Canon EOS Rebel T2i / 550D 18.0 MP Digital SLR Camera - Black (Kit w/ EF-S IS II 18-55mm Lens)

This camera is called the Canon T2i in the US - EOS 550D in Europe - and the EOS Digital Kiss in China & Japan but it is the same camera. This camera is perfect for the 1st time DSLR buyers. The feautures are comparable to the semi-professional cameras such as the Canon 50D and 7D, and the kit lens (18-55mm) produces better quality images than the 50D/7D kit lens (28-124mm). This camera still produces good images at a high ISO3200. At higher ISO the quality deteriorates quickly. For a 1.6x cropped sensor (APS-C sensor) , it produces good 18MP images. The Auto Exposure Bracketing feature and Auto White Bracketing features are fun and easy to use. The controls/buttons are ergonomically perfect. They are not difficult to use/press and cannot be pressed easily by mistake. The camera is a little light for me as it promotes easy 'camera shake' on my light lens without IS. The battery lasts several hundred shots for me which is better than most cameras. All the controls and settings are visible in the view finder and do not get in the way of your view. You can also take pictures using the 'Live View mode' which is the 3inch LCD screen. Most DSLR cameras dont have this feature which i find quite odd since it is mostly used in point and shoot cameras. Another feature installed in this camera is the CreativeAuto mode which enables the user to control the focus background and the brightness of the subject/background. The continuous shooting is only 3.7 frames per second. Its still pretty fast however would be nicer if it was at least 6fps which is a necessity for sports photography. The AutoFocus has a 9 point CMOS sensor instead of 19 point sensor like the 50D and 7D. overall, this is a great entry DSLR, the best in its class for its features and for its price. This SLR camera is half the price of the 7D and the major differences is only the slower shutter spd of 1/4000 vs. 1/8000, the continuous shooting of 3.7fps vs. the 7D's 8.0fps, and the differences in the AF points. Its those 3 major differences that kept me from buying the 7D and saving the extra $900. Plus the built in flash shoot 1 meter (3.2ft) farther than the 7D's built in flash, and the kit lens produces higher image quality pictures than the kit lens for the 7D. One of the best reasons to buy this camera is for the 1080p HD Video with selectable frame rates 30/25/24 fps in 1080p and 50/60 fps in 720p. By far the best DSLR HD Video under $1000. This is why I now own it.

I wanted to buy a camera in the range of $1300 with its kit. I was going to buy the Canon 500D but a friend recommended the 550D since its called the "baby 7D" and it is 18mp while the 500D is a 15mp.

The Canon is easy to use and have a lot of features, accessories, and lenses that a person can buy in order to become a professional photographer. Also the Canon comes with a CD that has utilities to edit the photo's and to easily deal with them.

I highly recommend everyone who wants to buy an SLR Digital Camera, to buy a Canon in a three digit mode such as XXX D and then buy a more professional one, but the 550D just fits my style a lot !!

The lenses and the flash that came in the kit were Canon and are the best thing that are in the kit !

Each lens has a special function and the flash helps a lot !!

It was nice to deal with the dealer. Hope to deal with him again !!

simply a great camera! canon you've outdone nikon by far!
Resolution has jumped to 18 megapixels on the same size APS-C CMOS sensor that gives the T2i a 1.6x crop factor (35mm equivalent). The processor is a Digic 4, same as the T1i, but nominal ISO sensitivity range has gone to 100-6400 (expandable to 12,800) while the older camera was 100-3200 (expandable to 6400 and 12,800). An "improved" HD video function offers manual exposure control and a movie crop function.

Excellent upgrade from my Canon EOS 400D, 550/T2i/Kiss X4 is by far superior to my old EOS... It focus so fast specially having a USM lens but even though to some lens without it still it focus fast and accurate... It handles this same with my old EOS but it fits much better now with my hands due to its rubberize handgrip... The body it self has change slightly and maybe its just Me but it feels much more lighter. I love the LCD and the changes they made with the buttons controls, much easier to press now.

Having to use the LCD to take some shot helps alot and the Movie mode is an excellent addition to its functions. I haven't use it much for i don't have a class 6 or above SD card. Its 18 Megapixel sensor same with the new 7D is great ,good for people who post process they photos who crops for better composition and etc...

If you have a Canon EOS 450D and below this is the right time to upgrade...

Most everyone will tell you about the great photo’s this camera takes. 18 MB photos are crisp with great color! You can also read about the default lenses the camera comes with and they too are great.

What you haven’t read too much about is the video. My daughter is a soccer player and I bought the camera to shoot her soccer games. When I was talking to someone at Best Buy about the camera he told me this technology is the “cutting edge” of movie making. Actually, I had heard this from different resources who were pursuing degrees in movie making. Today, TV shows such as 30 Rock are being shot using Canon cameras. Google T2i and you’ll find numerous videos being shot using this camera.

For the soccer games I sit in the stands and for each scene I shoot a short video. When the ball is kicked out of bounds, I stop the video and then start it again when the ball is thrown in. What I end up with is ~ 120 small videos of the soccer game. I then come home and download all the videos onto my computer and using an application I downloaded off the Internet for free – I quickly go through the video’s documenting the ones worth keeping. After deleting the ones that are no good – I’m left with a set of incredible sharp videos.

Since the camera is very good in low light – it works well for the night games with the lights on the field. What’s even nicer is that I’ll sometimes flip it over and take some shots of the coach coaching the girls or girls sitting on the bench. Great photos!

Since the video is shot in Full 1080 the clarity is awesome!

I’ve posted many of the videos on YouTube so parents can watch and I’ve had numerous people asking me what I shot the videos with. Many have said, “It’s almost like I’m sitting there!” Most can not believe I'm shooting the video using a camera!

It’s an expensive camera, but the output is incredible.