EOS Rebel T2i DSLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens (OLD MODEL)

This camera is as fantastic as the other 5-star reviewers have indicated. I was a young amateur SLR hobby-photographer 20 years ago; I mostly stopped buying film but never purchased anything more than a compact digital point'n'shoot for mediocre memory-shots. This DSLR was worth the wait. I buy a lot at Amazon but don't review much; this is an exception. I'll try not to reiterate too much, but I'll endorse some of the points in other reviews, and then offer some of my own thoughts. Endorsements: * Indeed, image quality is fantastic; 18MP is not "too much" for the APS-C-size sensor. Low-light performance is also great. But rather than listening to my broad statements (or those of other reviewers), Just read through the many pages of www.[amazon removed the website name - but it's the same review site that they feature near the top of this camera's page, or if you just google for "digital photography reviews" it should be the first hit].com review, including the comparisons with "competitor" cameras. The bottom line: is the T2i light-years better than all competitors at a similar price: no; but is it very good, often equaling its own master-at-twice-the-price EOS 7D: YES! * No, no stereo mic and silent lens operation like the Panasonic GH1, but the standard stereo mic jack resolves this for me. If I want fantastic sound, then I want two mics on a stereo mic bar out on a boom anyway. In fact, I prefer this mic-input over the high-quality built-in stereo mic of the GH1 (and the few other new-comers that boast built-in stereo mics). * I will side with those who appreciate the video qualities of the camera. No, it's probably not the right camera for taping the kids' full basketball games (in 1080p HD!?), where you may want electronic zoom and quiet auto-focus (though a better lens would help with the auto-focus problem a little). But if you wonder what kind of masterpiece videos can be taken with this gem, google around for T2i videos and prepare to be awed. The community of artistic videographers is having a hay-day with the T2i, Panasonic GH1/GF1, and a (very) few others. These stand out in a class of their own. And the T2i, with 60fps 720p stands on its own, really, enabling some incredible slow-motion effects. Indeed, as has been mentioned, you can't get an interchangeable-lens video camera with a large sensor like this for anywhere near the price of this camera. Oh, and yes, make sure you have at least a Class-6 SD card, preferably Class-10, apparently (though I only have a Class-6 card and it's done ok so far), before you blame the camera for choppiness, and make sure you have a fast computer with a fast video-card before you blame the camera for taking unwatchable video. * Indeed, indoor auto-white-balance doesn't seem perfect. But the auto-ISO works pretty well; thank you Canon for the ability to limit the ceiling on it - that makes it worth using. My additional thoughts: * Yes, the body is light. It's not a professional all-magnesium brick that you can leave out in the snow and rain every night as one reviewer elsewhere likes to do with his professional Canons. But it's also not entirely "plastic", as some reviewers suggest. It's a stainless steel chassis (though who knows what gauge) with a polycarbonate resin / glass fiber shell (ok, yeah, plastic). It does "feel" light enough to be all plastic. I wouldn't treat it like a professional brick, but I also appreciate the advantages of its light weight. In my opinion: it feels light without feeling cheap. Of course, compared to a solid Magnesium, I might be inclined to say it feels cheap. To hold, that is. The function of the controls does _not_ feel cheap. Also worth noting: I have medium-small hands and have no trouble operating all of the controls _with_ thin gloves on; the profile and controls may not be acceptable to the largest-handed pro photographers, but I wouldn't read too much into those negative comments. And, finally, I, too, can't wait for camera-armor to produce a mold for the T2i (with the cutout for the new video button) so that I don't have to worry as much that the body isn't brick solid. * The kit lens may be relatively slow at f3.5 and may be plastic, but it really is a great start lens its price. You'll find a faster (f1.8) plastic lens for the same price, but it won't have image-stabilization (though the argument that you won't need it at f1.8 has some merit). It really is quite sharp, for the money. It does hunt a little for (auto-)focus in imperfect conditions, but it's not clear to me (yet) that this is all the fault of the lens. The hunting _noise_ (audible noise, that is), on the other hand, clearly marks it as an inexpensive lens. * Battery: I don't have enough experience with it yet to comment much on its performance, other than to refer to the stats according to CIPA standards. But I did notice that you can choose your background color for the LCD, where settings are displayed. I changed mine from the default white background to a dark background. If my hypothesis is right, this will save a little power. You can also reduce the amount of time a shot is displayed on the LCD after it's taken. Or you can turn the LCD off altogether, which is likely to save a healthy bit of juice. Like I said: I'll leave a great deal unsaid because other reviewers have already said it. I did a lot of research over the last 5 monhttp://www.amazon.com/review/edit-reviewths and finally concluded that this newcomer was "the one" for me. Still, I watched developments for a few more weeks before making my purchase. Bottom line: this is a 5-star purchase. UPDATE: I emailed camera-armor, and they reported: "We currently do not have any plans on releasing Camera Armor for the Canon T2i. We apologize for the disappointment." But they say to stay tuned for new products. Perhaps the plans are around the corner even if the product is not as near as hoped. I'd be interested in knowing how well the Xsi/T1i's armor ( MADE Products CA-1135-BLK Camera Armor for Canon XSI Digital SLR Cameras (Black) ) would work -- it looks to me like the movie-record button might be covered, but otherwise the fit might be right. I haven't found any comments on this anywhere.

This is a terrific camera, just as the other reviewers have indicated. I have had more expensive cameras (Nikon D700), but considering value and price, the Canon T2i tops them all. I know the T2i only has a APS-C sized sensor, but the photos look great. The ergonomics of the camera are the best. Controls are easy to use, and you are just a touch away from changing any setting on the camera. IMAGE QUALITY: Image quality is amazing. I took some shots of the blossoms on a flowering plum tree and had the photos enlarged to 10x12. They are perfect. The blossoms are sharp, clear, and the colors are right on. Even when you use auto ISO indoors, I find that photos that are enlarged up to 10"x12" are perfect, even at 800 ISO. SDHC CARD: I purchased a Sandisk 8GB HDHC card (class 10) for the camera. It is recommended that you have at least a class 6 card. The videos are amazing. The colors are true and you will be surprised by the quality. Look around the net and see what is being done with this camera, even at night. CANON 18-55mm LENS: I'm not impressed with the kit lens on the camera, but it works. I purchased an EF 28mm f1.8 and a EF 28-135mm IS, and the glass on these two lenses makes a nice difference, especially if you plan on enlarging your photos. CAMERA QUALITY: The body of the camera is not built like the Nikon D700, which costs over $2,300 and weighs over two pounds. It feels like plastic but doesn't really appear to be cheap. The body only weighs 18.7 ounces, including the battery and card. It feels light-weight without being cheap. The control knobs and buttons have a nice feel, and function well. The camera body is a little small, but I wouldn't go back to the D700. LCD MONITOR: The monitor on the Canon T2i is awesome! It has a 3:2 aspect ratio and is 3" wide. It has 1.04 million dots, which means it is very, very sharp. I have used the monitor in the sunlight, and it is still easy to read and exceptionally bright. You can also display the control functions on the screen in four different colors, which is quite nice. IMPORTANT FEATURES: Canon's Auto Lighting Optimizer really works and is designed to enhance shadow detail and even add contrast if it is needed. It also has Peripheral Illumination Correction which tends to reduce the darkness in the corners. The Highlight Tone Priority tends to improve the overall look of highlights which can sometimes be rather harsh.

This is my first DSLR, but as a person just getting into photography/digital filmmaking, I'm not complaining one bit here. I'll base my review solely from a digital filmmaking viewpoint as that is why I bought the camera and there are already a lot of reviews on the photographic quality on here. I'll go with the pros and cons to make it easier to understand why as a beginning digital filmmaker this is a great camera to get into as compared to a high-end consumer camcorder. Pros: -exceptional image quality (the ability to use lots of different lenses is going to create a much better image than your basic consumer-grade camcorder) -compact-allows the filmmaker to get into tight spaces where you can get into with larger professional cameras (you even see major film productions utilizing DSLR's for their films now because of this reason alone) -lightweight -obviously great for photography -you also have free range to set it to manual mode and set the ISO speed, aperture and shutter speed to get the best image possible Cons: -not very good built-in sound quality (but no DSLR or consumer-grade camcorder has good built-in sound) -at higher ISO levels the picture might get slightly grainy, but not that noticeable -obviously you have to have a very steady hand in operating a DSLR for both photography and digital filmmaking (even being as steady as possible it will still pick up little movements, a follow-focus and tripod can solve this problem) -Also, there is the potential of the camera's internal temperature increasing due to shooting too long. I recommend when shooting digital film that whenever not using the camera for actually shots, shut it off to decrease the likelihood of the camera shutting off automatically. Try and get your shots and shut it off as soon as you can. All-in-all, I would highly recommend this camera as a solid introduction to digital filmmaking.* In terms of digital filmmaking, it doesn't get much better if you are starting out. The next step up from this in terms of digital filmmaking is the Canon 5D and 7D which both push the $1500-$2500 range. And then your next step up from those is the Red One which pushes the $18,000-$20,000 range (which is now utilized in major motion pictures shooting entire films using the Red One, e.g. The Social Network, The Hobbit films coming out, etc). So you can obviously see what kind of quality you're dealing with here. *Note: If you are just looking to take home movies of your family, sporting events or general personal use without getting into major editing, go with a consumer-grade camcorder instead. I only recommend this for a person getting into digital filmmaking and doing heavy editing. This camera is better for those interested in editing and making high quality digital film without the major cost of getting into a professional camcorder, a more expensive DSLR, or the Red One.

I'll start off this review by saying that I bought this as a poor college student interested in taking photography. I was completely blown away and still am by the quality and specs of this camera. I've had it for almost a full year now, and have taken thousands of photos in varying conditions with an assortment of Canon accessories. I've decided it's best to just list the fantastic points about the T2i below and then some other things about it to consider: Pros: -Durable build, yet not made out of heavy metallic materials as many DSLR cameras are -Easy-to-use menu interface, whether you're shooting on full auto, or completely with manual settings -18 Million Pixels is a heck of a lot...I've blown up shots onto canvases and they still look incredible -SD Cards instead of compact Flash - While this may be a con to some, I find that SD Cards are cheaper, easier to carry around, and more universally useable with computers (in terms of having the input slot for it) -Huge range in ISO capabilities making light less of an issue for the camera -Quality kit lens - I exclusively used the 18-55mm lens that comes with it for some time before I expanded my collection to use a zoom lens (55-250mm) and a 50mm lens (the cheap 1.8 version). -Fast shutter speeds - I use mine to shoot action shots at rock and metal concerts...probably a weird use of it but it's incredible at catching mid-air shots and more -Long battery life - I did spring for a second battery soon after buying it as a precaution, but I rarely need it, despite taking 2000-3000 photos in one day at times. -The sensor in the T2i is incredible at maintaining depth of field and capturing quality images, way better than comparable mid-range Nikon cameras Cons -Flash - The built in flash is fine, but if you're planning to take a lot of photos in a short amount of time forget about using it, the recycling time on it is far too slow to rely on it. That being said, Canon offers a number of fantastic Speedlite flashes, I use the Canon Speedlite 430EX II myself. -$$$ The camera is cheap initially, but Canon has really high-priced lenses, that are more expensive than comparable Nikon products. I still stand by my purchase, but be ready to shell out some serious $$ if you want to expand the possibilities with the camera. All in all I would argue that the T2i is the best deal for someone who's in between beginner/first-time buyer and full-on professional. If you buy it, I recommend getting an extra battery, a flash (if needed), diffuser, UV filters, and lens hoods. As for lenses, buy what you need for the type of photography you plan on doing, the 18-55mm is great because it is a good "one-size fits all" type of lens that can do all sorts of cool things, but there are specific lenses for specific applications. That's all from me, hope this review helped!

Having been a loyal Canon user for years, carrying their cameras across 4 continents and personally converting many friends/family to the Canon DSLR line, I was sorely disappointed with my most recent experiences. The Rebel T2i is slightly above mediocre in quality and capability, but that can be expected from a mid-line camera. The picture quality definitely struggles at high ISO. The biggest disappointment was the manner in which I was treated by customer service when the camera experienced problems. I was told my warranty was void due to significant water damage, damage that would "require significant submersion to incur." That camera never leaves my sight, and it shut off mid-picture while on vacation, nor was it ever once submerged or splashed in any way. The most infuriating part was the bill they sent, which totaled more than the cost of the camera brand new. I tried to speak with customer service on multiple occasions but they were unable to understand my concerns with the defective product or the situation, only to cite the voided warranty and the necessary repair. Their responses unfortunately betrayed that they had not been listening to anything I had said or the questions I was asking, only reciting a set of routine responses which were often times irrelevant to the topic at hand. Unfortunately the Canon quality reputation does not apply to the Rebel T2i, nor does their customer support system. I would definitely NOT recommend this camera. Over the last weeks I have experimented with both Sony and Nikon, and Canon is about to lose an extremely loyal customer.

i have been using film and the dark room until i bought this camera. the auto focus and stabilizing works great with a lot of light like most camera i expect would too. in the dark, however, there is a loss of a lot of information. with film you can simply decrease the shutter speed to fix that and still get a decent shot if you hold it still or on a tripod. i am new to DLSR so maybe there is a solution but i have been testing it in the dark and the resulting shots are all pixely and blurred so you lose a lot of information and detail. i like how the auto focus works with the dots to tell you what is in focus. the strap is high quality. the lens is also great and the quality of photos are great even in full auto mode. a great feature is how it tells you how many pictures are left, my older point and shoot digital camera do not do that. it is a lot lighter than my film camera which is great. the average size for highest quality (not raw) is 5MB which is pretty good. i can take 200 pictures with 1.3 GB left on my card, but i ordered a 32 GB SD card which will be plenty. the battery came with about 60% life and i charged it in a few minutes on the dedicated charging stand. the video part of the camera is not great. although stabilizer mode is on, the camera can be quite blurry and shaky when trying to hold still. when zooming in with the lens, it is very loud in the audio so it limits you. one silly problem is that this camera doesnt come with a SD card yet it requires it to work since theres no internal memory. i used a SD card to mini SD card converter and a 2GB mini SD card to test the camera. i used it with the video mode and found out that it often has broken parts in the video. not sure what that problem is but be sure to know it doesnt work properly with a SD converter card. there is a box on the LCD screen that chooses what you want in focus by moving the arrow keys to change the position. it is a shame that this lcd isnt a touch screen because its so huge and it would be so practical. another small thing is that the auto focus takes more time than you would expect to focus. it is faster to manual focus than to wait for this to focus in 3-5 seconds. in the dark or close up(on paintings) it has a hard time focusing as well. as i said before i am new to digital SLR cameras. i was taught by many people, as an artist, that you shouldnt use the flash to take artistic pictures. many of the modes on this camera have a mandatory flash which cannot be turned off. it seems like close up and portrait mode should have the ability to turn off the flash since you can just use a tripod for the actual real life situations that you would use those modes. i have much to learn about digital cameras so do not take my review as critical as it may seem, i just converted from film photography since this camera is literally 1/3 the price of maintaining a modest dark room, and not to mention most art suppliers are removing film supplies, even B&H which is probably the highest supplier. i do not regret my purchase but for 900 i was expecting at least a 2 gb SD card to come with it. BUY AN SD CARD IF YOU GET THIS

This camera has very impressive specifications. 18mp and 1080 video, what more can you ask for? I did extensive research at DPReview before purchasing this camera. For the money, this was a no brainer. So far everything has worked perfectly. Battery life was as advertised. Image quality in Raw format was very impressive. Even jpg's looked great. I only considered Canon for my purchase. The only question was, which one? The T2i's features are that of a $1k + camera. I have about 200 actuations and have not had one really bad shot. About half of those are on full manual. The metering modes work well, focusing modes work extremely well, burst is fast a crisp. The supplied software is not cheesy as is with some camera's out there. My girlfriend shoots with a 40D and I have always shot canon so I wanted to stick with the EF format to swap lens with her. Kit lens is a good all around lens, its not very fast but it gets the job done. This camera has the entry level build quality but it feels very solid and the controls are very well thought out. The only issue I have with it is the flash popup. Sometimes I have my hand there and I don't even feel the flash trying to popup and I block it. IT errors out and you have to restart camera to reset it. Aside from that (and that is my fault really) Everything works as well as can be expected. If you want the most features for your money, get this camera. Its specs are off the charts and at the 700 - 800 price point, it can't be beat. Get a fast SD card though, don't skimp there. My old 8gig SD card works but shooting in Raw+L, it could not keep up. I picked up a 16 gig Class 10 card and I'm not waiting around to take the next shot. I shoot fast, I don't compose long at all, even in manual. The controls let you easily change exposure settings fast as they are very well laid out. ISO 6400 is amazing on this camera. I have been pleasantly surprised with very low grain at that setting. I've not yet jumped to 12k because 6400 works well beyond my expectations. Add a grip to this camera and it feels like a quality build. This is the best camera for the money in APS-C in my opinion. Sure, I'll admit there is some brand loyalty for Canon but that is for good reason as well. I have owned many canon's and they have all been rock solid.

We have a T2i at my workplace which I had plenty of time to use. I decided to buy my own out of pure camera lust. It was one of the best purchases I have ever made. I love this camera. When the right settings are employed even the stock lens can create incredible images. The most important feature, the reason which I bought this camera, is it's video capabilities, which are incredible. Our company also owns a Canon XHG1, an 8000 dollar professional mini-dv camcorder, and it is my professional opinion that this camera (T2i), when the right lenses and setting are employed and taken advantage of, produces vastly superior video. You can buy this camera and 3 or 4 nice L glass lenses for the price of the XHG1 and be a far more capable videographer. I am almost certain there are better uses of the 8000 dollars it takes to buy a XHG1 that will produce some marginally better video quality, however, I believe the T2i to be the most versatile and cost effective in its price range and form factor and along with the inexpensive accessories you can buy for it you have yourself a formidable video camera setup in the pro-sumer, and some would argue even the professional market. Some other good things about this camera are the all manual controls, the selection of 1080P 30fps and 1080P 24fps, both having their merit, and 720P 60fps. The screen is top notch for its competitors and the way the setting are laid out are among the best in the Rebel line, to my experience. I believe this camera to be a very good choice for an aspiring film maker because of its versatility and price point and it is also a good camera for the aspiring photographer because it is a camera you can grow with. 10/10.