Canon EOS rebel T3 or rebel t2i?

[stephanie lyn]

Ive been looking into getting a t2i for a few months now, and i was on the best buy website and came across the T3...it said NEW and there wasnt any reviews. it hasnt been released yet but i didnt know if anybody was familiar or interested in it that could give me an idea about how it compares to the t2i besides with the mega pixels

[inkista]

Just as a clarification, the T3/1100D is an update to the XS/1000D. The T3i/600D is an update to the T2i/550D. They're two different tiers of cameras, with the T3 and XS being the lower tier. If you were looking at the T2i, you may want to consider the T3i; however, cameras get cheaper the longer they've been out, so the T3i is definitely going to cost more than a T2i.

Over the T2i, the T3i will have a flip-out LCD and a flash master in the pop-up. Looks like it has the same sensor and processor as the T3i, so mostly the same camera.

dpreview's hands-on preview for the T3i:
http://www.dpreview.com/previews/canoneos600d/

For the T3:
http://www.dpreview.com/previews/canoneos1100d/

[stephanie lyn]

thank you! now what are your opinions on the t1i vs the t2i?

[stephanie lyn]

ive been interested in the t2i and as soon as i sell my camera im going to buy the t2i but ive been told by several people that 18 MPs will eat up my memory and that im better off getting the t1i...unfortunately i cant find the t1i at any stores to play with besides walmart and the display doesnt work...best buy only has the t2i and i play with it everytime im in the store, as for the t3i i dont care too much about the flip out screen...

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by stephanie lyn

thank you! now what are your opinions on the t1i vs the t2i?

The T1i is no longer available new, for one.

Originally Posted by stephanie lyn

ive been interested in the t2i and as soon as i sell my camera im going to buy the t2i but ive been told by several people that 18 MPs will eat up my memory and that im better off getting the t1i...unfortunately i cant find the t1i at any stores to play with besides walmart and the display doesnt work...best buy only has the t2i and i play with it everytime im in the store, as for the t3i i dont care too much about the flip out screen...

If you're not concerned with the pop-out screen and the master-flash in the pop-up flash, then the T2i is a clear choice. Dont bother with the T1i: as I said, it's not available new, so you'll have to buy used.

[stephanie lyn]

oh wow i didnt know it wasnt available, well that helps me a bunch lol. whats the master flash? im new to all of this so i honestly dont know the difference

[GummiG]

New T1i and the price is good.

SLR Digital Cameras

[inkista]

The T1i will probably be available new until the T3i comes out. Canon usually keeps the last generation of dRebel around as a current model at a reduced price.

Whether or not you want to buy new is up to you--you can often save a lot of money and get great equipment by buying used or refurbished. It's mostly a matter of peace of mind about being covered by a warranty for your first year. I've gotten my last two camera bodies as 90-day factory refurbs, and both of them were essentially new and have both been working just fine. The first one is well past what would have been the one-year warranty period now and still doing great. But then, I like gambling, too.

If you're in the USA (one reason putting your location into your profile on a photography board is a good idea--prices and offerings can vary pretty substantially internationally) you can still get a T1i as a factory refurb from Canon off their website. The main differences between the T2i and T1i are (to quote from dpreview's T2i review):

• Higher resolution 18MP CMOS with gapless micro lenses
• ISO 6400 no longer in 'expanded' range (12,800 max remains the same)
• Redesigned buttons and new movie/live view button
• Customizable auto ISO ranges
• Improved 63 zone metering (iFCL)
• 3:2 format screen with more pixels
• Improved movie functionality
• Slightly higher burst shooting rate (though buffer holds fewer shots)
• HDMI control (CEC)
• SDHX Compatible

A T1i isn't missing any of the "headline" features of the T2i, though, except the 18MP resolution. Basically, the T2i is better for video (mostly because it has an external audio port, so you're not forced to use the condenser mic built into the camera). If video is not your main concern, the T1i will do just as well. The dRebels get refreshed more often than any other model in the Canon lineup--once a year, so the "upgrades" between generations tend to be slight.

If you ever want to see how recent a model is or where it sits in the model "tiers", this Wikipedia table can be useful to look up model numbers. And dpreview is a great source for getting the tecnichal specs on cameras.

As for worrying about the higher resolution--I wouldn't. I made the leap from 15MP 50D to the 21MP 5D Mark II. And I shoot RAW. Hard drives and memory cards are cheap as computer gear goes. Just buy more. Or you can always set the camera to shoot at lower than full resolution.

A flash master in the pop-up is kind of a big deal on the Canon side, because it's a relatively new feature that we've been jealous of the Nikon shooters over for ages. And this is the first time an entry-level Canon camera's had one. It basically means that when you buy a speedlight (hotshoe flash unit), you can also take it off the camera and tell it to fire remotely. This can be a big deal if you're into the Strobist and learning to light things, studio-style. Without the master in the pop-up flash, you'd have to buy TWO speedlights, or go with radio triggers and give up a lot of functionality, to do this. And being able to use your flash off-camera opens up a whole new world of possibilities (i.e., it stops looking like P&S on-camera flash, and starts looking like real lighting).

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by inkista

The T1i will probably be available new until the T3i comes out. Canon usually keeps the last generation of dRebel around as a current model at a reduced price.

Sorry Inkista, but the company I work for is no longer able to order T1i bodies or kits from Canon, and even getting them from the warehouse is touch-and-go. We've basically been told that what we have is what we're ever going to have and to make from for the T3 pair

[mmmmhhhhmmmm]

You are able to purchase a new T1i at the Wal-marts around here in San Antonio, Texas. Although, the T1i (if video is important to you) does NOT have 1080p capabilities. It has 720p. The T3i seems to be a mix of the 60D and 7D and maybe even the T2i (all with 18mp). If the articulating screen (flip-out screen) isn't a necessity, I would consider co$t. I own a T2i and love it! With the subtle differences the T3i offers, I really don't feel I'm missing out on anything. I will still buy a 7D in the near future. You've been receiving a great deal of help from these people. I hope, for your sake, your decision is easy!

Have a nice day!

Robert