Canon Rebel T2i Review

It has been less than a year since the last Canon Rebel descended upon the camera world. It would seem that Canon may be jumping the gun (pun intended) by releasing another version in its entry level category, especially since the last one, the Canon Rebel T1i, has been received so well. Sales have been really good, as have been user reviews.

So, is this release really necessary? And will the camera buying public respond positively?

While it still remains to be seen, the simple answers would seem to be, Yes, it is time for the new release, and, Yes, the public will snatch up this newest release with gusto.

Here are the facts, and the facts are indisputable ("A Few Good Men").

1. There is now no question that HD Movie mode is now part of the package that photographers will be seeking in their new DSLR purchases. And movie mode in the T2i has been improved... not just a little, but to match the movie mode in the 7D semi-professional model (a 7D will cost you twice as much).
   
   According to the Canon press release: "The Rebel T2i DSLR captures video in both NTSC (National Television System Committee) and PAL (Phase Altering Line) standards at selectable frame rates including Full HD 1920 x 1080 at 30 (29.97), 25 or 24 (23.976) fps, and HD 1280 x 720 or Standard Definition 640 x 480 quality video, at 60 (59.94) or 50 fps."
   
   This is quite an improvement over the older version which had video capabilities of 1080p at only 20fps which delivered unacceptable quality for most viewers.
2. An external mic jack has been added for better sound recording in video mode. This was the major complaint from reviewers of the previous model. Canon marketers heard the complaint and heeded the cries for improvement in this area.


3. Megapixels have increased to the same level as the 7D (again... cost is twice as much) at 18.7 megapixels. This is the highest number of pixels in the entry level category, and, while megapixels are not the end-all of features for selection criteria, this is pretty impressive. The younger sibling had an already impressive 15 megapixel sensor.


4. ISO has been improved to a selection of sensitivity of 100 to 6400 (up from 3200 in the older model) with the possibility of extending to 12800. This makes taking photos in low light much more manageable. For instance at concerts or indoor images without using a flash.


5. Exposure compensation has been increased from 2 stops plus or minus to 5 stops. This is really exciting news for photo enthusiasts who do HDR work.


6. Upgraded quality LCD panel. The resolution of the panel has been increased to 1.02 million dots. This means that there is better quality screen resolution.


7. A slight increase in the burst rate from 3.4 fps to 3.7 frames per second. This is a good feature for stop action shooting.
   

All of these upgrades add up to a great reason for a new release. The price is a bit higher than the competition in the entry level market, but the new Canon Rebel T2i has features that none of the competitors can claim.

If you are especially looking for a camera that can take quality video (and you should), still photo quality that matches that of the pros, and a full feature package that nearly matches a much more expensive DSLR, consider the NEW Rebel T2i (550D) from Canon.
Check out the side by side comparison of the Canon Rebel T2i vs Canon Rebel T1i.
Or, take a look at the Canon Rebels HERE.

Digital SLRs - The Battle for #1

Wonder what it looks like in the marketing think-tanks at Nikon and Canon right now. Is anyone getting any sleep? What should we, the camera buying public look for before making our purchase?

The Battle
If you check the sales in Entry Level Digital SLRs right now, you will find that Nikon is holding a slight edge over Canon at the number one sales spot on Amazon. But right behind is Canon at the second and third spots. Number four and five are... Nikon, again.
Here are the ratings:
1. Nikon D3000
2. Canon EOS Rebel T1i
3. Canon EOS Rebel XSi
4. Nikon D5000
5. Nikon D90

It does appear that the marketing departments are working overtime as we approach the biggest sales period of the year. And there is good reason. There is much at stake here. If you watch prime time TV, it is clear that both manufacturers are investing major $$$ in advertising right now, and it is targeting their top sellers in the Digital SLR market.

The Breakdown
So how does that affect us, the consumers? How do we evaluate the cameras?
It's really a crazy situation because the differences are difficult to find. But let's focus on the top 4 sellers.
There are two categories - Inexpensive:hereafter referred to as Cheap and Very Inexpensive: aka Dirt Cheap.
When you are looking to buy in the semi-pro market, cheap equates to something under $1000, and Dirt Cheap is under about $700.

A closer look:
Dirt Cheap - Nikon D3000 vs Canon XSi - similar feature sets, excellent image quality, NO video mode
Cheap - Nikon D5000 vs Canon T1i - slightly better image processor than the Dirt Cheap models, but the major difference is that they include HD video.

Does it matter which brand you choose? Absolutely not, unless you already have lenses for one or the other. If you do have some lenses, it will benefit you to stick with that brand of camera.

The Bottom Line
So the bottom line is that the advertising gets your attention. Buying a Digital SLR based on the advertisement that impresses you will not be a problem. You WILL get an excellent camera and a good deal. No second guessing necessary here.

Side-by-side comparisons
CLICK - Cheap DSLRs
CLICK - Dirt Cheap DSLRs