Canon Digital EOS 500D (body only) - Tell the full story.
With the Canon EOS 500D, every side of your story comes alive. Capture every detail in stunning 15.1 Megapixel resolution, or switch to shooting pin-sharp Full High Definition video.
The EOS 500D records each moment in rich, intricate detail, ready to turn into poster-size prints or crop to perfection. When light levels fall, an ISO range of up to 3200 - expandable all the way up to 12800 - lets you carry on shooting in the darkest of conditions, while Canon's DIGIC 4 processing ensures that noise doesn't spoil images. This is particularly ideal for when you can't, or don't want to, use flash.
Alternatively, switch to Movie mode and record events as they unfold. Capture every last detail of a wedding, a day out with friends or your baby's first steps by shooting in stunning Full HD (1080P), then simply connect via HDMI to any HDTV to watch the results. For times when the action just won't stop, a choice of 720P and VGA resolutions allows you to shoot and store longer movies on your memory card.
Benefits
15.1 Megapixels
The number of megapixels determines the amount of sharp detail a digital camera can record. With more megapixels, you can print at larger sizes, plus crop and enlarge without sacrificing quality. EOS cameras provide all the resolution you need for finely detailed, photo-quality prints with plenty of scope for post-shoot cropping.
A 15.1 Megapixel sensor lets you capture every scene in ultra-high levels of detail - perfect for turning your experiences into poster-sized photo prints.
9 Point Wide Area AF
The precise auto focus system of the EOS 500D keeps you focused for sharp images. Featuring a diamond-shaped array of nine AF points, this newly improved system delivers outstanding coverage of nearly any subject, both in horizontal and vertical formats. The nine AF points - one high-precision cross-type center AF point with f/2.8 sensitivity and eight others compatible at f/5.6 - provide fast, accurate auto focus for any Canon EF lens even when shooting in low-light environments. Focus points can be assigned automatically using one of three different AF modes or manually.
EOS Integrated Cleaning System
The EOS Integrated Cleaning System combats sensor dust in three important ways: Reduce, Repel and Remove. The camera's Self-Cleaning Sensor Unit shakes dust particles off of the low-pass filter in front of the sensor. The dust is then trapped by an adhesive along the base, preventing it from causing further nuisance. Cleaning is engaged each time the camera is powered up or shut down or manually through the "clean now" function.
DIGIC 4
Processing the vast amount of data generated by the EOS 500D calls for power and speed. Enter DIGIC 4 with iSAPS technology, Canon's most advanced imaging processor yet. It is the power of DIGIC that delivers the superb image quality, responsive camera performance, faster AF, faster continuous shooting and extended battery life. DIGIC processors are so fast they can read, process, compress and write image data back to the buffer between exposures, reducing the data bottleneck for extended continuous shooting.
3.0" LCD Screen
The camera's 3.0-inch LCD screen gives you the big picture, whether you're shooting, reviewing or showing off your images. This extra-durable, high-resolution screen with tough scratch-resistant coating on the anti-reflective, PureColor LCD II screen offers a crisp, clear picture to make shooting, playback and using the camera's menu functions especially convenient.
RAW
The EOS 500D is supplied with a comprehensive software suite that provides everything the photograph needs to manage and process images. This includes Digital Photo Professional (DPP), a powerful RAW converter that provides complete RAW image processing control.
HD Movies
Shoot super-smooth, VGA quality movies with sound. In-camera editing gives you creative control and slow-motion playback highlights every precious moment. With the new HDMI connection, shoot HD quality movies straight from your camera. Direct movie playback is possible via the HDMI connection and Image playback is also possible through HDMI for slideshows and review.
EF / EFS / EX
The EOS 500D camera is fully compatible with all Canon EF and EF-S lenses, as well as EX-series Speedlites.
DPOF
DPOF (Digital Print Order format) is a format which allows the user of the EOS 500D to define which captured images on the storage card are to be printed, together with information on the number of copies or other image information such as paper size, image title text, image orientation, contact information and much more.
Additional Features
Picture Style
Pre-sets simplify in-camera control over image qualities. Picture Style pre-sets can be likened to different film types - each one offering a different colour response. Within each selectable pre-set, photographers have control over sharpness, contrast, colour tone and saturation. The camera's factory default configuration is set to deliver immediately-usable JPEG images without need for additional menu settings.
3.4 FPS
Capable of shooting 3.4 frames per second (fps) continuous shooting, in bursts of up to 170 JPEGs with a UDMA card, the EOS 500D Digital SLR camera is ideal for shooting everything from beautiful night landscapes to fast-action sports. The Canon EOS 500D camera provides ISO speeds from ISO 100 up to ISO 3200 in 1/3-stop increments, along with two high-speed settings - H1 and H2 - of ISO 6400 and ISO 12800, respectively. Along with a wide ISO range, Canon gives shooters more tools to help maximize clarity and color.
* Based on CIPA testing standards.
Auto Lighting Optimiser
Let the EOS 500D brighten your day by turning muddy, underexposed shots into bright, beautiful images. When shooting, the camera analyzes your photos to determine proper exposure and contrast. If a shot is too dark, Auto Lighting Optimizer applies just the right amount of brightness and contrast to save the day. This intelligent feature can correct underexposed images, shot in AE mode or with a flash, as well as images exhibiting low contrast due to mist or haze. There is also a new face detection feature that brightens faces in backlit scenes - ideal for obtaining crisp, nicely exposed portraits and group photos when shooting into the sun. Auto Lighting Optimizer can be turned off when not needed in Creative Zone mode.
Title: Canon EOS Rebel 500 D 15.1 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3-Inch LCD and EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens
UPC: 013803112610
New 15.1-megapixel CMOS sensor with DIGIC 4 Image Processor
Includes Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens
Full HD video capture at 1920 x 1080 resolution; HDMI output
3.0-inch Clear View LCD; Live View Function for stills (Quick, Live and Face Detection AF modes) and video
Capture images and video to SD/SDHC memory cards (not included)
Love it! [Bullwyf]
I upgraded from the Rebel Xt. I am using it with the Tamron 18-270mm vibration control lens. Also got the battery grip made by Opteka, and Canon Speedlight 580 II flash. The combination is amazing. So easy to use and it's extremely responsive! Impressive indoor and outdoor performance. I mostly shoot in Av mode with largest available aperture. I use a "User Defined" Picture Style that has the Sharpness at the second highest setting, and contrast and saturation set 2 levels below max. Really like the My Menu feature where you can have six or so things you most commonly access. Physical buttons are also there for the most common settings including ISO. HD Video is amazing and super smooth at 720p, almost professional looking. At 1080p, it feels a little jerky because it is only 20Hz (not 24Hz or 30Hz). I wonder if a future firmware will take it to 24Hz. The resolution at 1080p is obviously amazing. I am happy with 720p. I think I am set for the next 5 years with the above equipment and this camera. Highly recommend, although I suspect if someone already has the 450D it may not be worth it to upgrade.
Great Camera with Video Capability [Brad B.]
Ever since I was a Freshman in High School and even before then, I was interested in photography. I will never forget taking my first summer school class as an incoming freshman in photography and really falling in love with the art and the mechanics of it all. Naturally I borrowed equipment from my Dad (which I am sure was from the 1960's), and soon after was able to invest in my first SLR after mowing enough lawns. I really learned the art through Black and White photography, and then decided to minor in it in College, where I tried my hand at large format Black and White. Soon after graduation from college and making even more money, I bought my first New SLR, the Canon EOS elan IIe (I am looking to sell this if anyone is interested). This was 1999 and still the era of 35mm film. Digital however was making its ways into the scene, but I just bought what was a revolutionary eye tracking SLR camera. (I wish I had waited a few more years). A few years later I have a family and am on my second house now. Money isn't flowing like it once was as a bachelor, so research was king in my decisions when looking for a new SLR, now a DSLR. This brings me to the actual point where this past weekend I bought what I hope to be the camera that will help me revitalize my love I had for photography.
For those who do not know, the T1i has two close cousins in the Canon Family, the 50D and the 5D Mark II. The 50D being the closest cousin to the T1i. Originally right before the news of the T1i, I was looking at purchasing the Canon XSi in which a friend of mine had purchased earlier. However, the news of the T1i peeked my interest for several reasons. First, it was new, it had to be good right? OK, it was the fact that this camera was the first sub $1,000 Canon DSLR with the DIGIC 4 image processor, which has lower noise, faster frames, and the capability of doing high definition video. Second, was the price point. I wanted a camera kit (with lens) for less than $1,000. Sad to say, but the 50D was out of my price range from the start, and that was without the lens, plus no video. Third, 15.1 mega pixels. I know, the marketing hype does work somewhat for me. The more mega pixels the better right . . . well, in this case, it is a larger sensor, so I was OK with a couple more mega pixels. Last, it was a Canon. I looked at all the competitive models, Nikon, Panasonic and Sony, but came back to the Canon, because I knew the interface from my previous job, which had a Canon EOS XT, and the fact that I had one previous Canon EF Lens from my Elan IIe days. To me, research showed me the Canon T1i was my next camera.
Images Review Let me start this section with a little background. I think the first photo on every camera should be a picture of a flower, why, well, is shot decently, it will look nice, show the camera's tonal range, image sharpness, show depth of field, lens bokeh, and in my case let me know that the camera is working properly. In my case, after close review, I noticed several red dots on each and every photo I took, and in the exact same spot. After a lens change/cleaning, and numerous sensor cleanings, I realized the red dots were due to dead pixels on the sensor. All said and done, I was able to return mine for a new one with little questions asked.
After all said and done, the images are were very clean with the auto focus and manual focus working very well, even in lower light conditions. I tend to shoot in aperture priority as I like to be able to compose my shots more than one with a point-and-shoot camera would. The camera was quick and responsive, as well as accurate when using the auto white balance. Some people have complained about soft images, and reporting that the lens is not that great for such a high mega pixel camera. I am not sure that that is a sound argument in that, One, there are smaller sensor point-and-shoot cameras with tack sharp images, and might I add, smaller, and cheaper lenses. And two, depending on the AF mode you are in, and a whole host of other variables, sometimes manual focus is just better.
In all, I am extremely pleased with the images I have been able to make with this camera and lens kit. Even when testing this camera in several ISO ranges, the images showed little to no noise, and vibrant color.
The Video I will be the first to admit that the Video feature is an extra for me on this camera. I wanted the camera more for photography than video. It is in an essence, and extra feature that when I need it will be great to have it. That being said, the Canon shoots two different rates of HD video, 1080p 20FPS and 720p 30 FPS video. The problem is, the 1080p at 20 frames per second is practically unusable and a huge disappointment once the action or camera moves. There is a lot of jitter once something happens to move. I guess this would be great for still life or slow life movies, but then, why not use a still image if nothing is going to change? I think Canon in their infinite wisdom missed out on the "Full HD" idea. It needs to be usable. I would wish for an update to 1080p at 24 FPS, but I will not hold my breath on that.
The 720p at 30 FPS video on the other hand is sharp and very usable video. I think the average video user will be more than happy with this configuration. I found very smooth panning was able to be accomplished, and moving objects did not have the same jagged, stuttering feel to them as in the 1080p video.
Some overall drawbacks I noticed was the auto focusing noise on the video and the lack of an audio input jack. To start, The auto focus is a bit strange coming from a camcorder. Each time you want to focus using auto focus, you need to press and hold a button. This then makes the lens motor activate, and become a noise on the video because the microphone is placed near the lens. I have hear that if the lens were a Canon USM (ultrasonic) lens, this might be less of an issue. In any case, I think manual focus is a workaround for this for the time being until I test some other methods and/or lens configurations.
As for the sound input methods, there is only one, and that is the mono pick-up microphone that is on the front of the camera. This comes to a little disappointment to me, because like I said the video feature is a nice odd-on feature for me, not the main reason I bought this camera. The sound is, well as good as mono sound will be. It works, but could and will be better as future camera versions evolve.
In my overall viewpoint, the video features need some work from Canon. I would not buy this camera for the video. This is first and foremost a still camera with video capabilities. If you are looking for video first, look elsewhere.
Final Thoughts The Canon T1i is a great camera with extensive options for the amateur to the pro. With the wide assortment of EF and EF-S lenses able to be used, one could go broke quickly. The camera is a little light for my taste, but adding a vertical grip to the bottom gives a weight that is more hefty. The lens that comes with the camera kit is a basic intro lens. I wish that it was a USM lens, because this lens is a bit noisy audibly. The lens is however image stabilized (IS) which is great for those without a steady hand, or shooting action. The camera will also work with several other Canon IS lenses giving you options galore.
The color reproduction is accurate and vibrant and with the new DIGIC 4 image processing chip, low in noise. I find that shooting indoors at iso 800 and no flash will still produce great looking natural images. The white balance also works fairly well, but has some limitations. This is where the custome white balance feature shines. With a few clicks you can have every shot looking closer to the actual lighting you see through you eyes.
Finally, I think Canon did a great job in making a sub $1,000 camera a hit. Personally I love it, and plan on keeping it for some time as I get back into photography. I would consider this a pro-sumer camera that isn't too hard for a knowldgable amateur or professional in need of a lighter street camera.
awesome camera for the price range [PJS]
great camera in its price range... the textured body grips really improve the "feel" of the camera vs. the XS/XSi models. I still only have the basic kit lens but still get nice images... no complaints.
Great camera for people new to SLR [fogito1984]
The camera is great for starters. I have this camera for over 1.5 months now. It is very easy to use. I have no complaints.
Great Introduction to DSLRs [E. Esquivel]
The T1i (500D to me and the rest of the World) is my first DSLR camera. My digital cameras previous to the 500D consisted of Olympus' 570UZ, Canon's Powershot S70 and the (almost vintage!) Powershot S110. Given my absence of experience with DSLRs, I obviously would have no real world basis to compare the 500D to other DSLRs.
With that disclaimer out of the way, let me unequivocally state that I am absolutely thrilled with the quality of the pictures taken by the 500D, especially at night.
I love night photography and it has been a continuing source of frustration for me that point-and-shoots, even advanced point-and-shoots like the 570UZ or the S70, have singularly so-so night photography performance, even on Manual mode where one is allowed to choose the ISO, shutter speed and aperture. The 500D convincingly erased that frustration. In fully automatic mode it takes absolutely goregous night photos at high ISO (usually 800 and occasionally @ 1600) and a very quick shutter speed with nary a hint of noise or blurring. (A guy I talked to concerning the night photography capabilities of the 500D and Nikon's D5000 commented that he found the Canon a more capable night shooter. I took his word with a grain of salt. Now, I absolutely believe him!) If there is one problem with the 500D's night capabilities on Automatic, it's that it tends to overlight the scene, which may not be what you want in certain situations. (For those kinds of photos, may I recommend "Manual" mode?)
(Note: I have finally gotten around to posting sample night pictures taken during a recent trip to Madrid. Please do view the images to see what I mean.)
I consider myself a mid-level amateur (I understand the concepts of shutter speed, ISO, aperture, white balance, etc.) but have not fully learned how to manipulate the different variables to great(er) effect. The 500D, however, makes it easy to learn. The menu is (more-or-less) intuitive and worded in plain (non-technical) English. The "Creative auto" mode provides a good example of the use of simple, descriptive English.
The LCD screen (@920000 pixels) is stunning. I compared the screen on the 500D with that in my 570UZ (@230000 pixels) and the difference between the two are indeed worlds apart.
The 500D, however, is not as comfortable on the hand as my 570UZ. Also, the kit lens that comes with the 500D lacks the close-up and zoom capabilities of my 570UZ. (The 570UZ can take crisp pictures with the lens less than 1 cm from the object being photographed. Try that with the 500D equipped with the kit lens... you can't.) Which leads to one drawback to DSLRs... having to purchase separate lenses in order to do truly close-up and/or super zoom photography. Finally, the 500D is, of course, much heavier than an ordinary point and shoot.
I have not used the video mode (for video, I'd recommend that one buy a dedicated video recorder not a DSLR).
To sum up, the two main reasons why I love this camera:
1. Stunning LCD; and 2. Equally stunning night photography capabilities, even in full automatic!
5 STARS for me [Soksousdey Keo]
I don't even know why there are ratings that are even lower than 4 stars! This camera is EXCELLENT for starters! It comes really close to a 50D in quality and an extra recording feature is nice. Even though the price is not attractive to some people, I don't believe this camera deserves a rating below 4 stars. It is simply EXCELLENT! I've had it for a month now and I absolutely think its one of the best in its league. The stock lens aren't so great, but if u want better pictures.. u have to pay the price.
Pleased with new camera [R. Barrell]
Canon EOS Rebel T1i 15.1 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3-Inch LCD and EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens
Fantastic camera - Great entry DSLR [Marc F. Wallis]
I love this camera. I've been using the Canon Powershot G series for years, moving from G5 to G9, and finally decided to move into DSLRs. I'm an old photog and used SLRs in the film days, so going to SLR wasn't a problem. I was just so happy with my G9, I wasn't compelled to move.
Until I broke my G9!! :(
Now that I've got the T1i, I can't believe I didn't move into DSLR a long time ago. This camera, and the pictures it takes are FANTASTIC. I love having the full control over depth of field, I love the sharpness of high quality glass. I purchased the EF-S 18mm - 200mm zoom at the same time I purchased the camera.
What I love about Canon is that the menus and functions are pretty well standardized across their cameras, with small variations where necessary due to varied functionality. That made it very easy for me to pick up this new camera and start shooting immediately.
If you've been shooting point-n-shoots for some time and are ready to move up to DSLR, or you just want a new DSLR in the low price range, this camera is fantastic. I highly recommend it.
Real reasons for getting this over the Nikon D5000 [Kalendae]
If you are upgrading and already own Canon or Nikon lenses, you should stick with your brand, the differences between these two cameras should not be enough to cause you to switch, otherwise read on.
First I will list the commonly wrong reasons to pick one over the other:
1) Image Quality - Not because image quality is not important, but because the image quality difference between these two cameras is too minimal to have it be a reason. They are essentially equally great with respect to image quality.
2) Megapixel Count - 15 megapixels is indeed qualitatively better than 6 megapixels, but 15mp (t1i) and 12mp (5000D) from similar sized sensors is again not much real difference. There are point and shoots with higher megapixel counts on tiny ccd sensors, doesn't mean they are better. Again, image quality of the d5000 and t1i are both great and is no reason to pick one over the other.
3) 1080p video - The t1i has it at 20fps, the d5000 doesn't have it at all. But the 20 fps on the t1i renders this essentially pointless. The human eye needs about 24fps for the illusion of smooth continuity. If you will be using video, you can consider both 720p.
Now for what I believe are valid but minor reasons to pick one over the other:
1) LCD difference: canon's is almost double the resolution and bigger, nikon's can swivel out. I prefer the higher res and bigger size to the swivel. The higher res is very important as you will be able to tell if a shot had problems that you couldn't at lower res. This is really an important factor that is hard to emphasize in words but makes a huge difference once you see it.
2) movie mode differences: nikon d5000 is fully manual here including for the focus. the canon is fully auto here including a pretty slow and disruptive auto focus. For an SLR you WANT manual control, especially of aperture so you can control the depth of field to make videos that are less home video looking and more 'artsy'. If you wanted full auto, get a point and shoot that does video. Fortunately for canon, there are workarounds to be able to control aperture, but they are a hassle. But my opinion is to get the Canon based on the auto focus. It is not really useable during movie capture (loud slow and disruptive), but you can atleast use it before hand to get focus. It brings quite a bit of convenience. And you can look on the web for hack ways to manually control the aperture. The Canon is also 30fps at 720p compared to 24fps at 720p for the nikon. You can get a 25% slow motion effect with the canon without going under 24fps, where as with the nikon doing any slow motion will mean choppy frames (under 24fps).
Everything else I feel comes down to personal factors like form factor, feel in hand etc.
Best technology for the money [J. Retika]
I consider myself an above average amateur, and I want to share why I decided to buy the T1i. I know the concept of white-balance, aperture, speed, and metering, and I've experimented with them on my Point & Shoot camera (Canon G2).
My budget is in the $800-$1000 range, and I narrowed down my selections to Canon T1i, Nikon D5000/D90, and Pentax K20D. I wasn't worried too much about who has the best image quality. I felt that all 4 cameras (should) produce excellent results for most cases.
I'm a big fan of technology, and I'm willing to spend money to get latest technology (well.. as long as it's within my budget). I mean, if I just want good quality image, I'd go with Nikon D40/D60 or Canon XSi.
I based my decision on user reviews and professional reviews, dpreview.com and the like.
Pentax K20D has weather sealed body and in-body image stabilization, but they're not must-have features to me. It's reported to have slow focus, which is a deal-breaker.
Nikon D5000 has the same CMOS sensor as D90's, which has better DxOMark (better dynamic range, better low-light ISO) than Canon's 50D sensor, the same one in Canon T1i. But it only has 2.7-inch/230-kpixel LCD, not to mention 0.78x viewfinder magnification (compare to T1i's 0.87x). dSLR buyers be warned: you just don't use LCD for focusing, it's too slow. D5000's swiveling LCD is a hard sell to me.
Nikon D90 has better sensor, and pentaprism viewfinder. It can capture more frames/second (4.5 vs T1i's 3.4). It also has more AF area (11 vs T1i's 9). I mostly use single-focus point, so more focus points is not that useful to me. I plan to experiment with RAW capture, and Nikon charges extra for its RAW converter software (NX2 $180 MSRP).
For $799 (body only), I feel that T1i gives the best & latest dSLR technology for the money: 3-inch 920-kpixel LCD, fast focus, free RAW converter software, latest DIGIC4, HDMI. 1080p/720p video is a bonus. I'm not too crazy for the 15-Mpix, but now when I take pictures,I don't worry much about zooming on my subject, knowing I can crop the image later.
Again, all 4 cameras take excellent pictures. It's the non-image-quality features that got me sold on T1i. Be prepared to have a steep learning curve on white-balance/metering/ISO etc. Don't expect a $900 dSLR to give you excellent image everytime on full-auto. You'll need to learn to use it. Oh, and get the $100 50mm f/1.8 lens, you won't be sorry.
Incredible Camera! The Best of Both Worlds! (Canon 50D & Mark II) [Steven Wolff]
I'm just an average guy who's trying to break into the professional world of photography... I've been eyeing the Canon 50D and was so close to buying one when I heard of the T1i. So I compared notes and found the T1i was nearly identical to the Canon 50D minus a few things I couldn't really notice (or care about) since I consider myself somewhat knowledgeable about photography.
After reading what few reviews there were on the internet because this item was new, I decided to take the plunge and buy this camera and lucky me, I ordered it the day it was released to the world so it came quickly!
The results? I LOVE IT! But before I say more...
Now, if you're a big guy like me who has BIG HANDS, YOU WILL WANT THE BATTERY GRIP that is extra. TRUST ME... It's a no-brainer... get it because it will make the camera feel so much better and make it look even more professional!
That, and the battery grip comes with 2 extra 1800mA batteries which will give you a total of 3 batteries all together. I've been playing with it for several days and still haven't made a dent in draining these batteries!
How's it operate? GREAT! Let me go into more detail...
It's got several settings that I will sum up for you in Regular English, not Geek speak because I wish more people would speak this way instead of beating around the bush...
It's got old fashioned digital camera settings (you know the little icons of the flower or mountain, sports guy, etc) so if you know how to use these settings, you'll be able to use this quickly and comfortably.
It's got a full auto mode (which I like to call "No Brainer Mode") because this feature is a no-brainer! You just shoot and let it think for you! It will do EVERYTHING for you and do an incredible job! (NICE :-D)
And it's got the Advanced Modes so if you are a pro or want the controls of a professional camera (you know, to change the ISO settings or F-stops, etc) You can do that too!
They really put a lot of thinking into this camera and its nice, inside and out. One of the things I've discovered that's extra credit is the software that comes with it called Digital Photo Professional.
If you've read some of these reviews that talks about a picture maybe soft somewhere or the ISO noise (for whatever reason)... Digital Photo Professional has some sweet settings that will get rid of that for you and enhance your pictures to STUNNING!
There's so much potential in this camera and remember, it's made by the same folks who made the 50D and all the other versions! So what if its got minor tweaks that others don't... the bottom line is that this is an incredible camera!
I'm not crazy about the "Rebel" name in it because it makes it sound Amateurish... This should be called The Canon EOS AWESOME T1i because it looks, feels and is just that!
Even better is the High Definition Video you can record if you want to. Sure its not equal to a dedicated HD camcorder but its nice to have if you want to record something important and look sharp too! Personally, I can't tell the difference between the 1080p and 720p so don't let these little nit-pickers bother you.
Go with your gut and DO GET A GOOD LENS to compliment the one it comes with. Your next best bet is to get a 28mm to 200mm LENS so you can do those zoom and up close shots.
With so many lenses, it will just open up all kinds of creative things you can do. I hope my review answered your questions! I'm glad I bought it and look forward to all the possibilities! So if you're looking to be a professional, this is a great start! If you're looking to have a nice camera that you want to enjoy as a hobby, this is also for you!
As I said in the title... the best of both worlds! :-)
UPDATE: While I've had it for about a month now, I'm very impressed with its performance and battery life! And to the person who commented, I'm a happy customer who's good at wording. I don't work for anyone but myself. Check my website in my profile if you want proof. I just call it as it is. :-)
Unbelievably Excellent Camera! [R. Mehta]
My family loves this camera! I am glad I waited for this. I was tempted to by the XSI from Canon, but when I heard about this one coming out, I waited and thank god I did!
For a first time SLR person, this is the camera that you want to buy. The Video is an added bonus. I am now going to sell my Sony HD camcorder and just use this one.
I also got the 16 gig SDHC card, which you will need if you are going to take pics in 15 meg and use the video.
Great for beginners too [Aaron Cannon]
I'm new to dslr's and I have NO photography experience and this camera was easy to move into. Great camera easy to use. I read the manual for about an hour and ever since I been able to toy with different settings and take some real nice pictures. I love this camera!
Great Investment [M. Schlindwein]
This was my first DLSR, but is well worth the money. I would agree with most reviewers about volume of shutter and autofocus with movie mode, but overall you cannot beat this camera for around $900. There are really no flaws with this product, just great overall pictures and movies. Users will find that the T1i is for both beginners as well as experts. After spending several hours now with the camera testing all kinds of modes and varieties of situations, I am still in love with it and would buy it again and again.
A wonderfully full-featured camera at an unbeatable price [Rimesh Patel]
I've 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 don't have any gripes on image quality. There are some issues with noise on the higher ISOs that don't 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 T1i's main competitor). I really would have preferred if Canon had kept the XSi's 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 haven't 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 T1i's 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 wouldn't 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. It's not easy, but after a little practice, it's not all too hard, either.
Ultimately, you shouldn't 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 you're 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, you'll 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. I'm 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 can't review this as I haven't 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 you're 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 it's not an expensive cable.
Conclusion. The T1i is a bit on the light end, yet the construction still feels solid. For the camera's price point, you'd 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 doesn't. 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 I'm 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. I've 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.
First hands on experience...Very positive! [Hiram Grant]
Here's a quick, first impressions (from hands on shooting) of the Rebel T1i. Although we'll need more scientific examinations to determine ultimate image quality and usability, I'll try to give a hint into the camera's potential.
I'll not go in to any real detail on the kit lens, which has been well reviewed. Let's just agree that $100 for a good quality IS (image stabalized) lens is a very reasonable value it you don't have another option. There are no obvious reasons this kit lens should make or break your choice of this camera over a competitor's.
Styling and build wise, the T1i is an XSi made over, which is not a bad thing. Some found that camera to be a bit on the small size for their hands, or a bit lacking in weight, but most like the size and weight (include me). It uses the same, proven battery and accessories of the XSi. I've already used some generic batteries that worked well in an XSi, with similar good results, but I do not want to lump all generics in the "good to go" category.
In using the camera, the first thing you'll notice over the previous Rebels in the marvelous LCD screen. Yep, the images look much cleaner even at the original size. Don't get confused if you compare this camera side-by-side and think it's images are all that much better. They just look much better on such a sharp LCD.
First looks at IQ (Image Quality) were very impressive. I tried using the camera in a variety of situtations (biased to how I would use it), and got very good results throughout. Focusing was typical for a better Rebel, and images looked good throughout the ISO range, based on reasonable expectations. I thought the Auto White Balance is a very good job compared to previous results I'd had with Canons in general. They weren't perfect, but the tungsten areas seemed to look better than average. All in all, I'd say Canon made reasonable progress with the jump to 15 meg, but probably no reason to trade-in your XSi.
Live View never has been one of my biggest thrills, but the sharp LCD makes it a bit more enjoyable. If I was still shooting macros, I would like it much more.
But the biggest advantage of the newer screen for some will be while shooting videos. I only did videos in the 1080p mode, and was impressed by the quality. Sound was OK, and I was a bit disappointed that Canon doesn't have an option audio input (ala the 5D mkII or camcorders with intellegent shoe). I'm also not sure how practical the videos will be, considering they aren't using a "direct to HiDef player" format like AVCHD or AVCHD Lite. Also, 20fps is a bit odd for 1080p, but their software does support frame grapping, which should give nice 4x6 prints (there's a bit more than 2meg per frame). The 720p is recorded in a more standard 30fps, which should also help with moving subjects. You can also shoot a full 15meg image while recording your videos. You videos are interrupted for about a second (you'll see a still image for that length in the video playback), but the high quality image will be recorded in its own file (no need to frame grab). BTW, autofocusing did work during this recording, but the noise was picked up by the mic.
OK, so I liked the camera, but how would I rate it compared to the competition. Well, compared to the XSi, it's better, but maybe not worth the money. The LCD is grand (that alone would get my money), and it's a no brainer if you need video or shoot lots of macros. But with resent price drops and combo deals from Canon, the XSi should still be strong based on value.
I've also had a bit of experience with the new Nikon D5000 (but even less so). Although initial pricing is about $50 higher on the T1i, I thought the Canon was clearly more interesting. I like the way Sony incorporated an articulated LCD, but hate it on the D5000. I was constantly setting the camera down with the LCD back being the first thing to touch. You might never break it, but you'll surely scratch the cosmetics. The D5000 doesn't have the motor built into the body, so there's a bit of a limitation to lens. However, the biggest drawback was that the D5000's built-in flash doesn't support their wireless flash system (with their new lineup, we'll have to move up to the D90). The D5000 really needs to be lined up against the XSi, not the T1i.
The 14mp Sony Alpha 350 might be a good value oriented competitor (when Sony offers bundles), but the IQ of the Canon's CMOS sensor is probably better in most moderate to low light conditions. I think you'll be seeing something soon to replace this model.
Thus, it's prime competitors should be Canon's own XSi, the D5000 (especially if they drop the price about $100 more), and for those with a bit more money, the Nikon D90.
The T1i carries on the tradition of Canon Rebels with a lot of "curbside appeal" matched with solid performance.
Great DSLR for the duckets [J. Marek]
I'm happy with the quality of the cam. I put a 17-40mm f4 L Lens on it and I'm liking it even more.
I will post pics soon.
Can't go wrong with canon. I've been using their digital products for over 10 years.
I definitely recommend buying a higher quality lens over the kit.
A great camera [F.L. Parker]
The new Canon T1i is several steps above the Canon 350D that I purchased in 2005. There is a huge difference in picture quality between the two cameras. I have had the camera nearly a month; I shot a three-hour graduation ceremony, a family reunion, and just a lot of other stuff to check out the camera. It is an easy camera to use; the 3-inch LCD screen is great. I am not impressed with the video feature. Though the picture is absolutely clear, it is jittery, but I did not buy the camera for the video feature. I make DVDs from photos and videos in Pinnacle Studio 12; my videos are usually short clips without voice, so the video feature works OK for short, 20 to 30 second clips. I take the camera with me everyday to record historic moments that we will never see again.
Low-light bliss. [Andrew Catellier]
I'm not a professional photographer by any means, and in fact this is my first SLR. With that in mind, I am very satisfied with this camera. If you're willing to put up with noise, low-light pictures are a snap.
Oh come on, that was funny.
To me, the controls and user interface are intuitive and easy to learn. The shutter does make a funny sound. However, it seems very durable, the screen is brilliant, and I am very satisfied with my purchase.
MY FIRST SLR [S. Anderson]
For my first SLR camera I chose this one because of its 15.1 MP,and its ability to shoot live video when needed. I love taking pics with it. I am not a pro and when it comes to ease of use this one has it. In low light conditons the auto features gets everything right even in no flash mode. I was at a graduation ceremony with low light and the pics were great. Plus with the ability to go into the profesional side of this cameras features is somthing that I will be exploring and learning to use in the future.
The only draw back I have with this camera is the lens. It is a little soft. I am saving up my money to buy a better lens. If you have the option to buy the body only I would do so. That way you can get a lens that will do this camera justice.
Not Too Shabby... [G. Sun]
I received this two days ago and was really unsure about the T1i. I've read what scant reviews existed on Amazon and became somewhat concerned about the complaints of soft images. In the brief time I tested it I noticed my shots were coming out soft as well compared to my S3. Then after toying around with the settings I found that the "Standard" profile's sharpness was set on low. Not having dug that deep into the menu system, I believe it was the default setting making the images really soft. I now have it on max, or near max, and am more satisfied with the images. While increasing sharpness, images remain really smooth even at high ISOs. Overall, I'm more satisfied with the unit now that I've got the image sharpening down. With that said I still have more deliberating to do.
A note about video: I do enjoy having the video capability on the camera only because you can set the WB, unlike a Flip. I can't squeeze 1080 out of my system anyway so 720 works just fine. As others have pointed out, the autofocus is a bit odd to get used to but manageable in video. You're better off shooting fixed distances. Noise is loud during focus, but if you're putting together a clip most likely you'll overlap it with an audio track instead.
Buenas Fotos, Pobre Video [Fabian A. Sorrentino]
Buena cámara de fotos. Para clips de video deja bastante que desear. El enfoque no es dinámico y la memoria de una class 6 no le alcanza. Habrá que probar con las nuevas SDHC class 10.
good camera but soft images [Adam Thornber]
I purchased the T1i just over a week ago to upgrade my very old Digital Rebel 300d. I have just returned the T1i.
On the upside, the interface and UI performance are outstanding. The build quality is excellent and the camera takes pictures very well. The video capabilities are a great value-add and fun to experiment with.
My experience with the photos themselves was not outstanding. My first annoyance was the inability of just about any (Apple) software other than Canon's (bundled with the camera) to read the raw files from this camera. Canon's software is slow and unwieldy. It may be weeks or months until iPhoto or Aperture support the .cr2 files from the T1i. I don't have Photoshop but have read it doesn't like the .cr2 files either.
My second annoyance was with the softness of the photos. I took about 500 shots over the weekend with two different lenses (canon 50mm and Tamron 17-50mm). All of the photos seemed to suffer from "softness". I liken it to a very subtle version of a soft focus high school yearbook photo. This was visible in all of my photos and much more pronounced in the highest resolution .jpeg's than in the Raw files. My camera may have been faulty but when comparing shots side by side with my 2004 vintage 300d, the 300d's images were sharper.
For me, the video functionality is more of a novelty, otherwise it might have been a tough decision to give up the T1i. I'll be purchasing a 40D instead which I know will produce the high quality photos I'm looking for.
Video Problems with some sdhc cards (especially Kingston), You may miss some good shots unless you use sandisk extreme lll. [smithnwesson]
**see update below, now give this camera a 4 star **** Video Test memory consumption rates and max minutes per clip contained below.
I couldn't wait to my hands on the new Canon T1i. It was a stretch for my budget but had most of the 5d mkll features. I was excited. I pre-ordered a body (I already have 2 xti's and lenses) but the only the kits are/were available so I upgrade to get it before a SciFi convention I attended. Higher iso and video, for the less than optimal lighting in the hall where the Celebs were speaking, attracted me. I tested the video for memory consumption rate the day I got it, no problem for a 20 minute test run. I saw a little white bar on the right side of the screen appear get a little bigger, then disappear. I figured it was a buffer level. Next day at the convention during Jeri Ryan's appearance I took a few stills and flipped into the video mode, nice.... until it stopped after a few minutes. Set it back up, pushed record again a few minutes later stopped, no warning, no beep, just stopped. Try again, now I notice the buffer bar reaches the top, it stops. I am using a kingston 8 gig class 6 sdhc, freshly formatted by the camera. That sucks! I missed a lot of good video because this new marvelous camera can't write fast enough. This occured on 2 different but identical cards so I thought the camera was having problems. It was on the 720p mode, 1080 mode could only go 8 seconds.
****Update---I talked to Canon, to make a long story short, this camera is a bit finicky about which cards you put in it. Both kingston class 6 (fastest class) had problems, tried a kingston micro class 4 (slower) 4 gig and it worked fine, tried 2 Polaroid/pny 8 gig class 4's and they worked fine with only 1 buffer bar appearing occasionally, even on 1080. Canon guy seemed to like the sandisk brand. This begs the question of how can a class 4 work better than the class 6? I have a sandisk extreme III on order and will update this info if I have more problems with that. My wrath now turns to Kingston, who service has been xlnt. ***update kingston- I returned a card to kingston, they sent a new one just as bad as the slow originals, which indicates ALL this type kingston are mot going to work in this camera for video.
******Another update, with a Sandisk 8 Gb Extreme lll card the video worked fine, no buffer bar at all. Perhaps there should be a recommended list of sdhc cards so others don't have the trouble I did.
That said, I was able to test the video as follows: I have tested my T1i for memory usage in video mode, here are the results using a Sandisk 8 Gig Extreme III:
T1i Video Memory Usage Rates for a 1 minute file.
1080 mode 282 MB 720 mode 194 MB 480 mode 131MB
Following is for 5 minute file 1080 = 1,383 MB 720 = 988 MB 480 = 638
Any 1 clip can be 4GB max, so the following is an approximate max clip length
1080 about 14 minutes 720 about 20 minutes 480 about 30 minutes
These figures are approximate as the content of the video will affect the compression and amount of memory actually used but these are pretty close to an average time you should expect. I did a little rounding so these are probably the on the low side you may get a little more time, but not much, maybe a minute.
You can shoot as much video as the card will hold, just any 1 uninterrupted clip cannot be longer than 4 gig.
Shooting Video also eats the battery, buy extras, one Battery per every 8 gig card should be about right.
Bottom line-MAKE SURE you thoroughly test and 'season' the memory card BEFORE counting on getting complete videos. The first cards I tried did work on day 1 for 20 minutes but the buffer bar got to 3 or 4. Day 2 (the convention) was a different story, you read it above. DO NOT use KINGSTON CARDS.
Stills are pretty good but I noticed on blowing them up the noise almost looks like dusty distorted scratchy marks on the sensor, not just the colored freckles. My XTi is better, My Nikon d200 is better, my Nikon d40 is better in the noise department. I cranked up the iso to speed up my shutter and some of the shots looked like very dirty/dusty slides I have from the 70's. I guess you can choose between the noise or slow shutter speed with the movement blur, or both. See the customer images for a sample of the noise at 6400 iso.
****update on stills Still shot Capacity on 8 gig card Large + RAW =286 Just RAW = 359 Large = 1375 Medium = 2334 Small = 4175 * if you shoot any video mixed with the stills these numbers drop very fast.
Other review sites had a pre-release version of this camera and they had the same video problem, (they did not name the sdhc card they were using, but I'd bet it was a kingston). Unfortunately there were not any reviews of actual cameras when I ordered it, just press releases. Now you have been warned and now you have this review. When you lose the video as the couple says 'I do' or other critical moment, you'll curse too. ***I currently put a SanDisk 8 gb sdhc extreme III rated at 20 MB/Second, far and above the minimum class 6 rating of 6MB/sec, it seems to work flawlessly today, we'll see about tomorrow, but this showed no signs of the buffer bar on the side, looks promising! ***update SanDisk still working xlnt.
If you are going to do Video, and it important at all, I can only recommend the SanDisk 8 gb sdhc extreme III at this point. Just be warned that the video mode is very demanding and picky about the performance of the card, just the class rating is not to be counted on, as I found out the hard way. Some class 4's may work, even class 2's but that buffer bar will start showing up.
>>>>>>>> Be Safe Buy the Sandisk Extreme III. >>>>>>>> Another user says Transcend 16GB Class 6 SDHC is performing well in video
not impressed [Vahan Harutyunyan]
Ever since I started thinking about a DSLR, I have been hearing very controversial opinions about Canon or Nikon outbeating the competitor.
A year ago I bought a Nikon D40x, but then a friend of mine managed to convince me that Canon is better, so when Canon introduced its Rebel T1i, I decided to switch and upgrade.
I have tried to compare the two cameras, and in my opinion the pictures taken with Canon T1i with IS 18-55 lens are not as crisp as the ones taken by my older Nikon D40x with standard (non-VR) 18-55 lens. (Maybe I am not using the right settings on Canon, or maybe with better optics Canon can outperform Nikon, but it's not the case with standard modes and standard kit lenses.)
In all other aspects it's a great camera, with great features. Some of the features are missing on my Nikon D40x.
I will play with Canon a little more, but I guess I will get rid of Canon and will stick to Nikon.
Images aren't crisp at "actual size." [Big Country]
I recently purchased the T1i at a local camera store and will probably be taking advantage of their 7 day return policy.
In taking a bunch of pictures since I purchased it, I have noticed that they just didn't pop at me like I was expecting them to when viewing the pictures in their full size, or "actual size." Especially for a DSLR camera with the credentials the T1i has. The thing that pushed me over the edge was tonight I conducted a little experiment (not scientific or controlled by any means). I took some close up pictures of some coins laying on a counter with the T1i and also my Canon SD880is point and shoot camera. A $900 DSLR against a $250 point and shoot. Shouldn't be any competition, right? Well I was very surprised. When I viewed the pictures in "actual size" the pictures taken with the T1i were somewhat soft compared to the more crisp pictures taken with the SD880is. Perhaps this is what the one reviewer was speaking of with regards to the kit lens not being of high enough quality to take advantage of the T1i's capabilities. All I know is I'm not happy that a point and shoot is capable of producing more crisp pictures. Regardless of what lens is on the T1i.
The nice things about the T1i are obviously it's 920,000 pixel LCD screen. It's a terrific LCD and is one of the things which sold me on the camera in the store. That and the way it fit in my hand. I was deciding between the Pentax K20D (same price) and the T1i and what made my decision was the way the T1i felt in my hand. It was just more comfortable. The focus is extremely fast and the live view works decent so long as there is enough light for the focus to operate correctly.
Needless to say I'm disappointed. I was really excited about this camera, especially since it's my first DSLR. I think I will seriously consider the Pentax K20D again now. It has a weather tight sealed body and lens, image stabilization built into the body, almost as many megapixels and was the camera brand of choice by the majority of the employees in the store I purchased my T1i from (all but one employee shot Pentax cameras). My only problem with it was it is a little on the bulky side and I wonder if they won't be releasing a replacement soon since it has been out for over a year. Other contenders are the Nikon D5000, Olympus E620 and believe it or not the Panasonic G1 which got rave reviews on DPreview for it's image quality.
So that's my opinion. By no means am I a professional photographer, only an enthusiast. However the eyes don't lie, and I can't stand the soft pictures when viewed full size. If it is indeed the kit lens that is holding the T1i back, perhaps people would be better off purchasing the body only T1i and then taking the money you save and put that towards the purchase of an upgraded lens.
