Canon T3 Digital Camera Review

Noise Reduction

The noise reduction on the Canon T3 is more subtle than it is with other cameras, but it doesn't need to be aggressive with this camera. With noise reduction disabled, the camera shows just 0.52% noise at the minimum ISO speed of 100, rising to just 2.14% average noise at ISO 6400. Compare that to the maximum noise reduction setting, which returned 0.44% noise at ISO 100, and 1.02% noise at 6400. Those aren't major swings, and really the low and medium noise reduction settings are fine enough. The major culprit with the T3 is noise in the red channel, which spikes to over 3% luminance noise and 2.5% color noise at ISO 6400. On average, however, noise is not a major concern. More on how we test noise.

The T3 offers three levels of noise reduction, but they’re hardly needed, as noise doesn’t even cross 2% until ISO 6400. There are specific color channel noise issues, but in general noise was kept to an absolute minimum on the camera in our testing, better than even the more expensive T3i.

The comparison cameras all performed well in handling noise, as one would expect from entry and mid-level DSLR cameras. Only the NIkon D5100 performed better, and even then only slightly. The worst in our group was the Pentax K-r, which had a particular issue handling high ISO speeds. The Canon T3 and T3i both kept noise low throughout the ISO range, though the T3 showed a small improvement overall in handling red channel noise.

ISO Options

The Canon T3 offers ISO options ranging from 100-6400, with an option to cap the maximum ISO at any of the full stops from 400-6400 through the menu. The ISO can quickly be changed by pressing the dedicated ISO button, which is also the up key on the four-way controller. In live view, you must first press the "Q" button to access the live menu, and navigate down to the ISO option to adjust sensitivity.