Best Canon EOS Digital SLR Camera Bodies

Cropped Rebel and Full Frame DSLRs Compared

Jun 14, 2009
Yuen Kit Mun

Canon EOS DSLR - Kenson Lai

Are the more expensive Canon DSLRs worth the price? How to choose the right camera. Differences between Canon DSLRs explained.

Canon sells a variety of digital SLRs, to suit a wide range of photographers. This includes casual users, advanced amateurs, and professionals. Canon DSLRs differ in their image sensor size, as well as various other features. We look at the real differences between the many camera models.

(Updated 2011 February, to include new models.)

Entry-level Consumer 1.6x Crop Factor

As with other brands, entry-level Canon DSLRs are capable of producing professional quality photographs. Newer models usually have better image quality, either higher maximum ISO (to take photos in the dark, without flash) or higher resolution (megapixels) or both.

The current models are divided into two groups. The thousand models have lower megapixel resolution and a partial metering mode instead of a spot meter:

EOS 1000D / Rebel XS (2008, 10 megapixels, 3 fps, ISO 1600)
EOS 1100D / Rebel T3 (2011, 12 megapixels, 3 fps, ISO 6400, 720p HD video)

Slightly more advanced are the hundred models, with higher fps and a spot meter:

EOS 450D / Rebel XSi (2008, 12 megapixels, 3.5 fps, ISO 1600)
EOS 500D / Rebel T1i (2009, 15 megapixels, 3.4 fps, ISO 3200)
EOS 550D / Rebel T2i (2010, 18 megapixels, 3.7 fps, ISO 6400, 1080p HD video)
EOS 600D / Rebel T3i (2011, 18 megapixels, 3.9 fps, ISO 6400, 1080p HD video)

Their 1.6x crop factor image sensor is 40 percent the size of a full frame sensor. This gives good performance under most situations, being noticeably worse than high-end large sensor cameras only:

Under no-flash low light conditions (high ISO), compared with large sensor cameras with similar megapixel resolution,
If prints are enlarged beyond 8 x 12 inches, compared with large sensor cameras with higher megapixel resolution.

These cameras do have advanced features such as:

Depth-of-field preview button.
Optional external battery grip. This gives a larger and firmer grip, and the ability to use AA alkaline batteries in an emergency.
High 1/4000 seconds maximum shutter speed.

However they do have non-professional features including:

No 100 percent coverage viewfinder (pentamirror viewfinder shows 95 percent of actual image).
Relatively low continuous shooting frame rate or fps (3 plus photos per second).
No top panel LCD display to show important camera settings.
Slightly slower flash sync speed of 1/200 seconds.
Automatic and manual color balance setting, but no color temperature setting.

EF (full frame) and EF-S (cropped) lenses can be used on 1.6x DSLRs.

Semi-Professional or Advanced Consumer 1.6x Crop Factor

A 1.6x crop factor means that these cameras have the same size image sensor as the consumer DSLRs. Image quality is therefore similar. The difference is the addition of more advanced features. The camera models are:

EOS 40D (2007, 10 megapixels, 6.5 fps, ISO 1600)
EOS 50D (2008, 15 megapixels, 6.3 fps, ISO 3200)
EOS 60D (2010, 18 megapixels, 5.3 fps, ISO 6400, 1080p HD video)

They feature:

Better pentaprism (not pentamirror) viewfinder, with slightly higher magnification, but still only 95 percent coverage.
Higher continuous shooting frame rate (6 photos per second).
Top panel LCD display to show important camera settings.
Slightly higher flash sync speed of 1/250 seconds.
Higher maximum shutter speed of 1/8000 seconds (not really necessary for most situations).
Automatic and manual color balance setting, including color temperature setting.
Optional wireless WiFi control grip, including web interface with remote viewfinder and remote shutter release.

The EOS 7D is the first in a new range of higher-specification advanced consumer DSLRs:

EOS 7D (2009, 18 megapixels, 8 fps, ISO 6400, 1080p HD video)

It has similar or better specifications than the other cameras, such as a higher frame rate and 100 percent coverage pentaprism viewfinder. The 7D and 60D have a remote control for external flash units (Integrated Speedlite Transmitter).

Professional 1.3x, EF lens only

With a larger image sensor, these DSLRs have better high ISO performance than the 1.6x crop factor DSLRs. The sensor is 60 percent the area of a full frame sensor, 50 percent larger than a 1.6x sensor. The current models are:

EOS 1D Mark III (2007, 10 megapixels, 10 fps, ISO 3200)
EOS 1D Mark IV (2009, 16 megapixels, 10 fps, ISO 12800, 1080p HD video)

Some features are enhanced, compared to the 1.6x crop DSLRs:

Higher continuous shooting frame rate or fps.
Slightly higher flash sync speed of 1/300 seconds.

These cameras can only use EF full frame lenses, not the smaller EF-S lenses designed for 1.6x crop cameras.

Professional 1x, EF lens only

These full frame cameras combine high resolution (megapixels) and good high ISO performance:

EOS 1Ds Mark III (2007, 21 megapixels, 10 fps, ISO 3200)
EOS 5D Mark II (2008, 21 megapixels, 3.9 fps, ISO 6400, 1080p HD video)

In other performance aspects (flash sync speed, frames per second) the 1.3x DSLRs can have higher specifications.

The Best Canon DSLR

Professional photographers typically spend more on their lenses than on their cameras. They know that:

Photos taken with different cameras but the same lenses, look the same except under extreme conditions (low light, large blow-up prints).
Photos taken with the same camera but with different lenses, can look very different.

A beginner photographer would do well to also spend less on the camera. One possible purchasing sequence is:

Entry-level Rebel DSLR and 18-55mm kit lens.
50mm f1.8 or 50mm f1.4, for no-flash available light photography.
55-250mm or 18-200mm zoom.
Second Rebel DSLR so that 2 lenses can be used at the same time.

The above will give more photographic bang for the buck, compared to getting a more expensive camera and scrimping on the lenses.

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Yuen Kit Mun - Kit Mun is a self-confessed information junkie, reading an average of a book a week over the past two decades. His growing Internet ...