fi Connected	Yes Eye-Fi Connected
Remote Control	Yes (E3 connector, InfraRed)	Yes (Optional)
GPS	No	Yes Built-in
Body & Dimensions	Canon EOS Rebel T2i	Sony a55
Enviromentally sealed	No	No
Battery	Battery Pack	Battery Pack
Battery Details	Lithium-Ion LP-E8 rechargeable battery & charger	Rechargeable NP-FW50 battery & charger
Battery Life (CIPA)	N/A	380 shots
Width	129 mm	124 mm
Height	98 mm	92 mm
Depth	62 mm	85 mm
Weight	510 gram	500 gram