March 26th, 2009
Canon EOS Rebel T1i dSLR: 1080p HD video for under $900
The big buzz about the Canon EOS Rebel T1i announced yesterday is that it’s the cheapest dSLR that shoots video (and 1080p HD video at that), but there’s plenty more to recommend it. With virtually the same body as its predecessor, the Canon Rebel EOS XSi, the new Rebel T1i is no slouch in the specs department. In fact, it actually sports some features of big brother Canon EOS 50D ($1,299, body-only), such as the same 15.1 megapixel CMOS sensor; Canon’s latest Digic 4 processor; the 3-inch, high resolution LCD; as well as the 50D’s easy-to-use Creative Auto Mode which helps make the T1i a good camera for advanced point-and-shooters looking to step up to a dSLR. Add the new video mode that it inherits from even bigger brother Canon EOS 5D Mark II ($2,699, body-only) and you’ve got the makings of a category winner. Here’s a quick specs comparison between the new Rebel T1i and its likely competition, the less expensive (and recently announced) Olympus E-620 and the more expensive Nikon D90.
| Olympus E-620 | Canon EOS Rebel T1i |
Nikon D90 |
|
| Price | $799.99 (with 14-42mm lens) | $899.99 (with 18-55mm lens) |
$999.95 (body-only) |
| Sensor | 12.3 megapixels, 17.3×13mm Live MOS | 15.1 megapixels, 14.9×22.3mm CMOS | 12.3 megapixels, 15.8×23.6mm CMOS |
| Continuous Shooting Speed | 4 fps | 3.4 fps | 4.5 fps |
| LCD | 2.7-inch, 230,000 pixels (articulated) | 3-inch, 920,000 pixels (fixed) | 3-inch, 920,000 pixels (fixed) |
| Autofocus | 7-point | 9-point | 11-point |
| Sensitivity | ISO 100-3200 | ISO 100-3200 | ISO 100-6400 |
| Live View (with Face Detection) |
Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Storage Media | Compact Flash Type I/II (UDMA), Microdrive, xD-Picture Card | SD memory card, SDHC memory card | SD memory card, SDHC memory card |
| Movie Mode |
None | 1920×1080 (20 fps)/1280×720 (30 fps)/640×480 (30 fps) | 1280×720 (24 fps)/640×424 (24 fps)/320×216 (24 fps) |
| Dimensions | 5.11×3.7×2.36 inches | 5.1×3.8×2.4 inches | 5.2×4.1×3.0inches |
| Weight (body) |
16.6 oz | 16.9 oz | 22 oz |
Can’t wait until the T1i starts shipping in May? Check out Lori Grunin’s video preview and DPreview’s detailed hands-on preview.
Janice Chen has been covering technology for almost two decades. She got her hands on a Nikon Coolpix 900 back in 1998 and has been a digital camera enthusiast ever since. See her full profile and disclosure of her industry affiliations.
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