The Canon Rebel T3 is a replacement for the 2.5 year old Rebel XS model, and incorporates quite a range of updates to bring the camera up to date in the company's line. Perhaps most significantly, the Rebel T3 increases the sensor resolution to twelve megapixels, while switching to a current-generation DIGIC 4 processor. Also new in the Canon EOS T3 is a nine-point AF system with a wider working range of EV 0 ~ 18, and a single f/5.6 cross-type point at the center of the array. This sits alongside the company's current generation, iFCL 63 segment, dual layer metering chip. The Canon T3 also now supports the latest generation SDXC cards, including Eye-Fi types, and includes a greater selection of reduced resolution shooting options.

The Canon T3 also has a much wider ISO sensitivity range of 100 to 6,400 equivalents, an expanded +/-5 EV exposure compensation range, an adjustable Auto Lighting Optimization function, and the Highlight Tone Priority mode seen on many recent Canon DSLRs. It also adds high-def 720p movie shooting capability, HDMI video output, and a slightly larger 2.7-inch LCD display. Not all the changes are entirely positive, though. There's a new pentamirror viewfinder in the EOS T3 which has the same 95% coverage as that of its predecessor, but with ever so slightly decreased magnification (0.80x) and a narrower dioptric adjustment range (-2.5 to +0.5 diopters). Burst shooting speed is barely changed at 3 frames per second, but burst depth falls to just 4-5 large/fine JPEG or two Raw frames.

The EOS Rebel T3 ships with a new kit lens, the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II, in a bundle priced at around US$600. This lens' image stabilization system is said to offer a four-stop improvement. Availability is set at March 2011.

For a lot more hands-on detail, read our Canon T3 preview.

Note: The official press release launching the Canon T3 can be found in a separate news item.

Canon EOS Rebel T3 (EOS 1100D)
General
Camera Type	SLR
Manufacturer	Canon
Model Number	North America: T3
Dimensions	5.1 x 3.9 x 3.1 in. (130 x 100 x 78 mm)
Weight	17.5 oz (495 g)
Planned Price	$600
Planned Availability	March 2011
Image Capture
Sensor Type	Canon CMOS APS-C (approx. 1.04 in. diagonal) 12.60 megapixels (total) 12.20 megapixels (effective)
Filter Type	RGBG
Focal Length Multiplier	1.60
Aspect Ratio	16:9
Image Dimensions	4272 x 2848 (12.2 megapixels) 3088 x 2056 (6.3 megapixels) 2256 x 1504 (3.4 megapixels) 1920 x 1280 (2.5 megapixels) 720 x 480 (0.3 megapixels)
Capture Speed	Standard: 2.5 frames per second for 7 frames Continuous: 3.0 frames per second for 7 frames
Image Quality	2 levels
Image Preview / Review
Viewfinder	Yes, SLR type; fixed eye-level pentamirror, 95% coverage, 0.80x mag., 21mm eyepoint, -2.5 to +0.5 diopter
LCD	2.7 in. diagonal 230,000 dots (approx. 77,000 pixels)
Playback Zoom	10.0x max
Lens
Lens Type	Interchangeable Lens 3x optical zoom 58mm lens thread
Lens Mount	Canon EF, EF-S
Image Stabilization	Yes
Focal Length	18.0 - 55.0mm (actual) 29 - 88mm (35mm equivalent)
Aperture Range	f/3.5 - 22 (wide) / f/5.6 - 38 (tele)
Focusing System	Phase Detect with TTL-CT-SIR AF-dedicated CMOS Sensor: 9 points; 1 cross-type f/5.6, 8 single-axis; Live View: Phase Detect, Contrast Detect, Face etect modes Has AF assist lamp Manual focus possible
Focusing Range	Normal: 10" - infinity (25 cm - infinity)
Exposure
ISO Sensitivity	Auto, 100 - 6400 in 1/3 or 1EV steps
Shutter Speed	30 - 1/4000 second
Exposure Modes	Aperture, Shutter, Manual
Metering Modes	63-zone Evaluative (linked to any AF point), Center-weighted, Partial (10%); iFCL with dual layer sensor
Exposure Compensation	+/- 5.0EV in 1/3EV increments
White Balance	Image Sensor - Auto, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Tungsten, White Fluorescent, Flash, Custom
Internal Flash	Guide Number: 9 Modes: E-TTL II Range: Lens aperture dependent
Flash Exposure Compensation	+/- 2.0EV in 0.3EV increments
Creative
Scene Modes	Creative Auto, Portrait, Landscape, Close-up, Sports,Night portrait, Flash off, Auto Depth-of-field AE
Self Timer	Yes, 10, 2, Continuous (2-10) seconds
Time Lapse	No
Movie Format	MPEG-4 with audio Max. clip length: 660 seconds ()
Storage
Recording Medium	SD/MMC including SDHC, SDXC
File System	FAT16, FAT32, complies with Design Rule for Camera File System (DCF)
File Format	.CR2 RAW (14-bit), RAW+JPEG, JPEG
Connectivity
Video	High definition: Yes (HDMI) Standard definition: No
Computer	USB 2.0 High Speed
Other	Mini HDMI-CEC, Wired Remote Jack
Power
Battery Type	Lithium-ion rechargeble
Battery Form Factor	Proprietary LP-E10
Product Bundle
Software	EOS Digital Solutions Disc (EOS Utility, ZoomBrowser EX/ImageBrowser, Digital Photo Professional, Picture Style Editor, Movie Edit Task, Video Snapshot Task, PhotoStitch)
Battery / Charger	1 x Proprietary LP-E10 Lithium-ion rechargeble battery and charger
Other
Digital Print Order Format (DPOF) compliant	Yes
PictBridge Compliant	Yes
Internal Microphone	Yes
Internal Speaker	Yes
Tripod Mount	Yes
Remote Control	Yes, Optional wired.
Notes	Feature Guide, Basic + Function, Video Snapshot, 720p Movies.
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