Canon‘s EOS Rebel T3i DSLR reminds you of what even the best smartphone cams can’t do. They can’t stop action at 1/4,000 second or turn night into day with an ISO up to 12,800, nor can they capture stunning 1080p HD video at 30 frames per second. The Rebel T3i can, and its 18-megapixel sensor is 30 times the size of the average smartphone’s, producing richer images at larger dimensions. Yes, it’s another gadget to throw in your bag, but at just under two pounds (including battery and lens) it’s smaller and lighter than most DSLRs. Bonus: the articulating screen helps you frame overhead images.
QUIRKS + CONCERNS: Big-mitted users may find the controls too Lilliputian.