Canon SL3 vs Canon SL2 Comparison

Camera to replace

Change

Canon SL3

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

CHECK PRICE

Change

Canon SL2

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

CHECK PRICE

Canon SL3 vs Canon SL2 Comparison Overview

In this review, we will be comparing the Canon SL3 with its predecessor, the Canon SL2, list out what is new, its advantages over its older sibling and finally try to conclude if the SL3 is a worthy upgrade to the SL2. Canon SL3 was introduced to the market in April 2019 and Canon SL2 was launched in June 2017 so it will be interesting to see how much difference this 21 months between the two cameras make.

SL3 and SL2 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	February 2020	24.0MP - APS-C	131 x 103 x 76mm	515g
Canon SL3	April 2019	24.0MP - APS-C	122 x 93 x 70mm	449g
Canon 4000D	February 2018	18.0MP - APS-C	129 x 102 x 77mm	436g
Canon T7	February 2018	24.0MP - APS-C	129 x 101 x 78mm	475g
Canon SL2	June 2017	24.0MP - APS-C	122 x 93 x 70mm	453g

Here is a brief look at the main features of the Canon SL3 and Canon SL2 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Canon SL3 Key Specs

Announcement Date: 2019-04-10

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

4K (UHD) - 3840 x 2160 video resolution

Built-in Wireless

449g. 122 x 93 x 70 mm

Also known as EOS 250D / EOS Kiss X10

Replaced Canon EOS Rebel SL2 Compare

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

Let's read on in the following sections in order to better understand in detail how the Canon SL3 and Canon SL2 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.

Related Blog Posts

Panasonic G9 II vs OM System OM-1 vs Fujifilm X-T5 vs Canon R7 vs Sony A6700 Size Comparison
Canon EOS R5 is $800 off!
Canon EOS R7 and EOS R8 are only $1299 ($200 off!) at Amazon and B&H Photo
Canon Firmware Updates for EOS C70, EOS C300 III and EOS C500 II Cinema Cameras Released
Save up to 700 USD on Canon RF Mount Cameras and Lenses with Special Promo Code
Canon Released the EOS R8 Content Creator Kit with Savings
Nikon Z 180-600mm vs Sony E 200-600mm vs Nikon AF-S 200-500mm vs Canon RF 100-500mm Size and Feature Comparison
Canon EOS R5 C Major Firmware Update Alert

**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Reasons to choose Canon EOS Rebel SL3 over Canon EOS Rebel SL2

Image Processor	DIGIC 8 vs DIGIC 7	More Capable Processor
Battery Life	1070 shots vs 650 shots	420 more frames with a single charge
Weight	449 g vs 453 g	4 g lighter
Max Video Resolution	3840 x 2160 vs 1920 x 1080	Higher Resolution Video
Max Video Bit rate	120mbps vs 60mbps	Higher bit rate for better video quality

CHECK SL3 PRICE

Reasons to choose Canon EOS Rebel SL2 over Canon EOS Rebel SL3

NFC Connection	Yes vs No	Easy wireless connectivity with compatible devices

CHECK SL2 PRICE

Common Strengths of Canon EOS Rebel SL3 and Canon EOS Rebel SL2

Wireless Connection	Yes vs Yes	Better connectivity
Bluetooth Connection	Yes vs Yes	Connect to other devices via Bluetooth
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
Timelapse Recording	Yes vs Yes	creative shooting
AE Bracketing	Yes vs Yes	Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR
Selfie/Vlogger Friendly LCD	Yes vs Yes	Rotate LCD for taking Selfies
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 SL3 and Canon EOS Rebel SL2

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 SL3 vs Canon SL2: 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 SL3 and Canon SL2 side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Canon SL3 has external dimensions of 122 x 93 x 70 mm (4.8 x 3.66 x 2.76″) and weighs 449 g (0.99 lb / 15.84 oz) (including batteries). 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).

Below you can see the front-view size comparison of the Canon SL3 and the Canon SL2. In this case, we can see that Canon SL3 and Canon SL2 have the exact same height, width and thickness.

Comparison image of the Canon SL3 and the Canon SL2 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of the Canon SL3 and Canon SL2.

Comparison image of the Canon SL3 and the Canon SL2 Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Canon SL3 and Canon SL2.

Top View Comparison image of the Canon SL3 and the Canon SL2 Size

Weight is another important factor, especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Canon SL3 is 4g lighter than the Canon SL2 but we don't think this will make a significant difference.

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 SL3 and Canon SL2 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

SL3

SL2

Min

Average

Max

Thickness Comparison

DSLR Cameras

SL3

SL2

Min

Average

Max

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither the Canon EOS Rebel SL3 (EOS 250D / EOS Kiss X10) nor Canon EOS Rebel SL2 (EOS 200D / Kiss X9) 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 SL3 and Canon SL2'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 SL3 vs Canon SL2: Sensor Comparison

Both Canon SL3 and Canon SL2 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 SL3 and SL2 sensor size comparison.

Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Canon SL3 and Canon SL2 Cameras

Canon SL3 and Canon SL2 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.

Canon SL3 vs Canon SL2 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 SL3 and Canon SL2 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 SL3 Lenses	# of Canon SL2 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 SL3 and the SL2

	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 SL3 and Canon SL2 Good for?

In this section, we rank and compare Canon SL3 and Canon SL2 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 SL3 for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE

Canon SL2 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

Check the Best Canon EF-S Mount Lenses for Portrait Photography

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 SL3 for Street Photography

GOOD

Canon SL2 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

Check the Best Canon EF-S Mount Lenses for Street Photography

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 SL3 for Sports Photography

GOOD

Canon SL2 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: 1070 shots
Good Low Light ISO
Wireless Connection
Average Continuous Shooting: 5.0fps
No Image Stabilization
Environmental Sealings
9 Focus Points
Read the details

Check the Best Canon EF-S Mount Lenses for Sports Photography

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

Canon SL3 for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

Canon SL2 for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

Large APS-C (22.3 x 14.9 mm) sensor
Large Body
449g
Body Thickness 70mm
Read the details

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

Canon SL3 for Landscape Photography

AVERAGE

Canon SL2 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

Check the Best Canon EF-S Mount Lenses for Landscape Photography

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 SL3 vs Canon SL2: 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 SL3 and Canon SL2, 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 SL3 and Canon SL2 scores compare:

Canon SL3

Imaging

Features

Value

Portability

Overall

Ranked #4 out of 80 in Compact SLR cameras
Ranked #129 out of 1275 in all Cameras

Canon SL2

Imaging

Features

Value

Portability

Overall

Ranked #8 out of 80 in Compact SLR cameras
Ranked #156 out of 1275 in all Cameras

Canon SL3 has a higher Overall Score than the Canon SL2 and would be our choice if we have to decide between these two cameras.

Canon SL2 vs Canon SL3 Specs Table

Detailed comparison of specifications

General	Canon EOS Rebel SL3	Canon EOS Rebel SL2
Brand	Canon	Canon
Announced	2019-04-10	2017-06-29
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	25,600 ISO
Max Boosted Light Sensitivity	51200 ISO	51200 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	9
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	0.54x
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	n/a	9.80 m (at ISO 100)
Max Flash Sync	n/a	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	3840 x 2160	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	449g	453g
Dimensions	122 x 93 x 70mm	122 x 93 x 70mm
Battery Life	1070 shots	650 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS	None	None
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score	not tested	79
DxO Color Depth	not tested	23.6
DxO Dynamic Range	not tested	13.4
DxO Low Light ISO	not tested	1041
	Report a correction	Report a correction