Canon SL2 vs Canon T6i Comparison

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Canon SL2

24 MP | APS-C (22.3 x 14.9 mm) CMOS Sensor

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Canon T6i

24 MP | APS-C (22.3 x 14.9 mm) CMOS Sensor

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Canon SL2 vs Canon T6i Comparison Overview

In this review, we will be comparing the SL2 and the T6i, two Entry-Level DSLR cameras by Canon. Canon SL2 was introduced to the market in June 2017 and Canon T6i was launched in February 2015. As you can see, T6i is 2 years older than SL2. Let's see if this age difference between two cameras makes a big difference.

SL2 and T6i are members of Canon's Rebel series of cameras. Below you can find the latest models from this series.

Canon Rebel Series History

Model	Release Date	Sensor	Dimensions	Weight
Canon T8i	2020	24.0MP - APS-C	131 x 103 x 76mm	515g
Canon SL3	2019	24.0MP - APS-C	122 x 93 x 70mm	449g
Canon 4000D	2018	18.0MP - APS-C	129 x 102 x 77mm	436g
Canon T7	2018	24.0MP - APS-C	129 x 101 x 78mm	475g
Canon SL2	2017	24.0MP - APS-C	122 x 93 x 70mm	453g

Here is a brief look at the main features of the Canon SL2 and Canon T6i before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Canon SL2 Key Specs

Announcement Date: 2017-06-29

24MP - APS-C CMOS Sensor

ISO 100 - 25600 ( expands to 51200)

Canon EF/EF-S Mount

3.00" Fully Articulated Screen

Optical (pentamirror) viewfinder

5.0fps continuous shooting

Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution

Built-in Wireless

453g. 122 x 93 x 70 mm

Also known as EOS 200D / Kiss X9

Replaced Canon EOS 100D Compare

Canon T6i Key Specs

Announcement Date: 2015-02-06

24MP - APS-C CMOS Sensor

ISO 100 - 12800 ( expands to 25600)

Canon EF/EF-S Mount

3.00" Fully Articulated Screen

Optical (pentamirror) viewfinder

5.0fps continuous shooting

Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution

Built-in Wireless

555g. 132 x 101 x 78 mm

Also known as EOS 750D / Kiss X8i

Canon SL2 was replaced by Canon EOS Rebel SL3. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Canon EOS Rebel SL3 vs Canon EOS Rebel SL2 (EOS 200D / Kiss X9)
Canon EOS Rebel SL3 vs Canon EOS Rebel T6i (EOS 750D / Kiss X8i)

Canon T6i was replaced by Canon EOS Rebel T6s. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Canon EOS Rebel T6s vs Canon EOS Rebel T6i (EOS 750D / Kiss X8i)
Canon EOS Rebel T6s vs Canon EOS Rebel SL2 (EOS 200D / Kiss X9)

Let's read on in the following sections in order to better understand in detail how the Canon SL2 and Canon T6i compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.

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Reasons to choose Canon EOS Rebel SL2 over Canon EOS Rebel T6i

Viewfinder Magnif.	0.54x vs 0.51x	Larger Viewfinder
Image Processor	DIGIC 7 vs DIGIC 6	More Capable Processor
Max ISO	25.600 vs 12.800	100% higher Max ISO
Battery Life	650 shots vs 440 shots	210 more frames with a single charge
Weight	453 g vs 555 g	102 g lighter
Timelapse Recording	Yes vs No	creative shooting
Color Depth	23.6 vs 22.7	higher color depth
Dynamic Range	13.4 vs 12.0	higher dynamic range
Low Light ISO	1041 vs 919	better High ISO performance
AE Bracketing Range	±3 EV vs ±2 EV	Wide Bracketing range is useful for HDR
Bluetooth	Yes vs No	Connect your camera to other devices via Blueetooth

CHECK SL2 PRICE

Reasons to choose Canon EOS Rebel T6i over Canon EOS Rebel SL2

Number of Focus Points	19 vs 9	10 more focus points
Number of Cross Type Focus Points	19 vs 1	18 more cross type focus points
Flash Coverage	12.0m vs 9.8m	2.2m longer range
Anti Flicker	Yes vs No	Reduced uneven color and exposure under flickering light

CHECK T6i PRICE

Common Strengths of Canon EOS Rebel SL2 and Canon EOS Rebel T6i

Wireless Connection	Yes vs Yes	Better connectivity
Adjustable LCD Screen	Fully Articulated vs Fully Articulated	Flexible shooting positions
Built-in Flash	Yes vs Yes	Useful in low-light
External Flash Shoe	Yes vs Yes	Better for flash photography
Touch Screen	Yes vs Yes	Easy control of camera functions
Viewfinder	Yes (Optical) vs Yes (Optical)	Better framing and control
RAW Support	Yes vs Yes	Better image quality
Face Detection Focus	Yes vs Yes	very handy for portraits
Max Resolution	24 MP vs 24 MP	Bigger prints and more details
LCD Screen Resolution	1.040k dots vs 1.040k dots	High resolution screens
Microphone Port	Yes vs Yes	High quality audio recording option
AE Bracketing	Yes vs Yes	Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR
Selfie/Vlogger Friendly LCD	Yes vs Yes	Rotate LCD for taking Selfies
NFC Connection	Yes vs Yes	Easy wireless connectivity with compatible devices
Smartphone Remote	Yes vs Yes	Remote control your camera with a smartphone
UHS Card Support	UHS-I vs UHS-I	Read/Write in High Speeds
Webcam Function	Yes vs Yes	Use your camera as a Webcam

Common Weaknesses of Canon EOS Rebel SL2 and Canon EOS Rebel T6i

In-body Image Stabilization	No vs No	No Built-in stabilization
Environmental Sealing	No vs No	not suitable for tough conditions
Optical Viewfinder Type	Pentamirror vs Pentamirror	not as bright as Pentaprism Viewfinders

Canon SL2 vs Canon T6i: Physical Specs and Body Features Comparison

Size and weight are big decision factors when you are trying to find the ideal camera for your needs. In this section, we are going to illustrate the Canon SL2 and Canon T6i side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Canon SL2 has external dimensions of 122 x 93 x 70 mm (4.8 x 3.66 x 2.76″) and weighs 453 g (1.00 lb / 15.98 oz) (including batteries). Canon T6i has external dimensions of 132 x 101 x 78 mm (5.2 x 3.98 x 3.07″) and weighs 555 g (1.22 lb / 19.58 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front-view size comparison of the Canon SL2 and the Canon T6i. Canon SL2 is clearly the smaller of the two cameras. Its body is 10mm narrower, 8mm shorter and 8mm thinner than Canon T6i.

Comparison image of the Canon SL2 and the Canon T6i Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of the Canon SL2 and Canon T6i.

Comparison image of the Canon SL2 and the Canon T6i Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Canon SL2 and Canon T6i.

Top View Comparison image of the Canon SL2 and the the Canon T6i Size

Weight is another important factor, especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Canon SL2 is significantly lighter (102g ) than the Canon T6i which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Also keep in mind that body weight is not the only deciding factor when comparing two interchangeable camera bodies, you also have to take into account the lenses that you will be using with these bodies. Since both Canon SL2 and Canon T6i have the same Canon EF/EF-S lens mount and APS-C sized sensors, lenses will not be a differentiator on total size of the system.

Weight Comparison

DSLR Cameras

SL2

T6i

Min

Average

Max

Thickness Comparison

DSLR Cameras

SL2

T6i

Min

Average

Max

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither the Canon EOS Rebel SL2 (EOS 200D / Kiss X9) nor Canon EOS Rebel T6i (EOS 750D / Kiss X8i) provides any type of weather sealing in their bodies, so you have to give extra care especially when you are shooting outdoors. If weather sealing is a must-have feature for you, check these sections:
Top DSLR Cameras with Weather Sealing

LCD Screen Size and Features

Canon SL2 and Canon T6i's LCD screens have the same diagonal size of 3.00 inches.

Both cameras feature Fully Articulating screens where you can change the angle of the screen to make it easier to shoot from waist or over-the-head levels. Fully articulating screens are also useful for taking Selfies and video.

Canon SL2 vs Canon T6i: Sensor Comparison

Both Canon SL2 and Canon T6i have APS-C sized 24.0 MP resolution sensors so sensor size and resolution is not a differentiator between these two cameras.

Below you can see the SL2 and T6i sensor size comparison.

Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Canon SL2 and Canon T6i Cameras

Canon SL2 and Canon T6i have the same sensor sizes so they will provide same level of control over the depth of field when used with same focal length and aperture.

DxOMark Sensor Scores

Both Canon SL2 and Canon T6i sensors have been tested by DxoMark. DxoMark scores camera sensors for color depth (DXO Portrait), dynamic range (DXO Landscape) and low-light sensitivity (DXO Sports), and also gives them an overall score. Of the two cameras that we are comparing, SL2 has scored 79, 8 points higher than T6i.

Model	Overall	Color Depth	Dynamic Range	Low-light ISO
Canon SL2	79	23.6 bits	13.4 Evs	1041 ISO
Canon T6i	71	22.7 bits	12.0 Evs	919 ISO

Canon SL2 vs Canon T6i Comparison of Available Lenses

Which camera has more lenses?

The number of available lenses is a big deciding factor when choosing your interchangeable lens camera. Canon SL2 and Canon T6i have the same Canon EF/EF-S lens mount and currently there are 333 native lenses available for these cameras.

Another important factor is the availability of image stabilization. None of these bodies have sensor based image stabilization so you have to buy lenses with Optical stabilization feature. Currently there are 113 lenses with Image stabilization for Canon EF/EF-S mount.

Lens Type	# of Canon SL2 Lenses	# of Canon T6i Lenses
Standard Zoom	40	40
Standard Prime	21	21
Wideangle Zoom	37	37
Wideangle Prime	51	51
Telephoto Zoom	59	59
Telephoto Prime	44	44
SuperZoom	28	28
Wideangle Fisheye Prime	7	7
Macro Prime	28	28
Perspective Control Prime	16	16
Telephoto Mirror Prime	1	1
TOTAL	333	333

Here are some of the most popular Canon EF/EF-S Mount Lenses on Camera Decision:

Popular Canon EF/EF-S Mount Lenses for the SL2 and the T6i

	Coverage	Weight	Focusing	Street Price
Canon EF 24-105mm f4L IS USM	35mm FF	670gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo
Canon EF 70-300mm f4-5.6 IS USM	35mm FF	630gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo
Canon EF 75-300mm f4.0-5.6 III	35mm FF	480gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo
Canon EF 35-350mm f3.5-5.6L USM	35mm FF	1385gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo
Canon EF 70-200mm f2.8L IS II USM	35mm FF	1490gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo
Canon EF 50mm f1.8 STM	35mm FF	159gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo
Canon EF 80-200mm f4.5-5.6 II	35mm FF	250gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo
Canon EF 35-80mm f4.0-5.6 III	35mm FF	175gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo

What types of Photography are Canon SL2 and Canon T6i Good for?

In this section, we rank and compare Canon SL2 and Canon T6i for five different photography types in order to make your decision process easier in case you are specifically interested in one or more of these areas.

Canon SL2 for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE

Canon T6i for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE

Large APS-C (22.3 x 14.9 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 24.0MP
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
No Image Stabilization
Read the details

Canon SL2 for Street Photography

GOOD

Canon T6i for Street Photography

GOOD

Large APS-C (22.3 x 14.9 mm) sensor
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Fully Articulated LCD Screen
No Image Stabilization
Large Body
Read the details

Canon SL2 for Sports Photography

GOOD

Canon T6i for Sports Photography

GOOD

Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/4000s
1 Cross Type Focus sensors
Good Battery Life: 650 shots
Good Low Light ISO
Wireless Connection
Average Continuous Shooting: 5.0fps
No Image Stabilization
Environmental Sealings
9 Focus Points
Read the details

Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/4000s
19 Cross Type Focus sensors
19 Focus Points
Wireless Connection
Anti Flicker feature
Average Continuous Shooting: 5.0fps
No Image Stabilization
Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Canon SL2 for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

Canon T6i for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

Large APS-C (22.3 x 14.9 mm) sensor
Large Body
453g
Body Thickness 70mm
Read the details

Large APS-C (22.3 x 14.9 mm) sensor
Anti Flicker feature
Large Body
555g
Body Thickness 78mm
Read the details

Canon SL2 for Landscape Photography

AVERAGE

Canon T6i for Landscape Photography

AVERAGE

Large APS-C (22.3 x 14.9 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 24.0MP
Live-view
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Canon SL2 vs Canon T6i: OUR DECISION

You may have already made your decision about which camera suits better for your needs and your budget so far, but in case you wonder how we rated Canon SL2 and Canon T6i, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 69 different specs, current price and DxO Mark scores (where possible) in order to make a more objective and consistent comparison.

Here is a summary of how Canon SL2 and Canon T6i scores compare:

Canon SL2

Imaging

Features

Value

Portability

Overall

Ranked #7 out of 80 in Compact SLR cameras
Ranked #148 out of 1259 in all Cameras

Canon T6i

Imaging

Features

Value

Portability

Overall

Ranked #14 out of 80 in Compact SLR cameras
Ranked #202 out of 1259 in all Cameras

Canon SL2 is the clear winner of this comparison. It has a higher Overall Score and beats Canon T6i in all criteria. It has better general image quality, more features, more compact body and offers more value for the money

Canon T6i vs Canon SL2 Specs Table

Detailed comparison of specifications

General	Canon EOS Rebel SL2	Canon EOS Rebel T6i
Brand	Canon	Canon
Announced	2017-06-29	2015-02-06
Body Type	Compact SLR	Compact SLR
Sensor
Type	CMOS	CMOS
Size	APS-C	APS-C
Dimensions	22.3 x 14.9 mm	22.3 x 14.9 mm
Area	332.27mm²	332.27mm²
Megapixels	24 megapixels	24 megapixels
Max Resolution	6000 x 4000	6000 x 4000
Max Native Light sensitivity	25,600 ISO	12,800 ISO
Max Boosted Light Sensitivity	51200 ISO	25600 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity	100 ISO	100 ISO
RAW Support
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Number of Focus Points	9	19
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount	Canon EF/EF-S	Canon EF/EF-S
Number of Available Lenses	333	333
Screen
Type	Fully Articulated	Fully Articulated
Size	3.00"	3.00"
Resolution	1,040k dots	1,040k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder	Optical (pentamirror)	Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder Coverage	95%	95%
Viewfinder Magnification	0.54x	0.51x
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter	1/4000s	1/4000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Built-in Image Stabilization	No	No
Built-in Flash
Flash Range	9.80 m (at ISO 100)	12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Max Flash Sync	1/200s	1/200s
External Flash
Continuous Shooting	5.0 fps	5.0 fps
Multi-Segment Metering
Average Metering
Spot Metering
Partial Metering
AF-Area Metering
Center Weighted Metering
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution	1920 x 1080	1920 x 1080
Video Formats	MPEG-4, H.264	MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity	Built-In	Built-In
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight	453g	555g
Dimensions	122 x 93 x 70mm	132 x 101 x 78mm
Battery Life	650 shots	440 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS	None	None
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score	79	71
DxO Color Depth	23.6	22.7
DxO Dynamic Range	13.4	12.0
DxO Low Light ISO	1041	919
	Report a correction	Report a correction