desertcart.com : 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 : Canon
Xti : Electronics
Review: A Really Great Camera - I've had this camera for about a
week and I have to say I'm 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 SX10's wheel. I've 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 don't 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. I've 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 I've 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 don't appreciate the more
sophisticated elements that higher price cameras afford, just
that to make really good photos doesn't always take real fancy
equipment. I love really good equipment, I just think that people
shouldn't 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, it's 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. I'm 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, you'll
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 don't use it
unless some guy is yelling "Don't tase me bro!" If you want
video, get a video camera. Update: Had the camera now for over a
month and I'm 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. It's 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. Don't gow with third party
lenses if you can afford Canon lenses. After awhile, you'll
really be able to tell the difference.
Review: Incredible Camera! The Best of Both Worlds! (Canon 50D &
Mark II) - 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. :-)
