Canon EOS Rebel T2i 18 MP CMOS APS-C Digital SLR Camera with 3.0-Inch LCD and EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS UD Standard Zoom Lens Review

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(More customer reviews)Too often camera reviewers insist their initial dslr purchase is a transformative event. "I couldn't believe the pictures I got from (fill in the blank)." Having used an Olympus point and shoot for years, I was seduced by those claims. My pictures were good, but imagine what they would be like if I used (fill in the blank). I wanted my pictures to look like the ones in the magazines. And, based on the reviews I read, I would get that quality if I purchased a dslr.
After exhaustive research, I finally settled on the T2i. Initially, I was hesitant about buying a Canon or Nikon, assuming that the hype about their quality was a direct result of their advertising budget. But the press for the T2i was overwhelmingly positive, and I decided all of those reviewers couldn't have been bought off.
So once the camera arrived, I took it out for a test shoot. Since I am a neophyte, I initially set the camera on automatic. The first thing I discovered was discouraging. Canon makes a big deal about the three-inch lcd and how many pixels there are so you can consult it in any kind of weather. And the display is beautiful indoors. But out in the sun... uh, uh, it is worthless. I had to duck into the shade to see anything. So if you are an advanced photographer and want to adjust your settings shot by shot, either bring an umbrella or find some shade. Otherwise you will be shooting blind.
Now, as for the quality of the pictures taken on automatic, I was stunned all right. But not in a good way. They were no better than my Olympus (the 5060 if you are wondering) and not very sharp. I know that is heresy, but that is my honest opinion.
I had previously bought Amazon's highest rated general dslr guide -- a three-book set -- and consulted it. The author advised shooting in an advanced mode and to shoot at f/8, in his words the camera's sweet spot. And I saw an immediate improvement. Not that the shots were magazine quality, but I assumed that was because of my inexperience in setting the camera properly.
But then I called Canon customer service (which, by the way, is superb) with a question and mentioned to the guy that I was underwhelmed by my pictures. And he explained that the camera could only do so much. A key to great pictures is the lens. He pointed out that while I had purchased the camera with an upgraded 18mm to 135mm lens, the quality still was not comparable to an L lens, which is Canon's professional lens.
Well, that clarified things for me. Unless I wanted to invest another thousand bucks or more on an L lens, I had no hope of consistently getting top quality shots. Presumably, I could stumble into one by accident, but that was all I could hope for.
But after lowering my expectations, I have begun to really enjoy this camera. Having tentatively moved to the advanced mode (I even adjust some other settings manually,) I have been pleased with the pictures I have been getting. And I am really glad I upgraded to the 18-135mm because it allows me the versatility I want without needing to change lenses.
Bottom line: if you have more modest expectations going in (your friends will not ooh and ahh at your pictures, and you will not see them in National Geographic) you will really enjoy this camera.
An Update (9/10/10)I always get annoyed with people who review products within days of receiving it. And yet I did the same thing. It's now been a couple of months, and I felt an update was in order.
As I said previously, after I started shooting on manual, I saw marked improvement in my pictures. Subsequently, after reading a photo blog where the guy said that he always shot with the white balance set on cloudy to make the pictures warmer, I tried that with pleasing results. (I know real photographers vary all their settings dependent on the picture they are taking) but if you got this far you know already I am hardly a real photographer). The reason for this update is that the quality of my shots have improved dramatically, with, yes, an occasional wow. Why has this happened? I have no idea. But maybe the T2i just likes me more now. I also complained that my pictures didn't have that glossy look, where the colors seemed to jump out. Then one day I was fiddling with Picasa and changed the saturation on a shot of the Golden Gate Bridge. Suddenly, the colors were more vibrant and the water's blue much more intense. I'm not sure if this is cheating and the "real photographers" get that effect honestly, but, hell, I don't care. I love it. Anyway... after a couple of months, I would change my rating to the maximum number of stars allowable. Just wanted to let you know.

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Product Description:
Canon's EOS Rebel T2i is packed with features. In addition to its admirable performance with an enormous 18-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 T2i adds remarkable Full HD video capture at resolutions up to 1920 x 1080. A mini 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.

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