Product: EOS Digital Rebel T2i
Manufacturer: Canon
MSRP: $900
Lowest Historical Price: $810 History

Introduction
Move over T1i, the Canon EOS Rebel T2i is here to take the mantle as Canon's newest flagship entry-level DSLR. The T2i boasts an 18 megapixel sensor, 1.04 million pixel 3:2 LCD screen, as well as a 63-zone metering sensor and improved movie functionality -- features borrowed from its big brother, the Canon 7D. Add to the mix some full-featured HD video recording, and I knew I had to take the plunge and check it out.



Specifications
Canon seems to have pulled out all the stops for this model and stuffed it with features that put it very close to the next model up, the Canon 7D. With a similar 18 megapixel sensor, 63-zone iFCL metering and full HD video mode with manual exposure control and selectable frame rates, those considering their first DSLR or a second one for shooting video would be hard-pressed to not give this camera some serious consideration. Rounding out the rest of the features is a 3.0” 3:2 1.04 million pixel LCD screen, 3.7fps continuous shooting, 100-6400 ISO, and an external microphone socket.



Review
At first glance, the T2i looks and feels like any other DSLR from Canon's Digital Rebel line: compact, lightweight, and plasticky. The build quality is nothing to write home about. The camera body with kit lens is small and lightweight-feeling, and the handgrip is deep and more than adequate. These qualities, together with Live View, make shooting one-handed easy and secure. Since the buttons are fairly small, it's easy to accidentally press the wrong one. Still, the T2i is a far cry from the early days of bare bones entry-level DSLRs, which Canon pioneered.



The menu system for the T2i is straightforward, easy to read, and very intuitive. The camera inherited the ”quick control” button from the 7D, which allows you to change various shooting settings onscreen, eliminating the desire or need for many external one-use buttons.

Continuous shooting speed is a decent 3.7fps, an improvement over the T1i at 3.4fps and adequate for anyone who's looking at a camera in this price range. Autofocus is speedy and locks on quickly. However, using autofocus in conjunction with Live View slows AF quite a bit, although it's still very accurate.

Image quality is excellent with low noise across the entire ISO range. Some images are not the sharpest when viewed at 100%, but that's likely the fault of the kit lens and not the camera itself. Upgrading to higher quality optics is a must if you want to bring out the most in this camera. Compared to the sub-300k pixel LCDs of past digital cameras, the one on the T2i is amazing to look at. It features an anti-glare and anti-smudge coating and over a million pixels in a 3:2 format, so you don't have to deal with black bars when viewing pictures you've taken.

One of the T2i's headlining features is the greatly expanded movie mode for a camera in this price range. It can record 1080p video at 30, 25 or 24 frames per second or 720P at 60 or 50 frames per second. Throw in the ability to manually adjust exposure and use an external microphone, and you have the perfect camera for any budding filmmaker.



Conclusion
The number of improvements and features added to the T2i are impressive, but they come at a price. At the time of this review, the T2i runs for about 850 USD with kit lens. For a camera in this price range, the build quality and general feel are somewhat lacking. Many cheaper alternatives with slightly lesser specs, such as the T1i or the Nikon D5000, are available for the budget-minded first-time buyer. I would still recommend this camera to those looking for a worthy upgrade or anyone in the market for a backup DSLR.

Image Gallery


Sample Pictures