7D, 550, T2i: What are the main differences?

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daktulus

Well-known member
OK, Sorry, I started the thread before I saw the sticky, but reading that sticky-thread some questions remain:

My main interest is picture quality shooting 1080p25: is the DOF and image quality EXACTLY the same?
 
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The video features are exactly the same, it actually uses the same sensor, the only difference is that you don't get true HD output in the HDMI while recording compared to 7D,
 
For still photographers the differences are huge.

For video people the main practical difference which affects you is the iso bracketing

7d is in one third stops 100, 125, 160, 200, 250, 320, 400, 500, 640, 800, 1000 etc
t2i is full stop bracketing 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600 etc

since it is not a good idea to control exposure with shutter, this leaves iso and aperture,
so it is a big deal. Be prepared to move the aperture between stops for fine tuning exposure
and you should be ok

The other big one is weather sealing and this can affect you if you live in cold climates.
When moving from outside to indoors condensation can form on the mirror. Keep you gear in a bag
and allow 30mins or so for it to acclimatize to room temperature slowly.
 
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According to Canon the T2i/550d sensor is "based on" the 7D, not identical.

The 7D has dual processors, the T2i has one.

I've handled both -- and the 7D feels like a real camera, whereas the T2i feels like something you'd give your daughter for her photography class.

The sample videos posted online also aren't turning out identical. Conventional wisdom would suggest that this relates to the users -- that 7D users are more likely to know what they're doing and are probably using better lenses. This may be true -- or there may be more too it.

Bottom line -- the T2i is among the most revolutionary consumer cameras ever offered. For professional applications -- I'd feel like a fraud showing up at a pro shoot with a T2i in hand. And, despite what the justifiably enthusiastic T2i owners are saying -- I'm really not convinced the video quality is identical.
 
The examples I've seen from both these cameras have been both great and bad.

I have no doubt in my mind that the quote:
Conventional wisdom would suggest that this relates to the users -- that 7D users are more likely to know what they're doing and are probably using better lenses.
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Is exactly what it is.

I've seen crappy 7D footage, and I've seen crappy t2i/550d footage.

I've seen crappy Sony EX1 footage, and I've seen amazing Sony EX1 footage..
I've seen crappy Panasonic HVX200 footage, and I've seen amazing Panasonic HVX200 footage..

The person behind the camera is the one to blame.

I also asked about the difference with these cameras and I got some answers from macgregor which really helped.

macgregor said:
It depends in your budget. I guess if you are asking this is because you only plan to take video. At current developing speed cameras last for half a year or a year, so save yourself some money and get the 550d. Specs for video are the same. Skew seemed slightly better. It's lighter which i like.

If you plan to shoot sports or journal photos, then the 550d is out of the question of course.
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And then I commented on the limited iso values and the fact that the 550d is so light.

macgregor said:
Intermediate iso values have proven not to be a good idea anyway (less dynamic range). Lighter is always better (ie:red1 vs epic or 435 vs 235). ;)
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So..
If you plan on doing more photography: Get the 7D
If you're only going to do video: Get the t2i/550D


Me..
I'm going to do both, so I'm getting the 7D.
 
AGMedia said:
According to Canon the T2i/550d sensor is "based on" the 7D, not identical.

The 7D has dual processors, the T2i has one.

I've handled both -- and the 7D feels like a real camera, whereas the T2i feels like something you'd give your daughter for her photography class.

The sample videos posted online also aren't turning out identical. Conventional wisdom would suggest that this relates to the users -- that 7D users are more likely to know what they're doing and are probably using better lenses. This may be true -- or there may be more too it.

Bottom line -- the T2i is among the most revolutionary consumer cameras ever offered. For professional applications -- I'd feel like a fraud showing up at a pro shoot with a T2i in hand. And, despite what the justifiably enthusiastic T2i owners are saying -- I'm really not convinced the video quality is identical.
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Have you seen this? It's pretty convincing
(phillip blooms 7d vs t2i low light test)



I know the 7d has a 2nd chip but it also has twice as many AF confirm points as the t2i,
as well as strobe flash control, double the burst rate all of which is more for a stills photographer

If you shoot stills as well as video - no question, the 7d blows the t2i away.
 
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In what respect is the 7D better for photograpers?
I need the camera to shoot 720p50 and 1080p25.
I do not need the camera for sports, mainly for shallow DOF (compared to Videocams).
What is the actual effect of a double processor compared to single?

Watching the above video it looks as if the 7D has a wider dynamic range: the whites of the T2i in some shots seem to be overexposed, can someone confirm a wider dynamic range of the 7D?



Is there a direct shootout (not only lowlight, but also resolution/detail, motion) with the exact same lenses?

If not this should definitely be tested by someone!
 
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AGMedia said:
According to Canon the T2i/550d sensor is "based on" the 7D, not identical.

The 7D has dual processors, the T2i has one.

I've handled both -- and the 7D feels like a real camera, whereas the T2i feels like something you'd give your daughter for her photography class.

The sample videos posted online also aren't turning out identical. Conventional wisdom would suggest that this relates to the users -- that 7D users are more likely to know what they're doing and are probably using better lenses. This may be true -- or there may be more too it.

Bottom line -- the T2i is among the most revolutionary consumer cameras ever offered. For professional applications -- I'd feel like a fraud showing up at a pro shoot with a T2i in hand. And, despite what the justifiably enthusiastic T2i owners are saying -- I'm really not convinced the video quality is identical.
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:2vrolijk_08:

Come on man, you need to stop it. "Real Camera", "Professional Users", lol. Your post is truly comical. Having owned a Gh1, 7D, T2i etc. I will gladly say you have no idea what you are talking about.

All of these cameras + more shooting excellent video, the user is the person who finally delivers the perfect product.

 
The t2i vs 7d argument has turned up many times on these forums and there really is no positive answer.

Also people get argumentative very fast as investments have been made and must be justified.

Lets all be careful and constructive in the way we word these posts.
 
J Davis said:
The t2i vs 7d argument has turned up many times on these forums and there really is no positive answer.

Also people get argumentative very fast as investments have been made and must be justified.

Lets all be careful and constructive in the way we word these posts.
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As this post is directed towards me, you need to stop jumping to assumptions as well. You are implying that an argument is being made to "Justify" my purchase when that is simply not true.

Owning a Gh1, 7d, a T2i and several other cameras I know I can speak perfect and clear of mind. The only problem and argument that is being made is when anyone says something is a toy, it is not professional, etc. If we as the community do not stand up and tell people they are wrong for thinking like this , than who is?



A couple of days ago I seen some amazing footage shot on a Cell phone. Is it safe for me to say that it is not professional and people have no idea what they are doing? No, people need to embrace technology and understand how things work. Imagine a Cellphone that can perform better than certain peoples home computers.

This tech advances and people just need to understand that. If you can cut a professional project on a $1000 camera does it really matter? These are only tools, when the final product is delivered is really all that matters.

Whether it's a 7D, Gh1, Ex3, RED, etc.
 
Cieloent --

What's "comical" is the substance you cite is a Phillip Bloom video. Have any videos of your own? Do you know the difference between eight frames a second and three? Have you had a T2i overheat on you in half the time it takes for a (pre firmware updated) 7D to flash the warning?
 
AGMedia said:
Cieloent --

What's "comical" is the substance you cite is a Phillip Bloom video. Have any videos of your own? Do you know the difference between eight frames a second and three? Have you had a T2i overheat on you in half the time it takes for a (pre firmware updated) 7D to flash the warning?
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So you mention photography modes when we are clearly talking about video and in a video forum at that....... SMH, Second who or why does it matter if it's my footage or not?


This example was posted because Phillip who is more know than you will ever be has amazing footage that has been shot with a T2i. The point was to prove how a professional uses a "toy" as you say to deliver amazing quality.

Regarding your overheating statement, that is something you need to be aware with these cameras. Turn your lcd brghtness lower, use an external monitor, use a battery grip, turn your camera off when not recording, shade your camera from the sun, get some ice packs, small fan, etc?

For the price of a 7D you can almost practically buy two T2i's........ Think about that one
 
tommetass said:
I also asked about the difference with these cameras and I got some answers from macgregor which really helped.
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The only issue with the intermediate ISOs is that its easier to clip the highlights in contrasty scenes. They are perfect for controlled environments....like shooting indoors in moderate to lowlight lighting. There are no issues with dynamic range because your scene is not so contrasty. In these situations you can sometimes run into the problem of noise in the darker areas but ISO 160, 320, 640 etc. keep it clean for me. You don't want to use those ISOs outdoors when it's bright and sunny...or shooting with a bright window in the background etc.

Also, I've mentioned this before, but there are times I like shooting to the right while using those intermediate ISOs in addition to setting HTP to the"On" position. You get your highlights back but the noise is not as bad as when you use HTP with the standard ISOs. The trick is shooting to the right and leveling down in post.....you see no added noise.
 
AGMedia said:
And, despite what the justifiably enthusiastic T2i owners are saying -- I'm really not convinced the video quality is identical.
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Every single side-by-side test that anyone has ever done with the T2i and the 7D has clearly demonstrated that video and still quality is identical (or near identical enough for the difference to be utterly insignificant), at least up to ISO 1600. Of course, I don't have links to these tests right off-hand, but they shouldn't be hard to find. You are free to dismiss this statement for my lack of cited evidence, but let me remind you that your point was made to raise fear, uncertainty, and doubt with only intimations. You tried to suggest that the video quality of the T2i could be inferior by comparing two completely different (and therefore incomparable) sets of sample clips. To an objective observer, there would likely seem to be a bias lurking. So unless you're willing to make a clear claim and support it with reasonable evidence, then I respectfully suggest that you withdraw your point.
 
No, no, no. Take some chill pills people. Look, I purchased the Nikon D90 when it was brand spanking new and started making videos with it for film school, one of them won an award recently and I'll receive it soon at the Las Vegas Film Festival, but anyway, when I was out in the field filming with this sub-$1,000 "toy" at the time I recieved some interesting comments by "experienced" cinematographers walking by (as I filmed some stuff near the campus) and just heard chatter and repeats of rumored faults with the camera. None of them really stuck, although I did have overheating 30-second bursts at one or two points, which didn't hurt anything. In the end I showed these films in class and some on the school's big screen theatre (Chapman University btw) and blew people away who had filmed their projects on the latest 16mm stocks. That was with a Nikon D90. But these new cameras simply blow the D90 away.

The Canon 7D and Rebel T2i, same basic functions, much different handling. If I were to get anything right now, I'd pick up a 5D Mark II as my A-camera and a Rebel T2i as my B-camera simply because it's so inexpensive to do so. I would love to have the 7D as my B-camera but I agree, it is hard to justify when you can get almost (just almost) the same thing for half the price. I will say that after playing with both cameras at Best Buy, the 7D does feel like it's easier to use simply because of button layout alone but again, I'm used to the Nikon D300 and D90 layout so I can't say what a new user would feel holding both cameras.
 
Cieloent said:
As this post is directed towards me ....
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sorry you took it that way. It honestly was not intended at you.

There are many on this forum who feel the need to justify their purchase.
I've said this before, camera's are just tools that happend to depreciate fast.
Buy flip move on.
Don't make the mistake of falling in love with your camera and defending it.
 
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