Canon EOS 600D / Rebel T3i vs Sony Alpha SLT-A55 Real-life resolution (RAW files matched)
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To compare real-life performance we shot the same scene with the Canon EOS 550D / Rebel T2i and the Nikon D90 within a few moments of each other using their RAW files and base sensitivities.
Each camera was fitted with its respective kit lens: the EOS 550D / T2i with the EF-S 18-135mm IS and the D90 with the DX 18-105mm VR. Both lenses were set to f8 in Aperture Priority and adjusted to deliver the same field of view.
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The image above was taken with the Canon EOS 600D / Rebel T3i at 100 ISO with an exposure of 1/400 and the lens set to 24mm f8; the original RAW file measured 22.05MB. The crops below are taken from the areas marked with the red squares and presented here at 100%. The crops from the A55 show a slightly larger area due to its slightly lower resolution.
We photographed this scene using the RAW plus JPEG modes on each camera, allowing us to directly compare in-camera images against those processed using software later. On this page we've compared the RAW files and attempted to match their processing style. The Canon EOS 600D / T3i file was processed using Digital Photo Professional 3.10 with a sharpness of 3, while (following disappointments with Sony's supplied software) the A55 file was processed using Adobe Camera RAW using the default settings. Fringing and vignetting lens corrections were also applied in both programs, but we left the measured White Balance unchanged on each image as it was already a fairly close match.
Judging from the crops below, there's not a great deal of difference between the processed RAW files and the original in-camera JPEGs for this particular scene. The Canon EOS 600D / T3i has enjoyed the greatest benefit by eliminating the coloured fringing visible on the JPEGs, thereby delivering a much cleaner result, but there's arguably no greater tonal or spatial detail here.
Likewise the processed RAW file from the Sony Alpha SLT-A55 looks pretty similar to the in-camera JPEG, although ACR has delivered a fractionally darker image which has pulled-in a few previously bright highlight areas.
With the fringing corrections applied to the Canon image, the overall results are much closer than before, although we'd say the optics of the Sony kit lens are still delivering a slightly superior result across the frame. The degree of real-life detail however remains roughly equivalent.
Now let's see how each camera compares across its sensitivity range in our Canon EOS 600D / Rebel T3i High ISO Noise results.
Canon EOS 600D / Rebel T3i : RAW
with Canon EF-S 18-135mm IS
DPP with 3 Sharpening |
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Sony Alpha SLT-A55
with Sony SAL 1855 SAM
ACR with defaults
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f8, 100 ISO |
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f8, 100 ISO |
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f8, 100 ISO |
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f8, 100 ISO |
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f8, 100 ISO |
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f8, 100 ISO |
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f8, 100 ISO |
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f8, 100 ISO |
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