Canon EOS Rebel T1i 15.1 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3-Inch LCD (Body Only)

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Ive had the T1i for about almost week now and after some extensive use, here are my thoughts: 1. 15.1 megapixel sensor. Yes, the high megapixel count is impressive, but keep in mind that, as you approach higher resolutions, you need to ensure the lens on the SLR can resolve that much detail. Sadly, the included 18-55mm IS lens is functional, but the high resolution really shows the so-so quality of the lens. Even if taken at the proper focus, pictures can appear soft with this kit lens. Shots I have taken with Canon EF-S 17-85mm and EF 70-200mm L lenses are crisp. I dont have any gripes on image quality. There are some issues with noise on the higher ISOs that dont seem to show up on the Nikon digitals, but overall, the quality is amazing for the price. Skin tones, textures, colors are reproduced very accurately. 2. Digic 4. The Digic 4 processor appears to process/save the 15 megapixel images in the same time (if not faster) than the Digic III processor on the XSi (even in RAW+Jpg mode). I have also noticed that at higher ISOs, the sensor and the Digic 4 produce images with less overall noise compared with its predecessors. 3. LCD. The 920,000 pixel LCD screen is large (3"), crisp, vibrant and fully visible even in bright sunlight. In comparison, the Canon XSi SLR (which the T1i replaces), also has a 3" LCD, but with 230,000 pixels. The viewing angle is great as well and the LCD can easily be seen nearly 180 degrees around. 4. ISO 12800. Canon and Amazon are correctly identifying that the T1i maxes out at ISO 3200. Some less reputable dealers are listing an ISO 12800, which you should disregard. The ISO 6400 and 12800 settings are expanded ISO settings. The pictures taken on these two settings are ISO 3200 images pushed to ISO 6400 or 12800 by the Digic 4 chip before saving to the memory card. These pictures are extremely grainy and contain a lot of noise to the point of only being usable as for snapshots or adding an artistic effect to certain compositions. 5. Penta-mirror. That Canon is still using one in the T1i is disappointing. The penta-mirror viewfinder image is functional, but still noticeably darker than that of the penta-prism viewfinder in the Nikon D90 (which is the T1is main competitor). I really would have preferred if Canon had kept the XSis 12.2 megapixel sensor, forgone 1080p video altogether, and maybe upped the cost of the camera slightly to cover the production cost of using a penta-prism in the T1i. Honestly, unless you are massively cropping your images, or creating large photos, the difference between 12.2 and 15.1 megapixels really is negligible. 6. Size. This is the same body as the XSi, and therefore a bit on the smaller side compared to other digital SLRs. I have small hands, so the T1i is comfortable for me. If you have big hands, I can see this being a very difficult camera to use over an extended period of time. If you havent handled a Canon XT, XTi or XSi, I would suggest you go to a store and hold the T1i yourself before purchasing it online. (I will upload a picture of the T1i in my hands to the user gallery for a size reference.) 7. HD Video. Yes, the Canon marketing department made a horrible marketing decision and pushed the T1i onto shelves limiting the 1080p recording to 20fps (frames per second). Recognize this as a marketing gimmick that allows them put a 1080p sticker on the camera box. The 1080p @ 20fps is fine most times, but seems a choppy if you have a lot of action in the frame or are panning quickly. The T1is 720p video is recorded at 30fps and is clean, smooth, and sufficient for all but the most discerning consumers. One major criticism though is that the sound is recorded in mono, AND there is NO input for an external microphone. A lot of pre-production reviews of the T1i criticize its inability to automatically autofocus while recording. I wouldnt put much weight in this criticism, mostly because neither of the other two SLR cameras with HD recording capabilities (Canon 5D Mark II and Nikon D90) can automatically autofocus while recording either. What you can do with the T1i is pan/zoom the lens and then press the AE lock (*) button to make the camera autofocus on the new subject (all while recording). A problem with using the AE lock button to have the camera autofocus is that the microphone for the camera is on the front upper left of the body near the lens mount. Therefore, the lens motor noise is picked up just as much as ambient sounds. Even with my quietest Canon USM (ultasonic motor) lenses, this lens motor sound is pretty loud in video playback. Although, remember, you can always manually turn the focusing ring on the lens to get your subject back into focus. Its not easy, but after a little practice, its not all too hard, either. Ultimately, you shouldnt let the HD recording limitations sway you one way or the other. This is an SLR camera -- not a video camera. The HD video is a great feature, but if youre looking for something primarily to take video, look elsewhere. There are much better, cheaper VIDEO cameras out there which can record true 1080p. 8. Record button. For some reason, the record video button is next to the LCD screen (the same button used for direct printing). The first few times you take video, youll intuitively find yourself using the shutter release button used to take pictures. The reason for this switch is that you can take a still picture while recording video, although, doing so will interrupt the recording. 9. Battery life. My first fully charged battery only lasted about 250 shots (no flash), but all charges since have given me in the range of 500-700 shots per charge. Im guessing the first charge had such a short life because I spent quite a bit of time learning the camera, its menus, and settings. 10. Live View. I honestly cant review this as I havent used it too much yet -- I prefer using the viewfinder. One feature I can say is nice is that, on the LCD, you can digitally zoom in (up to 10x) on a section of your shot to ensure it is properly focused. This, and the fine focusing, can really help if youre into macro-photography. 11. HDMI cable. The T1i has an HDMI Type C output on the body to allow you to directly display pictures and video on an HDTV. A minor criticism is that the HDMI Type C cable is not included in the box. You have to buy it separately. It would have been nice if it were included, as its not an expensive cable. Conclusion. The T1i is a bit on the light end, yet the construction still feels solid. For the cameras price point, youd be hard pressed to find any digital SLR out there which gives you all the capabilities and growth range of the Canon T1i. The camera is intuitive enough for those new to photography to pick and learn easily, yet configurable enough for advanced amateurs. If video is not a big deal for you, then get the Canon XSi. There is very little the T1i has (other than ISO 3200 and a sharper screen) that the XSi doesnt. Plus, with the release of the T1i, you can probably pick up a used XSi for a great price on eBay. My wife recently gave birth, and Im not looking to record endless (never to be watched) tapes of video footage of our son, but I do want several minute clips of him as he grows through the years. Ive always been more inclined towards photography, so this camera gives me a very versatile digital SLR that I need with the wonderful capability of recording HD video that I want.

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Came in real good condition as advertised. Battery and memory storage was inserted and ready. Ive been having a great time getting acquainted with my T1i. Great results of local outdoor scenery. High resolution. I shoot RAW, then go right to editing with my software. Much fun and getting real good results that please me. Camera does a super job on auto. Then I branch out and do some manual setting. Just ordered tripod and remote shutter release cable to reduce shake on slower shutter speeds. The 3 attached photos have different degrees of photo editing to brighten.

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I have had this camera for 5 years, and have taken it everywhere from fishing trips (where it often gets a little wet) to sporting events and summer camp. I am not one to be terribly careful with may camera, and it isnt uncommon to see me chest deep in a lake or swimming pool at summer camps getting awesome pictures of campers having fun from angles not usually seen from the waters edge. I have dropped it more than Id like to admit, the worst drop was on a drizzly day taking pictures of my dog when I slipped on some mud and pretty much broke my fall with the camera on concrete... I thought for sure it was toast, but that was three years ago, and now the only thing that doesnt work on the camera is the built in flash, which i never use anyway. This camera has been through every temperature range Michigan has to offer, from long 100+ degree days in in constant sun out on Lake Huron, to the negative temps at Snow Fest in Frankenmuth, and it has never had single hiccup. There really is nothing I dont like about the camera, and if I ever have to travel back in time to 2009 I would buy another one in a heartbeat.

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Ok, so let me preface this by saying that when I was in my 20s I owned a great SLR camera and dragged it around with me everywhere. I even used to take a load of pictures at rock concerts, had interchangeable lenses, a variety of lenses... well, you get the picture. I was a professional amateur. Flash ahead to the 1990s and on, I have a family and start to look for new gadgets. I owned several point and click cameras over the past 20 years, concentrating mainly on small sizes and portability. I loved the fact that I could slip these cameras into my pockebook and pack up the kids to the park (without a huge camera bag). Unfortunately, the pictures were ok but nothing like the quality I had when I owned the old fashioned SLR. Well, now that I am 50ish and my kids are grown and gone, I figured I would treat myself to a new camera, in particular this Canon Rebel. All I can say is wow! I love it, love it, love it. Having owned it for over a year now (bought it on Amazon but just never got around to writing a review), I have purchased several interchangeable lenses and even a separate flash (although it comes with its own built in one, I prefer to control the flash myself). The Canon Rebel gives me the quality of the pictures I was used to and with the stabilization, my pictures come out clear and focused every time. I have even started going back to concerts (ok, so they are the same artists I was following when I was much younger) and I am feeling like a pro again. I have also gotten into wildlife and nature pictures and some of the pictures I have taken of flowers could match up with any professional photographer. If you are in the market for a compact SLR, this is the camera to buy!

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I had been planning to upgrade my Olympus SP-510 to a newer point-and-shoot, but when prodded by my wife to get a "really good" camera I upgraded to the T1i instead. It was, of course, a considerable increase in price ($350 to $700, body only), but seems well worth the cost. Along with the camera I also bought the Canon 18-200mm lens because I did not want to be constantly changing lenses. My overall impression in the last 6 weeks has been very positive. The photos are full of deep, rich colors, the images are clear and do not seem to have much distortion. I find I can take pictures at ISO 800 without any really noticeable noise and, when needed, even at 1600. The camera has a rich feature set and, in general, I have not been disappointed by much. On the positive side I found the following: 1) The camera fits in my hands well and the buttons are all easy to reach and use when taking pictures, 2) The auto-focus using the viewfinder works well (OK, this is a function of the lens, not the camera, but when taking pictures I tend to group both together), 3) As I stated above I find the pictures up through ISO 800 to be clear and 1600 more than just usable, 4) There seems to be much less shutter lag with this camera compared to my previous point-and-shoot, 5) Write time to the memory is much shorter than with my Olympus, 6) I love the ability to bracket my exposures so I can be reasonably sure I will actually get a decent picture, 7) I have had a chance to use the continuous picture setting and it works very well, 8) The HD movie mode (1280 x 720) takes excellent movies. This was important to me and was the reason I bought the T1i instead of the Olympus E-620, 9) I like the ability to create and use my own set of menu items for most of the functionality I usually need, 10) The battery life for the included battery is very good. I can usually take 600+ pictures without having to change the battery. There are, however, some things about this camera that I find disappointing: 1) When taking panoramas using the optical viewfinder Canon provides a way to lock the exposure setting so subsequent pictures will be taken using the same setting. The manual tells you to push the * button and use it for subsequent pictures. This works well, but since the * button is co-opted as auto-focus when using Live View, there does not seem to be any way to lock the exposure when using Live View. Canons suggestion is to use the fully manual mode and set the shutter speed and exposure that way. However since there is a way to lock the exposure when using the viewfinder it seems reasonable to expect there to be a way to do the same when using Live View. And there is not, 2) The camera seems small to host the 18-200mm lens. The lens is so heavy that the camera ends up facing toward the ground all of the time when carrying it around. The lens has a lock on it to prevent it from "creeping" out to its full length and I use that all the time, but the weight of the lens for the camera seems high. Again, I know this is a lens issue, but it seems hard to separate from the camera, 3) Auto-focus seems to not work as well when using Live View as when using the optical viewfinder. In low light situations when I have no trouble getting a focus lock with the optical viewfinder I often cannot get a lock when using Live View, 4) As much as I like the videos that this camera produces, it uses the LCD screen when taking videos and I often find that the LCD to be almost useless in daylight because the LCD is so washed out by sunlight. Thus unless I am in some shade I cannot see the scene I am supposed to be taking making a movie of. And I have to trust that it will come out OK, 5) The 15 MP picture size on disk is typically greater than 5 MB by default. This seemed a little large and I wanted to set the size slightly smaller. However the next smaller picture size is 8 MP. 8 MP seems small and 15 MP seemed large. I was hoping for something in between (perhaps 10 or 12 MP), but there is no intermediate size. I currently have the picture size set for 8 MP but I would like something a little larger than half the full size. While these items are somewhat of a disappointment for me I have to say that overall this is a great camera. It takes great pictures that are sharp and full of color, it handles well, focuses quickly and takes and writes pictures very quickly. I am glad to have bought it and recommend it to anyone who, like me, is moving up to their first DSLR. And, as large and heavy as it is, I also recommend the 18-200mm lens. Its size is more than made up for by the convenience of not having to change lenses all the time. I would have liked to give this camera about 4 1/2 stars, but since I cannot give partial stars I am giving it 4 stars because of the items I listed above. But I find I really like this camera and think others like me would also.

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I have had a Canon T1i since Christmas, when my husband gave it to me as a gift with the explanation, "This has to be both of ours because it is so expensive." Well, I cant really picture swapping the same camera back and forth during photo opportunities - it is SO HARD to get them just right to begin with, let alone having someone standing at your shoulder saying, "Give it to me! Give it to me!" SO... ... we just ordered a SECOND T1i (a motivated woman can find money, TRUST me!) for him, with overnight shipping, in hopes that well have it by his next day off (Saturday). For Christmas I had asked for a DSLR camera for Christmas. My father taught me how to shoot a 35mm and do macro photography when I was in high school, and bought me my own SLR camera as a young adult. When I couldnt afford my own darkroom, etc., over time I finally went to digital point-and-shoots because they were affordable - no film, no developing. However, when I went to do macro with a point-and-shoot, frequently it would aim behind, or before, and I would have to go out to normal, switch back to macro, try again... taking macro shots of small flowers, etc., was aggravating and ruined my fun. After two different summer vacations with float trips and a total lack of good macro photography, I sadly admitted to my new husband that all I REALLY wanted for Christmas was a DSLR camera. Since were older and have to be more careful (we only do purchases like this cash) with finances, I actually shopped cheap, even finding a close-out several years old never sold by Wal-mart Olympus and began researching it to see if I could work with it. Hubby encouraged me to learn a little more about DSLRs with internet research and I read him some highlights and once again suggested that he divide up whatever was budgeted for ME for Christmas amongst our grown children or the grandkids. Hubby, unfortunately, is a bit of a Luddite. He never figured out his Blackberry before it DIED and then went back to a Nokia brick phone. This makes me a LITTLE worried about him having his own T1i, because it might NEVER get out of automatic mode, but at least hell be happy and leave me alone with mine. This, however, contributed to his choice of camera. He went to Wal-mart and bought the most expensive DSLR they had in stock (LITERALLY). He couldnt have made a better choice (sorry for the long intro - wanted you to know where my point of view comes from). Opened it up Christmas morning and did NOT have time to read the manual before Christmas day went crazy (I knew he got it - he handed it to me, with receipt, for me to wrap it - men are romantic that way - at least it gave me a chance to take the battery out to have it ready for the morning!) so I just put it on all automatic, in hopes that the pictures would turn out well. It was a great day! Got wonderful candids of my grandson and his parents (they dote on him and he believes he is the center of the world), and it only took explaining where "the button" was to my hubbys father and step-mother (both in their 80s) for them to be able to use the camera easily. No - the pictures didnt always have only natural light, but the TTL control in the flash also helps reduce the "this is a flash picture" look unless things are really dark. On automatic, it worked really well. Then I went home and read most of the manual and switched to the programmed modes. They work pretty well, too, and once again, dont require a whole lot of attention. The most likely settings are chosen for you, and you then pretty much just point and shoot. A caveat - I dont like how high this thing prefers to default the ISO if given a choice. Im going to switch to tripod a lot more and choose my own ISO - just like in the old film, you add a lot of light sensitivity and the noise (graininess) gets worse. Your best pictures are in your lower number ISOs, and if possible, never above 400 (though 800 actually isnt bad). The kit lens, I think, might be painted as more of a villain than necessary. The various "photo style" modes change sharpness, etc., and those possibilities need to be addressed too before you announce the lens itself is too soft. Ive noticed that I can sharpen images afterwards in processing and havent gotten to the point Im messing TOO much with the image quality in photo style yet - its on the list for the next few days. As someone who has been away from SLR cameras and film development for more than a decade(only had a brief window of developing in my life, but loved it tremendously), I have been surprised at how much things have been coming back in the past month. The interrelation between aperture, shutter speed and ISO came back pretty quickly, and aperture and depth of field control was almost immediate. I believe, though, that the simplicity of the controls AND the way that you can slowly "take over" more of the control as your comfort level improves, is AWESOME. It allows a user to start at the most basic level of photography - get what you want a picture of in the viewfinder and press the button - and move up from there, all the while actually preparing them to realize there are differences required to MAKE better pictures with various subjects. At this point Ive started taking RAW plus JPG (and there is an immediate clarity difference between RAW and JPG before you change anything in the RAW files - wow) and am starting to work with the bundled software to try to figure out digital processing. I found a video tutorial for the software on the internet as well as the manual which came WITH the camera in its box. If youre someone who has NEVER had an SLR camera and/or have gotten "spoiled" by some of the higher-end digital point and shoots, I want to give you advance warning. The kit lens will NOT zoom far enough for you to be happy with it, especially if you like taking pictures of wildlife or sports, etc. For hubby I already purchased a Sigma 50-200mm zoom with optical stabilization (similar to Canons IS) for less than $150. When he gets his camera it will be his. Im going to try the Canon 55-250mm and see if there is an appreciable difference (besides the range) in color saturation and clarity. For the price, the Sigma was about the cheapest zoom lens I could find with optical stabilization (hubby and I both have shaky hands - one of those lovely things about aging). Hubby, after taking two pictures with my T1i with its kit lens refused to let me buy him ANY DSLR unless I already had a zoom lens to go with it. It is THAT frustrating if youre someone used to being able to zoom whenever you want to. I would recommend one of those two lenses or possibly looking for a "walk around" lens like one with a 28-200 or 28-300 range. Remember, though, that zoom lenses have some trade off on optical quality, but if youre used to a digital point and shoot, you wont be disappointed by the quality, especially if you pay attention to the settings you are using. I love this camera. Loyalty and love to my father makes me refuse to call this my favorite camera or Christmas gift ever (since both were Christmas presents and nice cameras), but if it werent for that, I probably would call this my favorite. It has reawakened or maybe better allowed my passion for photography and to share the art in every day. To use this camera to its full capacity (not including lenses, filters and those choices, just to learn features and software) is going to take me at least another month or two. Remember when you choose a camera (as a lot of the more informed people in here will tell you), you are buying into a "system." If you have an existing one, its easier to continue in that product line. It will be exciting for us to have two alike because we can swap some things we wont use quite as often and/or get extras that can be shared (extra battery packs and the two-pack-at-a-time AC/DC charger, for one; and lenses that are more specialized). Canon says that their newer Rebels (including T1i) have an estimated 100,000 shutter release life before the assembly fails and needs replaced. To me that means this camera will last me two years, three on the outside (but unlikely), which is plenty of time to continue to acquire lenses, etc., and improve on what I have AND let the nicer technology get into my price range so I can afford to upgrade to something that is even better than this (who knows WHAT DSLRs will be like three years from now!). This is NOT a "professional" level DSLR, but what Ive done with changing the various settings on the camera plus options available in the software allows me to create MUCH nicer images than I would with any point-and-shoot, and the ability to switch to lenses which work better for certain subjects as well as having absolute control over how my image is created is absolutely great. It is a camera that allows you to move on, a little bit at a time, as you grow to understand both photography and how its functions work. I CONSIDERED offering to get a Rebel XS to save money and give him my T1i. The biggest differences were the amount of megapixels (but 10.1 megapixels can blow up to a very LARGE image), speed of the processor (Digic III vs Digic IV), size of screen... I looked at a lot of these things and figured they didnt really matter. I also believed that the thing that would frustrate hubby MOST from the XS was the fact the screen doesnt have the nice "auto shut-off" feature where it turns the screen off as you bring the camera up to your face, which keeps you from having the glare from the screen distracting you as you look through the viewfinder. From what I read and what I know about photography, I believed I could get fairly equal images from either camera, but the T1i had a few easier features and I worried that I loved it too much to actually enjoy the XS after a month with the T1i. I ended up not pushing him into the XS because I realized that the fact there were VISIBLE differences it would seem to him that I "sold him down" and kept "nicer" for me. That and I think that one little thing - the screen shutoff, would REALLY matter to him (and the MP count, though it is really irrelevant at those levels for the kind of photography he does). If youre interested in a good camera that has a well-respected company behind it and a large array of 3rd party accessories to keep costs competitive, I would really recommend this one. I have been surprised at how fast Ive remembered what I needed, and how the controls have felt increasingly intuitive the longer Ive used them. Also - though there is an admittedly small shutter lag (more than 3fps in burst mode, by the way), it feels like an "old-fashioned" camera when you take pictures with it compared to the digital point-and-shoots. You point at what you want a shot of and if youve got auto-focus on and everything was already set for where you were aiming (I do a lot of bird pictures), you usually can get your shot when you expect to. I cant speak to seeking for autofocus, because that will be lens dependent and wouldnt be a fault of the camera itself. If it were ME I wouldnt upgrade from an XS or XSi to a T1i; there arent enough major changes yet. Earlier models though, or migrating from point and shoot cameras - those situations make the T1i a very good value.

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I consider myself to be more of a technophile then photographer. Every year I seem to pick up a new camera as the manufacturers add megapixels, more zoom, video, HD video, etc... to what I bought the year before at the same price point. Ive picked up enough photography skills through out the years just playing with my new toys every year to have a moderate understanding of photography by now. Cameras are also utilized for part of my job where resoulution, zoom, and ability to get quickly on target is important. The advances in technology just in the last 3-4 years are amazing in what you can do with a small camera and the price you pay to do it. That being said the T1i was my choice this year for my upgrade. (Last year was the Olympus E-510 which I got a great deal on as a year old model and the year before that a panasonic FZ18). Having the option to shoot both pics and video has been a big benefit for me at work and when shooting at home. The FZ18 is still my work staple although the now two years newer FZ35 is looking tempting. As far as what the panasonic bridge cameras can do in good outdoor lighting, it is very similar to what either of my DSLRs can do, and I would say the same thing for zooming outdoors. If you are looking for a great walk around outdoor camera to take daylight pics and video with I would recommend the panasonic series handsdown and you will come out several hundreds of dollars ahead. The upper level superzoom bridge cameras now have many of the manual functions the DSLRs do and do some nice burst shooting as well. Panasonic video is decent. What a DSLR will give you is much better indoor, portrait, and lowlight shooting. It also allows you to better implement and use advanced skills. The trade off being the higher price of the body, larger size of the body/lens, high priced lens, flashes, etc.... No DSLR accessory is cheap. The DSLR will also require you to better understand photography and especially depth of field, shutter speeds, etc... The T1i is a nice camera with a beautiful screen and easy to understand menu. The kit lens I would say is just OK. The build quality of the camera body (based on feel in the hand, heft, and visual inspection) seems better then the entry level Nikons and Canon XS, but my E-510 seems to be a more solidly built unit. Ditto for the kit lenses with neither brand of kit lens being all that great, but I think the Olympus lenses take better pictures. However more lens options exist for the Canon both from Canon and third party sources. As Amazon had a good package price at the time I purchased the T1i, I also picked up the 55-250mm IS lens, which I prefer over the kit offering. (I also have the basic 70-300mm Olympus lens which is similar in price to the Canon 55-250mm, and again appears to have a better build in the same price range.) Indoors the Canon has a better ISO range then the E-510, but both take pictures that look very detailed and there is little if any noticeable difference betwen them quality wise in good indoor lighting or using the flash. Outdoors in low lighting the Canon beats the Oly. The Canon also has a better autofocus system and focuses better in low light. At zoom ranges I think the 5 megapixel difference is noticeable as the Canon with lens at 250mm resolves the same level of detail when fully zoomed as the Olympus does with the fully zoomed 300mm (basically a 400mm equivalent zoom vs. a 600mm, so I think that is impressive.) Both give you a better picture then the FZ18 when you hit the shot, but I think the auto mode for the bridge camera gives novice shooters more consistent results then the DSLRs. Part of that may be when you get a good DSLR pic you really know it, and when you are just a little off it is easy to see it is missing that DSLR "pop". Those up close or zoomed "potraits" is where even a very new photographer will realy notice the difference when stepping up to a DSLR. That and the lack of picture noise due to the larger sensor. (If this is a family camera purchase and you plan on rarely using a tripod, I would always recomending getting either image stabilized camera body such as the Olympus or make sure you are getting the Canon IS lenses and not the ones without. It really does make a big difference in what you can do with the camera as a novice or amateur photographer.) As a still camera the T1i is an excellent choice especially if you are getting your first DSLR. If still pics alone are your primary concern though I would say you can get a less expensive DSLR such as the Xsi or E-620 and spend difference in price on better lenses. The T1i is the same price as I paid for my E-510, the two kits lenses it came with, and the 70-300mm zoom lens. I know that some of the differences I mentioned above are due in part to the 2 model year difference in cameras and that those differences would be lessened in the less expensive current model year cameras. Video however was one of the biggest reasons I went with the T1i. There are just some moments that are nice to capture with video and audio rather then just still pics alone. That you can now have the ability to do that in a limited way, while getting DSLR quality stills is great. Carrying one camera is better then carrying two to do the same thing. I would rate the T1is video as OK for what it is. Indoors it does shoot with lower noise then a smaller sensored camera would, but the lack of lighting indoors still hurts it as it does all video cameras. I am not sure if a Canon camcorder hot shoe light would work on the T1i or not. If it did I would give Canon props. Outdoors in good light it does better. Where the DSLR gives you a lot of variety in how you shoot still pics it is limited in being able to do the same thing right now with video. A dedicated HD camcorder will still serve you better for taking shots of scenes in which the focus and range rapidly change and where you need to shoot long sessions at one time. The T1i is not designed to shoot video for extended periods due to the generation of heat which degrades image quality and per the manual will likely give you an overheating warning after about an hour or so of extended use and I think may shut the camera down. (I think the same thing would happen if you set up the camera in live view mode for that long as well). So setting it up on a tripod to record say your kids basketball game is not what it is capable of doing. If you are like me though and find that most video you shoot of everyday events is only a few minutes long at most, this will work. I have been using the 720p video most of the time as the 1080 doesnt handle motion well. I also found that a class 6 card or better (again as the manual states) is a requirement for good 720p video. (a class 4 will work, but you will notice dropped frames and artifacts from its inabilty to keep up with the flow of data. The class 4 works for still shooting just fine although it may lessen some lengthy burst shooting). I gave this camera 5 stars because you really do get a lot for what you pay. Yes it has limitations in the video mode but when you think about what you get for around $750 in this unit vs. what the same amount of money would have gotten you just 2-3 years ago I think it is a great camera. It takes excellent still pics, and OK HD video. If you have a DSLR that is 2-3 years old and are primarily interested in still pics, I wont say I would upgrade. And like I said above, even if this is your first camera and dont care about video there are less expensive choices for getting great still pics. If it is your first DSLR and you do want the option to do some videos (same with upgraders) there isnt anything better out there right now and this is definetly the way to go. Torn between this and an HD camcorder that will take still pics I would say that the video the T1i shoots (with-in its limits) is a much better secondary option then the still photos a camcorder takes. I have taken a nice HD camcorder on a trip before and relied on its still pics and would have liked to have had what the T1i offers over that, even when considering the larger size of T1i. Update: A month in and still getting a lot of use out of the camera. Other then xmas card pics, the E-510 has stayed on the shelf. Have used it to record 3 xmas programs and xmas day events. Video has been very good as have the stills. Switching from video to stills is easy and been a great thing to have at every event I have taken it to.

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This is our very first DSLR dipping into prosumer camera products. For whatever reason, every year we buy a nicer/ better point and shoot camera for our vacation. The last one was a Lumix waterproof/ HD video point and shoot camera. While those take very good pictures, we wanted more as they never seem fast enough. I decided this holiday was the time to make it a gift and so we could take it on vacation to Disney World. When we opened it and started playing with the kit lens, it was night and day vs. a point and shoot. It is very easy to take photos right out of the box and it just took pictures faster and better. There are plenty of settings and buttons to play with, but that will take time and experience to really learn how to use this camera. Here is where I wish I did something different. First of all, this becomes a VERY expensive hobby. The kit lens only goes so far. It basically gives you 3Xs the zoom when compared to point and shoots. Obviously, that is not enough for us when we go on vacation anywhere. We went to a large dedicated camera store to look at lens options and found a huge amount of different lenses and brands. Based on price point and features, we chose a Sigma 18-200mm lens that gives you ~ 11xs zoom. This was a good all around lens as I didnt want to have to constantly swap out a lens for every parade or landscape shots. You never know what youll see and changing out to a telephoto lens is not convenient. Now after a new lens, extra battery, waist bag and book bag Ive easily totaled over $1400. In the end Im sure the supplied kit lens would be sufficient for a lot of people. If you need more than 3xs zoom, than just buy the body and research for a lens that will better suit your needs. Overall, youll save money.

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Ive had this camera for about a week and I have to say Im more than a little impressed. I bought just the body as I have several Canon lenses already. I find the camera easy to use and not uncomfortable for my type of shooting. Some have said they find the grip just a little small. I find it to be quite comfortable so far. (I played football and boxed, so my hands are somewhat stiff and a little torn up.) I like the Main Control Wheel on this camera much better than the SX10/20 series. I have an older A2E and the wheel is similar. I was very frustrated by the SX10s wheel. Ive used a 35-70mm Canon lens and the 100-300mm telephoto with exceptional results. (I tried contacting Canon about 2 weeks ago about using the older EF lenses with this camera. No answer from them to-date. And yes they work perfectly.) Some people call this an introductory camera. I dont think that classification does it justice. I started many years ago with a little 35mm Pentax, moved up to a Mamiya RB67 2¼ format, then a Hasselblad. Ive won some awards and shot many a cover in my day. I left photography behind for many years, job, family, etc. One of the truths Ive personally learned is that almost any camera can go beyond the "beginner" title if the person behind the viewfinder is willing to put in the time. I am NOT saying that I dont appreciate the more sophisticated elements that higher price cameras afford, just that to make really good photos doesnt always take real fancy equipment. I love really good equipment, I just think that people shouldnt think the camera is the ONLY variable. Clyde Butcher roams the Everglades with his large format cameras and stick to poke alligators on the nose so he can get his shots. Ansel Adams did not know anything about digital cameras and some would say he was a fairly good photographer and he even gave us the Zone system. And Stephen Frink shot some really incredible underwater stuff with a Nikonos underwater camera, which has never been known for its exotic capabilities other than being able to go deep underwater. Point being, these guys learned about photography, lighting and composition. Do those things first. Remember, a camera is light gathering device. If you can see it through the viewfinder, then you can find a way to record it. And this camera makes it so easy. I find that the automatic mode is fine for a lot of quick shooting. But if you shoot in bright sunlight, I find that with Canon lenses, its best to set the exposure control down by 1/3rd of a stop. But this mostly a personal choice. The camera itself is absolutely wonderful. Balanced, easy to use and fast. Read the manual. Im not kidding. Read it with the camera in front of you. Then study and shoot. Another good piece of advice I received when I was starting out was find a picture you like and try to shoot the same shot. Things look different through a viewfinder. Once you can duplicate with some degree of accuracy shots you like, youll find your own work getting better. Sorry if you were expecting a more traditional review, but I thought something should be said about the photographer using it. As for video, I dont use it unless some guy is yelling "Dont tase me bro!" If you want video, get a video camera. Update: Had the camera now for over a month and Im really very happy with it. It shoots well and fast. If you buy this or the T2, spend some time using the different metering modes so you can see which is best for each situation. Learn about lighting. Its crucial to getting good shots. If you want to see some remarkable examples of lighting technique, look at the Dutch painter, Vermeer. Look here: but ignore some of the junk people have added: [...] Once you get a feel for this camera, changing metering modes and settings is really very easy. And get the best lens you can afford. Dont gow with third party lenses if you can afford Canon lenses. After awhile, youll really be able to tell the difference.

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I bought this as my DSLR starter camera to learn about digital photography. I used only point and shoot camera up to this point so this was my first DSLR. You could not ask for more for the price you pay for this camera with the kit lens. Its a great deal as tech spec wise speaking compared to more expensive models like t3i and 60D, this can perform as good as or as close as other higher priced DSLR. The size of this camera to me was very nice. Since then I upgraded to 7D (yes, I skipped all other Rebel models and 60D), the size of this camera even feel like a compact point and shoot! Now I got used to the heavier weight and larger size of 7D but some prefers smaller and lighter camera, especially for taking along for a trip, or people with smaller hands. During my practice of shooting with DSLR, this camera kept surprising me with the high quality photos, which I could not believe that I took!! For some, I think this camera serves real well for a long run, especially if you invest in better lens instead of buying higher priced camera when your budget is tight. The camera performed especially well with Canon 50mm lens. The battery lasts quite long time as long as you set the scree time out less than 1 minute, and dont use it for video shooting, especially with live view. For shooting videos, it provides great quality, however, I had a bit of problem focusing on the moving subject. I recommend you read the entire instruction to get to know your camera. It has quite many great tips on taking great pictures!

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