Canon EOS Rebel T2i 18 MP CMOS DSLR

The Canon EOS T2i doesn't present many upgrades over last year's Canon EOS T1i. The most major development is a new 18-mp CMOS image sensor identical to last year's Canon 7D. This modification has improved the quality of sharpness, but the Canon Rebel persists in turning in run of the mill performance in long exposure, dynamic range, and noise.

Other upgrades seem to be aimed at improving the experience for video recording. The T2i provides a new, high-resolution LCD monitor and some negligible changes in switch layout as well as a dedicated switch for video recording in a more prudent spot. They've also added an external microphone recording input jack, which should improve better capture of audio in congruence with the video.  

 

Canon EOS Rebel T2i 18 MP CMOS DSLR
Canon EOS Rebel T2i 18 MP CMOS APS-C Digital SLR Camera Main View

Canon just astonish the photography community by revealing this latest EOS Rebel T2i that will assume a position at the top the company's lower priced Rebel line DSLR cameras. The muscle behind this 18-megapixel brute comes from of a considerable amount of trickle-down components from Canon's doubly expensive EOS 7D powerhouse. Now, you can get a camera body with extensive advanced features identical to the 7D like 100- 6400 ISO, a 63-zone dual-layer meter system, 9-point autofocus, a 3-inch smudge-resistant live-view viewfinder, , and 1080p video capturing at 24, 25, or 30 fps including an external microphone input jack all for $799.

 Canon EOS Rebel T2i 18 MP CMOS DSLR Front
Canon EOS Rebel T2i 18 MP CMOS APS-C Digital SLR Camera Front View

But wait a minute, all of a sudden Nikon is going have to run to catch up. And now Canon's going to have to increase the technology on its upper-end models just to stay ahead. Look at some of the impressive specifications for the Canon EOS T2i:

Canon EOS Rebel T2i 18 MP CMOS DSLR Left
Canon EOS Rebel T2i 18 MP CMOS APS-C Digital SLR Camera Left Side View

Canon's new EOS Rebel T2i flagship adds professional EOS attributes to a simple to operate, lightweight DSLR that's a pleasure to shoot. Featuring a bar-raising 18.0-megapixel CMOS sensor and augment light sensitivity for poor light photography, the EOS T2i also includes an advanced HD Video mode for beautiful Full HD videos. with the ability to shoot up to 3.7 fps, it's ready to go right out of the bag. Some of the new features include a new wide-area monitor, Advanced Live View. Bright Auto Lighting Optimizer and Tone Highlight elements easily ensure brilliant pictures and movies. Including a number of the most technologically advanced features of any DSLR, it's absolutely the best Canon Rebel has ever created. 

Canon EOS Rebel T2i 18 MP CMOS DSLR Top
Canon EOS Rebel T2i 18 MP CMOS APS-C Digital SLR Camera Top View

Not unless you use the T1i for capturing a lot of videos, there is absolutely no justification for upgrading to the EOS T2i. In the meantime, newbie DSLR buyers kicking the tires on the new T2i might be ahead of the game by saving a few hundred dollars by buying last year's T1i. You'll have to give up the fancy new CMOS sensor and mic input, but you'll acquire the same vivid color performance, smooth menus manual controls, and acquire access to the vast array of Canon lenses and other accessories. The Rebel EOS T2i is a decent, solid entry-level camera, but other than the advanced video capture mode there are not a lot of other reasons to buy it.
Features

18.0-megapixel CMOS (APS-C) sensor
 

The DIGIC 4 Image Processor dramatically speeds up the EOS Rebel T2i

ISO 100-6400 (expandable to 12800) for shooting from bright to dim light
 

Improved EOS Movie mode with manual exposure control
 

Enhanced 63-zone, Dual-layer metering system, and 9-point AF system

Additionally, the EOS Rebel T2i has a high-precision, 9-point AF system

Wide 3.0-inch (3:2 aspect ratio) Clear View LCD monitor
 

New Quick Control Screen button
 

Improved layout with dedicated Live View/Movie shooting button
 

3.7fps continuous shooting up to approximately 34 JPEGs or approximately 6 RAW
.

New compatibility with SDXC memory cards
 

Compatible with the full line of Canon EF and EF-S lenses

Canon EOS Digital Solution Disk (Version 22.0)


Compatible Operating System


EOS Utility (Version 2.8.0) for Macintosh or Windows handles the connection between the camera and computer

Digital Photo Professional (Win/Mac, Version 3.8.0) is an image processing program

Picture Style Editor (Win/Mac, Version 1.7.0)
ZoomBrowser EX (Version 6.5.0) for Windows and ImageBrowser (Version 6.5.0) for Mac OS X

Opinion

Highlights
Compact and easy to transport - Many buttons have to serve dual functions

Color
Excellent color accuracy - Mediocre performance in long exposure

Noise
Extended ISO range of 100 to 12800 - Noisier results than much of the competition

Resolution
Excellent sharpness, with little chromatic aberration or distortion - Slightly below average performance in dynamic range tests

White Balance
WB shift is versatile - Mediocre white balance results, even after the cumbersome custom white balance

Playback
Impressive array of PictBridge options - Virtually no in-camera editing tools

Hardware
Great proximity sensor on viewfinder; microphone input for recording audio in movie mode - SDXC compatibility Limited flash controls

Controls
Wide variety of shooting modes, ability to tweak sharpness, contrast, saturation, and color tone in color modes - Autofocus assist is only available with pop-up flash; narrow exposure compensation range

Design & Handling
Beautiful menu design - Camera body feels lights and difficult to keep steady

Video Section

Color & Noise
Lots of color modes and settings available in video mode; noise levels were low in bright light. - Color accuracy not all that great

Motion & Sharpness
Good sharpness and motion scores overall - No 1080/60i or 1080/60p record mode

Low Light Performance
Overall low light performance was above average for a video-capable DSLR.

Video Features
Multiple video resolution options; manual controls are easy to use and plentiful in video mode. - Stationary LCD is not great for video recording

Accessories


Reviews

Instead of replacing its tired, old XS and XSi models to compete with younger, sprier sub-$700 models from Nikon, Sony, and Pentax in that extremely popular price segment, Canon chose to release an update to its more expensive T1i in the less competitive $800-$1,000 range. Included in the new T2i--dubbed the EOS 550D overseas--are some notable enhancements to its video capabilities, an updated metering scheme inherited from the 7D, an enhanced LCD, and a resolution jump to 18 megapixels. While there are nits to pick with aspects of the camera and... Read full review at CNET Reviews 


Canon has unveiled the latest in its long line of consumer digital SLRs, the Rebel T2i (EOS 550D). Highlights include 1080p HD video recording (with full manual control), an 18MP CMOS sensor, 3 inch 3:2 LCD with 1040k dot resolution and the 63-point iFCL metering system first seen on the EOS 7D. The new Rebel also offers a handful of less attention-grabbing upgrades, including redesigned buttons, 3.7 fps continous shooting, +/-5 stops exposure compensation and UI support for Eye-Fi cards. We spent a little time with a pre-production EOS 550D last week and have produced a detailed hands-on preview and (quick) gallery of Beta samples - Check it out after the link at Digital Photography Reviews...


Press Release


Canon EOS 550D / Rebel T2i hands-on video



Get the Canon EOS Rebel T2i atAdorama or the Canon EOS Rebel T2i at Amazon or the Canon EOS Rebel T2i at B&H Photo

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