Be happy! Canon’s new EOS Rebel T1i is packed with features, both refined and new. In addition to its admirable performance with an all-new 15.1 Megapixel Canon CMOS sensor, DIGIC 4 Image Processor, a 3.0-inch Clear View LCD with anti-reflective and scratch-resistant coating, and compatibility with the EOS System of lenses and Speedlites, the EOS Rebel T1i adds remarkable Full HD video capture at resolutions up to 1920 x 1080. An HDMI port allows for quick connections to high definition TVs and monitors for easy viewing of your stills and video. The entire operation is simple and easy even if you are a beginner. You’ll have uncompromised EOS Digital performance with power and flexibility right in the palm of your hand. Auto and Manual Focus modes Shutter Speeds - 1/4000 sec. to 1/60 sec., X-sync at 1/200 sec.; 1/4000 sec. to 30 sec., bulb (Total shutter speed range. Available range varies by shooting mode) ISO Speed - ISO 100-3200 (in 1-stop increments), H1 - 6400 H2 - 12800; Basic Zone modes - ISO 100-3200 set automatically Retractable, auto pop-up flash - E-TTL II autoflash Full HD video capture at 1920 x 1080 resolution with HDMI output for HD viewing of stills and video Live View Function for stills (Quick, Live and Face Detection AF modes) and video Auto Lighting Optimizer for superior highlight-shadow control Wide range ISO setting 100-3200 (ISO expansion - 6400, 12800) Creative Auto goes a step beyond auto allowing control over frequently-changed settings Lens Mount - Canon EF mount (compatible with over 60 Canon EF/EF-S lenses and most EOS System accessories) Battery Type - Rechargeable Battery LP-E5 Recording Media - SD memory card, SDHC memory card Dimensions (WxHxD) - 5.1 x 3.8 x 2.4 in./128.8 x 97.5 x 61.9mm Weight - 16.9oz. /480g (body only) Kit includes EOS Rebel T1i Body; EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens; Eyecup Ef; Wide Strap EW-100DBIII; USB Interface Cable;
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars great camera
Don’t think I can describe all the goodies better than what everyone else here.
Bottom line: If you’re a newbie and are looking to get your feet wet with dSLR, get this camera. You won’t regret it.
It’s much more portable (than 40D, 50D..the new 7D)
takes great pictures
the video function turned out MUCH more convenient than I expected. (1080p would be nice, but that’s too greedy to expect in a $800 camera)
Overall: great camera. If you’re thinking about it, get it.
5 Stars A must for any DP
amazing camera functionality and amazing videos with tons of DOF. Great camera for small video projects.
1 Star 1500+ mad customers, don’t buy until firmware is fixed!
Don’t buy this lemon camera until Canon fixes the “manual” firmware.
Before you even consider buying this camera, do yourself a favor and do some Internet searches for the 1500+ people who have signed online petitions asking Canon to finally fix the T1i/500D “manual” firmware. Canon 5D MkII users petitioned and Canon finally admitted it. And Canon released manual control firmware fixes for that camera last spring. But I’ve seen no response to the same requests for fixing the same firmware issues in the T1i (500D in Europe.)
Specifically, Canon advertises a product with full manual control, yet the video simply does not have full manual control. Half the exposure settings can not be manual controlled when shotting video, making shooting video inconsistent with wandering exposures. Why bother shooting video if you have little chance of getting usable shots? There are no retakes on real life. The exposure messes up a shot and it’s gone…
“Full HD” may not be an absolute legal lie, but it’s clearly unethical. The T1i’s “Full HD” is actually only a worthless 20 frames a second. Any movement in the picture and it looks terrible on either computer or HD TVs. (Frankly? If nothing is moving, why shoot video? Shame on the Canon marketing department for that one. You embarrass your fine company. You should be called before the Canon board…)
Canon fixed the manual control firmware on it’s 5D Mk II DSLR.
Canon fixed the manual control firmware before release on their upcoming 7D DSLR.
But they are stone walling the T1i/500D users with this lemon camera’s frustrating video exposure firmware problems.
I highly recommend you not buy this camera before Canon releases firmware fixes for their manual controls. You just can’t rewind life and shoot it a second time. Shame on you Canon. So close, but so far…
Run…
1 Star Great camera vendor is unreasonable
The Canon Rebel 15 megapixel is a great value. However, amazon.com has links to third part sellers like Shutterbug of Oregon; I recommend against using Shutterbug. I spent a lot of time with them deciding on the camera, gave them my VISA, and the charge was authorized and accepted. They use some regional merchant clearing service for credit cards, and the merchant clearing service could not verify my address so they refused to ship. Bank of America gave them a merchant number to call and verify the charge and my address, but they refused to call. Shutterbug charged my credit card twice and I am waiting to see if they removed the charges since they refused to ship the camera.
5 Stars Good dSLR
The Canon EOS Rebel T1i (or 500D) is a very nice dSLR, especially when you consider the price point. Image quality is good, and so is the build and ergonomics.
The 930,000 dot screen is absolutely gorgeous. It is viewable just about everywhere, and the quality is sufficient for confirmation of focus — something the XSi’s screen simply didn’t really do very well.
If you liked the XSi’s handling and ergonomics, the T1i feels very much the same. Having tried out a 50d in comparison, I prefer the Rebel’s handling better. The only thing I wish the Rebel series had is a scroll wheel instead of simply four directional arrows. Otherwise the placement, weight, and grip are perfect for me.
The quick set feature of the T1i is also quite nice — a big improvement over the XSi. No longer does one have to root through the menus or leave the info display to change your flash exposure compensation — just press SET, arrow around a couple times, and change the setting.
The 15.1 megapixel sensor does a good job at rendering images and keeping noise low. It isn’t quite as low as the XSi’s 12 megapixel sensor, but that’s expected. What is welcome is the addition of 3200 ISO, as well as 6400/12800 ISO (though these are really just 3200 ISO with processing applied). Shockingly, 3200 ISO isn’t absolutely horrible; though anything beyond that is for emergency use only.
The other major feature to be added to the Rebel series is video. Video recording is serviceable, if not mostly automatic — aside from focusing. Focus is manual (though you can auto-focus with a button press), but aperture control is automatic (you can lock it, however), as is ISO control. There is no audio-in capability, so the microphone picks up everything the camera does, and besides that, it isn’t that great of a microphone anyway. Other than that, the video capability works, although you’ll need fast cards for it (class 6). Since most of my work is still photography, I haven’t played with it more than just to get a very basic feel for it.
PROS: Nice image quality, even with the increase in megapixels. Improved usability with the quick set feature. (If you consider the Rebel’s ergonomics a pro, then the T1i will not disappoint.) Video. Decent build quality (esp. for price). Gorgeous 930k LCD. Expanded ISO range.
CONS: No manual control over the aperture or ISO when recording video. No external audio input. A little more noise than the XSi. (If you consider the Rebel’s ergonomics a con, then the T1i will be no different.)
CONCLUSION: Try it. It’s a nice camera, especially at the price. Image quality is good, and that screen is simply gorgeous. That said, hold it. Play with the controls. If you are uncomfortable with where things are, or the build of the camera, you’ll probably want to go for a 50d or higher. If you’ve used and liked the XSi or previous versions, you’ll like this camera.
If you’ve already got an XSi, there’s only a few reasons to upgrade: improved screen, quick set, and video. If none of those are all that important to you, stick with the XSi. For me, I purchased the T1i so my XSi could be my second body, so you might want to consider that. (Alternatively, you could just buy another XSi - they are fairly cheap now.)
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