Canon M10 vs T3

The Canon EOS M10 and the Canon EOS Rebel T3 (labelled Canon 1100D in some countries) are two digital cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively, in October 2015 and February 2011. The M10 is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera, while the T3 is a DSLR. Both cameras are equipped with an APS-C sensor. The M10 has a resolution of 17.9 megapixels, whereas the T3 provides 12.2 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications

Canon M10		Canon T3
Mirrorless system camera		Digital single lens reflex
Canon EF-M mount lenses		Canon EF mount lenses
17.9 MP, APS-C Sensor		12.2 MP, APS-C Sensor
1080/30p Video		720/30p Video
ISO 100-12,800 (100 - 25,600)		ISO 100-6,400
No viewfinder, LCD framing		Optical viewfinder
3.0 LCD, 1040k dots		2.7 LCD, 230k dots
Tilting touchscreen		Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)
4.6 shutter flaps per second		3 shutter flaps per second
255 shots per battery charge		700 shots per battery charge
108 x 67 x 35 mm, 301 g		130 x 100 x 78 mm, 495 g

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Canon EOS M10 and the Canon EOS Rebel T3? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

Body comparison

The physical size and weight of the Canon M10 and the Canon T3 are illustrated in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive views from the front, the top, and the rear side are shown. All size dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The M10 can be obtained in two different colors (black, white), while the T3 is only available in black.

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Canon T3 is considerably larger (80 percent) than the Canon M10. Moreover, the T3 is substantially heavier (64 percent) than the M10. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the M10 nor the T3 are weather-sealed.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses that both of these cameras require. Hence, you might want to study and compare the specifications of available lenses in order to get the full picture of the size and weight of the two camera systems.

Concerning battery life, the M10 gets 255 shots out of its LP-E12 battery, while the T3 can take 700 images on a single charge of its LP-E10 power pack.

The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the two cameras alongside a broader set of comparators. If you want to switch the focus of the display and review another camera pair, just select a new right or left comparator from among the camera models in the table. Alternatively, you can also move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible camera comparisons there.

Body Specifications

	Camera Model	Camera Width	Camera Height	Camera Depth	Camera Weight	Battery Life 1	Weather Sealing	Camera Launch 2	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price
	Canon M10	4.3 in	2.6 in	1.4 in	10.6 oz	255	n	Oct 2015	499
	Canon T3	5.1 in	3.9 in	3.1 in	17.5 oz	700	n	Feb 2011	449
	Canon T100	5.1 in	4.0 in	3.0 in	15.4 oz	500	n	Feb 2018	399
	Canon M100	4.3 in	2.6 in	1.4 in	10.7 oz	295	n	Aug 2017	499
	Canon T6	5.1 in	4.0 in	3.1 in	17.1 oz	500	n	Mar 2016	449
	Canon G9 X	3.9 in	2.3 in	1.2 in	7.4 oz	220	n	Oct 2015	529
	Canon M3	4.4 in	2.7 in	1.7 in	12.9 oz	250	n	Feb 2015	679
	Canon G7 X	4.1 in	2.4 in	1.6 in	10.7 oz	210	n	Sep 2014	699
	Canon T5	5.1 in	3.9 in	3.1 in	16.9 oz	500	n	Feb 2014	449
	Canon SL1	4.6 in	3.6 in	2.7 in	14.4 oz	380	n	Mar 2013	549
	Canon G1 X	4.6 in	3.2 in	2.6 in	18.8 oz	250	n	Jan 2012	799
	Canon M	4.3 in	2.6 in	1.3 in	10.5 oz	230	n	Jul 2012	599
	Canon T4i	5.2 in	3.9 in	3.1 in	20.3 oz	440	n	Jun 2012	849
	Canon T3i	5.2 in	3.9 in	3.1 in	20.1 oz	440	n	Feb 2011	599
	Canon XS	5.0 in	3.9 in	2.6 in	17.7 oz	500	n	Jun 2008	449
	Sony A5000	4.3 in	2.5 in	1.4 in	9.5 oz	420	n	Jan 2014	449
Notes: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders. (1) Number of images that can be taken on a full battery charge according to the CIPA-standard; (2) Official announcement.

Camera Model
Canon M10
Canon T3
Canon T100
Canon M100
Canon T6
Canon G9 X
Canon M3
Canon G7 X
Canon T5
Canon SL1
Canon G1 X
Canon M
Canon T4i
Canon T3i
Canon XS
Sony A5000

The price is, of course, an important factor in any camera decision. The listed launch prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The T3 was somewhat cheaper (by 10 percent) than the M10 at launch, but both cameras fall into the same price category. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

Sensor comparison

The imaging sensor is at the core of digital cameras and its size is one of the main determining factors of image quality. A large sensor will generally have larger individual pixels that offer better low-light sensitivity, provide wider dynamic range, and have richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Moreover, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more control over depth-of-field in the image and, thus, the ability to better isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be more expensive and lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Both cameras under consideration feature an APS-C sensor, but their sensors differ slightly in size. The sensor area in the T3 is 3 percent smaller. They nevertheless have the same format factor of 1.6. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

In terms of chip-set technology, the M10 uses a more advanced image processing engine (DIGIC 6) than the T3 (DIGIC 4), with benefits for noise reduction, color accuracy, and processing speed.

With 17.9MP, the M10 offers a higher resolution than the T3 (12.2MP), but the M10 has smaller individual pixels (pixel pitch of 4.31μm versus 5.15μm for the T3). However, the M10 is a much more recent model (by 4 years and 8 months) than the T3, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixels.

The resolution advantage of the Canon M10 implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the M10 for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 25.9 x 17.3 inches or 65.8 x 43.9 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 20.7 x 13.8 inches or 52.7 x 35.1 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 17.3 x 11.5 inches or 43.9 x 29.3 cm. The corresponding values for the Canon T3 are 21.4 x 14.2 inches or 54.3 x 36.2 cm for good quality, 17.1 x 11.4 inches or 43.4 x 28.9 cm for very good quality, and 14.2 x 9.5 inches or 36.2 x 24.1 cm for excellent quality prints.

The M10 has on-sensor phase detect pixels, which results in fast and reliable autofocus acquisition even during live view operation.

The Canon EOS M10 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 12800, which can be extended to ISO 100-25600. The corresponding ISO settings for the Canon EOS Rebel T3 are ISO 100 to ISO 6400 (no boost).

Since 2007, DXO Mark has published sensor performance measurements that have been derived using a consistent methodology. This service determines an overall sensor rating, as well as sub-scores for low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and color depth ("DXO Portrait"). The Overall DXO ratings for the two cameras under consideration are close, suggesting that they provide similar imaging performance. The following table provides an overview of the physical sensor characteristics, as well as the sensor quality measurements for a selection of comparators.

Sensor Characteristics

	Camera Model	Sensor Class	Resolution (MP)	Horiz. Pixels	Vert. Pixels	Video Format	DXO Portrait	DXO Landscape	DXO Sports	DXO Overall
	Canon M10	APS-C	17.9	5184	3456	1080/30p	22.2	11.4	753	65
	Canon T3	APS-C	12.2	4272	2848	720/30p	21.9	11.0	755	62
	Canon T100	APS-C	17.9	5184	3456	1080/30p	21.9	11.4	695	63
	Canon M100	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	23.5	12.9	1272	78
	Canon T6	APS-C	17.9	5184	3456	1080/30p	..	..	..	..
	Canon G9 X	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	1080/60p	21.5	12.3	495	63
	Canon M3	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/30p	22.8	11.8	1169	72
	Canon G7 X	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	1080/60p	23.0	12.7	556	71
	Canon T5	APS-C	17.9	5184	3456	1080/30p	21.9	11.3	724	63
	Canon SL1	APS-C	17.9	5184	3456	1080/30p	21.8	11.3	843	63
	Canon G1 X	1.5-inch	14.2	4352	3264	1080/24p	21.7	10.8	644	60
	Canon M	APS-C	17.9	5184	3456	1080/30p	22.1	11.2	827	65
	Canon T4i	APS-C	17.9	5184	3456	1080/30p	21.7	11.2	722	62
	Canon T3i	APS-C	17.9	5184	3456	1080/30p	22.1	11.5	793	65
	Canon XS	APS-C	10.1	3888	2592	none	..	..	..	..
	Sony A5000	APS-C	19.8	5456	3632	1080/60i	23.8	13.0	1089	79

Camera Model
Canon M10
Canon T3
Canon T100
Canon M100
Canon T6
Canon G9 X
Canon M3
Canon G7 X
Canon T5
Canon SL1
Canon G1 X
Canon M
Canon T4i
Canon T3i
Canon XS
Sony A5000

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but also of capturing video footage. Both cameras under consideration have a sensor with sufficiently fast read-out times for moving pictures, but the M10 provides a higher video resolution than the T3. It can shoot video footage at 1080/30p, while the T3 is limited to 720/30p.

Feature comparison

Beyond body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the T3 has an optical viewfinder, which can be very useful when shooting in bright sunlight. In contrast, the M10 relies on live view and the rear LCD for framing. The adjacent table lists some of the other core features of the Canon M10 and Canon T3 along with similar information for a selection of comparators.

Core Features

	Camera Model	Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots)	Control Panel (yes/no)	LCD Size (inch)	LCD Resolution (000 dots)	LCD Attach- ment	Touch Screen (yes/no)	Mech Shutter Speed	Shutter Flaps (1/sec)	Built-in Flash (yes/no)	Built-in Image Stab
	Canon M10	none	n	3.0	1040	tilting	Y	1/4000s	4.6	Y	n
	Canon T3	optical	n	2.7	230	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0	Y	n
	Canon T100	optical	n	2.7	230	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0	Y	n
	Canon M100	none	n	3.0	1040	tilting	Y	1/4000s	6.1	Y	n
	Canon T6	optical	n	3.0	920	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0	Y	n
	Canon G9 X	none	n	3.0	1040	fixed	Y	1/2000s	6.0	Y	Y
	Canon M3	optional	n	3.0	1040	tilting	Y	1/4000s	4.2	Y	n
	Canon G7 X	none	n	3.0	1040	tilting	Y	1/2000s	6.5	Y	Y
	Canon T5	optical	n	3.0	460	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0	Y	n
	Canon SL1	optical	n	3.0	1040	fixed	Y	1/4000s	4.9	Y	n
	Canon G1 X	optical	n	3.0	922	Swivel	n	1/4000s	1.9	Y	Y
	Canon M	none	n	3.0	1040	fixed	Y	1/4000s	4.3	n	n
	Canon T4i	optical	n	3.0	1040	swivel	Y	1/4000s	5.0	Y	n
	Canon T3i	optical	n	3.0	1040	swivel	n	1/4000s	3.7	Y	n
	Canon XS	optical	n	2.5	230	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0	Y	n
	Sony A5000	none	n	3.0	461	tilting	n	1/4000s	3.5	Y	n

Camera Model
Canon M10
Canon T3
Canon T100
Canon M100
Canon T6
Canon G9 X
Canon M3
Canon G7 X
Canon T5
Canon SL1
Canon G1 X
Canon M
Canon T4i
Canon T3i
Canon XS
Sony A5000

One differentiating feature between the two cameras concerns the touch sensitivity of the rear screen. The M10 has a touchscreen, while the T3 has a conventional panel. Touch control can be particularly helpful, for example, for setting the focus point.

Concerning the storage of imaging data, both the M10 and the T3 write their files to SDXC cards. The M10 supports UHS-I cards (Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 104 MB/s), while the T3 cannot take advantage of Ultra High Speed SD cards.

Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Canon EOS M10 and Canon EOS Rebel T3 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

Input-Output Connections

	Camera Model	Hotshoe Port	Internal Microphone	Internal Speaker	Microphone Port	Headphone Port	HDMI Port	USB Port	WiFi Support	NFC Support	Bluetooth Support
	Canon M10	-	stereo	mono	-	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-
	Canon T3	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
	Canon T100	Y	mono	mono	-	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-
	Canon M100	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	Y
	Canon T6	Y	mono	mono	-	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-
	Canon G9 X	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
	Canon M3	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-
	Canon G7 X	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
	Canon T5	Y	mono	mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
	Canon SL1	Y	mono	mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
	Canon G1 X	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
	Canon M	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
	Canon T4i	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
	Canon T3i	Y	mono	mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
	Canon XS	Y	-	-	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
	Sony A5000	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-

Camera Model
Canon M10
Canon T3
Canon T100
Canon M100
Canon T6
Canon G9 X
Canon M3
Canon G7 X
Canon T5
Canon SL1
Canon G1 X
Canon M
Canon T4i
Canon T3i
Canon XS
Sony A5000

It is notable that the M10 offers wifi support, while the T3 does not. Wifi can be a very convenient means to transfer image data to an off-camera location.

Both the M10 and the T3 have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on eBay. The T3 was replaced by the Canon T5, while the M10 was followed by the Canon M100. Further information on the two cameras (e.g. user guides, manuals), as well as related accessories, can be found on the official Canon website.

Review summary

So what conclusions can be drawn? Is there a clear favorite between the Canon M10 and the Canon T3? Which camera is better? The listing below highlights the relative strengths of the two models.

Arguments in favor of the Canon EOS M10:

• More detail: Offers more megapixels (17.9 vs 12.2MP) with a 21% higher linear resolution.
• Better jpgs: Has a more modern image processing engine (DIGIC 6 vs DIGIC 4).
• Better video: Provides higher definition movie capture (1080/30p vs 720/30p).
• Better live-view autofocus: Features on-sensor phase-detection for more confident autofocus.
• Larger screen: Has a bigger rear LCD (3.0" vs 2.7") for image review and settings control.
• More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (1040k vs 230k dots).
• More flexible LCD: Has a tilting screen for odd-angle shots in landscape orientation.
• Fewer buttons to press: Is equipped with a touch-sensitive rear screen to facilitate handling.
• More selfie-friendly: Has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing.
• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (4.6 vs 3 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
• More compact: Is smaller (108x67mm vs 130x100mm) and thus needs less room in the bag.
• Less heavy: Is lighter (by 194g or 39 percent) and hence easier to carry around.
• More legacy lens friendly: Can take a broad range of non-native lenses via adapters.
• Easier file upload: Has wifi built in for automatic backup or image transfer to the web.
• Easier device pairing: Supports NFC for fast wireless image transfer over short distances.
• Faster buffer clearing: Has an SD card interface that supports the UHS-I standard.
• More modern: Reflects 4 years and 8 months of technical progress since the T3 launch.

Advantages of the Canon EOS Rebel T3:

• Easier framing: Has an optical viewfinder for image composition and settings control.
• Longer lasting: Gets more shots (700 versus 255) out of a single battery charge.
• Better lighting: Features a hotshoe and can thus hold and trigger an external flash gun.
• More heavily discounted: Has been around for much longer (launched in February 2011).

If the count of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a measure, the M10 is the clear winner of the match-up (17 : 4 points). However, the relative importance of the various individual camera aspects will vary according to personal preferences and needs, so that you might like to apply corresponding weights to the particular features before making a decision on a new camera. A professional wedding photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a travel photog, and a person interested in cityscapes has distinct needs from a macro shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Canon M10 and the Canon T3 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera and Best DSLR Camera listings whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the specs-based evaluation of cameras can be instructive in revealing their potential as photographic tools, it says little about, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance of the M10 and the T3 in practical situations. User reviews that are available, for instance, at amazon can sometimes shed light on these issues, but such feedback is all too often partial, inconsistent, and inaccurate.

Expert reviews

This is why hands-on reviews by experts are important. The adjacent summary-table relays the overall verdicts of several of the most popular camera review sites (cameralabs, dpreview, ephotozine, imaging-resource, and photographyblog). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

Review Scores

	Camera Model	camera   labs	dp review	ephoto   zine	imaging resource	photography   blog	Camera Launch	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price
	Canon M10	..	..	..	o	4/5	Oct 2015	499
	Canon T3	80/100	69/100	4/5	4/5	4.5/5	Feb 2011	449
	Canon T100	o	..	3.5/5	..	3.5/5	Feb 2018	399
	Canon M100	+	..	4/5	..	3.5/5	Aug 2017	499
	Canon T6	o	73/100	4/5	3.5/5	4/5	Mar 2016	449
	Canon G9 X	+ +	..	4.5/5	4/5	4.5/5	Oct 2015	529
	Canon M3	o	75/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	4/5	Feb 2015	679
	Canon G7 X	+ +	77/100	4.5/5	3.5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2014	699
	Canon T5	+	..	4/5	4/5	4.5/5	Feb 2014	449
	Canon SL1	+	78/100	4/5	4/5	4/5	Mar 2013	549
	Canon G1 X	+	76/100	4/5	4/5	4.5/5	Jan 2012	799
	Canon M	+	..	4/5	3.5/5	4/5	Jul 2012	599
	Canon T4i	+ +	77/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jun 2012	849
	Canon T3i	o	77/100	4.5/5	5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2011	599
	Canon XS	82/100	+ +	3.5/5	4/5	4.5/5	Jun 2008	449
	Sony A5000	+	..	4.5/5	o	4.5/5	Jan 2014	449
Notes: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

Camera Model
Canon M10
Canon T3
Canon T100
Canon M100
Canon T6
Canon G9 X
Canon M3
Canon G7 X
Canon T5
Canon SL1
Canon G1 X
Canon M
Canon T4i
Canon T3i
Canon XS
Sony A5000

The review scores listed above should be treated with care, though. The ratings are only valid when referring to cameras in the same category and of the same age. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and comparing ratings of very distinct cameras or ones that are far apart in terms of their release date have little meaning. It should also be noted that some of the review sites have over time altered the way they render their verdicts.

Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you would like to check on the differences and similarities of other camera models, just use the search menu below. As an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool.

Specifications: Canon M10 vs Canon T3

Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.

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